9

Introduction

reason, the question has been raised as to whether humans can sense magnetism in the same way. Tis

question has been addressed in outdoor and indoor experiments using human subjects. In the 1980s

Baker and later in 2019 Kirschvink’s group conducted experiments that showed that people can sense

magnetism, but they have not yet been able to determine it clearly (Baker, 1980; Wang et al., 2019).

Te study of magnetic-related phenomena also includes the change of magnetic properties of

every material which occurs under high strength magnet. During the 1930s and 1940s, scientists have

attempted to study the efects on living systems. However, they ignored the fundamental laws of elec­

tromagnetism. Signifcantly more intensive research in magnetobiology began in the 1960s with the

research of space biology.

From these advances, considerable experimental and theoretical research studies involving the inter­

action between electromagnetic felds and living systems emerged, trying to elucidate what kind of

relationship exists between electricity, magnetism and life, how electricity and magnetism give action to

living systems, and how the living systems utilize electricity and magnetism. Furthermore, it is impor­

tant to understand the interaction of electromagnetic felds with biological systems not only for medical

applications but also for the protection from exposure to electromagnetic felds. In this way, bioelectro­

magnetism is an interdisciplinary science which combines biology, medicine, engineering, chemistry

and physics.

1.3 Harmonization of Electromagnetic

Fields with Biological Systems

Biological systems have been and are exposed to man-made electromagnetic felds. However, since

ancient times, living organisms have been exposed to electromagnetic waves from cosmic rays, elec­

tromagnetic felds created by the earth, air ions and low-frequency electromagnetic felds that travel

around the earth. Tere have been studies on how organisms interact with these natural electromag­

netic phenomena and how they actively use the natural electromagnetic phenomena to sustain life. In

particular, research has been conducted on the efects of the earth’s electric feld and the efects of air

ions on living organisms and on how they are utilized by living organisms, and also on the relation­

ship between low-frequency electromagnetic felds generated by lightning discharges with physiological

changes in humans and animals. In addition, studies have shown that the geomagnetic feld is used by

migrating birds, fsh and bees to determine their orientation.

Static magnetic felds can cause changes in the mass transfer due to the magnetic orientation of bio­

logical tissues and bio-macromolecules, changes in chemical reactions of radical pairs and efects on

enzymes. Medical diagnostic equipment using static magnetic felds has been developed and now used

clinically. Presently, it is believed that a static magnetic feld below 2 T has no harmful efects on health.

Tere are many animals and microorganisms that use weak static magnetic felds as an aid to their

survival. Electric fsh and cartilaginous fshes such as sharks or rays are known to be able to detect

electricity.

Invertebrates such as the honeybee, fruit fies, some beetle species, ants and wild pollinators (e.g.,

Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera) have been used to study the efects of electromagnetic

radiation. Te studies on the responses of invertebrates to natural electromagnetic felds have demon­

strated how they detect and orientate with electromagnetic felds, and what are the electromagnetic feld

efects on their behavior, physiological functions and reproduction. Te laboratory studies are focused

on physiological or developmental responses to short-term or acute exposure to electromagnetic felds.

Tere are still no studies that examine efects on invertebrates of long-term exposure to electromagnetic

felds. Today, there is a need for more ecological studies focusing on measuring the efects of electro­

magnetic radiation on wild communities. Te ecological study of electromagnetic felds on vertebrates

covers its wide spectrum range starting from hormone levels, other physiological parameters to behav­

ior patterns. Tese studies might have ecological implications, but real ecological studies are extremely