The effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on sulphate- reducing bacteria viability were studied electrochemically. Two types of graphite electrodes (pyrolytic and glassy carbon) covered with whole bacterial cells behind a dialysis membrane were used for electrochemical measurements. We found about 15% decrease of reduction peak current density (which indicates desulphurization activity of the bacterial cells - their metabolic activity) on cyclic voltammograms after magnetic field exposure compared to the control samples. We suppose that the magnetic field does not influence the metabolic activity (desulphurization) of sulphate-reducing bacteria but most probably causes bacterial death.

Institute of Biophysics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v v i Brno Czech Republic