Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Influence of extremely low-frequency electric fields on the growth of Vigna radiata seedlings med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2011; 32 (7): 589-592

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of a 50 Hz sinusoidal electric field on the early growth of mung bean seedlings at different electric field strengths.

Background/further details

Several thousands of seedlings were investigated. In every experiment 46 seedlings were exposed and 46 were sham exposed. Each experiment was repeated four to eight times.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 6 days

General information

for further information on the setup see also: Wang CS, Kuo SZ, Kuo-Huang LL, Wu JSB. 2001. Effect of tissue infrastructure on electric conductance of vegetable stems. J Food Sci 66:284-288.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 6 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 23 seeds placed individually in 1 cm x 1 cm x 20 cm single cells of a 0.05 cm thick polycarbonate panel, closed at the bottom with filter paper; two 10 cm x 27 cm x 0.1 cm copper plates placed 28 cm apart on top and bottom of the panel; experimental setup placed inside a Faraday cage that was electrically connected to ground
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 40 µW minimum - - absorbed power
power 120 µW maximum - - absorbed power
magnetic flux density 0.004 nT - calculated - between the plates
cf. remarks - - calculated - I = 1 µA (max.) measurted between the plates
electric field strength 125 V/m minimum measured - -
electric field strength 268 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 446 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 536 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 714 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 893 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 1,263 V/m - measured - -
electric field strength 2,525 V/m maximum measured - -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that the extremely low frequency electric field exposure produced an inhibitory effect at a low electric field strength and an enhancing effect at a higher electric field strength. The maximum negative effect (growth inhibition) occured at about 450 V/m, which is much lower than the exposure limit values currently in force in the safety regulations.

Study character:

Study funded by

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