Effects of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Pollution on Invertebrates, Including Pollinators Such as Honey Bees: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Need to Know

2020 · Harm · Insufficient evidence

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HarmInsufficient evidencePaper 1300

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Effects of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Pollution on Invertebrates, Including Pollinators Such as Honey Bees: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Need to Know Friesen M, Havas M. 2020. Effects of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Pollution on Invertebrates, Including Pollinators Such as Honey Bees: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Need to Know.” Pages 127-138 In Working Landscapes. Proceedings of the 12th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, February 2019, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Edited by D. Danyluk. Critical Wildlife Habitat Program, Winnipeg, Manitoba. pcesc.ca. Abstract Invertebrates, including pollinators such as honey bees, can be adversely affected by non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Sources contributing to common environmental EMR exposures include antennae (cell phone, broadcast, and radar), communications satellites, and power lines. Adverse biochemical changes and disorientation have been reported for honey bees and other invertebrates. Field studies have reported changes in abundance and composition of “key pollinator groups” (wild bees, hoverflies, bee flies, beetles, and wasps) that have been attributed to emissions from telecommunications towers. We take a close look at the biological effects on invertebrates of EMR reported in the scientific literature and a general look at evidence from studies on plants, birds, humans, and other animals (domestic, laboratory, wild). We discuss possible implications of excessive electromagnetic pollution on ecosystems and identify knowledge gaps and what we need to know before more electromagnetic pollution is added to the environment, especially in the form of 5G. Introduction Invertebrates (animals without backbones) are major components of most ecosystems. Insects are key to the integrity of many ecosystems in many roles including as pollinators. Honey bees play a role in pollination of domestic as well as wild plants and are often used as bio-indicator species and as a “model” to examine environmental problems. The global decline of pollinators is of grave concern and efforts are being made to identify the reasons (Potts et al. 2010; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys 2019). One factor not widely considered is the possible role of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible electric and magnetic fields of force. All living organisms have evolved in Earth’s natural EMFs and depend on them to live. Natural sources include Earth’s static magnetic field, and static electricity, including differences in charges among clouds and the earth that can lead to lightning. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) originates when fields change. Anthropogenic (human-made, artificial) EMR sources are sometimes referred to as electromagnetic pollution or electrosmog. The main frequency ranges of interest in this article are: 1) extremely low frequencies (ELF) of 50/60 to 90 Hz that emanate from sources such as power lines and building wiring; and 2) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) of 700 MHz to 6 GHz, commonly used for devices such as cell phones, radio and television, and their supporting infrastructure, e.g., cell towers, antennae on buildings, and orbiting communications satellites. Also discussed are frequencies currently being developed and deployed above 6 GHz for 5G (5th Generation) for faster and more pervasive connectivity, including the “Internet of Things”. pcesc.ca

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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 directionharm

PopulationInvertebrates including pollinators such as honey bees; also references evidence from plants, birds, humans, and other animals

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF and RF

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

The authors state that adverse biochemical changes and disorientation have been reported for honey bees and other invertebrates, and that field studies have reported changes in abundance and composition of key pollinator groups attributed to emissions from telecommunications towers. They discuss implications for ecosystems and identify knowledge gaps, particularly in relation to adding more electromagnetic pollution such as 5G.

Outcomes measured

biochemical changes (honey bees and other invertebrates)
disorientation (honey bees and other invertebrates)
changes in abundance and composition of key pollinator groups near telecommunications towers

Limitations

Conference proceedings chapter; peer-review status not stated
No specific methods for literature search, inclusion criteria, or quality appraisal described in the provided abstract
No quantitative effect estimates or sample sizes reported in the provided abstract
Attribution of field-study changes to tower emissions is reported but underlying study details are not provided in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF and RF",
    "source": "environmental sources including power lines, building wiring, cell phone/broadcast/radar antennae, telecommunications towers, communications satellites; mentions 5G above 6 GHz",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Invertebrates including pollinators such as honey bees; also references evidence from plants, birds, humans, and other animals",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "biochemical changes (honey bees and other invertebrates)",
    "disorientation (honey bees and other invertebrates)",
    "changes in abundance and composition of key pollinator groups near telecommunications towers"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The authors state that adverse biochemical changes and disorientation have been reported for honey bees and other invertebrates, and that field studies have reported changes in abundance and composition of key pollinator groups attributed to emissions from telecommunications towers. They discuss implications for ecosystems and identify knowledge gaps, particularly in relation to adding more electromagnetic pollution such as 5G.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Conference proceedings chapter; peer-review status not stated",
    "No specific methods for literature search, inclusion criteria, or quality appraisal described in the provided abstract",
    "No quantitative effect estimates or sample sizes reported in the provided abstract",
    "Attribution of field-study changes to tower emissions is reported but underlying study details are not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "invertebrates",
    "pollinators",
    "honey bees",
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "electromagnetic pollution",
    "electrosmog",
    "ELF",
    "radiofrequency",
    "cell towers",
    "power lines",
    "5G"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Discusses implications of adding more electromagnetic pollution, especially in the form of 5G (frequencies above 6 GHz)."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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