On the biophysical mechanism of sensing upcoming earthquakes by animals

Biological effects of electromagnetic fields on insects: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Worldwide, insects are declining at an alarming rate. Among other causes, the use of pesticides and modern agricultural practices play a major role in this. Cumulative effects of multiple low-dose toxins and the distribution of toxicants in nature have only started to be investigated in a methodical way. Existing research indicates another factor of anthropogenic origin that could have subtle harmful effects: the increasingly frequent use of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from man-made technologies. This systematic review summarizes the results of studies investigating the toxicity of electromagnetic fields in insects. The main objective of this review is to weigh the evidence regarding detrimental effects on insects from the increasing technological infrastructure, with a particular focus on power lines and the cellular network. The next generation of mobile communication technologies, 5G, is being deployed - without having been tested in respect of potential toxic effects. With humanity's quest for pervasiveness of technology, even modest effects of electromagnetic fields on organisms could eventually reach a saturation level that can no longer be ignored. An overview of reported effects and biological mechanisms of exposure to electromagnetic fields, which addresses new findings in cell biology, is included. Biological effects of non-thermal EMF on insects are clearly proven in the laboratory, but only partly in the field, thus the wider ecological implications are still unknown. There is a need for more field studies, but extrapolating from the laboratory, as is common practice in ecotoxicology, already warrants increasing the threat level of environmental EMF impact on insects.

Biophysical mechanism of animal magnetoreception, orientation and navigation

We describe a biophysical mechanism for animal magnetoreception, orientation and navigation in the geomagnetic field (GMF), based on the ion forced oscillation (IFO) mechanism in animal cell membrane voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) (IFO-VGIC mechanism). We review previously suggested hypotheses. We describe the structure and function of VGICs and argue that they are the most sensitive electromagnetic sensors in all animals. We consider the magnetic force exerted by the GMF on a mobile ion within a VGIC of an animal with periodic velocity variation. We apply this force in the IFO equation resulting in solution connecting the GMF intensity with the velocity variation rate. We show that animals with periodic velocity variations, receive oscillating forces on their mobile ions within VGICs, which are forced to oscillate exerting forces on the voltage sensors of the channels, similar or greater to the forces from membrane voltage changes that normally induce gating. Thus, the GMF in combination with the varying animal velocity can gate VGICs and alter cell homeostasis in a degree depending, for a given velocity and velocity variation rate, on GMF intensity (unique in each latitude) and the angle between velocity and GMF axis, which determine animal position and orientation.

Big Five personality traits, BIS/BAS dimensions and meteoropathy: a mediation model

BACKGROUND

The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between Big Five personality traits and meteoropathy and the role of the behavioural activation system (BAS) and the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) as mediators in this relationship.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

The sample consisted of 1,336 women and men gathered via the online recruitment platform from the general population. The participants' ages ranged from 18 to 76 years (M = 29.52, SD = 11.67). The Polish version of the Ten Item Personality Inventory was used to assess Big Five personality traits. The BIS and BAS were diagnosed using the Polish version of the original BIS/BAS scales. Meteoropathy was assessed using the Polish adaptation of the METEO-Q questionnaire.

RESULTS

Meteoropathy correlated negatively with emotional stability and positively with the BIS level and BAS Reward Responsiveness. BIS negatively correlated with emotional stability. The correlations between meteoropathy and other personality variables were nonsignificant. The analysis indicated a significant indirect relationship between emotional stability and meteoropathy through BIS. We demonstrated the importance of neuroticism (low emotional stability) and the BIS dimension for the development of meteoropathy symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroticism and the BIS dimension were important for the development of meteoropathy symptoms. The results may be helpful in assessing the risk of developing meteoropathy in a healthy population.

Human‑made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‑oscillation and voltage‑gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review)

Exposure of animals/biological samples to human‑made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, and the microwave/radio frequency (RF) band which is always combined with ELF, may lead to DNA damage. DNA damage is connected with cell death, infertility and other pathologies, including cancer. ELF exposure from high‑voltage power lines and complex RF exposure from wireless communication antennas/devices are linked to increased cancer risk. Almost all human‑made RF EMFs include ELF components in the form of modulation, pulsing and random variability. Thus, in addition to polarization and coherence, the existence of ELFs is a common feature of almost all human‑made EMFs. The present study reviews the DNA damage and related effects induced by human‑made EMFs. The ion forced‑oscillation mechanism for irregular gating of voltage‑gated ion channels on cell membranes by polarized/coherent EMFs is extensively described. Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations, which determine the cell's electrochemical balance and homeostasis. The present study shows how this can result in DNA damage through reactive oxygen species/free radical overproduction. Thus, a complete picture is provided of how human‑made EMF exposure may indeed lead to DNA damage and related pathologies, including cancer. Moreover, it is suggested that the non‑thermal biological effects attributed to RF EMFs are actually due to their ELF components.

Electromagnetic Pollution as a Possible Explanation for the Decline of House Sparrows in Interaction with Other Factors

In recent decades, there has been a decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), mainly in European cities, and several hypotheses have been proposed that attempt to determine the causes of this rapid decline. Previous studies indicated that house sparrows were significantly negatively associated with increasing electromagnetic radiation and sparrows disappeared from areas most polluted. In addition, there are many studies on the impact of radiation on other bird and non-bird species, as well as numerous laboratory studies that demonstrated detrimental effects at electric field strength levels that can be found in cities today. Electromagnetic radiation is the most plausible factor for multiple reasons, including that this is the only one that affects the other hypotheses proposed so far. It is a type of pollution that affects productivity, fertility, decreases insects (chicken feed), causes loss of habitat, decreases immunity and can promote disease. Additionally, the recent sparrow decline matches the deployment of mobile telephony networks. Further, there are known mechanisms of action for non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation that may affect sparrows causing their decline. Thus, electromagnetic radiation must be seriously considered as a factor for house sparrows’ decline, probably in synergy with the other factors previously proposed.