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The incidence of electromagnetic pollution on wild mammals: A new “poison” with a slow effect on nature?

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Abstract

A review on the effects of radiofrequency radiation from wireless telecommunications on living organisms and its possible impact on wild mammals are presented. Physical and technological characteristics of mobile telephone and phone masts, the scientific discoveries that are of interest in the study of their effects on the wildlife, action mechanisms on biological systems and experimental difficulties are described. Keeping in mind that electromagnetic pollution (in the microwave and radiofrequency range) is a possible source for decline of some mammal populations, it is of great importance to carry out studies on the effects of this new pollutant to wildlife. Some research types that could be useful to determine adverse health effects are proposed.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Denise Ward who revised the English version of this article and thanks to ‘‘Centro de Información y Documentación Ambiental’’ in Castilla y León (Spain) for providing some papers.

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  1. Direccion General del Medio Natural. Consejería de Medio Ambiente. Junta de Castilla y Leon, C/Rigoberto Cortejoso, 14, 47014, Valladolid, Spain

    Alfonso Balmori

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Balmori, A. The incidence of electromagnetic pollution on wild mammals: A new “poison” with a slow effect on nature?. Environmentalist 30, 90–97 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-009-9248-y

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