Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms

ORCiD

David Ojcius: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1461-4495

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Biomedical Journal

ISSN

2320-2890

Volume

48

Issue

3

DOI

10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Publication Date

6-7-2025

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 photoentrainment, resonance, radical-pair formation, 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.

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