| EMF could have a serious impact on the vitality of insect populations. | Thill https://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Thill_Review_Insects_2020_Engl.pdf2020 | The review found that despite low levels of exposure to transmitters, harmful effects occurred after several months. Field strengths 100 times below the ICNIRP limits could already have effects. Against the background of the rapid decline of insects and the further expansion of high-frequency electromagnetic field sources, there is an urgent need for further research. |
| RFR disrupts insect and bird orientation – UK guidelines do not set safety limits for wildlife | Balmori. “Anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as an emerging threat to wildlife orientation.” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 518–519, 2015, pp. 58–60 | Radio frequency fields in the MHz range disrupt insect and bird orientation. Radio frequency noise interferes with the primary process of magnetoreception. Further research in this area is urgent. |
| Significant effects to birds, insects, bees and other vertebrates are seen in scientific research | Cucurachi, C., et al. “A review of the ecological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).” Environment International, vol. 51, 2013, pp. 116–40 | 65% of 113 published studies (50% of the animal studies and about 75% of the plant studies) RF-EMF had a significant effect on birds, insects, other vertebrates, other organisms and plants. The review paper cites development and reproduction in birds and insects as the most strongly affected endpoints. |
| DNA damage at low exposures seen in birds and other wildlife | Manville, A, former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency lead on avian-structural impacts, “A BRIEFING MEMORANDUM: What We Know, Can Infer, and Don’t Yet Know about Impacts from Thermal and Non-thermal Non-ionizing Radiation to Birds and Other Wildlife” | This memorandum concludes that: “an increasing body of published lab research finds DNA damage at low intensity exposures – well below levels of thermal heating – which may be comparable to far field exposures from cell antennas. This body of work would apply to all species, including migratory birds” |
| 89.9% of studies on the effect of RFR on plants show effects | Halgamuge, Weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phone radiation on plants 2020 | This analysis of 45 peer-reviewed scientific publications (1996-2016) on changes in plants due to the non-thermal RF-EMF effects from mobile phone radiation demonstrates that the data from a substantial amount of the studies show physiological and/or morphological effects (89.9%, p < 0.001). |
| Increases in absorbed power between 3% and 370% in insects when exposed to 2 GHz to 120 GHz frequencies | Thielens et al., “Exposure of Insects to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields from 2 to 120 GHz” Scientific Reports volume 8, Article number: 3924 (2018) | This is the first study to investigate how insects (including the Western honeybee) absorb the higher frequencies (2 GHz to 120 GHz) to be used in the 4G/5G rollout. The scientific simulations showed increases in absorbed power between 3% to 370% when the insects were exposed to the frequencies. Researchers concluded, “This could lead to changes in insect behavior, physiology, and morphology over time….” |
| Frogs: adverse health effects on eggs and tadpoles when exposed to RFR | Balmori, A Mobile phone mast effects on common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles 2010 | This study exposed eggs and tadpoles to electromagnetic radiation from cell phone antennas for two months, from the egg phase until an advanced phase of tadpole and found low coordination of movements, an asynchronous growth, resulting in both big and small tadpoles, and a high mortality rate. The authors conclude, “these results indicate that radiation emitted by phone masts in a real situation may affect the development and may cause an increase in mortality of exposed tadpoles.” |
| Trees sustain significantly more damage on the side of the tree facing the antenna | Waldmann-Selsam et al, Radiofrequency radiation injures trees around mobile phone base stations 2016 | A field monitoring study spanning 9 years involving over 100 trees found trees sustained significantly more damage on the side of the tree facing the antenna, leaving the entire tree system prone to degradation over time. |
| Trees: ambient RF levels adversely affect aspen seedlings | Haggarty, Adverse Influence of Radio Frequency Background on Trembling Aspen Seedlings: Preliminary Observations 2010 | This study on aspen seedings found ambient RF levels in a Colorado setting were high enough to cause necrotic lesions on the leaves, decrease leader length and leaf area, and suppress fall anthocyanin production. These effects suggest that exposure to the RF background may be an underlying factor in the recent rapid decline of aspen populations. Further studies are underway to test this hypothesis in a more rigorous way.” |
