The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development
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, hig...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science
2024
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/1/115689.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848866841900875776 |
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| author | Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif Mohd Jamili, Alya Farzana Dom, Nazri Che Abd Rahman, Nurul Huda Kareem, Zana Jamal Dapari, Rahmat |
| author_facet | Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif Mohd Jamili, Alya Farzana Dom, Nazri Che Abd Rahman, Nurul Huda Kareem, Zana Jamal Dapari, Rahmat |
| author_sort | Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:27:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-115689 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:27:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1156892025-03-10T06:57:33Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/ The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif Mohd Jamili, Alya Farzana Dom, Nazri Che Abd Rahman, Nurul Huda Kareem, Zana Jamal Dapari, Rahmat 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. Public Library of Science 2024-02-27 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/1/115689.pdf Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif and Mohd Jamili, Alya Farzana and Dom, Nazri Che and Abd Rahman, Nurul Huda and Kareem, Zana Jamal and Dapari, Rahmat (2024) The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development. PLoS ONE, 19 (2 February). art. no. e0298738. pp. 1-18. ISSN 1932-6203; eISSN: 1932-6203 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298738 10.1371/journal.pone.0298738 |
| spellingShingle | Nik Abdull Halim, Nik Muhammad Hanif Mohd Jamili, Alya Farzana Dom, Nazri Che Abd Rahman, Nurul Huda Kareem, Zana Jamal Dapari, Rahmat The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title | The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title_full | The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title_fullStr | The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title_short | The impact of radiofrequency exposure on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) development |
| title_sort | impact of radiofrequency exposure on aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) development |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115689/1/115689.pdf |