Radio-frequency exposure of the yellow fever mosquito (A. aegypti) from 2 to 240 GHz

PLoS Comput Biol. 2021 Oct 28;17(10):e1009460. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009460. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Fifth generation networks (5G) will be associated with a partial shift to higher carrier frequencies, including wavelengths comparable in size to insects. This may lead to higher absorption of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) by insects and could cause dielectric heating. The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), a vector for diseases such as yellow and dengue fever, favors warm climates. Being exposed to higher frequency RF EMFs causing possible dielectric heating, could have an influence on behavior, physiology and morphology, and could be a possible factor for introduction of the species in regions where the yellow fever mosquito normally does not appear. In this study, the influence of far field RF exposure on A. aegypti was examined between 2 and 240 GHz. Using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations, the distribution of the electric field in and around the insect and the absorbed RF power were found for six different mosquito models (three male, three female). The 3D models were created from micro-CT scans of real mosquitoes. The dielectric properties used in the simulation were measured from a mixture of homogenized A. aegypti. For a given incident RF power, the absorption increases with increasing frequency between 2 and 90 GHz with a maximum between 90 and 240 GHz. The absorption was maximal in the region where the wavelength matches the size of the mosquito. For a same incident field strength, the power absorption by the mosquito is 16 times higher at 60 GHz than at 6 GHz. The higher absorption of RF power by future technologies can result in dielectric heating and potentially influence the biology of this mosquito.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes* / physiology
  • Aedes* / radiation effects
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Male
  • Mosquito Vectors* / physiology
  • Mosquito Vectors* / radiation effects
  • Radio Waves*
  • Yellow Fever / transmission

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the FWO under grant agreement no. G033220N (AT and WJ). Arno Thielens is a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) under grant agreement no.12U1417N. (AT) The Ghent University Special Research Fund (BOF-UGent) is acknowledged for the financial support to the UGCT Centre of Expertise (BOF.EXP.2017.0007) (MNB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.