5G and Insects: Unveiling the Effects on Pollinators and Biodiversity through the ETAIN Project
One of the objectives of the ETAIN project is to determine how much 5G radiation power is absorbed by insects when exposed to given levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). The aim is to understand how this absorbed power is distributed throughout an insect's body, how it varies from one species to another, and whether it depends on the insect's developmental stage.
Additionally, the project is investigating whether RF-EMFs impact insect biodiversity, particularly the diversity of insect pollinators. This is being studied through a longitudinal experiment, in which insect trapping is repeated over time in areas consistently exposed to RF-EMFs.
To conduct this research, several experiments have been set up in Greece. Fields at Work, in collaboration with the Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos Dimitra, has developed an infrastructure allowing the project to study the impact of 5G radiation on bees. The experimental setup consists of two rooms: a control room and an exposed room. Each room contains three shielded compartments each accommodating a Styrofoam beehive each containing a bee colony. One of these boxes is directly exposed to 5G radiation (the radiation levels are higher than typical outdoor levels, comparable to the exposure experienced when using a phone next to your head) for several weeks. To ensure the control room remains unaffected by RF-EMFs, the rooms are separated by an electromagnetic field (EMF) absorbing material. The second room is exposed to normal levels of exposure.
It is essential to conduct this experiment in an area free from external RF-EMF interference, ensuring the bees' exposure is precisely controlled. The exposure must also be continuous, as bee activity varies with the seasons. During the winter, bee activity is minimal, as they focus on maintaining hive warmth, whereas in the flowering season, their activity increases as they frequently enter and exit the hive to forage. Importantly, the bees are not confined to the box; a tube connects the hive to the outside, allowing the bees to exit for pollination while still using the box as their hive.
This is just one of several experiments being conducted as part of the ETAIN project. For instance, other experiments are underway in Montpellier involving fruit flies. Stay tuned to learn more about our research in the near future!
