ArticleeLife2019
Upper bound on the biological effects of 50/60 Hz magnetic fields mediated by radical pairs.
Article in eLife, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tubulin polymerization dynamics are influenced by magnetic isotope effects consistent with the radical pair mechanism.Science advances · 2026Article
- Article
- Weak Radiofrequency Field Effects on Biological Systems Mediated through the Radical Pair Mechanism.Chemical reviews · 2025Review
- Magneto-oncology: a radical pair primer.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Review
- RadicalPy: A Tool for Spin Dynamics Simulations.Journal of chemical theory and computation · 2024Article
- Magnetic manipulation of the reactivity of singlet oxygen: from test tubes to living cells.National science review · 2024Article
- Spin chemistry in living systems.National science review · 2024Article
- Review
- Molecular Biological Effects of Weak Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields: Frequency-Amplitude Efficiency Windows and Possible Mechanisms.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2022Review
- Radical pairs may explain reactive oxygen species-mediated effects of hypomagnetic field on neurogenesis.PLoS computational biology · 2022Article
- Radical pairs may play a role in microtubule reorganization.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Radical pairs can explain magnetic field and lithium effects on the circadian clock.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Chronobiology Meets Quantum Biology: A New Paradigm Overlooking the Horizon?Frontiers in physiology · 2022Review
- Low-level EMF effects on wildlife and plants: What research tells us about an ecosystem approach.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Cryptochrome magnetoreception: four tryptophans could be better than three.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2021Article
- Entangled radicals may explain lithium effects on hyperactivity.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Amplification of weak magnetic field effects on oscillating reactions.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Radical pairs may play a role in xenon-induced general anesthesia.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Angular Precision of Radical Pair Compass Magnetoreceptors.Biophysical journal · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to weak (~1 μT) extremely-low-frequency (ELF, 50/60 Hz) magnetic fields has been associated with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia. One of the few biophysical mechanisms that might account for this link involves short-lived chemical reaction intermediates known as radical pairs. In this report, we use spin dynamics simulations to derive an upper bound of 10 parts per million on the effect of a 1 μT ELF magnetic field on the yield of a radical pair reaction. By comparing this figure with the corresponding effects of changes in the strength of the Earth's magnetic field, we conclude that if exposure to such weak 50/60 Hz magnetic fields has any effect on human biology, and results from a radical pair mechanism, then the risk should be no greater than travelling a few kilometres towards or away from the geomagnetic north or south pole.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.