Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms

PAPER manual Biomed J 2024 Review Effect: unclear Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms Martel J, Rouleau N, Murugan NJ, Chin WC, Ojcius DM, Young JD. Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms. Biomed J. 2024 Dec 11:100824. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824. Abstract The circadian rhythm controls a wide range of functions in the human body and is required for optimal health. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can produce inflammation and initiate or aggravate chronic diseases. The modern lifestyle involves long indoor hours under artificial lighting conditions as well as eating, working, and sleeping at irregular times, which can disrupt the circadian rhythm and lead to poor health outcomes. Seasonal solar variations, the sunspot cycle and anthropogenic electromagnetic fields can also influence biological rhythms. The possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed, which include resonance, radical-pair formation in retina cryptochromes, ion cyclotron resonance, and interference, ultimately leading to variations in melatonin and cortisol. Intracellular water, which represents a coherent, ordered phase that is sensitive to infrared light and electromagnetic fields, may also respond to solar variations and man-made electromagnetic fields. We describe here various factors and underlying mechanisms that affect the regulation of biological rhythms, with the aim of providing practical measures to improve human health. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

unclear

Population

humans (general, discussed)

Sample size

—

Exposure

anthropogenic electromagnetic fields

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 66% · Peer-reviewed: unknown

Main findings

This narrative review discusses how seasonal solar variations, the sunspot cycle, and anthropogenic electromagnetic fields may influence biological rhythms and circadian regulation. Proposed mechanisms include resonance, radical-pair formation in retina cryptochromes, ion cyclotron resonance, and interference, potentially leading to variations in melatonin and cortisol; intracellular water is also discussed as a potentially responsive medium.

Outcomes measured

circadian rhythm disruption
biological rhythms
inflammation
chronic diseases (initiation/aggravation)
melatonin variation
cortisol variation

Limitations

Review article; no primary study design, sample size, or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract
Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity, duration) are not specified in the abstract
Outcomes are discussed mechanistically/associatively rather than as measured endpoints in a defined population

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "anthropogenic electromagnetic fields",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "humans (general, discussed)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "circadian rhythm disruption",
        "biological rhythms",
        "inflammation",
        "chronic diseases (initiation/aggravation)",
        "melatonin variation",
        "cortisol variation"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This narrative review discusses how seasonal solar variations, the sunspot cycle, and anthropogenic electromagnetic fields may influence biological rhythms and circadian regulation. Proposed mechanisms include resonance, radical-pair formation in retina cryptochromes, ion cyclotron resonance, and interference, potentially leading to variations in melatonin and cortisol; intracellular water is also discussed as a potentially responsive medium.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Review article; no primary study design, sample size, or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract",
        "Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity, duration) are not specified in the abstract",
        "Outcomes are discussed mechanistically/associatively rather than as measured endpoints in a defined population"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "circadian rhythm",
        "biological rhythms",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "anthropogenic EMF",
        "solar variations",
        "sunspot cycle",
        "melatonin",
        "cortisol",
        "cryptochromes",
        "radical-pair mechanism",
        "ion cyclotron resonance",
        "intracellular water",
        "infrared light"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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