DEAR READERS: The biosphere – that is, nature – already damaged by human incursion, pollution, pesticides, and climate change, faces another threat from the technosphere: the sum of all our industries and technologies. Current technologies have become a source of omnipresent electromagnetic pollution. Wireless and radio communications, power transmissions and devices such as smartphones, tablets and portable computers expose people every day to electromagnetic pollution.

All of this will intensify as data centers for cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence products are established in our communities, and are eventually launched into space, where more and more communications satellites encircle the planet. Even if more “green” energy sources are utilized, we still have exposure to anomalous electromagnetic fields and intensities of nonionizing radiation that may be to the detriment of public health and a sustainable economy.

For scientific determinations of the effects of EMFs on living organisms, see the study "The influence of electromagnetic pollution on living organisms: historical trends and forecasting changes" by Grzegorz Redlarski et al., published in Biomed Research International in 2015.

Studies have observed that when a cellphone is actively used near a beehive, it can cause the bees to become agitated, leading to more aggressive behavior. Exposure to EMFs from 5G cellphone towers may cause honeybees to abandon their hives entirely – a behavior that could have serious ecological and agricultural consequences. See the study "Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees" by Marco A. Molina-Montenegro et al., published in Science Advances in 2023.

One recent study on wildlife and EMFs concludes: “Electromagnetic pollution is a significant threat to wildlife and ecosystems, requiring a shift in our understanding of technological advancements. It can cause bird species to become disoriented, marine life to be threatened ... and soil microbial communities to change. Sustainable technologies like low-emission devices and energy-efficient communication networks can help balance technology and nature. However, responsible governance and regulatory frameworks must be updated to keep up with rapid technological advancements.” See the study "Exposing the Ecological Consequences: Wildlife Affected by Electromagnetic Pollution" by Unnati Shukla, published in the International Journal of Research in Environmental Science in 2025.

As for effects on human health: Scientific bodies like the World Health Organization conclude that current evidence does not definitively link most everyday exposures to EMFs to serious health issues, though specific areas warrant continued research. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through its agencies like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Cancer Institute, states that nonionizing EMFs (power lines, cellphones and appliances) lack the energy to directly damage DNA. But some studies link extremely low frequency EMFs (like from power lines) to possible childhood leukemia, leading the International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify them as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group 2B). The consensus is that current public exposures are safe, but research continues, focusing on long-term effects and mechanisms, with the CDC emphasizing radiation safety principles like time, distance and shielding.

There is evidence that radiation from wireless 5G networks may have exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic by weakening immunity and increasing SARS-CoV-2 virulence. See the study "Evidence for a connection between coronavirus disease-19 and exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless communications, including 5G" by Beverly Rubik and Robert Brown, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research in 2021.

The probable health risks, especially to children’s immune systems and developing brains, are considerable, as detailed in professor Tom Butler’s review, “On the Clear Evidence of the Risks to Children from Non-Ionizing Radio Frequency Radiation: The Case of Digital Technologies in the Home, Classroom and Society.” To read it, visit: www.cga.ct.gov/2021/etdata/tmy/2021HB-06442-R000309-Lynch,%20Margaret-,%20Exhibit%20X-TMY.pdf.

The technosphere, driven by boundless capitalism and conspicuous consumption, must be tempered by mindfulness and care. We need international regulation of technologies that can be beneficial in bioremediation, conservation, restoration and the evolution of human consciousness, planetary peace and health.

(Note to readers: I include scientific references in my columns because there is so much disinformation and anti-science rhetoric in these challenging times. Concerns over AI, social media, harmful chatbots and cybersecurity issues regrettably overshadow public debate and awareness of the harms of electropollution.)

HUNDREDS OF ORGS CALL FOR DATA CENTER MORATORIUM

In an open letter to U.S. lawmakers, a coalition of more than 200 environmental groups – including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Food & Water Watch and many local organizations – call for an end to the construction of new data centers in the United States. The electricity consumption for these energy-hungry projects powering the AI boom is set to almost triple over the next five years. If that growth comes to pass, data centers would consume as much electricity as approximately 30 million households and as much water as 18.5 million, cites the groups’ open letter. The facilities could also add up to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2030 and drive up electricity prices even further.

To read the letter, visit: foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Org-Letter_-National-Data-Center-Moratorium.pdf.

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