Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Part 2 impacts: how species interact with natural and man-made EMF

Authors: B. Blake Levitt, Henry C. Lai, Albert M Manville

Year: 2021 Jul 8

Category: Environmental Health

Journal: Rev Environ Health

Institution: Rev Environ Health

DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0050

URL: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/reveh-2021-0050/html

Abstract

Overview

Ambient levels of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) have sharply increased over the last fifty years, becoming a pervasive and biologically active environmental pollutant even in secluded and rural areas. This rise in EMF levels raises significant concerns regarding its potential role as a contributor to species extinction and its status as an unconventional pollutant.

Findings

  • Flora and fauna show unique sensitivities to exogenous EMF, often exceeding human reactivity.
  • Adverse effects on wildlife include disruptions in orientation, migration, food finding, reproduction, and survival, detected across various mammals, birds, insects, and marine organisms.
  • Non-human species depend on natural geomagnetic fields for vital biological information, influencing their physiological mechanisms.
  • Scientific evidence supports the presence of both cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of EMF in laboratory settings, observable in various animal models.

Conclusion

The cumulative research indicates that ambient EMF acts as a novel form of pollution with significant biological implications for non-human species. Recommendations include recognizing EMF as a pollutant, creating strict environmental laws and regulations, and setting exposure standards tailored for wildlife preservation. Further exploration of these recommendations and their implications is reserved for Part 3 of the series.

EMF non-ionizing radiation wildlife environmental pollution magnetoreception species extinction ecological impact
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