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Exposure to an additional alternating magnetic field affects comb building by worker hornets.

Bioeffects Seen

Ishay JS, Plotkin M, Volynchik S, Shaked M, Schuss Z, Bergman DJ. · 2007

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Oriental hornet workers exposed to an additional alternating magnetic field built combs with 35-55% fewer cells, disrupted symmetry, and more slender stems.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers kept Oriental hornet workers in an Artificial Breeding Box and exposed them to an AC magnetic field of a magnitude of B = 50-70 mGauss, comparing the combs they built with those from a control group exposed only to the natural terrestrial magnetic field. Exposed hornets built combs with a 35-55% smaller number of cells and fewer eggs, many deformed and imperfectly hexagonal cells, and more delicate and slender comb stems.

Why This Matters

Under normal conditions, Oriental hornet workers kept without a queen construct within a few days brood combs of hexagonal cells with apertures facing down, fastened to the roof of the box by stems. The workers in the exposed group were adults more than 24 hours after eclosion. The effects observed included a smaller number of cells and fewer eggs, disrupted symmetry with deformed cells, and more delicate and slender comb stems.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.005 - 0.007 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
2 Weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 0.005 - 0.007 mT for magnetic fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.005 - 0.007 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 40 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To study the effects of Exposure to an additional alternating magnetic field on comb building by worker hornets.

In an ABB with adult workers (more than 24 h after eclosion), exposed to an AC (50 Hz) magnetic fie...

The effects of the additional magnetic field consist of (a) 35-55% smaller number of cells and fewer...

Cite This Study
Ishay JS, Plotkin M, Volynchik S, Shaked M, Schuss Z, Bergman DJ. (2007). Exposure to an additional alternating magnetic field affects comb building by worker hornets. Physiol Chem Phys Med NMR. 39(1):83-88, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{js_2007_exposure_to_an_additional_261,
  author = {Ishay JS and Plotkin M and Volynchik S and Shaked M and Schuss Z and Bergman DJ.},
  title = {Exposure to an additional alternating magnetic field affects comb building by worker hornets.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/18613641},
}
PubMed: 18613641

Cited By (3 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The hornets were exposed to an AC magnetic field of a magnitude of B = 50-70 mGauss.
The exposed hornets built combs with a 35-55% smaller number of cells and fewer eggs.
The exposed combs showed disrupted symmetry, with many deformed and imperfectly hexagonal cells.
The control group was subjected only to the natural terrestrial magnetic field.
The comb stems of exposed hornets were more delicate and slender.