Traps for animals: scientists study how fibre optics affect the environment
The use of fibre-optic drones in frontline areas is leaving debris in fields that can become traps for animals and birds and harm the environment. Ukrainian researchers have noted that optical fibre does not corrode, meaning it can remain on the ground for decades.
Source: a study by the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group
Details: Optical fibre is a thin, flexible material made of glass or plastic used to transmit light or data. It was originally developed for telecommunications and later began to be widely used in computer technologies and mobile communications.
Fibre-optic UAVs are now widely used on the battlefield. However, as the drone moves towards its target, it leaves white strands of fibre across fields, which can negatively affect soil, plants and animals.
Animals may become entangled in these fibre-optic webs and end up trapped. Suffocation or starvation can lead to their death. Researchers have also recorded cases where birds use optical fibre to build nests.
"Indeed, there have been cases where birds have built nests out of fibre-optic threads. Birds tend to use anything they can find to build their homes, which is quite logical from their point of view. fibre-optic cable is a fairly durable and inert material that does not rot or get damaged by insects, and a nest made of fibre-optic cable will serve as a home for a long time.
There have also been cases where this 'web' of fibre-optics has been found wrapped around the deer antlers, another physical risk for wildlife," said Maksym Soroka, an expert on environmental safety and science director of Dovkola Laboratory.
In addition, the POF-PMMA cable, which forms the basis of optical fibre, is highly resistant to environmental conditions. Over time, it may break down into nanoplastics, which suppress the growth of marine diatom algae and agricultural crops.
When burned, micro- and nano-sized PMMA particles release harmful gases, including carbon and nitrogen oxides. The impact of microplastics may contribute to drought conditions and lower crop yields.
Soil contamination could also affect crops grown on these lands in the future. However, the damage is caused not only by optical fibre but also by the lithium batteries used in drones.
"From the point of view of crop and vegetable production, the impact of microplastics will be minimal because plants do not use them. Plants consume various elements, both beneficial and harmful, through their root systems," explained Oleksandr Viniukov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and Professor of Agronomy.
Researchers emphasise that the long-term environmental impact of optical fibre can only be predicted for now, as long-term studies are still required.
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