Flora and fauna

How nonhuman species interact with natural and man-made EMF at ecosystem levels and public policy recommendations

Bibliographic Data

ID22083181
AuthorsB Blake Levitt (National Association of Science Writers, corresponding author), Henry C Lai (University of Washington), Albert M Manville (Johns Hopkins University), Theodora Scarato (Center for Environmental Health)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1693873-1693873
Publication date2025-11-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1693873
PMID41358243
OpenAlexW4416394693
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited85

In the last 60 years, there has been a steady increase in ambient exposures from nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) between 0 and 300 GHz, primarily in the radiofrequency (RF) ranges between 30 kHz and 3 GHz. Each technology has introduced a layer of exposures with different transmission characteristics into the environment, creating what is today a broad scope of complex chronic, low-intensity, ambient exposures known to be biologically active in human and nonhuman species alike. The next generation of broadband technology employs a wide span of simultaneous frequency exposures for pervasive civilian use with signaling characteristics heretofore never deployed. Fifth and sixth generation (5G, 6G) networks utilize significantly higher areas of the electromagnetic spectrum >3.5 GHz unlike previous wireless technologies. The scale at which this EMF deployment unfolded has now reached documented proportions that simply do not exist in nature, creating 24/7 exposures to a novel energetic form of air pollution. While there are extensive local variations in exposure intensities, e.g., rural versus urban environments with proximity to transmission sources being the controlling variable, the advent of significantly increased satellites in low earth orbits, disseminating radiofrequency EMF (RF-EMF) toward Earth in broad radiation patterns, has now all but erased such demographic distinctions. Nowhere on Earth today is completely RF-EMF free. Nonhuman species are highly sensitive to the Earth’s geomagnetic fields which are used for orientation, migration, mating, food finding, territorial defense, and all of life’s activities. Compared to human abilities, myriad species have evolved an exceptionally sensitive physical array of electro/magneto-receptors with which to perceive environmental EMF often at, or very near, natural geomagnetic fields. Today’s exposures are capable, even at very low intensities, of disrupting critical fauna/flora functions. Any existing exposure standards are strictly for humans. Discussed are nonhuman unique physiologies and potential resonant matches at ambient levels today. Policy recommendations for wildlife protection includes discussion of “airspace as habitat,” adherence to existing laws, and mitigation that could include frequency re-allocation, redesign of hardware and network engineering, and societies moving away from certain competitive economic models, as well as EMF-free zones during migration and breeding seasons where possible

Biodiversity · Broadband · Ecosystem · Electromagnetic spectrum · Software deployment · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior · Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects · Marine animal studies overview

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