10/08/2025
A 2023 study from Wroclaw University, published in PLOS ONE, investigated how exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (the same frequency used in mobile phones) affects honey bees. Researchers exposed one-day-old worker bees to varying durations and intensities of this radiation, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours, and then analyzed changes in their metabolism and stress responses. The results revealed significant disruptions in the bees’ biochemistry. Key enzymes involved in protein metabolism, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), decreased notably, suggesting that basic metabolic functions were impaired.
Additionally, stress response genes, particularly heat shock proteins like Hsp70 and Hsp90, were strongly activated, indicating that the bees perceived the radiation as a biological threat. Interestingly, the physiological stress patterns observed were similar to those caused by UVB radiation rather than simple heat stress, pointing to deeper molecular impacts. The study also found that both the intensity and duration of RF exposure played a role in how severe the effects were, but even brief exposure caused measurable damage.
These findings raise serious questions about the impact of everyday wireless frequencies on bees, which are essential pollinators for one-third of global crops. If such low-level exposure can disrupt their biology so significantly, it may have broader implications for ecosystem stability, and possibly human health as well.
