ELF Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program: Soil Amoeba.
Abstract
The U.S. Navy has completed a program that monitored biota and ecological relationships for possible effects from electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by its Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Communications System. This report documents the results and conclusions of soil amoeba studies conducted near the Navy's transmitting antenna in Michigan. From 1982 through 1994 researchers from the Michigan State University (MSU) monitored species and populations of soil amoebae found in ELF system area soils. Six variables characterizing population size, activity, and diversity, as well as genetic heterogeneity and growth, were examined in areas near (treatments) and far (control) from the antenna. The research team also measured ambient soil factors such as temperature, moisture, and nutrient chemistry. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and BACI techniques. Statistical analyses of diversity, genetic heterogeneity, and growth indicated no EM effects on these variables. Resuits on seasonal averages, peak numbers, and encystation activity were mixed; however, the number of significant differences was small and the overall pattern was not related to EM exposure. The principal investigator concluded no effects to amoebae from exposure to EM fields produced by the ELF system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA304268
Entities
People
- R. N. Band
Organizations
- IIT Research Institute