Diatom motility: the search for independent replication of biological effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that exposure to a certain combinati on of static and time-varying electromagnetic fields (EMF) results in an in crease in motility of the marine diatom Amphora coffeaeformis. Materials and methods: Diatom motility on agar was positively correlated wi th calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration. In previous experiments extremely low frequency EMF (16Hz) had the greatest effect on diatoms at suboptimal for m ovement Ca2+ concentrations. To ensure that the required suboptimal Ca2+ co ncentration and resultant cell motility were found, a number of low concent rations of Ca2+ were experimentally tested. The EMF exposure conditions wer e those at the calculated calcium resonances (B-V = 0 mu T; B-H = 20.9 mu T ; B-AC = 41.8 mu T peak-peak 16Hz) previously found to cause enhanced motil ity. Diatom movement on agar plates under EMF and control exposures was rec orded. Results: There was no significant difference in cell motility between contr ol and EMF-exposed diatoms at each Ca2+ concentration tested. Conclusions: The study indicates that low-frequency EMF set at resonance co nditions did not cause an increase in motility of the diatoms.