Effects of ELF magnetic fields on biological magnetite.

TLDR: The possibility that weak ELF magnetic fields may cause biological effects in humans by the interaction of the field with magnetosomes must be considered.

Abstract: The effects of 60 Hz magnetic fields of 5 [mu]T (50 mG) or less on biological structures holding magnetite (Fe[sub 3]0[sub 4]) are shown to be much smaller than that from thermal agitation; hence such interactions cannot be expected to be biologically significant. Various species have been shown to manufacture magnetite, which is used in some cases in conjunction with the earth's magnetic field to determine direction ([Frankel, 1986; Kirschvink and Kobayashi-Kirschvink, 1991].) This magnetite is usually found in sets of single domain grains, about 500[angstrom] in diameter, where all grains are magnetized in the same direction. Typically, such grains are enclosed by a membrane and are called magnetosomes. Hence, the possibility that weak ELF magnetic fields may cause biological effects in humans by the interaction of the field with magnetosomes must be considered.