Biological Effects of TV Set Electromagnetic Fields on the Growth of Spruce Seedlings

Abstract

On the basis of our previous pilot tests with a TV set we have carried out a series of tests on the growth and germination of spruce seeds, Picea abies, which proved to be susceptible to weak electromagnetic fields: at 35 cm in front of the TV set–Emax 24 V/m, Emax 270 nT at 16 kHz and Emax 800 V/m, Emax 1500 nT at 50 Hz; at 90 cm in front of the TV set–Emax, 0.1 V/m, Bmax 14 nT at 16 kHz and Emax 12 V/m, Emax, 100 nT at 50 Hz. Owing to prolonged (pre)imbibition for 2 days (the B system, mild water stress) the effects on the seeds were very conspicuous: the average lengths of radicles were significantly higher (from 27 to 52% at 35 cm, from 16 to 59% at 90 cm) than in the control groups. In 4 experiments with the normally imbibed seeds (the N system) the average lengths were significantly lower (by -20 to -12% at 35 cm, by -19 to -14% at 90 cm) against the control. There were no such differences in two control experiments without the TV set or with the set turned off. The more pronounced effects on the B ...