Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields alters the behaviour, physiology and stress protein levels of desert locusts

Abstract

Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields alters the behaviour, physiology and stress protein levels of desert locusts Wyszkowska J, Shepherd S, Sharkh S, Jackson CW, Newland PL.Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields alters the behaviour, physiology and stress protein levels of desert locusts.Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 3;6:36413. doi: 10.1038/srep36413. Abstract Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are present throughout the modern world and are derived from many man-made sources including overhead transmission lines. The risks of extremely-low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields are particularly poorly understood especially at high field strengths as they are rarely encountered at ground level. Flying insects, however, can approach close to high field strength transmission lines prompting the question as to how these high levels of exposure affect behaviour and physiology. Here we utilise the accessible nervous system of the locust to ask how exposure to high levels of ELF EMF impact at multiple levels. We show that exposure to ELF EMFs above 4 mT leads to reduced walking. Moreover, intracellular recordings from an identified motor neuron, the fast extensor tibiae motor neuron, show increased spike latency and a broadening of its spike in exposed animals. In addition, hind leg kick force, produced by stimulating the extensor tibiae muscle, was reduced following exposure, while stress-protein levels (Hsp70) increased. Together these results suggest that ELF EMF exposure has the capacity to cause dramatic effects from behaviour to physiology and protein expression, and this study lays the foundation to explore the ecological significance of these effects in other flying insects. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to ELF EMFs above 4 mT was associated with reduced walking in locusts. Exposed animals showed increased spike latency and broader spikes in an identified motor neuron, reduced hind leg kick force after exposure, and increased Hsp70 stress-protein levels.

Outcomes measured

• Walking behavior
• Motor neuron electrophysiology (spike latency, spike broadening)
• Hind leg kick force
• Stress protein levels (Hsp70)

Limitations

• Exposure duration not stated in abstract
• Frequency characteristics of the ELF field not stated in abstract
• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Study conducted in an insect model; generalizability to other species not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Mentions overhead transmission lines as a man-made ELF EMF source, though the study is in insects rather than workers.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "overhead transmission lines",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Desert locusts",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Walking behavior",
        "Motor neuron electrophysiology (spike latency, spike broadening)",
        "Hind leg kick force",
        "Stress protein levels (Hsp70)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to ELF EMFs above 4 mT was associated with reduced walking in locusts. Exposed animals showed increased spike latency and broader spikes in an identified motor neuron, reduced hind leg kick force after exposure, and increased Hsp70 stress-protein levels.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure duration not stated in abstract",
        "Frequency characteristics of the ELF field not stated in abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Study conducted in an insect model; generalizability to other species not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF EMF",
        "transmission lines",
        "insects",
        "desert locust",
        "behavior",
        "motor neuron",
        "electrophysiology",
        "Hsp70",
        "stress protein",
        "4 mT"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Mentions overhead transmission lines as a man-made ELF EMF source, though the study is in insects rather than workers."
        }
    ]
}

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