Influence of electromagnetic fields on the circadian rhythm: Implications for human health and disease

Abstract

Living organisms have evolved within the natural electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of the earth which comprise the global atmospheric electrical circuit, Schumann resonances (SRs) and the geomagnetic field. Research suggests that the circadian rhythm, which controls several physiological functions in the human body, can be influenced by light but also by the earth's EMFs. Cyclic solar disturbances, including sunspots and seasonal weakening of the geomagnetic field, can affect human health, possibly by disrupting the circadian rhythm and downstream physiological functions. Severe disruption of the circadian rhythm increases inflammation which can induce fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms in a fraction of the population and worsen existing symptoms in old and diseased individuals, leading to periodic spikes of infectious and chronic diseases. Possible mechanisms underlying sensing of the earth's EMFs involve entrainment via electrons and electromagnetic waves, light-dependent radical pair formation in retina cryptochromes, and paramagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. Factors such as electromagnetic pollution from wireless devices, base antennas and low orbit internet satellites, shielding by non-conductive materials used in shoes and buildings, and local geomagnetic anomalies may also affect sensing of the earth's EMFs by the human body and contribute to circadian rhythm disruption and disease development.

Keywords: Circadian rhythm; Covid-19 pandemic; Geomagnetic field; Grounding; Schumann resonances.

Fig. 1

Human pandemics occur during sunspot minima or maxima. Major human pandemics and epidemics attributed to bacteria, viruses and parasites have occurred during periods of high or low solar activity as measured by the monthly average number of sunspots. Orange circles correspond to pandemics or epidemics that occurred during sunspot maxima, whereas green circles represent pandemics or epidemics that occurred during sunspot minima. Note that the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2019 while sunspots were practically absent. The extreme severity of Covid-19 compared to past epidemics of SARS (2003) or swine flu (2009) suggests that, in addition to low sunspots, additional electromagnetic factors, including those from anthropogenic origins, may also be involved. Image reproduced from Nasirpour et al. [15], with permission from the publisher.

Fig. 2

Diurnal variations in the geomagnetic field coincide with the human circadian rhythm. (A) Quiet daily variations of the geomagnetic field. Green curves represent geomagnetic daily variations for individual days, while the black curve represents the average value. Measurements were made in Addis Ababa in November 2012. (B) Diurnal variation in the mRNA expression of the circadian marker PER3. Data are plotted relative to clock time and expression represents relative copy number against glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). (C) Diurnal variation in blood cortisol level. Measurements of the geomagnetic field at the time and location where the PER3 and cortisol experiments were performed may produce an even better correlation, but were not available here. Image in A is reproduced from Joseph et al. [48], with permission from the publisher. Images B and C are reproduced from Archer et al. [100], with permission from the publisher.

Fig. 3

Seasonality of infectious diseases in the United States. (A) Reported cases of rubella and percentage of positive cases of (B) influenza and (C) rotavirus infection for the time indicated. Note that the peaks occur during the winter months. Image reproduced from the work of Dowell [67], which is in the public domain.

Fig. 4

Annual variations in the geomagnetic field coincide with variations in gene expression in human cells. (A) Relative power of the geomagnetic field. Measurements were done in 2014 in Lithuania. (B) Expression of 5136 genes (23% of the protein-coding genome) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) shows seasonality in the BABYDIET dataset (genome-wide significance, P < 1.52 × 10⁻⁶). (C) Gene expression in PBMCs from asthmatic subjects in the United States. (D) Gene expression in PBMCs from asthmatic subjects in Australia. (E) Expression of interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R) in European people. (F) Circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) in European people. Image A is reproduced from the work of Jaruševičius et al. [70], which is under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Images B–F are reproduced from Dopico et al. [71], which is under a Creative Commons CC BY license.