What evidence exists on the impact of anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on animals and plants in the environment: a systematic map

2023 · Unclear · High evidence

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UnclearHigh evidencePaper 478

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typesystematic_review

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingHigh

Abstract

What evidence exists on the impact of anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on animals and plants in the environment: a systematic map Karipidis K, Brzozek C, Mate R Bhatt CR, Loughran S, Wood AW. What evidence exists on the impact of anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on animals and plants in the environment: a systematic map. Environ Evid 12, 9 (2023). doi: 10.1186/s13750-023-00304-3. Abstract Background Exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF), particularly from telecommunications sources, is one of the most common and fastest growing anthropogenic factors on the environment. In many countries, humans are protected from harmful RF EMF exposure by safety standards that are based on guidelines by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP guidelines are based on knowledge of how RF EMF affects the human body, however, there are currently no recognised international guidelines to specifically protect animals and plants. Whether the ICNIRP guidelines for humans are adequate to provide protection to the environment is a subject of active debate. There is some public concern that new telecommunications technologies, like the 5G mobile phone network may affect the natural environment. This systematic map presents a searchable database of all the available evidence on whether anthropogenic RF EMF has an effect on plants and animals in the environment. The map also identifies gaps in knowledge, recommends future research and informs environmental and radiation protection authorities. Methods The method used was published in an a priori protocol. Searches included peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English with no time and geographic restrictions. The EMF-Portal, PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched, and the resulting articles were screened in three stages: title, abstract and full text. Studies were included with a subject population of all animals and plants, with exposures to anthropogenic RF EMF (frequency range 100 kHz–300 GHz) compared to no or lower-level exposure, and for any outcomes related to the studied populations. For each included study, metadata were extracted on key variables of interest that were used to represent the distribution of available evidence. Review findings The initial search, search update and supplementary searches produced 24,432 articles and of those 334 articles (237 on fauna and 97 on flora) that were relevant were included in the systematic map. The vast majority of studies were experiments conducted in a laboratory rather than observational studies of animals and plants in the natural environment. The majority of the studies investigated exposures with frequencies between 300 and 3000 MHz, and although the exposure level varied, it was mainly low and below the ICNIRP limits. Most of the animal studies investigated insects and birds, whereas grains and legumes were the most investigated plants. Reproduction, development and behaviour were the most investigated effects for animals, and germination and growth for plants. The vast majority of the studies employed poor quality methods. Conclusion There are distinct evidence clusters: for fauna, on insect and bird reproduction, development and behaviour; and for flora, grain and legume germination and growth that would benefit from specific systematic reviews. The systematic map also highlights the clear need for investigating the effects of RF EMF on more species and more types of effects, and for an improvement in the quality of all studies. Excerpts The quality scores given independently by two assessors for each study are provided in Additional file 6 There was large agreement in the quality scores between the assessors (fauna r = 0.78, p < 0.001; flora r = 0.77, p < 0.001). The majority of the studies were methodologically poor (59% fauna and 66% flora) and only a very small number of studies employed good quality methods (6% fauna and 2% flora) (Fig. 12). The quality was similar between experimental and observational studies (Additional file 7a). Most experimental studies employed a control/sham condition, especially when investigating plants, but lacked in dosimetry and temperature control and not many experimental studies used positive controls or blinding (Additional file 7b). The observational studies had varied quality in the following methodological characteristics: (a) exposure assessment, (b) having an appropriate comparison group and (c) using appropriate methods for assessing the effect of interest. The observational studies were particularly poor in assessing potential confounding factors and using a follow up period. .... In terms of the RF EMF exposure characteristics the biggest gap is research at frequencies above 30 GHz as well the higher end of the 3–< 30 GHz band. This is because new telecommunications technologies that use these higher frequencies, like the 5G mobile network, have only recently been proliferated in the community. Future experimental research would benefit from investigating impacts on animals and plants at the specific frequency range of the 5G network in the range 26–28 GHz. Mobile communications beyond the 5G network plan to use frequencies higher than 30 GHz so research across the millimetre wave band is needed. The majority of the studies in the systematic map employed low quality methods in a number of methodological criteria. Future experimental studies should improve the experimental design with particular attention to dosimetry and temperature control as well as including positive controls and blinding. Further, the conditions applied in highly controlled experiments may not necessarily translate into ecologically relevant effects. It is therefore also very important to investigate the effects of RF EMF under real life conditions in the natural environment. There is a limited number of observational studies in the systematic map so more such studies are needed. Future observational studies will need to fully address possible confounding from other anthropogenic/environmental factors and use an adequate follow up time in the design of the study. Improvements in assessing RF EMF exposure in the environment, having an appropriate comparison group and using appropriate methods for assessing the effect of interest are also important methodological criteria that will need to be addressed by future observational research. Open access paper: environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com 00304-3

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typesystematic_review

Effect directionunclear

PopulationAnimals (fauna) and plants (flora) in the environment (including laboratory and observational studies)

Sample size334

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthHighConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This systematic map identified 334 relevant articles (237 fauna, 97 flora) on anthropogenic RF EMF (100 kHz–300 GHz), with most studies being laboratory experiments rather than field observational studies. Most studies examined 300–3000 MHz exposures that were mainly low and below ICNIRP limits, and the majority of studies were assessed as methodologically poor. The map describes evidence clusters (e.g., insects and birds; grains and legumes) and highlights gaps, including limited research at higher frequencies (e.g., 26–28 GHz and >30 GHz) and a need for better dosimetry, temperature control, blinding, and more ecologically relevant observational research.

Outcomes measured

Animal reproduction
Animal development
Animal behaviour
Plant germination
Plant growth
Other outcomes related to studied populations (varied)

Limitations

Systematic map focuses on cataloguing and describing the evidence base rather than synthesizing effect sizes or drawing causal conclusions.
The majority of included studies were assessed as methodologically poor, with common issues including limited dosimetry and temperature control and limited use of positive controls or blinding.
Observational studies were limited in number and often weak in exposure assessment, confounding control, and follow-up duration.
Evidence is concentrated in certain taxa (e.g., insects and birds) and plant types (e.g., grains and legumes), limiting generalizability across species and outcomes.
Research gaps noted at higher frequencies relevant to newer technologies (e.g., 26–28 GHz; >30 GHz).

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "publication_year": 2023,
  "study_type": "systematic_review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "telecommunications sources (anthropogenic RF EMF)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Animals (fauna) and plants (flora) in the environment (including laboratory and observational studies)",
  "sample_size": 334,
  "outcomes": [
    "Animal reproduction",
    "Animal development",
    "Animal behaviour",
    "Plant germination",
    "Plant growth",
    "Other outcomes related to studied populations (varied)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This systematic map identified 334 relevant articles (237 fauna, 97 flora) on anthropogenic RF EMF (100 kHz–300 GHz), with most studies being laboratory experiments rather than field observational studies. Most studies examined 300–3000 MHz exposures that were mainly low and below ICNIRP limits, and the majority of studies were assessed as methodologically poor. The map describes evidence clusters (e.g., insects and birds; grains and legumes) and highlights gaps, including limited research at higher frequencies (e.g., 26–28 GHz and >30 GHz) and a need for better dosimetry, temperature control, blinding, and more ecologically relevant observational research.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Systematic map focuses on cataloguing and describing the evidence base rather than synthesizing effect sizes or drawing causal conclusions.",
    "The majority of included studies were assessed as methodologically poor, with common issues including limited dosimetry and temperature control and limited use of positive controls or blinding.",
    "Observational studies were limited in number and often weak in exposure assessment, confounding control, and follow-up duration.",
    "Evidence is concentrated in certain taxa (e.g., insects and birds) and plant types (e.g., grains and legumes), limiting generalizability across species and outcomes.",
    "Research gaps noted at higher frequencies relevant to newer technologies (e.g., 26–28 GHz; >30 GHz)."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "high",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "stance": "neutral",
  "stance_confidence": 0.74,
  "summary": "This systematic map compiled and indexed evidence on anthropogenic RF EMF (100 kHz–300 GHz) effects on animals and plants, identifying 334 relevant studies. Most studies were laboratory experiments, commonly at 300–3000 MHz and mainly at low exposure levels reported as below ICNIRP limits. The authors report that most studies used poor-quality methods and highlight major evidence gaps, particularly for higher frequencies relevant to newer telecommunications (e.g., 26–28 GHz and >30 GHz).",
  "key_points": [
    "The map included 334 relevant articles (237 on fauna and 97 on flora) from searches of peer-reviewed and grey literature in English.",
    "Most included studies were laboratory experiments rather than observational studies in natural environments.",
    "Most studies investigated frequencies between 300 and 3000 MHz, with exposure levels mainly low and below ICNIRP limits.",
    "Animal studies most often focused on insects and birds, with reproduction, development, and behaviour commonly assessed.",
    "Plant studies most often focused on grains and legumes, with germination and growth commonly assessed.",
    "The majority of studies were rated methodologically poor, with frequent shortcomings in dosimetry and temperature control and limited blinding/positive controls.",
    "The authors identify evidence clusters suitable for targeted systematic reviews and emphasize the need for more species, outcomes, and higher-frequency research (including 26–28 GHz and millimetre waves)."
  ],
  "categories": [
    "RF EMF",
    "Environmental Effects",
    "Wildlife & Biodiversity",
    "Plants",
    "Systematic Reviews & Evidence Maps"
  ],
  "tags": [
    "Anthropogenic RF EMF",
    "Telecommunications",
    "Environmental Exposure",
    "Animals",
    "Plants",
    "Insects",
    "Birds",
    "Germination",
    "Growth",
    "Reproduction",
    "Behaviour",
    "Laboratory Studies",
    "Observational Studies",
    "Dosimetry",
    "Millimetre Waves"
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "systematic map",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "anthropogenic",
    "telecommunications",
    "animals",
    "plants",
    "environment",
    "100 kHz–300 GHz",
    "ICNIRP",
    "5G",
    "26–28 GHz",
    "millimetre wave"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Highlights evidence gaps at higher frequencies relevant to 5G (e.g., 26–28 GHz) and millimetre waves."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.58,
      "reason": "Discusses ICNIRP human guidelines and the debate about adequacy for environmental protection."
    }
  ],
  "social": {
    "tweet": "Systematic map (2023) indexed 334 studies on anthropogenic RF EMF (100 kHz–300 GHz) and effects on animals/plants. Evidence is mostly lab-based, focused on 300–3000 MHz, and often methodologically poor; major gaps include higher frequencies (e.g., 26–28 GHz, >30 GHz) and field studies.",
    "facebook": "A 2023 systematic map compiled 334 studies on anthropogenic radiofrequency EMF and potential effects on animals and plants. Most evidence comes from laboratory experiments (often 300–3000 MHz, mainly low exposures), and many studies were rated methodologically poor. The authors highlight clusters suitable for systematic reviews and major gaps, including limited research at higher frequencies relevant to newer telecom technologies and a need for more real-world observational studies.",
    "linkedin": "Karipidis et al. (2023) published a systematic map of evidence on anthropogenic RF EMF (100 kHz–300 GHz) and environmental effects on fauna and flora (334 included studies). The map finds the literature is dominated by laboratory experiments (often 300–3000 MHz, mainly low exposures) and that most studies have methodological limitations, underscoring the need for improved dosimetry/temperature control and more field-based research, including at higher frequencies relevant to 5G and beyond."
  }
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1186/s13750-023-00304-3
PubMed: Not supplied

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