Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on the behavior and bioenergetics of the ragworm

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1735

At an environmentally realistic EMF level near submarine cables (50 Hz, 1 mT), Hediste diversicolor showed no avoidance or attraction behavior. Burrowing activity was enhanced under EMF exposure; food consumption and respiration were not affected, while ammon…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on the behavior and bioenergetics of the ragworm Jakubowska M, Urban-Malinga B, Otremba Z, Andrulewicz E. Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on the behavior and bioenergetics of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor. Marine Environ Res. 2019 Aug 3;150:104766. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104766. Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an electromagnetic field (EMF) of value typically recorded in the vicinity of submarine cables (50 Hz, 1 mT) on the behavior and bioenergetics of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor. No avoidance or attraction behavior to EMF was shown, but the burrowing activity of H. diversicolor was enhanced in EMF treatment, indicating a stimulating effect on bioturbation potential. The polychaete maintained a positive energy balance and high amount (85% of assimilated energy) of energy available for individual production (scope for growth) after exposure to EMF. Food consumption and respiration rates were not affected but ammonia excretion rate was significantly reduced in EMF-exposed animals compared to the control conditions (geomagnetic field). The mechanisms behind this effect remain, however, unclear. This is the first study demonstrating the effects of environmentally realistic EMF value on the behavior and physiology of marine invertebrates, thus there is a need for more research. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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 directionmixed

PopulationPolychaete ragworm (Hediste diversicolor)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

avoidance/attraction behavior
burrowing activity
energy balance
scope for growth (energy available for production)
food consumption
respiration rate
ammonia excretion rate

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in the abstract.
Sample size not reported in the abstract.
Mechanisms underlying reduced ammonia excretion described as unclear.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "submarine cables",
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Polychaete ragworm (Hediste diversicolor)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "avoidance/attraction behavior",
    "burrowing activity",
    "energy balance",
    "scope for growth (energy available for production)",
    "food consumption",
    "respiration rate",
    "ammonia excretion rate"
  ],
  "main_findings": "At an environmentally realistic EMF level near submarine cables (50 Hz, 1 mT), Hediste diversicolor showed no avoidance or attraction behavior. Burrowing activity was enhanced under EMF exposure; food consumption and respiration were not affected, while ammonia excretion was significantly reduced compared with control (geomagnetic field).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in the abstract.",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract.",
    "Mechanisms underlying reduced ammonia excretion described as unclear."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "50 Hz",
    "1 mT",
    "submarine cables",
    "marine invertebrates",
    "polychaete",
    "Hediste diversicolor",
    "behavior",
    "bioenergetics",
    "burrowing",
    "ammonia excretion"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0,
      "reason": null
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104766
PubMed: Not supplied

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