Biological Effects of Hypomagnetic Field: Ground‐Based Data for Space Exploration

Abstract

The future of mankind is tied to the exploration and eventual colonization of space. Currently, people have resided in orbit at a space station. In the future, we will have opportunities to stay on the moon, Mars, or in deeper space, where astronauts are exposed to the hypomagnetic field (HMF), which refers to an extremely weak magnetic field environment compared with the geomagnetic field. However, the potential risks of HMF exposure to human health are often overlooked. Here, we summarize the literature related to the biological effects of HMF and calculate the magnitude of the effect. Briefly, HMF impairs multiple animal systems, especially in the central nervous system. Additionally, HMF is a stress factor in plant growth and reproduction. Finally, HMF combined with other space environments, such as radiation and microgravity, can affect organisms. Further studies are required to explore (i) countermeasures to the adverse effects of HMF, (ii) combined effects of HMF with other factors, and (iii) the intensity‐effect relationship. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

A Current Overview of the Biological Effects of Combined Space Environmental Factors in Mammals

“…Beyond these, there is little research on other systems. HMF can affect the function of multiple systems in an organism, especially in the central nervous system ( Zhang et al, 2021b ). Similarly, microgravity can affect the central nervous system while the combined effects of HMF and microgravity is yet to be elucidated.…”

“…Astronauts are inevitably exposed to HMF conditions when performing long-cycle and long-distance space missions. HMF can interfere with a variety of functions of organisms, including gene expression, individual growth, embryonic development, learning and working abilities ( Zhang et al, 2021a ; Zhang et al, 2021b ). The orbit of a spacecraft in low orbit around the earth is about 90 min ( Dijk et al, 2001 ; Thirsk et al, 2009 ).…”

Theoretical Concepts in Magnetobiology after 40 Years of Research

“…It is well-known that the elimination of the geoMF causes a variety of biological responses; see, e.g., recent experimental studies [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 ] and reviews [ 22 , 82 ]. In [ 40 , 83 ], it has been shown that significant changes in the dynamics of moments occur in the “zero,” or hypomagnetic, MF, when the gap between the Zeeman sublevels becomes comparable to the width of the levels themselves.…”

Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism

“…Earth's geomagnetic field, ranging from ∼24 to ∼66 µT depending on latitude 144 , can have critical roles in numerous biological processes. Shielding the geomagnetic field, called hypomagnetic field, is known to cause biological effects 19,22,24,[145][146][147][148][149] .…”