The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development

• Published in: PloS one
• Main Author: Nik Abdull Halim N.M.H.; Mohd Jamili A.F.; Che Dom N.; Abd Rahman N.H.; Jamal Kareem Z.; Dapari R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85186750960&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0298738&partnerID=40&md5=16e975f09a44f68a8b1af85127828ce1

INTRODUCTION: Wireless communication connects billions of people worldwide, relying on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Generally, fifth-generation (5G) networks shift RF carriers to higher frequencies. Although radio, cell phones, and television have benefitted humans for decades, higher carrier frequencies can present potential health risks. Insects closely associated with humans (such as mosquitoes) can undergo increased RF absorption and dielectric heating. This process inadvertently impacts the insects' behaviour, morphology, and physiology, which can influence their spread. Therefore, this study examined the impact of RF exposure on Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, which are prevalent in indoor environments with higher RF exposure risk. The morphologies of Ae. aegypti eggs and their developments into Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were investigated. METHODS: A total of 30 eggs were exposed to RF radiation at three frequencies: baseline, 900 MHz, and 18 GHz. Each frequency was tested in triplicate. Several parameters were assessed through daily observations in an insectarium, including hatching responses, development times, larval numbers, and pupation periods until the emergence of adult insects. RESULTS: This study revealed that the hatching rate for the 900 MHz group was the highest (79 ± 10.54%) compared to other exposures (p = 0.87). The adult emergence rate for the 900 MHz group was also the lowest at 33 ± 2.77%. A significant difference between the groups was demonstrated in the statistical analysis (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This work highlighted the morphology sensitivity of Ae. aegypti eggs and their developments in the aquatic phase to RF radiation, potentially altering their life cycle. Copyright: © 2024 Nik Abdull Halim et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.