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Anthropogenic Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as an Emerging Threat to Wildlife Orientation

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Abstract

The rate of scientific activity regarding the effects of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation in the radiofrequency (RF) range on animals and plants has been small despite the fact that this topic is relevant to the fields of experimental biology, ecology and conservation due to its remarkable expansion over the past 20years. Current evidence indicates that exposure at levels that are found in the environment (in urban areas and near base stations) may particularly alter the receptor organs to orient in the magnetic field of the earth. These results could have important implications for migratory birds and insects, especially in urban areas, but could also apply to birds and insects in natural and protected areas where there are powerful base station emitters of radiofrequencies. Therefore, more research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation in nature is needed to investigate this emerging threat. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Short communication
Anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as an emerging
threat to wildlife orientation
Alfonso Balmori
Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Castilla y León, C/ Rigoberto Cortejoso, 14, 47071 Valladolid, Spain
HIGHLIGHTS
•The growth of wireless telecommunication technologies causes increased electrosmog.
•Radio frequency fields in the MHz range disrupt insect and bird orientation.
•Radio frequency noise interferes with the primary process of magnetoreception.
•Existing guidelines do not adequately protect wildlife.
•Further research in this area is urgent.
abstractarticle info
Article history:
Received 5 J anuary 2015
Received in revised form 20 February 2015
Accepted 22 February 2015
Available online xxxx
Editor: P. Kassomenos
Keywords:
Ecological effect
Electromagnetic field exposure
Environmental pollution
Magnetic compass
Nonthermal effects
Orientation
The rate of scientific activity regarding the effects of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation in the radiofre-
quency (RF) range on animals and plants has been small despite the fact that this topic is relevant to the fields
of experimental biology, ecology and conservation due to its remarkable expansion over the past 20 years.
Current evidence indicates that exposure at levels that are found in the environment (in urban areas and near
base stations) may particularly alter the receptor organs to orient in the magnetic field of the earth. These results
could have important implications for migratorybirds and insects, especially in urban areas, but could also apply
to birds and insects in natural and protected areas where there are powerful base station emitters of
radiofrequencies. Therefore, more research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation in nature is needed to
investigate this emerging threat.
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Different animal groups are sensitive to low frequency electromag-
netic fields, and many species with receptor organs are provided with
important orientation cues from natural electric fields (Kalmijn, 1988).
Animals can use the direction of the magnetic field as a compass and
the intensity of the magnetic field as a component of the navigational
map, with light-dependent reactions in specialised photo-pigments
and reactions involving small crystals of magnetite, using one of these
systems, or both simultaneously, depending on the animal groups
(Kirschvink et al., 2001; Johnsen and Lohmann, 2005; Wiltschko et al.,
2007; Hsu et al., 2007; Ritz et al., 2009; Wajnberg et al., 2010).
Some insects, like bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), can interact with
floral electric fields and electric field sensing constitutes a potentially
important sensory modality. The perception of weak electric fields by
bees in nature, which should be considered alongside vision and
olfaction, may have an adaptive value (Clarke et al., 2013). An applied
static magnetic field affects circadian rhythms, magnetosensitivity and
orientation of insects throughcryptochromes, and a prolonged weaken-
ing of the geomagnetic field affects the immune system of rats (Roman
and Tombarkiewicz, 2009; Yoshii et al., 2009).
In the radiofrequency range, the rapid development and increased
use of wireless telecommunication technologies led to a substantial
change in the radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure
(Levitt and Lai, 2010). This increased exposure was most consistently
observed in outdoor areas due to emissions from radio and mobile
phone base stations (Urbinello et al., 2014). Current evidence indicates
that exposure at levels found in the environment (in urban areas and
near base stations), may particularly alter the receptor organs to orient
in the magnetic field of the earth, although the species conservation
implications are unknown. Radio frequency fields in the MHz range dis-
rupt birds' orientation interfering directly with the primary processes of
magnetoreception and therefore disable the avian compass as long as
Science of the Total Environment 518–519 (2015) 58–60
E-mail addresses: balmaral@jcyl.es,abalmorimartinez@gmail.com.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.077
0048-9697/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Science of the Total Environment
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv
they are present (Wiltschko et al., 2014). Ritz et al. (2004 & 2009) re-
ported the sensitivity for orientation of European robins (Erithacus
rubecula) to radiofrequency magnetic fields. The orientation of migrato-
ry birds is disrupted when very weak high-frequency fields (broad-
band field of 0.1–10 MHz of 85 nT or a 1.315 MHz field of 480 nT) are
added to the static geomagnetic field of 46.000 nT (Thalau et al.,
2006). It was convincingly demonstrated that robins are unable to use
their magnetic compass in the presence of urban electromagnetic radio-
frequency noise in the frequency range of 2 kHz–5MHz(Engels et al.,
2014). Therefore, electrosmog scrambles birds' magnetic sense and
this finding could inform policies written to protect the habitats of en-
dangered species.
As with birds, radio frequency magnetic fields disrupt magneto-
reception in insects. The geomagnetic field reception in American
cockroach is sensitive to weak radio frequency field causing a disruptive
effect (Vacha et al., 2009), so these authors suggest that electromagnetic
smog will have to be taken more seriously in animal magnetoreception
experiments. In an experimentally-generated electromagnetic field of
about 1 V/m with a realistic (and even lower) power intensity similar
to those surrounding communication masts, the results and observa-
tions suggest that GSM (Global System for Mobile communications)
900 MHz radiation might have a severe impact on the nerve cells of
exposed ants, especially affecting the visual and olfactory memory,
causing the loss of their ability to use visual cues and suggesting that
electromagnetic radiation may have an impact on the orientation be-
haviour and navigation of animals that use magnetic fields to find
their way (Cammaerts et al., 2012, 2014). Honeybees are sensitive to
pulsed electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones and observ-
able changes in the bee behaviour could be one explanation forthe loss
of colonies (Favre, 2011). Magnetoreception system in Monarch butter-
fly orientation (Guerra et al., 2014) may be also suffering interference
with anthropogenic radio frequency magnetic fields and this, together
with other factors (Brower et al., 2012), may be a cause of their popula-
tion decline.
Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage-gated calcium
channels (Pall, 2013). Changes in the size of the magnetic granules
upon applying additional magnetic field to the cells of Apis mellifera
were observed, and this size fluctuation triggered the increase of cal-
cium intracellular (Hsu et al., 2007). Therefore, we may hypothesise
that some of the disruptive effects of radio frequency fields on the
orientation of animals may be related to the interference with calcium
channels.
An aversive effect on bats has been found in habitats exposed to ra-
diofrequency radiation (1–4 GHz) when compared with matched sites
where no such radiation can be detected (Nicholls and Racey, 2009).
Cattle exposed to radiofrequency emissions (900 MHz) from nearby
base stations may suffer changes in the redox proteins and enzyme ac-
tivities. It was also found that some are sensitive to radiation, while
others are not (Hässig et al., 2014).
Exposure to low intensity radiation can have a profound effect on
biological processes (Bolen, 1994). Although there is a good degree of
evidence on the injurious effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic
fields on the immune system, pineal gland, circadian rhythm, oxidative
stress and teratogenicity, these topicsremain controversial (Lerchl et al.,
2008; Takahashi et al., 2009; Jinet al., 2012; Qin et al., 2012; Bilgici et al.,
2013; Tsybulin et al., 2013; Yakymenko et al., 2014; Cao et al., 2015).
Conversely, there is a scientific agreement regarding harmful effects of
radio frequency radiation on human reproduction (Adams et al.,
2014). Low-voltage electricity current-generated electromagnetic field
can produce a significantly negative effect on the breeding success of
birds (Ciconia ciconia) nesting directly on electricity lines (Vaitkuvienė
and Dagys, 2014) and these same results have been found in nests ex-
posed to radiofrequency radiation near phone masts (Balmori, 2005).
The health risk of electromagnetic fields to aquatic organisms
needs to be addressed (Lee and Yang, 2014). The potential interac-
tions between diadromous fishes of conservation importance and
the electromagnetic fields and subsea noise from marine renewable
energy developments are being studied (Gill et al., 2012).
In a systematic review of published scientific studies on the potential
ecological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in
the range of 10 MHz–3.6 GHz, about two thirds of the reviewed studies
show ecological effects of RF-EMF at high, as well as at low, dosages
(Cucurachi et al., 2013). The low dosages are compatible with real
field situations, and could be found under environmental conditions
(Cucurachi et al., 2013; Balmori, 2014). However, studies conducted in
real field situations must be made with a sufficient experimental expo-
sure time, since results with a short period of exposure are likely to be
ambiguous (e.g. 48 h in Vijver et al., 2013).
A limited number of studies have addressed the effects of radio-
frequency radiation on plants indicating that these effects depend
on the plant family, growth stage, exposure duration, frequency,
and power density, among other factors (Senavirathna and Takashi,
2013; Halgamuge et al., 2015). There are two papers warning on neg-
ative effects of radio frequencies from mobile phone masts on trees
(Balmori, 2004; Waldmann-Selsam and Eger, 2013) and researchers
have found very worrying effects in laboratory studies (Pesnya and
Romanovsky, 2013). The results of these preliminary findings indi-
cate that further research on this topic is extremely urgent.
Theseresultscouldhaveimportant implications for wildlife, es-
pecially in urban and suburban areas, but also in rural, natural and
protected areas where there are powerful base station emitters of
radiofrequencies (Bürgi et al., 2014). Such effects have not yet been
examined, but the consequences continue due to the fact that the
existing guidelines of public health protection only consider the effects
of short-term thermal exposure (Hyland, 2000) and do not adequately
protect wildlife. EMF safety standard should be based on the more
sensitive, natural biological response (Blank, 2014). Therefore, more
research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation in nature is needed
to investigate this emerging threat (Balmori, 2014).
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to J.L. Telleria, D.O. Carpenter, R. Carbonell and
S. Wright for their help and advice. The author reports no conflicts of
interest.
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60 A. Balmori / Science of the Total Environment 518–519 (2015) 58–60
... Current evidence indicates that exposure to low-level radiofrequency fields may particularly alter the magnetoreception process (Vacha et al., 2009;Wiltschko et al., 2014;Engels et al., 2014;Balmori, 2015). Radiofrequency fields in the MHz range disrupt the orientation of birds, as they interfere directly with the primary processes of magnetoreception and disable the avian compass as long as they are present (Wiltschko et al., 2014). ...
... In the same way as for birds, man-made electromagnetic fields disrupt orientation in other vertebrates and invertebrates (Camlitepe et al., 2005;Balmori, 2015). The murine rodent compass is sensitive to low-level radiofrequency noise (100 MHz, ~ 1 nT) (Phillips et al., 2022). ...
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Full-text available
  • Mar 2024
This paper discusses the potential health risks and benefits to tagged wildlife from the use of radio tracking, radio telemetry, and related microchip and data-logger technologies used to study, monitor and track mostly wildlife in their native habitats. Domestic pets, especially canids, are briefly discussed as radio-tagging devices are also used on/in them. Radio tracking uses very high frequency (VHF), ultra-high frequency (UHF), and global positioning system (GPS) technologies, including via satellites where platform terminal transmitters (PTTs) are used, as well as geo-locating capabilities using satellites, radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, and passive integrated responder (PIT) tags, among others. Such tracking technologies have resulted in cutting-edge findings worldwide that have served to protect and better understand the behaviors of myriad wildlife species. As a result, scientists, field researchers, technicians, fish and wildlife biologists and managers, plus wildlife and other veterinarian specialists, frequently opt for its use without fully understanding the ramifications to target species and their behaviors. These include negative physiological effects from electromagnetic fields (EMF) to which many nonhuman species are exquisitely sensitive, as well as direct placement/use-attachment impacts from radio collars, transmitters, and implants themselves. This paper provides pertinent studies, suggests best management practices, and compares technologies currently available to those considering and/or using such technologies. The primary focus is on the health and environmental risk/benefit decisions that should come into play, including ethical considerations, along with recommendations for more caution in the wildlife and veterinarian communities before such technologies are used in the first place.
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... The development of the electricity transmission infrastructure is expected to expand globally in the next decades (Griggs et al. 2013). This will have highly negative impact on environment in different aspects such as habitat fragmentation due to power line corridors (Andrews 1990), the effects of electromagnetic fields (Fernie & Reynolds 2005, Balmori 2015, changes in species interactions (Lammers & Collopy 2007) and an increase in wildfires (Guil et al. 2018). The most severe impact is the increase in non-natural mortality due to electrocution on power pylons (Lehman et al. 2007, Guil & Pérez-García 2022 and collision with overhead wires (Bernardino et al. 2018). ...
First Data on Bird Electrocution in Jordan, with Comments on the Undertaken Conservation Efforts
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2023
Avian electrocution has been well documented mostly in North America and Europe. In Asia, mortality due to hazardous power grid was studied mainly in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. However, this type of research is still rare in the Middle East region and the problem there remains poorly understood. Jordan is on the flyway of many threatened species, such as Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis (Hodgson, 1833), Egyp-tian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (Savigny, 1809). Therefore, the study of the electrocution risk in the country is of crucial importance to clarifying the dangerous power lines, threatening birds and their subsequent mitigation. In this pilot study, we focused on regions comprising part of the eastern Mediterranean migration route of the Egyptian Vulture used also by other raptor species. We found 215 electrocuted birds belonging to nine species, as the most common victim was the White Stork Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 197). Raptors were the next most commonly electrocuted guild in our study, including globally endangered Steppe Eagle (n = 2) and Egyptian Vulture (n = 1). Most electrocution incidents were recorded on tower station (KR = 2.43). The power poles of Type 3 (KR = 1) and Type 6 (KR = 0.75) also caused high bird mortality. However, 742 poles of different types were insulated within the project "Urgent Actions to Strengthen the Balkan Population of the Egyptian Vulture and Secure Its Flyway" (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874). We recommend the intensification of such research in order to evaluate how serious the problem really is in the Middle East region, identifying hotspots of electrocution mortality and implementing subsequent mitigation measures.
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... RF heating of insects has been reviewed in [10][11][12]. Studies not necessarily aimed at investigating the thermal effects of EMF exposure exist as well [13][14][15][16][17][18]. [19] suggests that EM radiation of mobile antennas affects the abundance and composition of wild pollinators. ...
Estimation of the Specific Absorption Rate for a Honey bee Exposed to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from 2.5 to 100 GHz
Conference Paper
  • Sep 2023
This paper presents a study of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure of a honey bee at radio frequencies from 2.5 GHz to 100 GHz using numerical simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. The main goal of our study was to estimate the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in honey bee tissues as a dosimetric aid to predict the possible adverse effects caused by EMF energy absorption. In this study, the insect is modeled as a 3-tissue heterogeneous dielectric object, and the Sim4Life EM-FDTD solver was used for EM simulations. The whole-body and brain tissue-averaged SAR values of a honeybee were determined for all considered frequencies and normalized on 1 mW/cm2 incident plane-wave power density. The obtained SAR values were also averaged over a volume of 1 milligram of tissue. The results showed that EMF energy absorption in insects depends on E-field polarization, frequency, and the insect's body peculiarities.
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Proactive sanitary-veterinary monitoring of bee families included in a prophylaxis program (active beekeeping season 2023)
Article
  • Dec 2023
The purpose of this work is to monitor the state of bee health through morphoclinical and laboratory examination of bees on samples of live bees and honeycombs with brood for the prevention and control of diseases in bees in order to include them in a study on the impact of the non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations on bees. Samples were collected during the active season 2023, and morpho-clinically and laboratory examined according to OIE regulations from 9 private apiaries (PH, AG, TR, CL, VN, IS, DB, VL and IF) from which we collected 18 samples. The laboratory results revealed the existence of some diseases in 6 apiaries (66.67%), as follows: a unique evolution (suspected foulbrood disease in one apiary) (11.11%), five apiaries with mixed conditions (55,56%) (varroosis, nosemosis, chalkbrood, and suspected poisoning), and three apiaries were diagnosed as clinically healthy (33.33%). Studying the influence of nonionizing radiation on bees has wider implications for ecology and the environment, as bees play a crucial role in pollination and maintaining ecosystems. The interaction between bees and electromagnetic radiation is a complex and multifactorial issue that may explain the diversity of conclusions in the available studies. Therefore, studies are needed in Romania to better understand the connection between non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation and the decline of bee populations (Collony Colapse Disorder).
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Comments on the paper “correlation does not imply causation: decline of House Sparrow overshadowed by electromagnetic radiation” by Nath et al.
Article
  • Jan 2024
The paper published by Nath et al. (Urban Ecosystems 25:1279–1295, 2022) analyzes the influence of different ecological factors and covariates on House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) abundance but criticizes previous research without explaining in depth the scientific reasons for it and reaches conclusions not supported by the authors’ own data nor by existing knowledge and scientific evidence. They state that studies on the impacts of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on birds outside laboratory conditions carried out in the past did not consider other ecological factors that could also influence the life history needs of the species. However, precisely the opposite is true; the studies carried out so far, taking into account most of the possible factors to consider, including urbanization, have not been able to solve the enigma of the House Sparrow decline in many of the world's cities. Thus, it is necessary to propose new possible causes not considered so far. Among the few that remain to be tested is the electromagnetic radiation hypothesis, which was proposed by two independent research teams in two different countries. This paper is a reply of the work developed by Nath et al. (Urban Ecosystems 25:1279–1295, 2022) that highlight their inconclusive results and methodological flaws due to the correlation observed between radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and urbanization, complement their results showing negative correlations when testing House Sparrow abundance with electromagnetic radiation levels correcting for the percentage of builtup, and clarify some statements and misconceptions (importance of non-thermal effects).
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Effects of low-level RF fields reveal complex pattern of magnetic input to the avian magnetic compass
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2023
The avian magnetic compass can be disrupted by weak narrow-band and broadband radio-frequency (RF) fields in the lower MHz range. However, it is unclear whether disruption of the magnetic compass results from the elimination of the perception pattern produced by the magnetic field or from qualitative changes that make the pattern unrecognizable. We show that zebra finches trained in a 4-arm maze to orient relative to the magnetic field are disoriented when tested in the presence of low-level (~ 10 nT) Larmor-frequency RF fields. However, they are able to orient when tested in such RF fields if trained under this condition, indicating that the RF field alters, but does not eliminate, the magnetic input. Larmor-frequency RF fields of higher intensities, with or without harmonics, dramatically alter the magnetic compass response. In contrast, exposure to broadband RF fields in training, in testing, or in both training and testing eliminates magnetic compass information. These findings demonstrate that low-level RF fields at intensities found in many laboratory and field experiments may have very different effects on the perception of the magnetic field in birds, depending on the type and intensity of the RF field, and the birds’ familiarity with the RF-generated pattern.
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Circadian Rhythmicity of Antioxidant Markers in Rats Exposed to 1.8 GHz Radiofrequency Fields
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2015
Background: The potential health risks of exposure to Radiofrequency Fields (RF) emitted by mobile phones are currently of considerable public interest, such as the adverse effects on the circadian rhythmicities of biological systems. To determine whether circadian rhythms of the plasma antioxidants (Mel, GSH-Px and SOD) are affected by RF, we performed a study on male Sprague Dawley rats exposed to the 1.8 GHz RF. Methods: All animals were divided into seven groups. The animals in six groups were exposed to 1.8 GHz RF (201.7 μW/cm² power density, 0.05653 W/kg specific absorption rate) at a specific period of the day (3, 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 h GMT, respectively), for 2 h/day for 32 consecutive days. The rats in the seventh group were used as sham-exposed controls. At the end of last RF exposure, blood samples were collected from each rat every 4 h (total period of 24 h) and also at similar times from sham-exposed animals. The concentrations of three antioxidants (Mel, GSH-Px and SOD) were determined. The data in RF-exposed rats were compared with those in sham-exposed animals. Results: circadian rhythms in the synthesis of Mel and antioxidant enzymes, GSH-Px and SOD, were shifted in RF-exposed rats compared to sham-exposed animals: the Mel, GSH-Px and SOD levels were significantly decreased when RF exposure was given at 23 and 3 h GMT. Conclusion: The overall results indicate that there may be adverse effects of RF exposure on antioxidant function, in terms of both the daily antioxidative levels, as well as the circadian rhythmicity.
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Reduced Growth of Soybean Seedlings After Exposure to Weak Microwave Radiation From GSM 900 Mobile Phone and Base Station
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2015
  • BIOELECTROMAGNETICS
The aim of this work was to study possible effects of environmental radiation pollution on plants. The association between cellular telephone (short duration, higher amplitude) and base station (long duration, very low amplitude) radiation exposure and the growth rate of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings was investigated. Soybean seedlings, pre-grown for 4 days, were exposed in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic cell for 2 h to global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone pulsed radiation or continuous wave (CW) radiation at 900 MHz with amplitudes of 5.7 and 41 V m−1, and outgrowth was studied one week after exposure. The exposure to higher amplitude (41 V m−1) GSM radiation resulted in diminished outgrowth of the epicotyl. The exposure to lower amplitude (5.7 V m−1) GSM radiation did not influence outgrowth of epicotyl, hypocotyls, or roots. The exposure to higher amplitude CW radiation resulted in reduced outgrowth of the roots whereas lower CW exposure resulted in a reduced outgrowth of the hypocotyl. Soybean seedlings were also exposed for 5 days to an extremely low level of radiation (GSM 900 MHz, 0.56 V m−1) and outgrowth was studied 2 days later. Growth of epicotyl and hypocotyl was found to be reduced, whereas the outgrowth of roots was stimulated. Our findings indicate that the observed effects were significantly dependent on field strength as well as amplitude modulation of the applied field. Bioelectromagnetics. 2015;9999:1–9. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Magnetoreception in birds: The effect of radio-frequency fields
Article
Full-text available
The avian magnetic compass, probably based on radical pair processes, works only in a narrow functional window around the local field strength, with cryptochrome 1a as most likely receptor molecule. Radio-frequency fields in the MHz range have been shown to disrupt the birds' orientation, yet the nature of this interference is still unclear. In an immuno-histological study, we tested whether the radio-frequency fields interfere with the photoreduction of cryptochrome, but this does not seem to be the case. In behavioural studies, birds were not able to adjust to radio-frequency fields like they are able to adjust to static fields outside the normal functional range: neither a 2-h pre-exposure in a 7.0 MHz field, 480 nT, nor a 7-h pre-exposure in a 1.315 MHz field, 15 nT, allowed the birds to regain their orientation ability. This inability to adjust to radio-frequency fields suggests that these fields interfere directly with the primary processes of magnetoreception and therefore disable the avian compass as long as they are present. They do not have lasting adverse after-effects, however, as birds immediately after exposure to a radio-frequency field were able to orient in the local geomagnetic field. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
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Low intensity radiofrequency radiation: a new oxidant for living cells
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2014
Radiofrequency radiation (RFR), e.g. electromagnetic waves emitted by our cell phones and Wi-Fi, are referred to as non-ionizing. This means that in contrast to the ionizing radiation, which does induce ionization of water and biologically important macromolecules, RFR does not have a capacity for such effects. Unlike, for example X-rays, the energy of RFR is not enough to break electrons off the molecules. However, is RFR completely safe for public health? Traditionally, the industry and the public bodies said yes. Nevertheless, new research data change this perception. Oxidative stress is an induced imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant systems resulting in oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA; and is closely connected to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells [1]. The notion that the low intensity RFR can bring about significant oxidative stress in living cells has been doubted for years. The logic is simple: as low intensity radiofrequency electromagnetic waves are not able to ionize molecules, they can do nothing wrong for the living tissues. However, during the last decades a worldwide increase in penetration of wireless communication systems, including cellular telephony and Wi-Fi, attracted massive attention to possible biological effects of low intensity RFR. Consequently, the recent epidemiologi-cal studies unexpectedly indicated a significant increase in the occurrence of various tumors among long-term and "heavy" users of cellular phones. These include brain tumors [2, 3], acoustic neuromas [4, 5], tumors of parotid glands [6], seminomas [7], melanomas [8] and lymphomas [9]. Similarly, an increase in tumor incidence among people living nearby cellular base transmitting stations was also reported [10, 11]. As a result, in 2011 the World Health Organization/ International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radiofrequency radiation as a possible carcinogen to humans [12].
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Detection of Weak Electric Fields
Chapter
  • Jan 1988
Electric fields in natural waters present a wealth of sensory information. Bioelectric fields direct electrosensitive fishes to their prey, environmental fields provide important orientational cues, and the fields induced by the animals’ motion through the earth’s magnetic field offer oceanic species complete compass data. Particularly sensitive to electric fields are the marine sharks, skates, and rays, but the weakly electric fishes, the common catfishes, and several of the more primitive fishes are also known for their keen electric sense.
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The significance of microwaves in the environment and its effect on plants
Article
  • Dec 2013
Wireless technologies are becoming popular due to convenient lower implementation costs and operational costs compared with wired technologies. Various wireless internet and communication technologies, such as worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) and long-term evolution (LTE), are expanding rapidly. As with mobile phones, all of these technologies operate using high-frequency electromagnetic waves in the microwave category (3 × 102 – 3 × 106 MHz). An increasing number of operators within a geographical area is resulting in high microwave densities in the environment. At the same time, wireless technologies are now utilizing radio frequency electromagnetic radiation of up to 5500 MHz, and frequency spectrum allocation tables indicate that countries have allocated additional high frequencies for broadcasting purposes. Scientists have widely investigated the effects of microwaves on humans and animals, and some findings confirm that such effects exist. In comparison, a very limited number of published studies have addressed the effects of microwaves on plants. The findings of these studies indicate that the effects of microwaves on plants depend on the plant family and growth stage involved as well as the exposure duration, frequency, and power density, among other factors. However, the number of published studies is not yet sufficient to support drawing strong conclusions regarding the effects of microwaves on whole plant communities. Therefore, further studies are necessary to support present findings and uncover new findings.
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Environmental and biological monitoring of traffic wardens from the city of Rome
Article
  • May 2001
A molecular epidemiological study on Roman policemen is ongoing. The results of a first assessment of the occupational exposure to aromatic compounds of 66 subjects engaged in traffic control and of 33 office workers are presented in this paper. Passive personal samplers and urinary biomarkers were used to assess exposure to benzene and polycyclic hydrocarbons during work shifts. The results obtained indicate that benzene exposure in outdoor workers is about twice as high as in office workers (geometric mean 7.5 and 3.4 µg/m 3 , respectively). The distribution of individual exposure values was asymmetrical and skewed toward higher values, especially among traffic wardens. Environmental benzene levels recorded by municipal monitoring stations during work shifts (geometric mean 11.2 µg/m 3 ) were in the first instance comparable to or greater than individual exposure values. However, several outlier values were observed among personal data that greatly exceeded average environmental benzene concentrations. Among the exposure biomarkers investigated, only blood benzene correlated to some extent with previous exposure to benzene, while a seasonal variation in the excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene and trans-muconic acid was observed in both study groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that outdoor work gives a greater contribution than indoor activities to benzene exposure of Roman citizens. Moreover, relatively high-level exposures can be experienced by outdoor workers, even in the absence of large-scale pollution episodes.
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Possible effects of electromagnetic field on White Storks Ciconia ciconia breeding on low-voltage electricity line poles
Article
  • Sep 2014
In this study, we analyzed the breeding success of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in nests built on poles of low-voltage overhead electricity lines (OEL). Many previously conducted studies have shown the negative impact of the electromagnetic field (EMF) on bird breeding success. Over the past few decades, in many European countries, White Storks have been increasingly observed building their nests on poles of OEL, with electricity lines functioning as a nest support. This means that there is a growing tendency for their nests to be located in zones of increased electromagnetic pollution. Our study results showed that the most significant factors influencing the breeding success of White Storks nesting on poles of OEL are the nest-site, hydrological network density, and distance to arable land. The analysis of White Stork breeding success in the nests built on poles of operating and non-operating OEL revealed a significant difference. Breeding success in the nests having direct contact with electricity lines was found to be the lowest. Our study results suggest that even low-voltage electricity current-generated EMF can produce a significant negative effect on the breeding success of birds nesting directly on electricity lines.
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