Cell Membrane Potentials Induced During Exposure to EMP Fields

Abstract

Internal current densities and electric fields induced in the human body during exposure to electromagnetic pulsed (EMP) fields are reviewed and used to predict resulting cell membrane potentials. Using several different approaches with a spherical cell model, membrane potentials of about 100 mV are predicted. These values are comparable to the static membrane potentials maintained by cells as a part of normal physiological function, but the EMP-induced potentials persist for only about 10 ns. Possible biological implications of EMP-induced membrane potentials include conformational changes and electroporation.