subject: The Effect Of Electromagnetic Radiation On Bee Populations [print this page] Cell phones emit electromagnetic waves and fields and some scientist fear that these are behind a disturbing trend in beehive stability; bees provide pollination support and any change in hives can have a negative impact on food production. Many believe that other factors are behind the dramatic reduction in hive population called colony collapse. In a disorderly attempt to locate the cause of the collapse scientists have spread the culpability around. Pesticides, climate change, pollution and garbage seepage have all been blamed for the colony reduction. However, observations of bee colonies in a controlled experiment appear to point the finger at the humble portable phone.
Indian scientists at Panjab have conducted basic research to determine causality betwixt cell phone usage and the ongoing colony collapse. The university's scientific team carefully watched the effect of cell phone radiation upon beehives subjected to a battery of tests. A repetitive and unique set of phone activations was conducted on a pre-programmed basis. All of this had the goal of locating a link between phone emanations and the collapse of the hives being observed. As a result of the study, the Panjab University group apparently found a direct connection between the hives and cell phones.
Panjab University scientists determined that the presence of even a small amount of electromagnetic radiation for a few minutes per day could dramatically affect bee honey production. As a result, in a few months the bees stopped producing honey and the resulting loss of nutrition adversely impacted the bees' growth. In addition to that, it was noted that the queen bee stopped producing eggs drastically curtailing the survivability of the hive since its population dropped precipitously. Bees only live for a short while so that any reduction in replacement population prevents a hive from maintaining its support structure.
The causal mechanism behind colony collapse disorder is unknown as of yet for researchers who also cannot fathom how honey is produced. Some scientists believe that there is a basic component in bees chemical or DNA makeup that is being strained by the introduction of cell phone usage. In particular, some have speculated that the radiation is affecting a natural substance found in bees called Cryptochrome. This plays a vital role in bees location and navigation sensing abilities that bees use to move around; if this substance is damaged somehow by the incoming cell phone radiation bees would get lost in the wild.
However, when cell phone radiation is applied nearby bees having this cryptochrome, it appears to cause confusion in nature's sweetest insect and thus driving them away from home and to a most certain death in the forest. If the study's results can be duplicated and it is found that indeed the scientists are onto something, we may have to decide between our cell phones or our food supply. Patents directed to cell phones and the assignees may look out for restricted phone usage should the results of the study hold water. Bzzz Bzzz Bye Bye.
