Radiation from 5G will harm birds and insects, warns charity

THE roll-out of 5G poses a threat to wildlife because electromagnetic radiation from phone masts is hurting birds and bugs, a study has suggested.

Environmentalists fear greater harm could be caused following an analysis of 97 studies by the Eu-funded review body EKLIPSE, which concluded that radiation is a potential risk to insect and bird orientation and plant health.

Charity Buglife warned that there was little ongoing research to assess the impact, or apply pollution limits.

And it called for 5G transmitters to be placed away from street lights, which attract insects, or areas where they could harm wildlife. Matt Shardlow, CEO of Buglife said: “There is a credible risk that 5G could impact significantly on wildlife, and that placing transmitters on LED street lamps, which attract nocturnal insects such as moths, increases exposure and risk.

“We call for all 5G pilots to include detailed studies of their influence and impacts on wildlife, and for the results of those studies to be made public.”

As of March, 237 scientists had signed an appeal to the United Nations asking it to take the risks of EMR more seriously. The review authors concluded there is “an urgent need to strengthen the scientific knowledge on EMR” and its impact on wildlife.