The Science

The Evidence on Wireless Radiation

Hundreds of scientist are calling for urgent action. A major review of over 1,200 studies concludes that increasing levels of wireless radiation and human-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in our environment pose serious risks to biodiversity and the health of Earth’s delicate ecosystems. Bees and other pollinators are uniquely vulnerable.

Impacts to Wildlife and Habitat

Learn more about the science on electromagnetic fields and wildlife.

Bees & Pollinators

The Impact of Wireless and EMFs on Bees & Pollinators

In recent years, researchers have uncovered a troubling connection between EMF and the alarming decline in honeybees, pollinators and other insect populations. 

This decline, referred to as colony collapse or "insect apocalypse," is linked to various factors, such as intensified agriculture, pesticide use, invasive species, parasitic mites, and climate change. However, emerging evidence suggests that EMF should also be considered a significant contributor, acting as a key stressor alongside these other factors. 

Mounting Science of Harm

Studies on pollinators have found a broad range of impacts from exposure to wireless and EMF.  Scientists have found reduced colony strength, reduced egg-laying rates, disruptions in flight patterns, foraging behaviors, feeding habits, short-term memory, biochemical changes, mortality rates and homing ability (the ability to come home).

A 2023 systematic review of studies on the biological effects to insects of non-ionizing EMFs, including cell tower radiation found the “vast majority of studies found effects, generally harmful ones” including impacts to reproduction and immune health occurring at legally allowed levels. These scientific findings underline the new understanding of EMFs as a threat to pollinators.

Pollinators at Risks from 5G

The introduction of 5G technology brings heightened risks to insects due to its use of higher frequencies, never used before so widespread into the environment.

Recently published scientific studies have revealed that insects, including honeybees, absorb significantly more power when exposed to new 5G frequencies, as compared to earlier technologies like 2G and 3G.

Below are images from scientific research modeling the absorbed power into honey bees when exposed to frequencies that will be used in 5G and new networks. The researchers found a significant increase in absorbed power from the exposure.

How Do High Frequency Signals Impact Pollinators?

It is a resonant effect. As an example of resonance, consider how an opera singer can sing to a certain pitch that breaks a wine glass. What happens is her voice vibrates the air molecules around the glass at its resonant frequency, causing the entire glass to vibrate.

Likewise, 5G’s submillimeter and millimeter waves are shorter wavelengths compared to the longer wavelengths of 3G and 4G. They more closely match the smaller bodies of insects, resulting in this resonance effect. 

This means that even if the emitted power from the wireless antennas stays the same, the change to a higher frequency significantly increases the absorbed power.

The 2018 study on honeybees was groundbreaking as it was the first to consider the amount of power absorbed into insects from 5G frequencies. In fact, the study investigated 4 insects the Australian Stingless Bee, the Western Honeybee, the Beetle, and Locust.

In all four insects, they found the same pattern; as the frequencies increased to the resonant frequency for the insect, the absorbed power significantly increased between 3% to 370%. The researchers concluded, “This could lead to changes in insect behavior, physiology, and morphology over time.

The researchers then investigated honeybees over the lifecycle, including models of worker bees, a drone, a larva, and a queen. The simulations were combined with real-world environments near beehives in Belgium. They found a relatively small shift of 10% of environmental incident power density to frequencies higher than 3 GHz would lead to an increase of this absorption between 390–570%. Many 5G networks will use these higher frequencies.

In 2023, scientists found “sharp” increases of wireless into a bee’s brain and vital organs from specific frequencies. They conclude their study stating that the exposure could “cause a violation” of important functions such as orientation, communication and sensing.

Real-world Impact on Insect Populations

Studies have found a correlation between wireless radiation levels near cell tower antennas and changes in the abundance and diversity of some wild pollinators.

For example, a study on two Greek islands found beetle, wasp, and hoverfly abundance decreased. These findings along with the experimental studies indicate that cell tower and other EMF exposure is directly linked to changes in insect populations.

Urgent Call for Conservation and Preservation

The consistent observation of EMF impacts on insects highlights the urgent need to include wireless and EMF in our efforts to combat biodiversity losses and protect natural pollinators.  As we strive to understand and address the complex factors driving the decline of insects, we can no longer can no longer underestimate this new environmental exposure. 

“Electromagnetic radiation as an emerging driver factor for the decline of insects” published in Science of the Total Environment states;

“… electromagnetic radiation should be considered seriously as a complementary driver for the dramatic decline in insects, acting in synergy with agricultural intensification, pesticides, invasive species and climate change.” 

It is crucial that we take proactive measures to safeguard these essential members of our ecosystems and secure the future health of our planet.

Birds

The Impact of Wireless and EMFs on Birds

Birds, particularly migratory species, are invaluable indicators of ecosystem health. Birds perch and nest on cell towers and the air around wireless antennas is their habitat.  Their unique attributes, such as hollow feathers with conductive properties, magnetoreception capabilities in their eyes and beaks render them especially vulnerable to environmental EMF.

Alarming declines in avian populations, especially migratory birds, correlate with increases in EMF pollution, leading some researchers to propose that the exposure is likely a contributing factor working in synergy with the numerous other challenges birds face. 

In 2014, the U.S. Department of the Interior wrote a letter summarizing several studies showing harm to birds from cell tower radiation including nest abandonment, plumage deterioration, and reduced survivorship. The letter concluded that current safety limits were not protective stating that:

The electromagnetic radiation standards used by the Federal Communications Commission continue to be based on thermal heating, a criterion now nearly 30 years out of date and inapplicable today.

Department of Interior Cautions U.S. Laws Don’t Protect

Evidence of Sensitivity to EMF

Growing evidence indicates that birds are sensitive to EMF exposure.

For example, research on American Kestrels exposed to low-frequency non -ionizing EMF found exposed birds had impacts to melatonin levels, reproduction, behavior, and increased oxidative stress.

A review of the ecological effects by environmental experts in the Netherlands found significant effects in 70% of the 103 studies reviewed with development and reproduction in birds and insects as the most strongly affected endpoints.

Impact on Bird Growth and Reproduction

Birds are allowed to perch and nest directly on cell tower antenna equipment as there are no mitigation measures in place to stop them.

A 2023 study published in the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science found chicken embryos exposed to 4G phones had impaired development, pathological lesions and numerous alterations in gene expression.

A study of White Storks found significant impacts to their breeding when nesting near antenna sites in Valladolid Spain. In addition to productivity, troubling behaviors were observed. Some stork couples fought to where nests were never built.

A Call for Research and Policy

Over a decade ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency lead on cell tower avian impacts, senior wildlife biologist Dr. Albert Manville, reviewed studies on how cell tower radiation could affect birds, recommending research.

Since then, he has been recommending government action emphasizing the urgent need for agencies responsible for wildlife to create policies that reduce the impacts on migratory birds and other wildlife species. He has joined with other U.S. experts on numerous publications regarding EMFs, cell towers and birds. 

Dr. Manville's expertise and continued advocacy highlights the numerous credible voices calling for action to protect birds.

Disrupting Navigation

Several studies have focused on how EMFs could interfere with birds' navigation abilities by disrupting the magnetic compass that birds rely on for finding their way. This disruption is linked to a special light-sensitive molecule called cryptochrome, which birds use as their internal compass. Cryptochrome is a key player in how birds navigate.

At certain frequencies, non ionizing EMFs can throw off birds' orientation. For example, a study found European Robins are unable to use their magnetic compass in the presence of 2 kHz to 5 MHz specifically. Yet companies are increasing use of a wide range of frequencies without ensuring safety for birds or other animals.

The Nightcap National Park World Heritage Area

Botanist Mark Broomhall's report to UNESCO offers a striking example of how the placement of ultimately 105 cell tower antennas correlated with species disappearing from the Nightcap National Park World Heritage Area over 15 years (2000-2015). The report documents estimates of how 70 to 90 % of the wildlife has become rare or has disappeared, including bat and bird species. Similarly, wildlife biologist Balmori hypothesizes that cell tower radiation is a key factor in the decline of House Sparrows due to mounting scientific data. 

These findings underscore the urgency mitigating EMF exposure to birds, insects, and their ecosystems.

As we dig deeper into these issues, it becomes increasingly clear that protective measures and informed policies are essential to preserving the delicate balance of our natural world. 

Trees & Plants

The Impact of Cell Tower Radiation on Trees & Plants

As we delve into the environmental effects of wireless radiation, let's explore how it affects our green companions, trees, and plants.

The Need to Protect Trees

Trees are essential to life. They give shelter and food to countless species of animals, remove air pollution, prevent flooding, and sequester carbon. In urban areas, trees play a vital role in mitigating climate change effects, cooling neighborhoods, and helping control stormwater. Yet hundreds of thousands of new cell sites,  both tall cell towers and shorter “small” cells,  are rapidly being installed across the nation. Yet telecommunications impacts on trees are almost always ignored.

The rush to deploy has led to aggressive trimming, disruption of tree roots, and the cutting down of numerous trees. In addition, a critical tree health issue needing attention is the impact of wireless radiation.

Tree Damage From Cell Antennas

Research has shown that radiation from cell towers can harm trees in alarming ways. A field study that monitored over 100 trees for 9 years published in Science of the Total Environment found a high level of damage to trees which were in the vicinity of cell phone antenna radiation plumes. It starts with crown damage, where the edges of leaves bleach and dry out. Over time, this damage spreads from the more-exposed side to the less-exposed side of the tree. Many trees end up felled. 

In short, the unfettered proliferation of towers poses a serious threat to the health of trees and the stability of ecosystems.

Image: “Tree damage caused by mobile phone base stations 2017″ 

Seedling Studies: Uncovering the Impact

Studies conducted on Aspen tree seedlings near Lyons, Colorado found wireless exposure hindered leaf and shoot growth and also altered the trees production of anthocyanin, a pigment that protects trees from environmental stressors. The paper was published in the International Journal of Forestry Research and concluded that the exposure “may be an underlying factor in the recent rapid decline of Aspen populations.” While more tree research is needed, similar studies on plant seedlings have supported such findings.  

Plants: Sensitive to Wireless

Plants aren't immune to the influence of wireless and EMFs. Many studies have spotted changes in plants after exposure. A major review of studies from 1996 to 2016 on 29 species concluded “significant” impacts with 89% of studies showing effects from wireless frequencies including altered growth patterns, thinner cell walls, oxidative stress and changes in enzyme activity.  Some plants such as maize, pea, tomato, and onions seemed to be very sensitive. Some researchers propose that these impacts can ultimately harm plant vitality in significant ways.

Preserving Our Natural World

The documented impact of wireless radiation on trees and plants emphasizes the critical need to understand and mitigate these effects. As stewards of our environment, it is our responsibility to protect and preserve the delicate balance of our ecosystems. The evidence is clear: action must be taken to safeguard the health and vitality of our natural world.

Diverse Species

The Impact of
Electromagnetic Radiation on Diverse Wildlife

Wireless radiation levels are on the rise and ecosystems are at risk. The wireless signals in the environment are becoming more complex signals with every new technology being deployed. Yet these technologies are being rolled out without environmental safeguards.

Real-World Effects Across Species

An ecosystem approach is needed. The reality is that wireless radiation and EMFs have been found to impact all species studied from mammals to birds to fish to frogs and bacteria. Even small disruptions to a small species can have an outsized population effect over time.

Amphibians: A Case in Point

In 2007, researcher Alfonso Balmori reviewed the research and raised the possibility that EMF pollution, particularly in the wireless frequency range, might contribute to deformities and population declines among amphibians such as frogs. He followed up with a study titled "Mobile Phone Mast Effects on Common Frog (Rana temporaria) Tadpoles: The City Turned Into a Laboratory," wherein he shared the results of his fascinating experiment. He raised 70 tadpoles from eggs in two identical tanks. One tank was placed 140 meters from transmitting cell tower antenna (about the distance at which higher intensity beams of wireless reach the ground).   The other tank was shielded from radiation.  

The results were striking. Tadpoles in the shielded tank developed normally with a minimal 4.5% mortality rate. In contrast, tadpoles in the unshielded tank exhibited low coordination of movements, asynchronous growth resulting in both large and small tadpoles, and a significantly higher mortality rate of 90%. 

Nearly one-third of the world’s amphibians are threatened or extinct. In addition to habitat loss, invasive species and environmental pollution, EMF could be a critical contributing factor to the health of amphibians.

Microbes: A New Frontier

Bacteria, from those found in our environment and even on our bodies, can be affected by non ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Some bacteria even use the Earth's magnetic fields for navigation, with magnetite crystals in their cells aligning them with geomagnetic forces. However, some studies have found EMF exposure has been found to disrupt these processes.  

Scientists have also focused on how EMF coil potentially alter of bacterial behavior, and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to EMF, including WiFi and mobile phone radiation, can change the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli). In some cases, EMF exposed bacteria became more resistant to antibiotics.

The Microbiome and the Immune System

The microbiome is the community of microorganisms (such as fungi, bacteria and viruses) that lives in or on a particular part of the body, such as the skin or gut. A healthy microbiome is critical to support immune and brain health in mammals.

Studies of the static magnetic fields and wireless frequencies from cell phones have been found to disrupt the balance of skin microbiota, making it more susceptible to infections. Again, much more research needs to be done, especially on the impact of EMFs to the gut microbiome.

Microorganisms: Essential to Soil Health

A field study evaluated soil samples near and far from cell towers in India.  Greater antibiotic resistance was observed in the microbes present in the soil near the cell tower sites compared to control. Bacteria and other microorganisms play important ecosystem roles in soil from improving  the structure to recycling nutrients, and water recycling.

Mammals

Mammals

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How Wireless Radiation Endangers Global Diversity

The Biodiversity Crisis

Our planet is facing a biodiversity crisis. 1 million species are at risk of extinction — more than ever before in human history. Bee and bird colonies are declining. Tree canopies are shrinking. Delicate ecosystems are under threat from numerous stressors, many of which are human made and corporate driven.

The Unseen Threat to Nature

In the midst of this crisis, there's an invisible but significant player in the background—a surge in wireless radiation from cell towers and wireless networks. This radiation is spreading fast, crisscrossing our landscapes and even reaching us from satellites above. In addition to increasing wireless, lower frequency EMF exposures are increasing from electric equipment such as high voltage powerlines and even underwater cables. Artificially produced EMF is not natural. It acts as a stressor to living things. Animals and plants did not have time to evolve to adapt to the artificial pulsed waves emitted from cell towers and wireless technologies.

Higher Exposures

Birds, insects, and other creatures that take to the skies often fly, nest, and perch near transmitting antennas. Cell towers emit plumes of wireless radiation that can significantly exceed government limits, even when measured at distances of up to 40 feet from the antennas. However the equipment is considered "legal" because telecom’s compliance tests only consider areas inhabited by people. Wildlife is completely ignored.

Evidence Mounts

Scientific research consistently demonstrates adverse effects on our natural world, including insects, birds, and trees. These effects occur at ambient and low-intensity exposure levels, such as those in the air from from cell towers and Wi-Fi. When combined with exposure to chemicals and other industrial pollutants the effects can become even more severe. New technologies are introducing even higher frequencies with intense pulsations and beamforming antenna systems pushing risks to unprecedented levels.

Ecosystems in Jeopardy

This pollution is taking a toll on both plants and animals, and it doesn't take much radiation to cause harm. Cell towers sprouting up everywhere, from urban landscapes to national parks to remote wilderness areas. 4G and 5G cell antennas now line our streets, and the launch of thousands of telecommunications satellites will only intensify the radiation in the air.

Pollinators At Risk

Biologists are warning that this exposure is likely a key contributor to colony collapse in bee populations as research has found reduced colony strength and impacts on fertility, memory, and the immune system. Further, new technologies such as high-frequency 5G are increasing the risk. Recent studies have found these waves are uniquely and highly absorbed into the brain and vital organs of bees and insects.

Biochemistry and Biodiversity Impacts

Although non-ionizing radiation is not the same as nuclear radiation, it can disrupt biology and set off a chain reaction leading to harm. Animal studies link exposure to oxidative stress, biochemical changes in blood profiles, and even genotoxic effects. These are harbingers of more significant issues down the line, including impacts to fertility, higher mortality, and less resilience to disease. The reality is that research has found significant effects on birds, insects, mammals and plants in the majority of studies. The science is clear. Animals, plants, and all living things are sensitive to EMFs, even at very low levels.

Serious Regulatory Gaps

Current government regulations do not safeguard flora and fauna from the effects of wireless radiation. The alarming decline in global bird, insect, and other species populations adds urgency to this issue. Experts believe that alongside factors like pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change, ambient-level wireless radiation may also be contributing to the problem. A systematic approach to regulating anthropogenic non-ionizing radiofrequency and lower-frequency electromagnetic radiation is absolutely essential. Here's the kicker: the federal exposure limits set by the FCC were designed with humans in mind, not wildlife. There are no safe levels of radiofrequency exposure established for our wildlife and plants by any scientific or government entity.

The Environmental Pollutant

Years of research and numerous reports confirm that wireless radiation and non-ionizing EMFs are not safe. Scientists are sounding the alarm. A landmark research review on effects to wildlife published in Reviews on Environmental Health on more than 1,200 scientific studies found a wide range of adverse effects to wildlife, including impacts to orientation and migration, reproduction, mating, nest, den building and survivorship. Effects are found in fauna and flora in all species studied. Solutions exist for safer technology. Yet these recommendations are ignored.

Lack of Oversight and Accountability

No federal agency is currently measuring and monitoring the levels of wireless radiation in our environment, keeping an eye on scientific research, or collecting data on how wireless infrastructure impacts wildlife. There has been no review of the environmental impact of the massive 5G tower buildout, which the FCC estimates will require 800,000 new cell antenna sites. Worse, the U.S. government has no oversight or enforcement program in place to ensure oversight for cell tower companies.

Scientists Are Speaking

“Numerous studies across all frequencies and taxa indicate that current low-level anthropogenic EMF can have myriad adverse and synergistic effects, including on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and on vitality, longevity and survivorship itself. Effects have been observed in mammals such as bats, cervids, cetaceans, and pinnipeds among others, and on birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, microbes and many species of flora.”

-Blake Levitt, Henry Lai and Albert Manville

Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Part 2 impacts: How species interact with natural and man-made EMF 

Reviews on Environmental Health

2022

The alarming decline in global bird, insect, and other species populations adds urgency to this issue. Experts believe that alongside factors like pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change, ambient-level wireless radiation and EMFs are key contributors. 

A systematic approach to regulating anthropogenic wireless and non-ionizing EMF is absolutely essential. Government regulations should safeguard flora and fauna.

Now is the Time

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Now is the time for science-based policy that protects our wildlife