Abstract
Two-day-old honeybee workers (± 6 h) were placed in cages and supplied with sucrose solution (1 mol/dm3) ad libitum. Subsequently, the cages with bees were placed in an electric field (E-field) exposure system with field intensities of 5.0 kV/m, 11.5 kV/m, 23 kV/m, and 34.5 kV/m. The duration of exposure was 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h. The biochemical parameters SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power), and also acidic, neutral, and alkaline proteases in the worker bee hemolymph were analyzed. The E-field increased activities of antioxidant systems, especially SOD, and also the proteolytic systems. In the groups: 11.5 kV/m–time 6 h, 23.0 kV/m–time 1 h, and 34.5 kV/m–time 1 h, FRAP levels were decreased in comparison with the control samples. These findings are discussed in context with possible consequences for honeybee health in urban and rural environments.
Highlights
All living organisms are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by electrical and electronic devices, power lines, and RF radiation from wireless devices such as cordless telephones or the antenna of mobile network base stations (Hardell and Sage 2008)
This suggests that the increase in environmental pollution by artificial electromagnetic fields poses a further challenge to the honeybee which it has to face every day
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were higher in comparison with the control group
Summary
All living organisms are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by electrical and electronic devices, power lines, and RF (radio frequency) radiation from wireless devices such as cordless telephones or the antenna of mobile network base stations (Hardell and Sage 2008). Insect enzymes block pathogen enzymes by competitive and/or non-competitive inhibition and activate processes in the body fat whose effect is the translation and transformation of immune proteins (Nazzi et al 2014; Evans et al 2006; Nazzi and Pennacchio 2018) During these reactions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed, which are inactivated and/or detoxified by the antioxidant system, especially by superoxide dismutase (SOD). Odemer and Odemer (2019) proved that mobile phone radiation may modify honeybee pupal development but no further impairment is manifested in adulthood This suggests that the increase in environmental pollution by artificial electromagnetic fields poses a further challenge to the honeybee which it has to face every day. The overall aim of our studies was to show the effect of a 50-Hz E-field on honeybee workers in controlled laboratory conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
