Web Release Date: February 15,
Effects of Pulsed Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Water Characterized by Light Scattering Techniques: Role of Bubbles
and
Laboratoire d' Optique des Solides (UMR CNRS 7601), Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Campus Boucicaut, 140, rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris, France, Groupe de Physique des Solides (UMR CNRS 7588), Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6) et Université Denis Diderot (Paris 7), Campus Boucicaut, 140, rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris, France, UMR 8646-MNHN, 53 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France, CEMAGREF, 24, avenue des Landais-BP 50085, 63172 Aubiere Cedex, France, and Institut Andre Lwoff IFR89, 7, rue Guy Moquet-BP8, 94801 Villejuif Cedex, France
Received August 21, 2004
In Final Form: December 23, 2004
Abstract:
Well-characterized purified water was exposed for 6 h to pulsed low-frequency weak electromagnetic fields. After various time periods, nondegassed and degassed water samples were analyzed by static light scattering. Just after electromagnetic exposure (day 0), a reduction of over 20% in the maximum light scattering intensity at 488 nm wavelength in both nondegassed and degassed samples was observed. By contrast, on day 12 the difference was observed only in nondegassed water samples. The latter effect was attributed to the different geometries of the containers combined with the basic origin of the whole phenomenon due to gas bubbles present in water. By the use of dynamic light scattering, the bubble mean diameter was estimated to be around 300 nm. Our results suggest that the electromagnetic exposure acts on gas nanobubbles present in water and emphasizes the role of the gas/liquid interface. The possibility that exposure to electromagnetic fields disturbs the ionic double layer that contributes to bubble stabilization in water is discussed.
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