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Wi-Fi Hurts Trees, Early Study Finds

Paresh Dave |
November 20, 2010 | 11:17 a.m. PST

Executive Producer

An ash tree. (Creative Commons)
An ash tree. (Creative Commons)

An initial test by German researchers shows the proliferation of wireless Internet is causing discoloration, disgfiguration and disease in trees.

The electromagnetic radiation emitted by Wi-Fi access points may have a negative effect on the growth of plants, according to the study at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The researchers note a larger and longer test is needed to verify the results because previous studies have shown Wi-Fi to be pretty safe.

The study focused on 20 ash trees. The trees nearest to a Wi-Fi point ended up with a "lead-like shine" on the leaves because of leaf skin death.

More will be known about this possible damaging effect of Wi-Fi in February when the researchers attend an unnamed conference.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.



 

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