The Effect of High-Voltage Power Lines on Magnetic Orientation of Domestic Dogs

Animals (Basel) · 2025 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2471

In control (geomagnetically calm) conditions, dogs showed a bimodal alignment (grand mean 23°/203°). Under north-south oriented power lines, the bimodal pattern persisted (grand mean 5°/185°), while under east-west oriented power lines alignment became trimod…

Study snapshot

PublicationAnimals (Basel) · 2025

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Behavioral Neuroscience Tags: domestic dogs, magnetic orientation, high-voltage power lines, electromagnetic fields, geomagnetic field, animal behavior, health risk DOI: 10.3390/ani15243534 URL: mdpi.com Overview Domestic dogs are known to sense the geomagnetic field (GMF) and naturally align their bodies along its axis, with altered alignment during geomagnetic disturbances. This study explored whether anthropogenic magnetic fields (MF) from high-voltage power lines (PL) influence this magnetic alignment behavior in dogs. Methods - 36 dogs were observed, with behavior recorded under both north-south (NS) and east-west (EW) oriented power lines. - Control conditions excluded anthropogenic magnetic fields. - Each dog’s mean alignment angle was calculated from over 50 measurements in each scenario. - Grand Means (GMs) were derived and compared. Findings - Under control (geomagnetically calm) conditions, dogs showed a bimodal alignment (GM = 23°/203°). - Geomagnetic storms caused significant shifts in alignment and increased angular dispersion. - Under NS-oriented power lines, the bimodal pattern persisted (GM = 5°/185°). - Under EW-oriented lines, alignment became trimodal (nodes = 3, p = 0.042; GM = 103°/283°), with significant statistical differences compared to control (LME for linearized angles: p < 0.001). Conclusion - Dogs maintain directional alignment even when exposed to magnetic fields from power lines. - The orientation pattern corresponds to both the MF and direction of the power lines. - This demonstrates a possible complex impact involving both magnetic and non-magnetic cues in dogs' orientation behavior. - Importantly, this link between electromagnetic fields from power lines and behavioral alteration in dogs points to a significant interaction with bioelectric processes, supporting concerns about EMF exposure and its biological effects.

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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 directionmixed

PopulationDomestic dogs

Sample size36

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

magnetic orientation/alignment behavior (body alignment angles; bimodal vs trimodal patterns)
changes in angular dispersion during geomagnetic storms

Limitations

Frequency and intensity/field strength of the power-line magnetic fields were not reported in the provided abstract.
Exposure duration and distance from power lines were not described in the provided abstract.
Control condition definition is brief; details on how anthropogenic magnetic fields were excluded are not provided in the provided abstract.
Potential confounding by non-magnetic cues is acknowledged but not resolved in the provided abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "high-voltage power lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Domestic dogs",
  "sample_size": 36,
  "outcomes": [
    "magnetic orientation/alignment behavior (body alignment angles; bimodal vs trimodal patterns)",
    "changes in angular dispersion during geomagnetic storms"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In control (geomagnetically calm) conditions, dogs showed a bimodal alignment (grand mean 23°/203°). Under north-south oriented power lines, the bimodal pattern persisted (grand mean 5°/185°), while under east-west oriented power lines alignment became trimodal (nodes=3, p=0.042) and differed statistically from control (LME p<0.001).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency and intensity/field strength of the power-line magnetic fields were not reported in the provided abstract.",
    "Exposure duration and distance from power lines were not described in the provided abstract.",
    "Control condition definition is brief; details on how anthropogenic magnetic fields were excluded are not provided in the provided abstract.",
    "Potential confounding by non-magnetic cues is acknowledged but not resolved in the provided abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "domestic dogs",
    "magnetic orientation",
    "high-voltage power lines",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "geomagnetic field",
    "animal behavior",
    "geomagnetic storms"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "power-lines-elf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study explicitly examines effects of high-voltage power lines (anthropogenic magnetic fields) on behavior."
    }
  ]
}

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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/ani15243534
PubMed: Not supplied

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