The Influence of Electromagnetic Pollution on Living Organisms: Historical Trends and Forecasting Changes

Abstract

Current technologies have become a source of omnipresent electromagnetic pollution from generated electromagnetic fields and resulting electromagnetic radiation. In many cases this pollution is much stronger than any natural sources of electromagnetic fields or radiation. The harm caused by this pollution is still open to question since there is no clear and definitive evidence of its negative influence on humans. This is despite the fact that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields were classified as potentially carcinogenic. For these reasons, in recent decades a significant growth can be observed in scientific research in order to understand the influence of electromagnetic radiation on living organisms. However, for this type of research the appropriate selection of relevant model organisms is of great importance. It should be noted here that the great majority of scientific research papers published in this field concerned various tests performed on mammals, practically neglecting lower organisms. In that context the objective of this paper is to systematise our knowledge in this area, in which the influence of electromagnetic radiation on lower organisms was investigated, including bacteria, E. coli and B. subtilis, nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, land snail, Helix pomatia, common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.

Exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic field triggers rapid uptake of large nanosphere clusters by pheochromocytoma cells

“…Effects on biological matter exposed to artificial EMFs have been a focus of research investigation since the 18th century, 1 with research effort becoming more intense now due to the growing prevalence of power transmission devices and consumer goods (eg, microwave [MW] ovens) that rely on electromagnetic radiation to perform their functions. [2][3][4] In recent years, a rapid growth in mobile communication systems, wireless and radio communications, 5,6 and the associated surge in the usage of personal communication devices like tablets, portable Dovepress Dovepress 8430 Perera et al computers, Wi-Fi-enabled "smart" phones, televisions, and cameras has significantly increased the likelihood of environmental exposure of humans and other organisms to EMFs 2,7 and to MW radiation in particular. It is of utmost importance to explore and understand the effects arising from the interaction of EMFs with living entities at the micro and nano scale.…”

The cellular effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on osteoblasts: A review

“…The potential of these EMFs to have undesired effects has therefore been the subject of in‐depth investigations, as it has long been known that cells could potentially be a target for EMFs, as they possessed a complex system of electrical charges [Heilbrunn, ; Fueredi and Ohad, ]. The effects of electric and magnetic fields, particularly those ubiquitous ones created by common 50/60 Hz power lines, have been thoroughly studied in several animal and plant models and in human in vitro and in vivo models [Redlarski et al, ].…”

Study of the Electromagnetic Interference Generated by Wireless Power Transfer Systems

“…Reference levels for occupational and public exposure [19] The development of modern technologies of information and energy transmission, remote control and monitoring, as well as some of the types of transport, has contributed to the appearance of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The current technologies have become a source of EMI as a result of the generated EMF, thus leading to electromagnetic radiation [20].…”

“…The damage caused by EMFs is still an open question since there is no clear evidence of its negative influence on human health. In the recent years, the number of scientific researches dedicated to the impact of EMF on the living organisms has significantly increased [20]. The human body is a good conductor of electricity due to the fact that it consists of conductive tissues, i.e., neural tissues and fluids as blood, lymph, intercellular fluid.…”

“…2. According to [20] the electromagnetic spectrum can be divided into frequency bands in terms of environmental effects, namely: -radio frequency (100 kHz < f ≤ 300 GHz); -intermediate frequency (IF) (300 Hz < f ≤100 kHz): -extremely low frequency (ELF) (0< f ≤ 300 Hz); -static (0 Hz).…”