DEAR READERS: The biosphere -- that is, nature -- already damaged by human incursion, pollution, pesticides, and climate change, faces another threat from the technosphere: the sum of all our industries and technologies. Current technologies have become a source of omnipresent electromagnetic pollution. Wireless and radio communications, power transmissions and devices such as smartphones, tablets and portable computers expose people every day to electromagnetic pollution.

All of this will intensify as data centers for cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence products are established in our communities, and are eventually launched into space, where more and more communications satellites encircle the planet. Even if more “green” energy sources are utilized, we still have exposure to anomalous electromagnetic fields and intensities of nonionizing radiation that may be to the detriment of public health and a sustainable economy.

For scientific determinations of the effects of EMFs on living organisms, see the study "The influence of electromagnetic pollution on living organisms: historical trends and forecasting changes" by Grzegorz Redlarski et al., published in Biomed Research International in 2015.

Studies have observed that when a cellphone is actively used near a beehive, it can cause the bees to become agitated, leading to more aggressive behavior. Exposure to EMFs from 5G cellphone towers may cause honeybees to abandon their hives entirely -- a behavior that could have serious ecological and agricultural consequences. See the study "Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees" by Marco A. Molina-Montenegro et al., published in Science Advances in 2023.

One recent study on wildlife and EMFs concludes: “Electromagnetic pollution is a significant threat to wildlife and ecosystems, requiring a shift in our understanding of technological advancements. It can cause bird species to become disoriented, marine life to be threatened ... and soil microbial communities to change. Sustainable technologies like low-emission devices and energy-efficient communication networks can help balance technology and nature. However, responsible governance and regulatory frameworks must be updated to keep up with rapid technological advancements.” See the study "Exposing the Ecological Consequences: Wildlife Affected by Electromagnetic Pollution" by Unnati Shukla, published in the International Journal of Research in Environmental Science in 2025.

As for effects on human health: Scientific bodies like the World Health Organization conclude that current evidence does not definitively link most everyday exposures to EMFs to serious health issues, though specific areas warrant continued research. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through its agencies like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Cancer Institute, states that nonionizing EMFs (power lines, cellphones and appliances) lack the energy to directly damage DNA. But some studies link extremely low frequency EMFs (like from power lines) to possible childhood leukemia, leading the International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify them as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group 2B). The consensus is that current public exposures are safe, but research continues, focusing on long-term effects and mechanisms, with the CDC emphasizing radiation safety principles like time, distance and shielding.

There is evidence that radiation from wireless 5G networks may have exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic by weakening immunity and increasing SARS-CoV-2 virulence. See the study "Evidence for a connection between coronavirus disease-19 and exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless communications, including 5G" by Beverly Rubik and Robert Brown, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research in 2021.

The probable health risks, especially to children’s immune systems and developing brains, are considerable, as detailed in professor Tom Butler’s review, “On the Clear Evidence of the Risks to Children from Non-Ionizing Radio Frequency Radiation: The Case of Digital Technologies in the Home, Classroom and Society.” To read it, visit: www.cga.ct.gov/2021/etdata/tmy/2021HB-06442-R000309-Lynch,%20Margaret-,%20Exhibit%20X-TMY.pdf.

The technosphere, driven by boundless capitalism and conspicuous consumption, must be tempered by mindfulness and care. We need international regulation of technologies that can be beneficial in bioremediation, conservation, restoration and the evolution of human consciousness, planetary peace and health.

(Note to readers: I include scientific references in my columns because there is so much disinformation and anti-science rhetoric in these challenging times. Concerns over AI, social media, harmful chatbots and cybersecurity issues regrettably overshadow public debate and awareness of the harms of electropollution.)

HUNDREDS OF ORGS CALL FOR DATA CENTER MORATORIUM

In an open letter to U.S. lawmakers, a coalition of more than 200 environmental groups -- including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Food & Water Watch and many local organizations -- call for an end to the construction of new data centers in the United States. The electricity consumption for these energy-hungry projects powering the AI boom is set to almost triple over the next five years. If that growth comes to pass, data centers would consume as much electricity as approximately 30 million households and as much water as 18.5 million, cites the groups’ open letter. The facilities could also add up to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2030 and drive up electricity prices even further.

To read the letter, visit: foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Org-Letter_-National-Data-Center-Moratorium.pdf.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I am doing research on dementia and Alzheimer’s. There are five additives that I am learning may be bad for our brain cells: MSG (monosodium glutamate), aspartame, Splenda, diacetyl and -- especially bad -- aluminum.

Are any of these in pet foods? -- B.G., Minnetonka, Minnesota

DEAR B.G.: There are many issues with many highly processed cat and dog kibbles, and some canned foods, that contain so-called “natural flavors.” That can mean MSG.

Flavorings derived from natural resources in pet foods can include MSG, and are often found under less direct terms like “natural flavoring” or “hydrolyzed protein.” Manufacturers use these “natural” flavor enhancers to make low-quality ingredients more appealing, but they do not have to disclose them on the label, making it difficult for pet owners to avoid. For instance, the popular Temptations cat treats from Mars Pet Care “contain a mix of ingredients that create natural flavors derived from natural sources,” according to the manufacturer.

MSG is a neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor, and may be a factor in feline hyperesthesia syndrome. A friend’s cat had seizures after eating treats with high levels of MSG. High intake of MSG has been connected to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in humans. Some studies have found that MSG can reduce the mass of pancreatic beta cells, which are crucial for insulin production.

The addictive quality of these treats, coupled with a diet of dry kibble, may play a role in feline ailments such as obesity, diabetes, cystitis, renal failure and gingivostomatitis. Highly processed foods with various chemical additives may contribute to these problems by causing intestinal and oral dysbiosis, robbing cats (and dogs) of the healthful bacteria they need, but their diets do not support.

When looking for cat treats, go for additive-free, air-dried chicken strips or pellets. You can find air-dried chicken treats for cats from various brands like Zeal, Waita, Plato and Ziwi. These treats are made using a process that dehydrates the chicken, preserving its nutrients and natural flavor in a jerky-like texture. Look for products with high meat content, and avoid those with artificial colors or other additives.

On to aspartame and Splenda: My late mother-in-law stopped having mini-seizures at bedtime after I told her to stop consuming these sweeteners. She used to slather her sliced tomatoes with sugar and sweeteners! Sorbitol is a popular sugar alcohol used in countless “sugar-free” products, and can cause fatty liver disease. For details, visit: science.org/doi/10.1126/scisignal.adt3549.

As for the health risks of aluminum, we must confront the excessive contamination from aluminum cookware and a host of other environmental sources. A 2000 analysis confirmed that the aluminum content of brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis was significantly elevated compared with levels from patients without these conditions. Further research is required to understand the role played by high levels of aluminum in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disease. For details, visit: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64734-6.

To avoid aluminum in your diet, reduce your intake of processed foods, use aluminum-free cookware and avoid cooking acidic foods in aluminum foil. Also, check medication labels for aluminum, and choose personal care products -- like deodorant and toothpaste -- that do not contain it. Avoiding high-exposure sources like certain antacids can also help limit intake.

A more informed public is now demanding more healthful -- and affordable -- foods for themselves and their animal companions.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: I wish all readers a more secure and just New Year. And I wish all children could experience, as I did in my childhood, the awe and wonder of nature and of observing other living creatures. I realized two significant principles during those childhood years of exploring and observing all that lived in the ponds near my home.

The first principle was that, just like me, every creature has a will to live and, therefore, the right. That right must be respected. The second principle was that these creatures were integral participants in their life-community -- the web of life in their aquatic realm of interdependence and community sustainability.

Growing up in a civilization that does not live in accord with either of these principles -- and accepting the reality that the ponds of my English homeland are now gone, under a housing development -- has been challenging. But I see hope in the efforts around the world to save the last of the wild animals and restore their habitats. I wish all readers who care about animals would make a New Year's resolution to choose one of the many ways they can help.

Our beautiful and fragile planet is in urgent need of CPR: conservation, protection and restoration. But the possibility of international cooperation to this end will never be achieved so long as there are distracting wars, terrorism, and corrupt and tyrannical regimes that are laying waste to the natural world and driving climate change. Climate change, in turn, is displacing and impoverishing ever-more millions of people, while other species are endangered or close to extinction.

We all have the agency to support civil society initiatives, justice and the rule of law. We can choose to live more frugally and simply so others may simply live.

POISONING THE PLANET: PEOPLE MUST STOP

In a detailed article published in November in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Sciences Europe, 43 researchers from five continents -- including experts in toxicology, biology, public health and environmental science -- point out severe lapses in the current regulatory systems for evaluating the safety of products derived from petrochemical byproducts.

The full commercial formulations of common petrochemical-based pesticides used in global agriculture "have never been subjected by (the) industry to long-term testing on mammals," per the article. The authors note that only the active ingredients declared by makers of pesticides and plasticizers (chemical additives used to increase pliability) have been assessed for human health risks, while the full ingredient lists are often proprietary: not publicly disclosed by the companies that develop them. These pesticides and plasticizers contain petroleum-based waste and heavy metals such as arsenic. In short, this selective testing gives an incomplete picture of the safety of these products: "The ingredients of these formulations are not fully disclosed, yet the formulations are in general at least 1,000 times more toxic at low environmentally relevant doses than the active ingredients alone under conditions of long-term exposure."

To read the study, visit: doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01217-3.

BILL GATES HAS IT WRONG ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Recent statements by philanthropist Bill Gates that downplay the threat of climate change and assert that the world’s “biggest problems are poverty and disease” ignore a key fact, argues climatologist Michael Mann: Addressing global warming and global health is not a zero-sum game.

Climate change will exacerbate pandemics and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria. “Every fraction of a degree of warming we prevent means tremendous amounts of avoided damage,” Mann writes. To read the column, visit: nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03712-2.

As I document in my book "One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives," world hunger, poverty, climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the risk of pandemics are all connected. Thus, they call for an internationally coordinated response.

THE ORAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS OF OUR CATS

The Feline Veterinary Medical Association recommends caring for your cat’s teeth at home, which can help prevent advanced periodontal disease and pain.

Sharing a related post from CatFriendly.com:

“Dental health problems are among the most common health problems veterinarians see in cats. Up to 85% of cats will already have signs of periodontal (gum) disease by two years of age. Even though dental disease is common in cats, it can be really hard for you to see it, or to see changes in your cat that are caused by it.

"Dental disease is painful, can be linked to infection and can lead to tooth loss. Cats are experts at hiding pain, so they might appear to be acting fine even when their mouth hurts. Taking care of your cat’s oral health will help them feel better and stay healthier, reducing the risk of problems later in life.”

Ideally, owners would start caring for their cats' teeth while they are still kittens, so they get used to the routine. Home care options include daily brushing with cat-safe toothpaste and a soft brush, or dental wipes, which might be better tolerated than brushing.

For several years now, I have recommended Adore Pet’s oral gels and sprays for dogs and cats, which can be applied with a gauze wipe or by rubbing one finger along the upper and lower gum lines. (For details, go to AdorePet.com.) The natural botanicals in this product prevent the buildup of dental plaque, which is the main cause of periodontal gum disease.

Download the 2025 FVMA Feline Oral Health and Dental Care Guidelines at catvets.com/dental.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)