Low-level EMF effects on wildlife and plants: What research tells us about an ecosystem approach

Abstract

Overview

The study presents a critical look at the effects of low-level electromagnetic fields (EMF) on non-human species, emphasizing the unique sensitivities and physiological responses of wildlife and plants across various ecosystems.

Findings

• The research outlines the potentially harmful impact of anthropogenic non-ionizing EMFs, ranging from 0 Hz to 300 GHz, on all studied species.
• It discusses the insufficiency of existing human-centric EMF exposure standards in protecting wildlife, pointing out the need for standards that consider trans-species sensitivities and physiological differences.
• Highlighted are the mechanistic, genotoxic, and potential ecosystem-level effects of EMF exposure.

Conclusion

The authors advocate for the establishment of long-term, chronic low-level EMF exposure guidelines tailored to wildlife and suggest the implementation of mitigation techniques. Furthermore, they propose conducting full environmental reviews before major technological deployments, such as 5G, and stress the necessity of enforcing existing environmental laws rigorously to protect various species from extinction due to unchecked technological advances.