Levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from human-made sources have steadily increased over the past decades, prompting research on the potential adverse effects from EMF exposure on human health. However, comparably little has been published about the impact of EMF on the living environment, although it is well known that some animal and plant species can perceive electric or magnetic fields.
Most EMF exposures come from increased use of electricity and new technologies. Power grids, which mostly emit static and low frequency fields, are being restructured and expanded due to increasing electricity demand and the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to address global warming. An ever increasing number of high frequency EMF-emitting technologies are introduced into almost all areas of everyday life. New RF communication infrastructures will have new applications, including in e-health, smart cities, transport and industry.
The webinar will cover possible action mechanisms of these EMF in living systems, and biological effects from these fields as observed in plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. The current state of scientific knowledge will be summarized based on the outcome of an international workshop held in November 2019 and hosted by the German Federal Office of Radiation Protection, and a recent literature review funded by the European Parliament.
