In the framework of the International School of Bioelectromagnetics "Alexander Chiabrera" the VI course dedicated to static magnetic fields and low frequency will be held this year from the 25th November to the 1st December.
Each year 100 million patients are exposed to strong static and low frequency magnetic fields while having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure. Each year most of humanity it exposed to weak extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields from electric power generation, distribution and use. Given this enormous exposure burden to humans and other biological organisms it is surprising that we still know so little about biological effects and, if there are effects, if they are detrimental. The school will cover fundamental physics, including dosimetry, and relevant data from biological systems from cell free systems to humans. These topics will be structured with respect to candidate biophysical and biochemical mechanisms including consideration of the target of the initial transduction mechanism and the importance of the choice of the experimental observable. Moreover, what future experiments and scientific endeavors are needed to allow informed decision making with respect to exposure guidelines and further development of medical and non-medical applications will be also discussed.
The course will be held in Erice (Sicily, Italy) at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture (President: prof. Antonio Zichichi). Here a Permanent School of Bioelectromagnetics was set up in 2003 (Director: prof. Ferdinando Bersani) with the aim of dealing with the various aspects of interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological systems.
The course directors are Frank S Prato (Lawson Health Research Inst., London, Ont., Canada) and Jukka Juutilainen (Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio).
As part of the VI course Maria Rosaria Scarfì, researcher at IREA, will give a lecture entitled "In vitro studies on static magnetic fields".
Interested candidates can consult the course program containing registration procedures..
