Research Overview (2021)
This post discusses research examining potential environmental effects of radiofrequency (RF) exposure on trees and plant systems. It reflects findings and interpretations available at the time of publication.
Environmental impact considerations related to wireless infrastructure are part of broader regulatory discussions at local, federal, and international levels.
RF Radiation Likely Harms Trees — Take Action to Protect Trees Now!
The dense network of small-cell towers on poles in front of our homes that proposed County ZTA 19-07 promotes will require pruning and removal of untold number of trees. (Professional arborists’ rule of thumb is that if more than 25% of a tree canopy is to be pruned at any one time, the whole tree should be cut down. Even worse, research indicates that the trees left behind that are close to antennas would also be harmed from constant exposure to radio-frequency radiation.
Consider the independent research below related to the impacts on trees:
A 2021 research review by Levitt, Lai and Manville (2021) entitled “Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, part 1. Rising ambient EMF levels in the environment” published in Reviews of Environmental Health.- Halgamuge, M.N. “Weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phone radiation on plants.” Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, vol. 36, no. 2, 2017, pp. 213-235.
- Haggerty, Katie. “Adverse Influence of Radio Frequency Background on Trembling Aspen Seedlings.” International Journal of Forestry Research2010.836278 (2010).
- Waldmann-Selsam, C., et al. “Radiofrequency radiation injures trees around mobile phone base stations.” Science of the Total Environment 572 (2016): 554-69.
- Breunig, Helmut. “Tree Damage Caused By Mobile Phone Base Stations An Observation Guide.” (2017). You can also download the Tree Observation Guide at:Competence Initiative for the Protection of Humanity, the Environment and Democracy
- “Tree Damage from Chronic High Frequency Exposure Mobile Telecommunications, Wi-Fi, Radar, Radio Relay Systems, Terrestrial Radio, TV etc.” by Dr. Volker Schorpp Lecture (about 31 MB)
- Martin Pall. “Electromagnetic Fields Act Similarly in Plants as in Animals: Probable Activation of Calcium Channels via Their Voltage Sensor” Current Chemical Biology, Volume 10 , Issue 1 , 2016
Take Action to Protect Trees Now!