RF Safe

Environmental impacts of 5G: A literature review of effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposure of non-human vertebrates, invertebrates and plants

2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1083

This literature review anticipates changes in wildlife exposure due to 5G operating at frequencies not commonly used in previous generations. It reports that dielectric heating can occur across the considered frequencies (0.4–300 GHz) for all studied organism…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021
Study typereview
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Environmental impacts of 5G: A literature review of effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposure of non-human vertebrates, invertebrates and plants Arno Thielens. Environmental impacts of 5G: A literature review of effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposure of non-human vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA). European Parliament. 2021, 137 pp. PE 690.021, ISBN 9789284680337. doi: 10.2861/318352. Abstract Telecommunication networks use radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to enable wireless communication. These networks have evolved over time, and have been launched in successive generations. The fifth generation of telecommunication networks will operate at frequencies that were not commonly used in previous generations, changing the exposure of wildlife to these waves. This report reviews the literature on the exposure of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields in anticipation of this change. The review shows that dielectric heating can occur at all considered frequencies (0.4-300 GHz) and for all studied organisms. Summarising and discussing the results of a series of studies of radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposure of wildlife, the review shows that several studies into the effects of radio- frequency electromagnetic field exposure on invertebrates and plants in the frequency bands considered demonstrate experimental shortcomings. Furthermore, the literature on invertebrate and plant exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields above 6 GHz is very limited. More research is needed in this field. Open access report: europarl.europa.eu

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 typereview
Effect directionmixed
PopulationNon-human vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants (wildlife)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: no

Main findings

This literature review anticipates changes in wildlife exposure due to 5G operating at frequencies not commonly used in previous generations. It reports that dielectric heating can occur across the considered frequencies (0.4–300 GHz) for all studied organisms, and notes that several studies on invertebrates and plants show experimental shortcomings; evidence above 6 GHz for invertebrates and plants is very limited.

Outcomes measured

  • Dielectric heating
  • Effects of RF-EMF exposure in vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants (literature review)
  • Study quality/experimental shortcomings
  • Evidence gaps for >6 GHz exposures in invertebrates and plants

Limitations

  • Several studies on invertebrates and plants in the considered frequency bands are described as having experimental shortcomings.
  • Literature on invertebrate and plant exposure above 6 GHz is described as very limited.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "telecommunication networks (5G)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Non-human vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants (wildlife)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Dielectric heating",
    "Effects of RF-EMF exposure in vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants (literature review)",
    "Study quality/experimental shortcomings",
    "Evidence gaps for >6 GHz exposures in invertebrates and plants"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This literature review anticipates changes in wildlife exposure due to 5G operating at frequencies not commonly used in previous generations. It reports that dielectric heating can occur across the considered frequencies (0.4–300 GHz) for all studied organisms, and notes that several studies on invertebrates and plants show experimental shortcomings; evidence above 6 GHz for invertebrates and plants is very limited.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Several studies on invertebrates and plants in the considered frequency bands are described as having experimental shortcomings.",
    "Literature on invertebrate and plant exposure above 6 GHz is described as very limited."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "no",
  "keywords": [
    "5G",
    "radio-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "wildlife",
    "vertebrates",
    "invertebrates",
    "plants",
    "dielectric heating",
    "0.4-300 GHz",
    ">6 GHz",
    "European Parliament",
    "STOA"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Report for the European Parliament reviewing environmental impacts of 5G-related RF-EMF exposure."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.2861/318352
PubMed: Not supplied

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