Commercially available pulsed-electromagnetic field (PEMF) devices are currently being marketed and employed to ostensibly manage biofouling. The reliable application and industry acceptance of such technologies require thorough scientific validation – and this is currently lacking. We have initiated proof-of-principle research in an effort to investigate whether such commercially available PEMF devices can influence the viability (culturability) of planktonic bacteria in an aqueous environment. Thus two different commercial PEMF devices were investigated via a static (i.e. non-flowing) treatment system. ‘Healthy’ Escherichia coli cells, as well as cultures that were physiologically compromised by silver nano-particles, were exposed to the PEMFs from both devices under controlled conditions. Although relatively minor, the observed effects were nevertheless statistically significant and consistent with the hypothesis that PEMF exposure under controlled conditions may result in a decrease in cellular viability and culturability. It has also been observed that under certain conditions bacterial growth is actually stimulated.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
December 08 2015
The effect of electromagnetic fields, from two commercially available water treatment devices, on bacterial culturability
Chathuri Piyadasa;
1College of Engineering and Science, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Thomas R. Yeager;
Thomas R. Yeager
1College of Engineering and Science, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Stephen R. Gray;
Stephen R. Gray
1College of Engineering and Science, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Matthew B. Stewart;
Matthew B. Stewart
1College of Engineering and Science, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Harry F. Ridgway;
Harry F. Ridgway
2Aquamem Scientific Consultants, Rodeo, NM 88056, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Con Pelekani;
Con Pelekani
3South Australian Water Corporation, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
John D. Orbell
John D. Orbell
1College of Engineering and Science, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2016) 73 (6): 1371–1377.
Article history
Received:
September 01 2015
Accepted:
November 18 2015
Citation
Chathuri Piyadasa, Thomas R. Yeager, Stephen R. Gray, Matthew B. Stewart, Harry F. Ridgway, Con Pelekani, John D. Orbell; The effect of electromagnetic fields, from two commercially available water treatment devices, on bacterial culturability. Water Sci Technol 22 March 2016; 73 (6): 1371–1377. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.616
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00