CELL-MEMBRANE - POTENTIALS INDUCED DURING EXPOSURE TO EMP FIELDS

Internal current densities and electric fields induced in the human bo dy during exposure to electromagnetic pulsed (EMP) fields are reviewed and used to predict resulting cell membrane potentials. Using several different approaches with a spherical cell model, membrane potentials of about 100 mV are predicted. These values are comparable to the sta tic membrane potentials maintained by cells as a part of normal physio logical function, but the EMP-induced potentials persist for only abou t 10 ns. Possible biological implications of EMP-induced membrane pote ntials include conformational changes and electroporation.