Addressing the effects of RF-EMF exposure on biodiversity, development & fitness of insects
The protection of insect pollinators is high on the science and policy agenda. Given this crucial role, the impact of RF-EMF exposure on insects and the ecosystem needs to be better understood.
What does ETAIN do?
The absorption and penetration of RF-EMF in insects is expected to increase due to the shift towards 5G and 6G, caused by resonance effects in small bodies.
ETAIN uses Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) to study their exposure to RF-EMF on their behaviour and development over several generations.
By developing an anatomically and electromagnetically accurate 3D ElectroMagnetic (3D-EM) models of insects, the project quantifies potential changes in their RF-EMF exposure and answers the question whether (non-)thermal effects in insects could occur.
Honey Bees, solitary bees and blue bottle flies will also be studied to test if RF-EMF exposure impacts the immature development and fitness of insect pollinators.