Exposure to 5G-NR electromagnetic fields affects larval development of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito

Abstract

Telecommunication networks, including 5G New Radio (5G-NR), emit these fields and consequently expose many insects. To quantify the potential effect of RF-EMF exposure on insects, a study was designed examining the development of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a major vector of dengue and other pathogens, as model organism exposed to RF-EMFs at 3.6 GHz. A custom exposure setup, a reverberation chamber, was designed, built, and characterized. Numerical simulations made it possible to calculate doses received by the larvae during the exposure. Larvae were reared on two feeding regimes, differing in nutritional value, and exposed for 5 days. At an RF exposure level of 46.2 V/m and absorbed power of 1.2 μW, a slower development occurred, especially for weakened larvae. At an RF exposure level of 182.6 V/m and 18.7 μW absorbed power, dielectric heating changed development timing and adult size.