Effect of electromagnetic fields from renewable energy subsea power cables on righting reflex and physiological response of coastal invertebrates.

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "subsea power cable (offshore renewables export cable; simulated)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Coastal marine invertebrates: Asterias rubens, Echinus esculentus, Necora puber, Littorina littorea",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Righting reflex",
    "Refractive index of haemolymph/coelomic fluid",
    "Total haemocyte/coelomocyte counts"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The study simulated an EMF of 500 μT modelled for an export subsea power cable over a rocky shore. No significant differences were found in behavioural (righting reflex) or physiological measures (refractive index; haemocyte/coelomocyte counts) for the four invertebrate species tested.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency characteristics of the EMF were not stated in the abstract.",
    "Exposure duration and sample size were not reported in the abstract.",
    "Only one exposure level (500 μT) was described in the abstract.",
    "Findings are limited to the four coastal invertebrate species studied and the simulated rocky-shore export-cable scenario."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "subsea power cables",
    "offshore renewables",
    "export cable",
    "rocky shore",
    "marine invertebrates",
    "righting reflex",
    "haemolymph",
    "coelomic fluid",
    "haemocyte count",
    "coelomocyte count",
    "Asterias rubens",
    "Echinus esculentus",
    "Necora puber",
    "Littorina littorea"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "renewable-energy-cables",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study simulates EMF from offshore renewable energy subsea export power cables and assesses biological effects."
    },
    {
      "slug": "marine-wildlife",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "Outcomes measured in coastal marine invertebrates relevant to environmental impact assessment."
    }
  ]
}