Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs the Development of Honeybee

2022 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 711

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs the Development of Honeybee Li Y, Sun C, Zhou H, Huang H, Chen Y, Duan X, Huang S, Li J. Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs the Development of Honeybee (Apis cerana). Animals (Basel). 2022 Sep 14;12(18):2420. doi: 10.3390/ani12182420. Abstract Increasing ELF-EMF pollution in the surrounding environment could impair the cognition and learning ability of honeybees, posing a threat to the honeybee population and its pollination ability. In a social honeybee colony, the numbers of adult bees rely on the successful large-scale rearing of larvae and continuous eclosion of new adult bees. However, no studies exist on the influence of ELF-EMFs on honeybee larvae. Therefore, we investigated the survival rate, body weight, and developmental duration of first instar larvae continuously subjected to ELF-EMF exposure. Moreover, the transcriptome of fifth instar larvae were sequenced for analyzing the difference in expressed genes. The results showed that ELF-EMF exposure decreases the survival rate and body weight of both white-eye pupae and newly emerged adults, extends the duration of development time and seriously interferes with the process of metamorphosis and pupation. The transcriptome sequencing showed that ELF-EMF exposure decreases the nutrient and energy metabolism and impedes the degradation of larvae tissues and rebuilding of pupae tissues in the metamorphosis process. The results provide an experimental basis and a new perspective for the protection of honeybee populations from ELF-EMF pollution. Open access paper: mdpi.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationHoneybee (Apis cerana) larvae (first instar; transcriptome in fifth instar)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · continuously subjected (from first instar larvae; duration not specified)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Continuous ELF-EMF exposure of first instar larvae decreased survival rate and body weight (white-eye pupae and newly emerged adults) and extended developmental duration, interfering with metamorphosis and pupation. Transcriptome sequencing of fifth instar larvae indicated decreased nutrient and energy metabolism and impeded tissue degradation/rebuilding during metamorphosis.

Outcomes measured

Survival rate
Body weight (white-eye pupae)
Body weight (newly emerged adults)
Developmental duration
Metamorphosis and pupation process
Larval transcriptome / differentially expressed genes
Nutrient and energy metabolism (gene expression)
Tissue degradation and rebuilding during metamorphosis (gene expression)

Limitations

No exposure parameters reported in abstract (e.g., frequency, field strength, dose)
Sample size not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "environmental pollution",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "continuously subjected (from first instar larvae; duration not specified)"
  },
  "population": "Honeybee (Apis cerana) larvae (first instar; transcriptome in fifth instar)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Survival rate",
    "Body weight (white-eye pupae)",
    "Body weight (newly emerged adults)",
    "Developmental duration",
    "Metamorphosis and pupation process",
    "Larval transcriptome / differentially expressed genes",
    "Nutrient and energy metabolism (gene expression)",
    "Tissue degradation and rebuilding during metamorphosis (gene expression)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Continuous ELF-EMF exposure of first instar larvae decreased survival rate and body weight (white-eye pupae and newly emerged adults) and extended developmental duration, interfering with metamorphosis and pupation. Transcriptome sequencing of fifth instar larvae indicated decreased nutrient and energy metabolism and impeded tissue degradation/rebuilding during metamorphosis.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No exposure parameters reported in abstract (e.g., frequency, field strength, dose)",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "honeybee",
    "Apis cerana",
    "larvae",
    "development",
    "survival",
    "body weight",
    "metamorphosis",
    "pupation",
    "transcriptome",
    "gene expression",
    "energy metabolism"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elF-emf-wildlife",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Animal study on ELF-EMF effects on honeybee development and survival."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/ani12182420
PubMed: Not supplied

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