Exposure of Insects to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields from 2 to 120 GHz

Sci Rep · 2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6794

Study snapshot

PublicationSci Rep · 2018

Study typeengineering

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Insects are continually exposed to Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields at different frequencies. The range of frequencies used for wireless telecommunication systems will increase in the near future from below 6 GHz (2 G, 3 G, 4 G, and WiFi) to frequencies up to 120 GHz (5 G). This paper is the first to report the absorbed RF electromagnetic power in four different types of insects as a function of frequency from 2 GHz to 120 GHz. A set of insect models was obtained using novel Micro-CT (computer tomography) imaging. These models were used for the first time in finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic simulations. All insects showed a dependence of the absorbed power on the frequency. All insects showed a general increase in absorbed RF power at and above 6 GHz, in comparison to the absorbed RF power below 6 GHz. Our simulations showed that a shift of 10% of the incident power density to frequencies above 6 GHz would lead to an increase in absorbed power between 3-370%.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionharm

PopulationFour different types of insects

Sample size4

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 95% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using Micro-CT-based insect models and finite-difference time-domain simulations from 2 to 120 GHz, the study found that absorbed RF power depended on frequency in all four insect types. Absorbed power generally increased at and above 6 GHz compared with below 6 GHz, and a simulated 10% shift of incident power density to frequencies above 6 GHz increased absorbed power by 3-370%.

Outcomes measured

Absorbed RF electromagnetic power as a function of frequency
Change in absorbed power below versus at/above 6 GHz
Simulated effect of shifting incident power density to frequencies above 6 GHz

Limitations

Simulation/modeling study rather than direct biological measurement
Only four insect types were modeled
Abstract reports absorbed power, not health or ecological outcomes

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wireless telecommunication systems",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Four different types of insects",
  "sample_size": 4,
  "outcomes": [
    "Absorbed RF electromagnetic power as a function of frequency",
    "Change in absorbed power below versus at/above 6 GHz",
    "Simulated effect of shifting incident power density to frequencies above 6 GHz"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using Micro-CT-based insect models and finite-difference time-domain simulations from 2 to 120 GHz, the study found that absorbed RF power depended on frequency in all four insect types. Absorbed power generally increased at and above 6 GHz compared with below 6 GHz, and a simulated 10% shift of incident power density to frequencies above 6 GHz increased absorbed power by 3-370%.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Simulation/modeling study rather than direct biological measurement",
    "Only four insect types were modeled",
    "Abstract reports absorbed power, not health or ecological outcomes"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.95,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "insects",
    "radio-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF",
    "2-120 GHz",
    "5G",
    "WiFi",
    "absorbed power",
    "finite-difference time-domain",
    "Micro-CT",
    "simulation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "The abstract explicitly discusses frequencies up to 120 GHz and 5G."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22271-3
PubMed: 29500425

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