title: Hydraulic continuity and biological effects of low strength very low frequency electromagnetic waves: Case of microbial biofilm growth in water treatment.
abstract: This study aims to elucidate the interactions between water, subjected to electromagnetic waves of very low frequency (VLF) (kHz) with low strength electromagnetic fields (3.5 mT inside the coils), and the development of microbial biofilms in this exposed water. Experimental results demonstrate that in water exposed to VLF electromagnetic waves, the biomass of biofilm is limited if hydraulic continuity is achieved between the electromagnetic generator and the biofilm media. The measured amount of the biofilm's biomass is approximately a factor two lower for exposed biofilm than the non-exposed biofilm. Measurements of electromagnetic fields in the air and simulations exhibit very low intensities of fields (<10 nT and 2 V/m) in the biofilm-exposed region at a distance of 1 m from the electromagnetic generator. Exposure to electric and magnetic fields of the quoted intensities cannot explain thermal and ionizing effects on the biofilm. A variable electrical potential with a magnitude close to 20 mV was detected in the tank in hydraulic continuity with the electromagnetic generator. The application of quantum field theory may help to explain the observed effects in this case.
authors.affiliation: LOCIE UMR CNRS 5271, Université de Savoie, 73376, Le Bourget du Lac, France. Electronic address: gerard.merlin@univ-savoie.fr.
authors.forename: Merlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.affiliation: LOCIE UMR CNRS 5271, Université de Savoie, 73376, Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Omri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Noamen
authors.affiliation: LOCIE UMR CNRS 5271, Université de Savoie, 73376, Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Gonze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evelyne
authors.affiliation: Planet Horizons Technologies, Technopole 5, 3960 Sierre, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valette
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eric
authors.affiliation: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, G2Elab, F-38000 Grenoble, France; CNRS, G2Elab, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Cauffet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilles
authors.affiliation: LCMES UMR CNRS 7140 Université de Stasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marc
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D018533:Biomass; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D005898:Glass; D011789:Quantum Theory; D018508:Water Purification
keywords: Microbial biomass; Quantum field theory; VLF electromagnetic fields; Water coherence; Water treatment