A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates

Abstract

A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates Luana Albert, François Deschamps, Aurélie Jolivet, Frédéric Olivier, Laurent Chauvaud, Sylvain Chauvaud. A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates. Mar Environ Res. 2020 Jul;159:104958. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104958. Highlights • Submarine power cables produce both magnetic and electric fields. • Marine invertebrate species inhabit the benthic or sediment compartment where cables are laid or buried. • Evidence shows magneto and electro-sensitivity in some invertebrates but their response to artificial fields is poorly known. • Invertebrate species are likely to experience the highest and longest exposures and should be prioritised in future studies. Abstract The goal of clean renewable energy production has promoted the large-scale deployment of marine renewable energy devices, and their associated submarine cable network. Power cables produce both electric and magnetic fields that raise environmental concerns as many marine organisms have magneto and electroreception abilities used for vital purposes. Magnetic and electric fields' intensities decrease with distance away from the cable. Accordingly, the benthic and the sedimentary compartments are exposed to the highest field values. Although marine invertebrate species are the major fauna of these potentially exposed areas, they have so far received little attention. We provide extensive background knowledge on natural and anthropogenic marine sources of magnetic and electric fields. We then compile evidence for magneto- and electro-sensitivity in marine invertebrates and further highlight what is currently known about their interactions with artificial sources of magnetic and electric fields. Finally we discuss the main gaps and future challenges that require further investigation. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This review summarizes background on natural and anthropogenic marine electric and magnetic field sources and compiles evidence that some marine invertebrates show magneto- and electro-sensitivity. It notes that responses of invertebrates to artificial fields from submarine power cables are poorly known and that benthic/sediment-dwelling invertebrates are likely to experience the highest and longest exposures, warranting prioritization in future studies.

Outcomes measured

• Magneto-sensitivity (magnetoreception)
• Electro-sensitivity (electroreception)
• Interactions/behavioral or biological responses to artificial electric and magnetic fields from submarine power cables

Limitations

• Review/synthesis; no primary effect estimates reported in abstract
• Responses to artificial fields in invertebrates described as poorly known in the abstract
• No quantitative exposure metrics (field strengths, frequencies) provided in abstract

Suggested hubs

• marine-wildlife (0.9)
  Focuses on marine invertebrates and environmental exposure to EMF from submarine cables.
• power-cables (0.85)
  Specifically addresses electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables.

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "submarine power cables",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Marine invertebrates (benthic and sedimentary compartments)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Magneto-sensitivity (magnetoreception)",
        "Electro-sensitivity (electroreception)",
        "Interactions/behavioral or biological responses to artificial electric and magnetic fields from submarine power cables"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This review summarizes background on natural and anthropogenic marine electric and magnetic field sources and compiles evidence that some marine invertebrates show magneto- and electro-sensitivity. It notes that responses of invertebrates to artificial fields from submarine power cables are poorly known and that benthic/sediment-dwelling invertebrates are likely to experience the highest and longest exposures, warranting prioritization in future studies.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Review/synthesis; no primary effect estimates reported in abstract",
        "Responses to artificial fields in invertebrates described as poorly known in the abstract",
        "No quantitative exposure metrics (field strengths, frequencies) provided in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "submarine power cables",
        "marine renewable energy",
        "electric fields",
        "magnetic fields",
        "invertebrates",
        "benthic",
        "sediment",
        "magnetoreception",
        "electroreception"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "marine-wildlife",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Focuses on marine invertebrates and environmental exposure to EMF from submarine cables."
        },
        {
            "slug": "power-cables",
            "weight": 0.84999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Specifically addresses electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables."
        }
    ]
}

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