Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Changes of selected biochemical parameters of the honeybee under the influence of an electric field at 50 Hz and variable intensities med./bio.

By: Migdał P, Roman P, Strachecka A, Murawska A, Bieńkowski P

Published in: Apidologie 2020; 51: 956–967

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of honeybees to a 50 Hz electric field on the antioxidative and proteolytic system should be investigated.

Background/further details

One-day-old honeybee workers were divided into the following groups: exposure to an electric field of 1) 5.0 kV/m for 1 hour, 2) 5.0 kV/m for 3 hours, 3) 5.0 kV/m for 6 hours, 4) 11.5 kV/m for 1 hour, 5) 11.5 kV/m for 3 hours, 6) 11.5 kV/m for 6 hours, 7) 23.0 kV/m for 1 hour, 8) 23.0 kV/m for 3 hours, 9) 23.0 kV/m for 6 hours, 10) 34.5 kV/m for 1 hour, 11) 34.5 kV/m for 3 hours and 12) 34.5 kV/m for 6 hours. For each exposure duration (1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours), a separate control group was used. Each group consisted of 10 cages with 100 bees, respectively.

Endpoint

effects on the antioxidative and proteolytic system

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- electric field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 1 hour	electric field strength: 5 kV/m
Exposure 2: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 3 hours	electric field strength: 5 kV/m
Exposure 3: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 6 hours	electric field strength: 5 kV/m
Exposure 4: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 1 hour	electric field strength: 11.5 kV/m
Exposure 5: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 3 hours	electric field strength: 11.5 kV/m
Exposure 6: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 6 hours	electric field strength: 11.5 kV/m
Exposure 7: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 1 hour	electric field strength: 23 kV/m
Exposure 8: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 3 hours	electric field strength: 23 kV/m
Exposure 9: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 6 hours	electric field strength: 23 kV/m
Exposure 10: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 1 hour	electric field strength: 34.5 kV/m
Exposure 11: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 3 hours	electric field strength: 34.5 kV/m
Exposure 12: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 6 hours	electric field strength: 34.5 kV/m

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	1 hour

Exposure setup

Exposure source	plate capacitor
Chamber	wooden cages (20 × 15 × 7 cm)
Setup	a homogeneous (± 5%) electric field was generated by a plate capacitor with a distance of 20 cm between two electrodes constructed as a squared cage made out of wire mesh (dimension 100 cm × 100 cm) with a 10 mm× 10 mm grid diameter
Additional info	the control groups were exposed to an electric field of < 2.00 kV/m

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	6 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	1 hour

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	11.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 5

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	11.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 6

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	6 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	11.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 7

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	1 hour

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	23 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 8

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	23 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 9

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	6 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	23 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 10

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	1 hour

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	34.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 11

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	3 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	34.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposure 12

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	6 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	34.5 kV/m	-	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

invertebrate
honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica)
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the antioxidative system (enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase (commercial kits) and antioxidant capacity of the hemolymph (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay)) and proteolytic system (enzyme activities of acidic, neutral and alkaline protease; colorimetric assays)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
hemolymph

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

All exposure groups showed a significant increase compared to the respective control groups in one or more enzyme activities of the antioxidant and proteolytic systems.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 50 Hz electric field might affect the antioxidative and proteolytic system of honeybees.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Migdał P et al. (2021): Changes in Honeybee Behavior Parameters under the Influence of the E-Field at 50 Hz and Variable Intensity
Migdał P et al. (2021): Effect of the electric field at 50 Hz and variable intensities on biochemical markers in the honey bee's hemolymph
Lupi D et al. (2021): Combined Effects of Pesticides and Electromagnetic-Fields on Honeybees: Multi-Stress Exposure
Migdał P et al. (2020): Changes in the Honeybee Antioxidant System after 12 h of Exposure to Electromagnetic Field Frequency of 50 Hz and Variable Intensity
Koziorowska A et al. (2020): Electromagnetic field of extremely low frequency has an impact on selected chemical components of the honeybee
Shepherd S et al. (2019): Increased aggression and reduced aversive learning in honey bees exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields
Shepherd S et al. (2018): Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields impair the Cognitive and Motor Abilities of Honey Bees
Wyszkowska J et al. (2016): Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields alters the behaviour, physiology and stress protein levels of desert locusts
Greggers U et al. (2013): Reception and learning of electric fields in bees
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2003): Effects of electromagnetic fields on the reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster
Bindokas VP et al. (1989): Laboratory investigations of the electrical characteristics of honey bees and their exposure to intense electric fields
Bindokas VP et al. (1988): Mechanism of biological effects observed in honey bees (Apis mellifera, L.) hived under extra-high-voltage transmission lines: implications derived from bee exposure to simulated intense electric fields and shocks
Bindokas V et al. (1984): Biological effects of a 765-kV, 60-Hz transmission line on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.): hemolymph as a possible stress indicator

Changes of selected biochemical parameters of the honeybee under the influence of an electric field at 50 Hz and variable intensities med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 5

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 6

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 7

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 8

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 9

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 10

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 11

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 12

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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