Аннотация:We investigate the axial vector torsion-spin coupling in the framework of the Poincaré gauge theory of gravity with the most general Lagrangian quadratic in the curvature and the torsion. The dynamical equations for the “electric” and “magnetic” components of the torsion field variable are obtained in the general form and it is shown that the helicity density and the spin density of the electromagnetic field appear as the physical sources. The modified Maxwell’s equations for the electromagnetic field are derived, and the electromagnetic wave propagation under the action of the uniform homogeneous torsion field is considered. We demonstrate the Faraday effect of rotation of the polarization for such a wave, and derive the strong bound on the possible cosmic axial torsion field from the astrophysical data.