Amphibians and Reptiles: The Impacts of Radiofrequency Radiation
Botanists have documented the decline of frog and turtle species
across diverse habitats, including in protected areas where the absence of pesticides
and habitat loss were presumed to have been protective. Decreases have been seen both in species numbers and in biodiversity of species.
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The peer-reviewed academic research on this page suggests that electromagnetic pollution in the microwave and radiofrequency range, i.e., the range emitted by common cellular and wireless devices, is a possible cause for deformations and declines in some amphibian and reptile populations.
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Turtle and frog species have been shown to become disoriented when exposed to a man made radiofrequency field,
and to change their geomagnetic field orientation. Since many species depend on
geomagnetic orientation for reproduction and navigation, there are profound implications as human
wireless and cellular infrastructure increasingly encroaches into wild habitats.
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Loggerhead Turtles and RF Fields:
Orientation Behavior, but Not Conditioned Behavior,
Disrupted by Radiofrequency (RF)
Oscillating Magnetic Fields
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February 12, 2025
Scientists published in Nature 2025 found that loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) can learn the magnetic coordinates of their geographical destination, but noted that their orientation behavior was disrupted by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields.
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"Orientation behaviour that required use of
the magnetic compass was disrupted by radiofrequency
oscillating magnetic fields.”
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Juvenile turtles that were fed repeatedly in magnetic fields replicating those in specific oceanic locations. They learned to distinguish the magnetic fields in which they encountered food from oscillating magnetic fields that exist elsewhere.
The research describes a distinction between the turtles' conditioned responses, those depending on already learned magnetic mapping, and orientation behaviors, those requiring use of the magnetic compass rather than memorized mapping.
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Although conditioned responses in the learned magnetic map were unaffected by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields, the turtles' ability to successfully use orientation behavior was in fact disrupted by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields. ​​​
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Abstract:
Growing evidence indicates that migratory animals exploit the magnetic field of the Earth for navigation, both as a compass to determine direction and as a map to determine geographical position1. It has long been proposed that, to navigate using a magnetic map, animals must learn the magnetic coordinates of the destination2,3... Here we report that an iconic navigating species, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), can learn such information. When fed repeatedly in magnetic fields replicating those that exist in particular oceanic locations, juvenile turtles learned to distinguish magnetic fields in which they encountered food from magnetic fields that exist elsewhere, an ability that might underlie foraging site fidelity. Conditioned responses in this new magnetic map assay were unaffected by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields, a treatment expected to disrupt radical-pair-based chemical magnetoreception4,5,6, suggesting that the magnetic map sense of the turtle does not rely on this mechanism. By contrast, orientation behaviour that required use of the magnetic compass was disrupted by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields. The findings provide evidence that two different mechanisms of magnetoreception underlie the magnetic map and magnetic compass in sea turtles.
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Goforth, K.M., Lohmann, C.M.F., Gavin, A. et al. Learned magnetic map cues and two mechanisms of magnetoreception in turtles. Nature 638, 1015–1022 (2025). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08554-y
Wireless Emissions and Amphibian Decline:
The impact of Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation from Wireless Telecommunications on Amphibians
In this review of the scientific literature, biologist Alfonso Balmori presents findings on the impact of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from wireless telecommunications on amphibians. He concludes that microwave range and radiofrequency range electromagnetic pollution are possible causes for deformations and declines found in some amphibian populations.
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Abstract: A bibliographical review on the possible effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from wireless telecommunications on living organisms and its impact on amphibians is presented. The technical characteristics of this new technology and the scientific discoveries that are of interest in the study of their effects on wild fauna and amphibians are described. Electromagnetic pollution (in the microwave and in the radiofrequency range) is a possible cause for deformations and decline of some amphibian populations. Keeping in mind that amphibians are reliable bio-indicators, it is of great importance to carry out studies on the effects of this new type of contamination. Finally, some methodologies that could be useful to determine the adverse health effects are proposed.
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Alfonso Balmori (2006) The incidence of electromagnetic pollution on the amphibian decline: Is this an important piece of the puzzle? Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 88:2, 287-299. Link: https://www.avaate.org/IMG/pdf/TEC_Balmori._Amphibian.pdf
Snapping Turtles Change Their Alignment When Subject to Radiofrequency Radiation
Biologists exposed juvenile snapping turtles to low-level radio frequency (RF) fields to study their underlying sensory mechanism. The found that the turtles behaved differently depending on the presence or absence of RF in their environments.
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RF off: When turtles were initially introduced to the testing environment without the presence of RF, they aligned consistently towards magnetic north.
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RF off → off. Turtles again aligned towards magnetic north when conditions remained RF-free.
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RF off → on. Turtles became disoriented when exposed to RF.
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RF on → off. Turtles that were initially introduced to an RF-present environment remained disoriented.
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RF on → on. Turtles introduced with RF and tested with continuing RF aligned towards magnetic south.
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Abstract: We investigated spontaneous magnetic alignment (SMA) by juvenile snapping turtles using exposure to low-level radio frequency (RF) fields at the Larmor frequency to help characterize the underlying sensory mechanism. Turtles, first introduced to the testing environment without the presence of RF aligned consistently towards magnetic north when subsequent magnetic testing conditions were also free of RF (‘RF off → RF off’), but were disoriented when subsequently exposed to RF (‘RF off → RF on’). In contrast, animals initially introduced to the testing environment with RF present were disoriented when tested without RF (‘RF on → RF off’), but aligned towards magnetic south when tested with RF (‘RF on → RF on’). Sensitivity of the SMA response of yearling turtles to RF is consistent with the involvement of a radical pair mechanism. Furthermore, the effect of RF appears to result from a change in the pattern of magnetic input, rather than elimination of magnetic input altogether, as proposed to explain similar effects in other systems/organisms. The findings show that turtles first exposed to a novel environment form a lasting association between the pattern of magnetic input and their surroundings. However, under natural conditions turtles would never experience a change in the pattern of magnetic input. Therefore, if turtles form a similar association of magnetic cues with the surroundings each time they encounter unfamiliar habitat, as seems likely, the same pattern of magnetic input would be associated with multiple sites/localities. This would be expected from a sensory input that functions as a global reference frame, helping to place multiple locales (i.e., multiple local landmark arrays) into register to form a global map of familiar space.
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Landler L., Painter M.S., Phillips J.B. Spontaneous magnetic alignment by yearling snapping turtles: rapid association of radio frequency dependent pattern of magnetic input with novel surroundings. PLoS One. 2015. Link.
Mobile phone mast effects on common frog tadpoles
In 2010, biologist Alfonso Balmori published his study of a common frog habitat located near a cell tower. Balmori studied the reproduction of the frogs for two months, from the egg phase through the advanced tadpole phase. All of the frogs were being exposed in the wild to the cell tower which was approximately 140 meters away. To protect some of the frogs from the cell tower's radiation emissions, he built a shielded structure called a "Faraday cage" and placed some of the frogs inside. The frogs that were left alone, unshielded, outside of the Faraday cage were exposed as usual to the antenna’s radiofrequency fields. The unshielded frogs had a mortality (death rate) of 90 percent during the two months of the study. The frogs that were sheilded from the cell tower radiation had a dramatically lower mortality rate of 4.2 percent.
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"Radiation emitted by phone masts may cause
an increase in mortality of exposed tadpoles.
This research may have huge implications for the natural world.”
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Abstract: An experiment has been made exposing eggs and tadpoles of the common frog (Rana temporaria) to electromagnetic radiation from several mobile (cell) phone antennae located at a distance of 140 meters. The experiment lasted two months, from the egg phase until an advanced phase of tadpole prior to metamorphosis. Measurements of electric field intensity (radiofrequencies and microwaves) in V/m obtained with three different devices were 1.8 to 3.5 V/m. In the exposed group (n = 70), low coordination of movements, an asynchronous growth, resulting in both big and small tadpoles, and a high mortality (90%) was observed. Regarding the control group (n = 70) under the same conditions but inside a Faraday cage, the coordination of movements was normal, the development was synchronous, and a mortality of 4.2% was obtained. These results indicate that radiation emitted by phone masts in a real situation may affect the development and may cause an increase in mortality of exposed tadpoles. This research may have huge implications for the natural world, which is now exposed to high microwave radiation levels from a multitude of phone masts.
​Balmori, A. and C. Navarra, “Mobile phone mast effects on common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles; the city turned into a laboratory,” Electromagn Biol Med, 2010, June;29(1-2); 31-5. 59. Link.
Lizard Immunocompetence Impacted by Wireless Radiation from a DECT Phone
The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is a heliothermic reptile; like the European or common wall lizard and other reptiles, it regulates its body temperature primarily by moving between sun and shade. Its varying color morphs differ in size and behavior depending on their microhabitats.
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Scientists used a cordless phone (DECT, or Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony) to examine the effects of radiofrequency radiation emissions on the immune system in lizards. They exposed adult male lizards to a DECT base station's radiation emissions for eight weeks, 24 hours/day, and then assessed the lizards' immune reactivity. They found a that the EMR-exposed lizards had suppressed inflammatory responses compared to sham-exposed animals, concluding that daily radiofrequency exposure seemed to impact the lizards' immunocompetence.
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"​Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to
affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence
of the Aegean wall lizard."
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Abstract: Purpose: During the last three decades, the number of devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the wireless communication spectrum has rapidly increased and possible effects on living organisms have become a major concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency EMR emitted by a widely used wireless communication device, namely the Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base, on the immune responses of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Materials and methods: Adult male lizards were exposed 24 h/day for 8 weeks to 1880-1900 MHz DECT base radiation at average electric field intensity of 3.2 V/m. Immune reactivity was assessed using the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) tests. Results: Our results revealed a noticeable suppression (approximately 45%) of inflammatory responses in EMR-exposed lizards compared to sham-exposed animals. T cell-mediated responses were marginally affected. Conclusion: Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence of the Aegean wall lizard.
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Immune responses of a wall lizard to whole-body exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. (2016) Mina D et al. International journal of Radiation Biology. Volume 92, Feb 2016. Issue 3. Link.
Hatchling Loggerhead Sea Turtles Rely on the Earth's Natural Regional Magnetic Fields during Migration (2012)
The transoceanic voyage taken by young sea turtles involves gradually circling the North Atlantic Ocean, then ultimately returning again to the North American coast. Biologists studied the use of natural magnetic fields in navigation among young loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eastern Florida. Their results indicate that the turtles' journey was aided by the use of naturally occurring regional magnetic fields as navigational maps. The turtles made crucial changes in swimming direction based at least in part on this magnetic field mapping.
Abstract: Young loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eastern Florida, U.S.A., undertake a transoceanic migration in which they gradually circle the North Atlantic Ocean before returning to the North American coast. Hatchlings in the open sea are guided at least partly by a 'magnetic map' in which regional magnetic fields function as navigational markers and elicit changes in swimming direction at crucial locations along the migratory route. The magnetic map exists in turtles that have never migrated and thus appears to be inherited. Turtles derive both longitudinal and latitudinal information from the Earth's field, most likely by exploiting unique combinations of field inclination and intensity that occur in different geographic areas. Similar mechanisms may function in the migrations of diverse animals.
The magnetic map of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles. (2012) Lohmann KJ. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2012 Apr;22(2):336-42. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22137566. Link
Agamid Lizards Respond to a Man-Made ELF Electromagnetic Field
ELF refers to "Extremely low frequency" electric and magnetic fields, which exist wherever electricity is generated or transmitted including powerlines and electrical devices. Artificial or man-made sources are the dominant sources of ELF fields, associated with electricity use at the common 60 Hz frequency (in the U.S.) and 50 Hz (in Europe, Australia and many Asian and African countries). Research on the agamid lizard (Pogona vitticeps) was conducted to examine behavioral responses to this man-made electromagnetic field. The test group of lizards received whole-body exposure to the ELF electromagnetic fields for 12 hours/day, while the control group did not. Behavior was measured by observing the number of tail lifts per lizard. The average number of daily tail lifts was greater in the group exposed to ELF than in the control group, and was reproduced.
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"These results suggest that at least some lizards are able to perceive ELF-EMFs."
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SUMMARY: "Animals from a wide range of taxa have been shown to possess magnetic sense and use magnetic compasses to orient; however, there is no information in the literature on whether lizards have either of these abilities. In this study, we investigated the behavioral responses of a diurnal agamid lizard (Pogona vitticeps) to a sinusoidal extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF; 6 and 8 Hz, peak magnetic field 2.6 μT, peak electric field 10 V m−1). Fourteen adult lizards were divided randomly into two groups (the EMF and control groups; each group had three males and four females). The EMF group received whole-body exposure to ELF-EMF and the control group did not. Lizards in the EMF group were exposed to ELF-EMF for 12 h per day (during the light period). The number of tail lifts was monitored beginning 3 days before exposure and ending after 5 days of exposure. For each individual, the average number of tail lifts per day was calculated. The average number of tail lifts per individual per day was greater in the EMF group than in the control group (20.7±6.3 and 9.1±4.5 tail lifts, respectively, N=7 each, P=0.02). We confirmed the reproducibility of this response by a cross-over trial. These results suggest that at least some lizards are able to perceive ELF-EMFs. Furthermore, when the parietal eye of the lizards was covered with a small round aluminum ‘cap’ which could block light, the tail-lifting response to ELF-EMF disappeared. Our experiments suggest that (1) lizards perceive EMFs and (2) the parietal eye may be involved in light-dependent magnetoreceptive responses."
​Lizards respond to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field. (2010) Nishimura T et al. Journal of Experimental Biology 2010 213: 1985-1990. Link