Solar and geomagnetic activity, extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields and human health at the Earth’s surface

The possibility that conditions on the Sun and in the Earth’s magnetosphere can affect human health at the Earth’s surface has been debated for many decades. This work reviews the research undertaken in the field of heliobiology, focusing on the effect of variations of geomagnetic activity on human cardiovascular health. Data from previous research are analysed for their statistical significance, resulting in support for some studies and the undermining of others. Three conclusions are that geomagnetic effects are more pronounced at higher magnetic latitudes, that extremely high as well as extremely low values of geomagnetic activity seem to have adverse health effects and that a subset of the population (10–15%) is predisposed to adverse health due to geomagnetic variations. The reported health effects of anthropogenic sources of electric and magnetic fields are also briefly discussed, as research performed in this area could help to explain the results from studies into natural electric and magnetic field interactions with the human S. J. Palmer (&) Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK e-mail: [email protected] Present Address: S. J. Palmer Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK M. J. Rycroft CAESAR Consultancy, 35 Millington Road, Cambridge CB3 9HW, UK e-mail: [email protected] M. J. Rycroft International Space University, rue J.D. Cassini 1, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France M. Cermack Applied Science Technologies Network, Feldmoosstrasse 12, P. O. B 21, 8853 Lachen, Switzerland e-mail: [email protected] M. Cermack International Space University, rue J.D. Cassini 1, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France 123 Surv Geophys DOI 10.1007/s10712-006-9010-7