Aim of study (according 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
Exposure
General category: cell phone base station, radio frequency field, microwaves
| Field characteristics | Parameters |
|---|---|
| 1 MHz - 3 GHz exposure duration: 3 years and 8 months | electric field strength: 3.5 V/m max value electric field strength: 0.4 V/m mean value |
Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
whole body exposure
Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology
Main outcome of study (according 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
© 1997 - 2010, Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu - RWTH Aachen University, Germany).
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