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ELF EMF impair the Cognitive and Motor Abilities of Honey Bees

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2107

Acute exposure to 50 Hz ELF EMFs (20–100 µT to 1000–7000 µT, depending on proximity to conductors) was reported to reduce olfactory learning, alter flight dynamics, reduce success of foraging flights towards food sources, and reduce feeding in honey bees.

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

ELF EMF impair the Cognitive and Motor Abilities of Honey Bees Shepherd S, Lima MAP, Oliveira EE, Sharkh SM, Jackson CW, Newland PL. Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields impair the Cognitive and Motor Abilities of Honey Bees. Sci Rep. 2018 May 21;8(1):7932. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26185-y. Abstract Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) pollution from overhead powerlines is known to cause biological effects across many phyla, but these effects are poorly understood. Honey bees are important pollinators across the globe and due to their foraging flights are exposed to relatively high levels of ELF EMF in proximity to powerlines. Here we ask how acute exposure to 50 Hz ELF EMFs at levels ranging from 20-100 µT, found at ground level below powerline conductors, to 1000-7000 µT, found within 1 m of the conductors, affects honey bee olfactory learning, flight, foraging activity and feeding. ELF EMF exposure was found to reduce learning, alter flight dynamics, reduce the success of foraging flights towards food sources, and feeding. The results suggest that 50 Hz ELF EMFs emitted from powerlines may represent a prominent environmental stressor for honey bees, with the potential to impact on their cognitive and motor abilities, which could in turn reduce their ability to pollinate crops. 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 directionharm
PopulationHoney bees
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 5e-05 MHz · acute
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Acute exposure to 50 Hz ELF EMFs (20–100 µT to 1000–7000 µT, depending on proximity to conductors) was reported to reduce olfactory learning, alter flight dynamics, reduce success of foraging flights towards food sources, and reduce feeding in honey bees.

Outcomes measured

  • olfactory learning
  • flight dynamics
  • foraging success towards food sources
  • foraging activity
  • feeding
  • cognitive abilities
  • motor abilities

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
  • Exposure duration details beyond 'acute' not provided
  • Study design and control conditions not described in provided abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "overhead powerlines",
    "frequency_mhz": 5e-05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "acute"
  },
  "population": "Honey bees",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "olfactory learning",
    "flight dynamics",
    "foraging success towards food sources",
    "foraging activity",
    "feeding",
    "cognitive abilities",
    "motor abilities"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Acute exposure to 50 Hz ELF EMFs (20–100 µT to 1000–7000 µT, depending on proximity to conductors) was reported to reduce olfactory learning, alter flight dynamics, reduce success of foraging flights towards food sources, and reduce feeding in honey bees.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration details beyond 'acute' not provided",
    "Study design and control conditions not described in provided abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "powerlines",
    "overhead powerlines",
    "microtesla",
    "honey bees",
    "olfactory learning",
    "flight",
    "foraging",
    "feeding",
    "pollination"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Exposure source is overhead powerlines; relevant to powerline-related ELF EMF exposure contexts (not explicitly occupational in abstract)."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1038/s41598-018-26185-y
PubMed: Not supplied

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