[The role of free radicals in mechanisms of biological function exposed to weak, constant and net magnetic fields].

For many years biological effect of magnetic fields has been the subject of great interest. Based on the current body of knowledge, many specialists suggest that it may play some role in the process of embryogenesis and teratogenesis; disturb the functioning of the central nervous and immunological systems; and effect cellular growth and differentiation, particularly in terms of carcinogenesis. However, sufficient evidence collaborating the assumption of health hazard arising from general exposure to magnetic field has not as yet been provided. At present, very intensive studies have been carried out in order to elucidate the mechanism of the effect of magnetic fields both in terms of physical and biological aspects. The authors present the most recognised hypotheses among those suggested in this area. They devote more attention to the hypothesis on a possible effect of weak magnetic fields, namely those observed in the occupational and commmunal environments, on free radicals which play a key role in a number of processes occurring in live organisms. The results of in vitro studies which confirm that such a mechanism does exist in simple biological systems are also discussed. The effect of this mechanism on the whole organism is still unknown. The future experimental, particularly in vivo, studies should provide a final answer to the question whether the effects observed are only transient ones or whether they play a decisive role in the mechanism of magnetic fields affecting human organism.