The effects of electromagnetic waves on the human body
The electromagnetic property of the cell is one of the driving forces in the body. For example, it is known that mature neurons do not reproduce. Therefore, dead neurons are irreplaceable. These neurons have one of the highest membrane potentials (-50 to -80 mV). In contrast, cancer cells have a great potential to multiply. In these cells, the membrane potential is usually very low (-30 to 0 mV). It is interesting to note that certain types of chloride channels are important factors in causing cancer. Such a correlation is not accidental. Electromagnetic effects are observed not only at the level of a cell, but also at the level of tissues. Endogenous electromagnetic fields are different in terms of intensity, spatial and temporal locations, biological effects and distribution in different tissues. They are essential for many processes in developmental stages as well as in cells, tissues, organs and the whole adult organism.
Exposure to electromagnetic radiation
World Health Organization (WHO)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to electromagnetic fields is not a new phenomenon. However, over the course of the 20th century, exposure to environments with electromagnetic fields has steadily increased as increased demand for electricity, evolving technologies, and changes in social behavior have created more and more man-made sources. Everyone is exposed to a complex mix of weak electric and magnetic fields, both at home and at work, from power generation and transmission to household appliances and industrial equipment, and telecommunications and media electromagnetic fields.
Even if there are no artificial external electric fields, there are small electric currents in the human body due to chemical reactions that occur as part of the body’s normal functions. For example, nerves transmit signals by sending electrical impulses. Most biochemical reactions, from digestion to brain activity, are associated with the movement of charged particles. Even the heart is electrically active, an activity that a doctor can detect with an electrocardiogram. Low-frequency magnetic fields cause currents in the human body.
The strength of these currents depends on the intensity of the external magnetic field. If these currents are large enough, they can stimulate nerves and muscles or affect other biological processes.
Heating is the main biological effect of electromagnetic fields of radio frequency fields. In microwave ovens, this principle is used to heat food. The level of radio frequency fields that humans are usually exposed to is much lower than that required to produce significant heat.
The heating effect of radio waves is the fundamental basis of current guidelines. Scientists are investigating the long-term effects of waves below the threshold required to affect body heat. To date, no negative health effects from long-term exposure to radio frequencies have been confirmed, but scientists are still actively conducting research in this area.
The effect of electromagnetic frequencies on human cells
1- Non-ionizing frequencies
Electromagnetic waves can be classified into ionizing and non-ionizing radiation according to frequency and energy.
Non-ionizing radiation is the term for the part of the electromagnetic spectrum where the photon energy is too low to break atomic bonds. Non-ionizing radiation includes infrared radiation, radio frequencies and microwaves. Non-ionizing radiation cannot cause ionization, however it has been shown to enhance other biological effects caused by heat, such as altering chemical reactions or inducing electrical currents in tissues and cells.
There are three sub-categories of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields:
Extremely low frequency (ELF) with a frequency of 1 to 300 Hz
Intermediate frequency (IF) with a frequency of 300 Hz to 100 kHz
Radio frequency (RF) with a frequency of 100 kHz to 300 GHz
Very Low Frequency (ELF)
Very low frequency is a term used to describe a radiated frequency below 300 Hz. Very low frequency fields are oscillating fields and are very important to public health because 50-60 Hz are used in the electrical industry in most countries.
intermediate frequency (IF)
Medium frequency is a term that refers to the radiated frequency between 300 Hz and 100 kHz. There are many experimental and epidemiological data from the intermediate frequency range. Evaluating the potential health effects of these waves that may result from long-term exposure to medium frequency fields is important because human exposure to such fields is increasing due to new and emerging technologies.
Common sources of generation of these frequencies include: computer screens and televisions that operate using cathode ray tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, as well as radio transmitters, shoplifting devices, card readers, and metal detectors.
radio frequency (RF)
Waves with a frequency between 100 kHz and 300 GHz of the electromagnetic spectrum are called radio frequency. Radio frequency generating sources are widespread throughout the world. For example, we can mention mobile phones, radio wave transmitters, medical and industrial devices. The general view is that there is no direct evidence of dangerous effects of low frequency radio waves on human health. Studies at the cellular level have shown adverse reactions in response to much higher frequencies
Many researchers have shown that low-frequency radio waves can affect several cellular functions, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, apoptosis, DNA synthesis, RNA transcription, protein expression, ATP synthesis, hormone production, antioxidant enzyme systems, and metabolic activity. . Also, low-frequency electromagnetic fields transform free radicals into molecules that are less active and destroy them.
There must be a balance between the production and elimination of free radicals. Imbalance increases oxidative stress and leads to cell destruction. In addition, exposure to magnetic fields can affect the organization of microtubules. Even short-term exposure to magnetic fields causes changes in self-organization inside mitochondria. This organelle plays a strategic role in many cellular functions.
This experiment showed that the application of an external electromagnetic field can interfere with biological processes through changes in the structure and organization of microtubules.
1- Non-ionizing frequencies
Ionizing radiation is produced by unstable atoms. Unstable atoms are different from stable atoms. They have excess energy or mass or both. They are considered as radioactive unstable atoms. In order for these atoms to return to a stable state, they must emit their excess energy. This emission is called radiation.
When radiation interacts with other atoms, it ionizes the atoms, thereby changing their chemical properties. The release of ionizing radiation can be in the form of electromagnetic waves (such as light) or particle radiation. Gamma rays and X-rays are examples of electromagnetic radiation. Beta and alpha radiation are examples of particle radiation.
Ionizing rays can also be produced by devices such as X-ray machines. There is also the possibility of exposure to environmental radiation. Radiation that comes naturally from cosmic rays and naturally occurring radioactive materials on Earth.
Ionizing radiation is divided into four basic types:
Gamma rays and X-rays
Beta particles
Alpha particles
Neutron
These radiations have different physical characteristics and contribute to tissue damage with different mechanisms.
Gamma rays and X-rays:
This group is electromagnetic rays such as visible light, radio waves and ultraviolet light. These electromagnetic radiations differ from each other only in the energy content they carry. Gamma rays can travel very long distances in air and several centimeters in human tissue.
They penetrate easily in most materials, that’s why they are also called penetrating radiation. Radioactive substances that emit gamma radiation and X-rays are dangerous for humans. To protect against gamma radiation, very high density materials are needed. Clothing and accessories provide minimal protection against penetrating radiation, but can prevent skin contamination with radioactive material.
Beta particles:
Subatomic particles (electrons) are emitted from a radioactive atom. Beta particles can travel several meters in air and have moderate penetration potential. These particles can penetrate the human skin up to the level of the basal layer.
Particulate pollutants can damage the skin if they remain on the skin for a long time. Clothing protects the body from most beta rays.
Alpha particles:
There are special particles that are emitted from a radioactive atom. Alpha particles are essentially the nucleus of a helium atom. They have low penetrating power and short range. Alpha particles cannot penetrate the skin, but can be harmful to humans if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through open wounds.
Neutrons:
They are uncharged subatomic particles that are produced from the fission of radioactive atoms. Inside the tissue, neutrons lose their energy by colliding with protons in the nucleus of hydrogen atoms in body water.
This interaction leads to the ionization of the atoms of the irradiated tissues. Except for lethal doses, the neutron flux is not high enough to cause tissue radioactivity.
The main effect of ionizing radiation on cells is to break down DNA. As long as the DNA strand consists of a pair of complementary double strands, a single strand break or both strands can occur. However, double strand breaks are much more biologically important. Most single-strand breaks are normally repairable by the presence of the other strand of the DNA molecule (the two strands are complementary, the intact strand can serve as a template for repairing the damaged opposite strand).
But in case of a double fracture, the repair is more difficult and there may be improper repair in the fractured area. These misrepairs lead to the induction of mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, or cell death. Loss of fragments of DNA is the predominant form of radiation damage to cells that survive radiation.
This may be due to the poor repair of single-stranded broken fragments in the DNA molecule at the junction of the two ends of the strand, which leads to the loss of part of the DNA strand between the fragments. Or it may be due to the incorrect purification process (enzymatic digestion of nucleotides of DNA molecules) from the broken end, which is done by rejoining to repair the broken part.
After the discovery of X-rays in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen and radioactivity the following year by the French physicist Henri Becquerel, medical, industrial and military uses of radiation technology were developed, which ultimately led to a dramatic increase in human exposure to these radiations. became. Since the beginning of the 21st century in the United States, these radiations account for 18% of all annual exposures in the population.
However, the radiation dose varies widely from person to person. Ionizing radiation is a definite cause of cancer. Cell and animal irradiation studies and epidemiological studies of populations exposed to high levels of radiation for medical or occupational reasons have shown a clear link between ionizing radiation and cancer.
The effect of electromagnetic frequencies on microorganisms
bacteria
Bacterial cells are enclosed by a cell membrane a few nanometers thick. This membrane consists of ion channels that regulate the flow of ions across the membrane. The movement of ions across the membrane is fundamental to survival and facilitates cell growth. It has recently been discovered that magnetic and electric fields at certain frequencies can affect the physiology or behavior of a cell.
Some cells have magnetic structures that prevent the enzyme activities and RNA mechanisms from changing in the presence of an electromagnetic field. This process affects growth rate, mutation rate and other mechanisms. It has also been suggested that electromagnetic fields inactivate pathogenic microbes.
A large number of studies report inhibition of bacterial growth under the influence of strong electromagnetic fields. Massoud and his colleagues report in their recent work as follows: Our study proves the speed of growth in different strains of bacteria exposed to magnetic field.
The results showed that the effect of magnetic field on bacteria is maintained even after removing them from the environment exposed to magnetic field. The long-term inhibitory effect of magnetic field exposure was observed when bacteria were grown under normal laboratory conditions without the application of magnetic fields. The growth rate of bacteria exposed to alternating magnetic fields was significantly reduced compared to control cultures and other bacteria exposed to other fields.
In general, magnetic fields prevent the growth of these bacterial species. As a result, it can be argued that external electromagnetic fields affect the vital physicochemical processes of bacteria, inhibit their growth and reproduction, and affect their behavior and physiology.
