Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on different developmental stages of Drosophila

International journal of radiation biology · 2021 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1078

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on different developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster Neha Agrawal, Kalyani Verma, Doli Baghel, Amitabh Chauhan, Dipti N Prasad, Sanjeev K Sharma, Ekta Kohli. Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electro Magnetic Field on different developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Radiat Biol. 2021 Aug 17;1-35. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1969465. Abstract Purpose: The model biological organism Drosophila melanogaster has been utilized to assess effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on locomotion, longevity, developmental dynamics, cell viability and oxidative stress. Materials and method: Developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R strain) individually exposed to ELF-EMF (75 Hz, 550 µT) for 6 h once for acute exposure. For chronic exposure, complete life cycle of fly, that is, egg to adult fly was exposed to ELF-EMF for 6 h daily. The effect of exposure on their crawling and climbing ability, longevity, development dynamics, cellular damage and oxidative stress (generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)) was evaluated. Results: The crawling ability of larvae was significantly (p< 0.05) reduced on acute (third stage instar larvae) as well as chronic exposure (F0 and F1 larvae). When locomotion of flies were tested using climbing assay, no alteration was observed in their climbing ability under both acute and chronic exposure, however, when their speed of climbing was compared, a significant decrease in speed of F1 flies was observed (p value 0.0027) on chronic exposure. The survivability of flies was significantly affected under chronic and acute exposure (at third stage instar larvae). In case of acute exposure of the third stage instar larvae, though all the flies were eclosed by the 17th day, but there was a significant decline in the number of flies (p value 0.007) in comparison to control. While, in case of chronic exposure apart from low number of flies eclosed in comparison to control, there was delay in eclosion by one day (p value 0.0004). Using trypan blue assay the internal gut damage of third stage instar larvae was observed. Under acute exposure condition at third stage instar larvae, 30% larvae has taken up trypan blue, while only 10% larvae from acute exposure at adult stage. On chronic exposure, 50% larvae of the F1 generation have taken up trypan blue. On evaluation of oxidative stress, there is significant rise in ROS in case of acute exposure at third stage instar larvae (p value 0.0004), adult fly stage (p value 0.0004) and chronic exposure (p value 0.0001). Conclusion: ELF-EMF has maximum effects on acute exposure of third stage instar larvae and chronic exposure (egg to adult fly stage). These results suggest that electromagnetic radiations, though have become indispensible part of our lives but they plausibly effect our health. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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

PopulationDrosophila melanogaster (Oregon R strain), including larvae (third instar), adults, and F0/F1 generations

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.075 MHz · Acute: 6 h once; Chronic: 6 h daily across complete life cycle (egg to adult)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Larval crawling ability was significantly reduced after acute exposure (third instar larvae) and after chronic exposure (F0 and F1 larvae). Climbing ability showed no alteration, but climbing speed decreased in F1 flies under chronic exposure. Survivability was significantly affected under chronic exposure and after acute exposure at third instar stage; chronic exposure also reduced the number eclosed and delayed eclosion by one day. Trypan blue uptake indicated internal gut damage (30% uptake in acutely exposed third instar larvae; 10% in acutely exposed adults; 50% in chronically exposed F1 larvae), and ROS levels increased significantly in acute (third instar and adult) and chronic exposure conditions.

Outcomes measured

Larval crawling ability
Adult climbing ability
Speed of climbing
Longevity/survivability
Developmental dynamics (eclosion timing and number eclosed)
Cellular damage (trypan blue uptake/internal gut damage)
Oxidative stress (ROS generation)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure source/setup details not described in abstract
Results reported for multiple endpoints and stages; not all assays show changes (e.g., climbing ability unchanged)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.075,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Acute: 6 h once; Chronic: 6 h daily across complete life cycle (egg to adult)"
  },
  "population": "Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R strain), including larvae (third instar), adults, and F0/F1 generations",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Larval crawling ability",
    "Adult climbing ability",
    "Speed of climbing",
    "Longevity/survivability",
    "Developmental dynamics (eclosion timing and number eclosed)",
    "Cellular damage (trypan blue uptake/internal gut damage)",
    "Oxidative stress (ROS generation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Larval crawling ability was significantly reduced after acute exposure (third instar larvae) and after chronic exposure (F0 and F1 larvae). Climbing ability showed no alteration, but climbing speed decreased in F1 flies under chronic exposure. Survivability was significantly affected under chronic exposure and after acute exposure at third instar stage; chronic exposure also reduced the number eclosed and delayed eclosion by one day. Trypan blue uptake indicated internal gut damage (30% uptake in acutely exposed third instar larvae; 10% in acutely exposed adults; 50% in chronically exposed F1 larvae), and ROS levels increased significantly in acute (third instar and adult) and chronic exposure conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure source/setup details not described in abstract",
    "Results reported for multiple endpoints and stages; not all assays show changes (e.g., climbing ability unchanged)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "75 Hz",
    "550 µT",
    "Drosophila melanogaster",
    "locomotion",
    "longevity",
    "development",
    "eclosion",
    "trypan blue",
    "gut damage",
    "oxidative stress",
    "ROS"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elr-elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines extremely low-frequency EMF (75 Hz, 550 µT) biological effects in an animal model."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1969465
PubMed: 34402374

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