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The Effects of ELF on Chemical Reaction Rates in Biological Systems

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Biological Effects of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

In this paper we review some of the theory and experiments associated with the effects of electric and magnetic fields at extremely low frequencies, ELF, on chemical reaction rates. The paper proposes a simple model for chemical reactions and shows that the effects of weak electric fields can change the probability that molecules of the reacting materials will encounter each other as well as shift the barrier energy for the reaction. These effects occur primarily in the vicinity of membranes or at boundaries where there are large variations in current density or the concentration of one of the chemical reactants.

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© 1996 Plenum Press

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Barnes, F.S. (1996). The Effects of ELF on Chemical Reaction Rates in Biological Systems. In: Ueno, S. (eds) Biological Effects of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-31661-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-31661-1_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45292-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-585-31661-1

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