Changes in honey bee nutrition after exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field

Abstract

Overview

Urban beekeeping has become increasingly popular, particularly with placing bee colonies in cities and on building rooftops. Such urban locations subject bees to a variety of sources of electromagnetic fields (EMF) operating at different frequencies and intensities. Scientific knowledge regarding the effects of EMF on the physiology and behavior of insects—including honey bees—is still scarce.

Study Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on honey bee nutrition by analyzing key biochemical markers in bee hemolymph. The measured indicators included:

• Total proteins
• Glucose
• Triglycerides
• Total antioxidant status (TAS) activity

These markers are critical indicators of honey bee nutritional state.

Methods

• 2-day-old Carniolan worker honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica L.) were used.
• Bees were exposed to RF-EMF fields at 12 V/m, 28 V/m, and 61 V/m intensities for 0.25, 1, and 3 hours.
• After exposure, hemolymph was collected from 40 live bees in each group by removing their antennae with sterile tweezers.
• Biochemical markers were analyzed and compared to a control group.

Findings

The 12 V/m and 28 V/m exposure groups showed statistically significant alterations in the activity of total proteins, TAS, and triglycerides in bee hemolymph compared to the control group in most cases. This indicates that even relatively low levels of RF-EMF can disturb nutritional parameters in honey bees.

Conclusion

According to the study's results, radiofrequency electromagnetic fields disturb key nutritional indicators in honey bees. These changes in hemolymph biochemistry may lead to long-term effects on bee health and colony vitality, emphasizing the potential biological risk associated with EMF exposure.