Biological Effects of Very Low Frequency (VLF) Atmospherics in Humans: A Review

Abstract Ð The living organism is constantly affected by natural electro-magnetic influences covering a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes. One of these influences, with frequencies in the very low frequency (VLF) range, (1-100 kHz) is represented by a phenomenon called VLF-atmospher-ics or VLF-sferics. Sferics are very short, weak, and dampened electromag-netic impulses generated by atmospheric discharges (lightning). Due to this fact, they can be used to study the characteristics of lightning, as well as the lower ionosphere. Besides their significance as indicators of thunderstorm activity, it has been hypothesized that sferics are able to affect the function-ing of living organisms and physico-chemical systems. More specifically, this atmospheric parameter has been considered a possible trigger for changes in the somatic and emotional well-being of humans, sometimes referred to as weather sensitivity symptoms or meteoropathy. The following review at-tempts to summarize present knowledge of biological significance of VLF-sferics in humans