Medical/biological study (observational study)

The Urban Decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus): A Possible Link with Electromagnetic Radiation med./bio.

By: Balmori A, Hallberg Ö

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2007; 26 (2): 141-151

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether the population of house sparrows (birds that usually live in the urban environment) is declining in Spain and to evaluate the hypothesis that electromagnetic irradiation from mobile phone antennae is correlated with the decline in the house sparrow population.

Background/further details

Between October 2002 and May 2006, point transect sampling was performed at 30 points during 40 visits to Valladolid, Spain. At each point, counts of sparrows were carried out and the mean electric field strength was measured (radiofrequencies and microwaves: 1 MHz-3 GHz range).

Endpoint

number of house sparrows

Exposure

- RF field
- microwaves
- mobile communications
- mobile phone base station

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1 MHz–3 GHz Exposure duration: 3 years and 8 months	electric field strength: 3.5 V/m maximum electric field strength: 0.4 V/m mean

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1 MHz–3 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	3 years and 8 months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	ambient electromagnetic field

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	3.5 V/m	maximum	measured	-	-
electric field strength	0.4 V/m	mean	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

number of house sparrows

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Significant declines were found in the mean bird density over time, and significantly low bird density was revealed in areas with high electric field strength. The data support the hypothesis that electromagnetic fields are associated with the observed decline in the house sparrow population.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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