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Electric and magnetic fields and health

index/glossary | EMFs At A Glance | EMF The Facts (pdf)
  • What are EMFs
    • Terminology – an introduction
    • Electric fields
    • Magnetic fields
    • Units for measuring EMFs
    • Measuring and calculating EMFs
      • “EMF Commercial”
    • Adding fields together
    • Radiofrequencies
    • Screening EMFs
  • Sources
    • Overhead power lines
      • Fields from specific power lines
        • 400 kV
        • 400 kV – specific cases
        • 275 kV
        • 132 kV
        • 66 kV
        • 33 kV
        • 11 kV
        • 400 V/230 V
        • Replacing a 132 kV line with a 400 kV line
      • Summaries of fields from all power lines
      • Factors affecting the field from a power line
        • Voltage
        • Current
        • Clearance
        • Height above ground
        • Conductor bundle
        • Phasing
        • Balance between circuits
        • Balance within circuit
        • Ground resistivity
        • Two parallel lines
      • Calculating and measuring fields from power lines
        • Geometries of power lines
        • Raw data
        • On-line calculator
      • Fields from power lines – more detail on the physics
        • Field lines from a power line
        • The direction of the field from a power line
        • Power law variations in the field from a power line
      • Statistics of power line fields
    • Underground power cables
      • Different types of underground cable
      • Fields from cables in tunnels
      • Gas Insulated Lines (GIL)
      • Underground cables with multiple conductors
      • Effect of height on fields from underground cables
      • Screening fields from underground cables
    • Low-voltage distribution
      • UK distribution wiring
      • USA distribution wiring
    • House wiring
    • Substations
      • National Grid substations
        • Static Var Compensators
      • Sealing-end compounds
      • Distribution substations
      • Final distribution substations
        • Indoor substations
    • Transport
      • EMFs from electric trains (UK)
      • EMFs from cars
    • Appliances
    • Electricity meters
      • Smart meters
      • Traditional meters
    • Occupational exposures
      • Live-line work
      • Static Var Compensators
      • Occupational exposures on pylons
    • Field levels and exposures
      • Personal exposure
      • Other factors that vary with magnetic fields
      • Fields greater than 0.2 or 0.4 µT
    • Screening EMFs
      • Screening fields from underground cables
      • EMF Reduction Devices
  • Known effects
    • Induced currents and fields
    • Microshocks
      • Control of microshocks in the UK
      • Microshocks from bicycles
      • Bees and microshocks
    • EMFs and medical devices
      • Standards relating to pacemakers and other AIMDs
    • Effects of EMFs on equipment
  • Research
    • Types of research
    • Epidemiology
    • Animal and laboratory experiments
    • Mechanisms
    • Specific studies
      • UKCCS
      • CCRG
      • French Geocap study
      • CEGB cohort
      • Imperial College study
  • Current evidence on health
    • Childhood leukaemia
      • Survival from childhood leukaemia
      • Childhood leukaemia and Downs
      • Childhood leukaemia and night-time exposure
      • The “contact current” hypothesis
    • Other health effects
    • Scientific review bodies
      • WHO
      • IARC
    • Electric fields and ions
    • Comparing EMFs to other issues
  • Exposure limits for people
    • Limits in the UK
    • Limits in the EU
    • Limits in the USA
    • Limits in the rest of the world
    • Limits from specific organisations
      • ICNIRP 1998
      • ICNIRP 2010
      • NRPB 1993
      • NRPB 2004
      • EU 2004
      • EU 2013
  • Policy
    • UK policy
      • Power lines and property – UK
    • Compliance with exposure limits
    • European EMF policy
    • Precaution
    • SAGE
      • SAGE First Interim Assessment
        • Government response to SAGE First Interim Assessment
      • SAGE Second Interim Assessment
        • Government response to SAGE Second Interim Assessment
        • SAGE Second Interim Assessment – the full list of recommendations
  • Finding out more
    • EMF measurement and commercial services
    • Links
    • Literature
    • Contact us
  • Static fields
    • Static fields – the expert view
You are here: Home / Known effects / EMFs, agriculture and the environment

EMFs, agriculture and the environment

Animals and Plants

As well as possible effects on humans, possible effects of EMFs on various animals (for example, cows, sheep, pigs and horses) have been studied a number of times. No detectable effect of EMFs have been found on, for example, health, milk production, fertility, behaviour, and carcass quality.

Most of the research on EMFs and flora and fauna was conducted in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then little research on this subject has been performed, reflecting the general agreement that EMFs have not been shown to have any detectable effects (with the specific exceptions of honey bees in hives and trees growing close enough to lines to be subject to corona).

Specific issues

We summarise some of the studies that have been performed on particular issues here:

Effects of EMFs on farm animals

We give here information on some studies of the effects of EMFs on farm animals. The studies we list are mainly those summarised by the 1991 Gibbs Inquiry plus more recent studies supported by Hydro-Quebec.  We will be happy to add any more recent studies.

Animals studiedSettingAuthorsOutcomes testedFindings
Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, horses11 livestock farms traversed by 765 kV power linesAnstutz and Miller, 1977-1979Health, behaviour and performanceNo effects found
Dairy cattle55 dairy farms near 765 kV power lines in OhioWilliams and Bieler, 1979Milk production and healthNo effects found
Cattle400 kV power line in SwedenAlgers and Hennicks, 1985; Algers and Hultgren, 1987Inseminations per pregnancy, conception rate, foetal viabilityNo effects found
PigsPens housed underneath 345 kV line in IowaMahmoud and Zimmerman, 1982Performance, behaviour and carcass qualityNo effects
Dairy cattleArtificial exposure facility, 10 kV/m and 30 µT, McGill University, CanadaBurchard and various co-authors.  13 papers from 1996 to 2006Productivity, diet, levels of various hormones, metabolites etcNo major effects, various minor effects reported
Female lambs500 kV transmission line, OregonLee and various co-authors.  3 papers from 1993 to 1996Weight gain, wool growth, melatonin levels, age of pubertyNo  effects
Female lambs500 kV transmission lineHefenieder et al 2001Immunological propertiesNo  effects (failure to confirm earlier unpublished reports)
Dairy cows380 kV transmission line, ItalyStelletta et al, 2007Circadian rhythym, some antigen propertiesSome effects reported

 

 The French Health Ministry "ANSES" published a report in 2015 "Conséquences des champs électromagnétiques d’extrêmement basses fréquences sur la santé animale et les performances zootechniques".  It is in French only, but includes a lengthy bibliography of studies at the end.

There have been several studies investigation whether cows (and deer) can align themselves with the earth's magnetic field - see full details - but the outcome seems inconclusive.

Effects of EMFs on plants

We give here information on some studies of the effects of EMFs on plants, in particular farm crops.  The studies we list are mainly those summarised by the 1991 Gibbs Inquiry.  We will be happy to add any more recent studies.

It is known that some plants can suffer leaf damage if the electric field is high enough to cause corona, which causes the tips of the leaves to dry out and can reduce growth.  For this to happen, the leaves have to be sharp and pointy rather than round, and normally have to be on trees etc to raise the height nearer to the power line.  Crops at ground level would nomally not be in high enough fields to cause corona.

Other than this effect, the following studies have looked at crops in relation to power lines.

 

CropSetting of studyAuthorsFinding
Sunflower seeds5 kV/m electric fieldMarino et al, 1983Reduced germination rates in a minority of the tests
Corn500 kV power lineHilson et al, 1983Lower yields, but explanation not clear (suggested that it could reflect less spraying near power line)
Cotton, soy beans, clover500 kV power line in TennesseeHilson et al, 1983No effects
Various765 kV power line in IndianaMultiple reportsNo effects
Various1200 kV power line in OregonMultiple reportsNo effects
Wheat7.7 kV/m field, JapanEndo et al, 1979No effects
Pasture grass1200 kV power line, USARogers et al, 1983No effects
Wheat and corn380 kV power line, AustriaSoja et al, 2003No effect for corn, 7% non-significant reduction for wheat

Effects of EMFs on bees

bee-photo

Bees can be affected if the hive is under (or close to) a power line and they receive microshocks.  This can be eliminated by screening the hive.  See full details of the research on this.

Other than that effect, there does not seem to be evidence of EMFs or power lines adversely affecting bees.  Indeed, one study (abstract below) found that the strip of land along power lines in the USA, because it is protected from development, can be particularly attractive to bees.

Biological Conservation 124 (2005) 133–148
The potential conservation value of unmowed powerline strips for native bees
K.N. Russell, H. Ikerd, S. Droege

The land area covered by powerline easements in the United States exceeds the area of almost all national parks, including Yellowstone. In parts of Europe and the US, electric companies have altered their land management practices from periodic mowing to extraction of tall vegetation combined with the use of selective herbicides. To investigate whether this alternate management practice might produce higher quality habitat for native bees, we compared the bee fauna collected in unmowed powerline corridors and in nearby mowed grassy fields at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (MD). Powerline sites had more spatially and numerically rare species and a richer bee community than the grassy fields, although the difference was less pronounced than we expected. Powerline sites also had more parasitic species and more cavity-nesting bees. Bee communities changed progressively through the season, but differences between the site types were persistent. The surrounding, non-grassland landscape likely has a strong influence on the bee species collected at the grassland sites, as some bees may be foraging in the grasslands but nesting elsewhere. Improving habitat for native bees will help ameliorate the loss of pollination services caused by the collapse of wild and managed honeybee populations. This study suggests that powerline strips have the potential to provide five million acres of bee-friendly habitat in the US if utilities more generally adopt appropriate management practices.

 

photo courtesy of Mike Silva, California

Bats

Bats use echolocation to detect prey and to aid navigation. This operates in the frequency range of 20 kHz to 200 kHz. Power lines do not produce significant fields at these frequencies, and are therefore highly unlikely to interfere with the bats’ navigation or foraging.  Nor are there any reports of this happening with existing power lines.

Organic status

The presence of a power line has no effect on organic status.  The regulations that define organic status in the UK do not even mention power lines, pylons or magnetic fields.

GPS

Farmers often use Global Positioning System (GPS) to assist operation on farms.  Power lines do not generally interfere with GPS, except possibly very close to the pylon itself.

Conclusions of review bodies

Most of the review bodies that have examined EMFs have been primarily interested in people rather than animals or plants.  SCENIHR have included some comments, and one Inquiry which did examine the evidence on agriculture was the Gibbs Inquiry.

Conclusions by SCENIHR

The EU's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) have issued statements on EMFs in 2007 and 2009.  Both included sections on environmental effects, but the conclusion was:

"The current database is inadequate for the purposes of the assessment of possible risks due to environmental exposure to RF, IF and ELF."

View of UK Government

National Policy Statement NPS EN-5, approved by the UK Parliament and built on advice from HPA, states:

"2.10.8 There is little evidence that exposure of crops, farm animals or natural ecosystems to transmission line EMFs has any agriculturally significant consequences."

Review by the French Health Ministry

The French Health Ministry "ANSES" published a report in 2015 "Conséquences des champs électromagnétiques d’extrêmement basses fréquences sur la santé animale et les performances zootechniques".  It is in French only, but our unofficial translation of the conclusion is:

The National Health Security Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the GT ELF-EMF and ETUC on health effects of ELF-EMF on animal health and animal performance.

The experts' report stresses that although rare effects were observed in animals: deterioration of cognitive function in laboratory animals (exposure to >100 μT), possible decrease in milk production, the fat content and increased feed intake in dairy cow (EMC 30 μT, 30 days), etc. ; it remains difficult to comment on the direct effects health of ELF-EMF on livestock, especially since the mechanisms of action of ELF-EMF are not yet identified. The effects of stray currents are well known but their impact on the performance and health state of the animals (mastitis in dairy cows for example) in the multifactorial context of farms remains badly known.

In this context, ANSES emphasizes the importance of standardization of experimental protocols, as well as the quality of the measurement of the applied fields and a good exposure characterization of animals.

Conclusions by the Gibbs Inquiry

Note: this is now very old.  We mention it here because for a long while it was the only independent review of effects on animals and plants and therefore was cited quite often.

This was conducted by former Chief Justice of Australia The Right Honourable Sir Harry Gibbs G.C.M.G., A.C., K.B.E. who conducted an inquiry into community needs and high voltage transmission line development in the State of New South Wales in 1990/1991. Chapter 6 of his Report deals with animals and plants. His conclusions are contained in section 6.6.

6.6Conclusion
 6.6.1Bees in hives under or near to transmission lines are adversely affected by shocks created by currents induced by the lines, but the effect can be mitigated by shielding.
 6.6.2The magnetic fields created by power lines do not affect the health or reproductive capacity of farm animals or present a danger to native fauna.
 6.6.3The growth of trees which are close to a transmission line may be reduced by the effect of corona. In any case, the height of trees on a transmission line easement will be restricted when this is necessary in the interest of safety. Any loss which this causes to the landowner should be included in the compensation paid for the acquisition of the easement. This matter is further discussed in Chapter 16.
 6.6.4From a practical point of view, the electric fields created by transmission lines have no adverse effect on crops, pasture grasses or native flora, other than trees, growing under or near to the lines.
 
 
 
 

Latest news

  • New publication on cancer incidence from the UK electricity industry Cohort Study August 27, 2019
  • How has the reported risk for childhood leukaemia changed over time? February 11, 2019
  • Media stories about microshocks in children’s playground September 10, 2018
  • New studies on leukaemia and distance from power lines June 1, 2018
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Navigation
  • What are EMFs
    • Terminology – an introduction
    • Electric fields
    • Magnetic fields
    • Units for measuring EMFs
    • Measuring and calculating EMFs
      • “EMF Commercial”
    • Adding fields together
    • Radiofrequencies
    • Screening EMFs
  • Sources
    • Overhead power lines
      • Fields from specific power lines
        • 400 kV
        • 400 kV – specific cases
        • 275 kV
        • 132 kV
        • 66 kV
        • 33 kV
        • 11 kV
        • 400 V/230 V
        • Replacing a 132 kV line with a 400 kV line
      • Summaries of fields from all power lines
      • Factors affecting the field from a power line
        • Voltage
        • Current
        • Clearance
        • Height above ground
        • Conductor bundle
        • Phasing
        • Balance between circuits
        • Balance within circuit
        • Ground resistivity
        • Two parallel lines
      • Calculating and measuring fields from power lines
        • Geometries of power lines
        • Raw data
        • On-line calculator
      • Fields from power lines – more detail on the physics
        • Field lines from a power line
        • The direction of the field from a power line
        • Power law variations in the field from a power line
      • Statistics of power line fields
    • Underground power cables
      • Different types of underground cable
      • Fields from cables in tunnels
      • Gas Insulated Lines (GIL)
      • Underground cables with multiple conductors
      • Effect of height on fields from underground cables
      • Screening fields from underground cables
    • Low-voltage distribution
      • UK distribution wiring
      • USA distribution wiring
    • House wiring
    • Substations
      • National Grid substations
        • Static Var Compensators
      • Sealing-end compounds
      • Distribution substations
      • Final distribution substations
        • Indoor substations
    • Transport
      • EMFs from electric trains (UK)
      • EMFs from cars
    • Appliances
    • Electricity meters
      • Smart meters
      • Traditional meters
    • Occupational exposures
      • Live-line work
      • Static Var Compensators
      • Occupational exposures on pylons
    • Field levels and exposures
      • Personal exposure
      • Other factors that vary with magnetic fields
      • Fields greater than 0.2 or 0.4 µT
    • Screening EMFs
      • Screening fields from underground cables
      • EMF Reduction Devices
  • Known effects
    • Induced currents and fields
    • Microshocks
      • Control of microshocks in the UK
      • Microshocks from bicycles
      • Bees and microshocks
    • EMFs and medical devices
      • Standards relating to pacemakers and other AIMDs
    • Effects of EMFs on equipment
  • Research
    • Types of research
    • Epidemiology
    • Animal and laboratory experiments
    • Mechanisms
    • Specific studies
      • UKCCS
      • CCRG
      • French Geocap study
      • CEGB cohort
      • Imperial College study
  • Current evidence on health
    • Childhood leukaemia
      • Survival from childhood leukaemia
      • Childhood leukaemia and Downs
      • Childhood leukaemia and night-time exposure
      • The “contact current” hypothesis
    • Other health effects
    • Scientific review bodies
      • WHO
      • IARC
    • Electric fields and ions
    • Comparing EMFs to other issues
  • Exposure limits for people
    • Limits in the UK
    • Limits in the EU
    • Limits in the USA
    • Limits in the rest of the world
    • Limits from specific organisations
      • ICNIRP 1998
      • ICNIRP 2010
      • NRPB 1993
      • NRPB 2004
      • EU 2004
      • EU 2013
  • Policy
    • UK policy
      • Power lines and property – UK
    • Compliance with exposure limits
    • European EMF policy
    • Precaution
    • SAGE
      • SAGE First Interim Assessment
        • Government response to SAGE First Interim Assessment
      • SAGE Second Interim Assessment
        • Government response to SAGE Second Interim Assessment
        • SAGE Second Interim Assessment – the full list of recommendations
  • Finding out more
    • EMF measurement and commercial services
    • Links
    • Literature
    • Contact us
  • Static fields
    • Static fields – the expert view