International workshop on the influence of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on the living environment

What is the issue?

In the course of the expansion of power and mobile networks, including 5G, low-frequency and high-frequency fields lead to changes in the emissions in the living environment (animals, plants, and ecosystems). It is assumed that the limit values established to protect humans also provide sufficient protection for the environment. Nevertheless, certain species with physiological mechanisms that allow them to sense fields (e.g. magnetic sense in birds) may be sensitive to fields caused by humans. The energy absorption of fields by organisms also depends on their body size. Flying animals can also get so close to power lines and transmission towers that they enter areas in which limit values are exceeded.

What is the current situation?

The state of scientific knowledge on the influence of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on the living environment is generally insufficient. In January 2018, the EU EKLIPSE network for the exchange of information on biodiversity and ecosystems organised a web conference on the effects of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields of all frequencies and technologies on the living environment. A report showed that there are only relatively few studies of good quality.

What are the objectives of the BfS project?

The aim of the workshop was to summarise the current state of research on the effects of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on animals, plants, and ecosystems with internationally renowned experts from zoology, botany, ecology, environmental protection, and radiation protection, to assess possible risks, to identify gaps in knowledge, and, based on this, to define possible research priorities.

What results did the research project provide?

The public workshop with over 60 international participants took place in Munich from 7 to 9 November 2019. It was aimed primarily at scientists. However, public authorities and environmental organisations were also represented.

The workshop showed that for exposures occurring under real environmental conditions (e.g. in the vicinity of power lines or mobile phone base stations), no harmful effects on animals and plants from artificial electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic fields have been proven according to current scientific knowledge.

There are biophysical mechanisms that allow animals and plants to perceive magnetic fields and electric fields of low strength. These mainly influence orientation and behaviour. The extent to which short-term behavioural changes of individuals influence the population and the ecosystem is unclear.

Because there is an insufficient pool of data, there is a need for further research.