Title |
The response of human bacteria to static magnetic field and radiofrequency electromagnetic field |
Author |
David P. E. Crabtree1, Brandon J. Herrera2, and Sanghoon Kang1* |
Address |
1Department of Biology, Baylor University, Texas 76798-7388 USA, 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Texas 76798-7388 USA |
Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 55(10),809-815, 2017,
|
DOI |
10.1007/s12275-017-7208-7
|
Key Words |
skin microbiota, bacterial growth, cell phone, SMF, RF-EMF |
Abstract |
Cell phones and electronic appliances and devices are inseparable
from most people in modern society and the electromagnetic
field (EMF) from the devices is a potential health
threat. Although the direct health effect of a cell phone and its
radiofrequency (RF) EMF to human is still elusive, the effect
to unicellular organisms is rather apparent. Human microbiota,
including skin microbiota, has been linked to a very
significant role in the health of a host human body. It is important
to understand the response of human skin microbiota
to the RF-EMF from cell phones and personal electronic
devices, since this may be one of the potential mechanisms
of a human health threat brought about by the disruption
of the intimate and balanced host-microbiota relationship.
Here, we investigated the response of both laboratory culture
strains and isolates of skin bacteria under static magnetic
field (SMF) and RF-EMF. The growth patterns of laboratory
cultures of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and Staphylococcus epidermidis under SMF were variable
per different species. The bacterial isolates of skin microbiota
from 4 subjects with different cell phone usage history also
showed inconsistent growth responses. These findings led us
to hypothesize that cell phone level RF-EMF disrupts human
skin microbiota. Thus, the results from the current study lay
ground for more comprehensive research on the effect of
RF-EMF on human health through the human-microbiota
relationship. |