[parthapratimdhar (OP)]

In Bangladesh, massive mortality of Raintree plant (Samanea saman) has been a burning problem for few years. I think high powered mobile network is killing this fast growing, nitrogen fixing tree. Can anybody provide me any evidence regarding lethal effect of mobile network on the plant's life?

Partha Pratim Dhar
Assistant Profssor
Department of Botany
Patiya Govt. College
Chittagong, Bangladesh

[another_someone]

There is no evidence that mobile phones have any short term effect even on animal life (there is debate about long term effects, but even there, I know of know evidence that harm is done, merely the inevitable claim that one cannot prove no harm is done).  It seems improbable that plants would be more sensitive than animals, since however fast the raintree plant grows, cell division is still going to be slower than for most animals.

If the raintree plant is effected by radio transmissions from the mobile phone network, the one should also see effects from other microwave transmissions (e.g. radar installations, which are often much more powerful than any mobile phone mast).

Ofcourse, it is always possible that mobile phone installations cause other problems than that caused by radio transmissions - it could be that where the masts are situated might cause an effect on drainage, soil disturbance, create shade, or in some other way effect the plant.  It may also be a question if there is any interaction between the mobile phone masts themselves any any insects that might pollinate the Raintree plant.

There are so many more variables to consider than merely to look at the radio transmissions themselves, and these may be exclusive to one ecosystem and have no impact whatsoever to another ecosystem.

[kdlynn]

or could it be a plant disease? also, has the climate changed there recently?

[another_someone]

or could it be a plant disease? also, has the climate changed there recently?

Could even be that the guys who put up the masts accidentally introduced the plant disease on their clothing.

But, equally, the phone masts could be just pure coincidence.

Have you looked at what kind of damage the plants have sustained - or are they in fact showing any physical damage at all, or is it merely reduced reproduction without any obvious damage to the parent plants?

[Bored chemist]

I seem to have missed something. Why do you think the mobile phone network is responsible?

[paul.fr]

Why the network and not the carrier signal? In populated area's the majority of mobile phone towers are located inside signs (garage forecourts, takeaway sinage...) , so you never actually see them. So how do you know where they are? Thefact that the majority are located in such places also negates to some extent the effect may be caused by the person erecting them.

[another_someone]

Why the network and not the carrier signal? In populated area's the majority of mobile phone towers are located inside signs (garage forecourts, takeaway sinage...) , so you never actually see them. So how do you know where they are? Thefact that the majority are located in such places also negates to some extent the effect may be caused by the person erecting them.

I suspect the situation might be a little different in places such as Bangladesh, which is where the question originated.