Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) on honey bee queen development and mating success.

The Science of the total environment · 2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5598

Honey bee queen larvae exposed to GSM 900 MHz mobile phone radiation during pre-adult development had a significantly reduced hatching ratio. Mating success was not reduced, and colonies established from successfully mated treated queens were not adversely af…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Mobile phones can be found almost everywhere across the globe, upholding a direct point-to-point connection between the device and the broadcast tower. The emission of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) puts the surrounding environment inevitably into contact with this radiation. We have therefore exposed honey bee queen larvae to the radiation of a common mobile phone device (GSM band at 900 MHz) during all stages of their pre-adult development including pupation. After 14 days of exposure, hatching of adult queens was assessed and mating success after further 11 days, respectively. Moreover, full colonies were established of five of the untreated and four of the treated queens to contrast population dynamics. We found that mobile phone radiation had significantly reduced the hatching ratio but not the mating success. If treated queens had successfully mated, colony development was not adversely affected. We provide evidence that mobile phone radiation may alter pupal development, once succeeded this point, no further impairment has manifested in adulthood. Our results are discussed against the background of long-lasting consequences for colony performance and the possible implication on periodic colony losses.

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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

PopulationHoney bee (queen larvae/queens)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 14 days during all stages of pre-adult development (including pupation); mating success assessed after further 11 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Hatching ratio of adult queens
Mating success
Colony population dynamics/development

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure metrics beyond frequency (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in abstract
Only five untreated and four treated queens were used to establish full colonies (as stated in abstract), limiting colony-level comparisons

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "14 days during all stages of pre-adult development (including pupation); mating success assessed after further 11 days"
  },
  "population": "Honey bee (queen larvae/queens)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Hatching ratio of adult queens",
    "Mating success",
    "Colony population dynamics/development"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Honey bee queen larvae exposed to GSM 900 MHz mobile phone radiation during pre-adult development had a significantly reduced hatching ratio. Mating success was not reduced, and colonies established from successfully mated treated queens were not adversely affected in development/population dynamics.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure metrics beyond frequency (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in abstract",
    "Only five untreated and four treated queens were used to establish full colonies (as stated in abstract), limiting colony-level comparisons"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "mobile phone",
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "honey bee",
    "queen development",
    "pupation",
    "hatching ratio",
    "mating success",
    "colony development"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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.scitotenv.2019.01.154
PubMed: 30682608

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