Is 5G safe? Expert opinion – Forbes Health

5G uses higher radio frequencies than previous wireless communications, including 4G and 3G, says Dr. Henk de Feiter, assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. . That’s what makes us different. But otherwise, he says, the technology works the same way, by generating electromagnetic waves to send and receive information.

5G EMF waves and radiation

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are invisible fields of energy caused by emitted electromagnetic radiation. EMF includes ionizing electromagnetic fields and non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. The latter refers to low-level radiation, the emission of energy through space and objects. Sources that transmit these radio waves include phones, computers, Bluetooth devices, power lines, and even microwaves. Ionizing electromagnetic fields, on the other hand, emit much higher radiation from sources such as sunlight and X-rays.

The difference between the two is very important in terms of health and safety, Collins points out. “In human tissues, sufficient doses of ionizing radiation are associated with an increase in cancers, most commonly skin cancers due to the ultraviolet energy contained in sunlight.”

5G operates on two frequencies, the highest of which is between 24.25 GHz and 52.6 GHz. Frontiers of public health. “These are the frequencies where we can really expect significant increases in data transfer speeds,” Collins said. But the frequency at which electromagnetic radiation starts to ionize and becomes dangerous is about 3 million GHz, which is nowhere near 5G, he added.

Although high doses of ionizing radiation may be associated with cancer, both experts say that non-ionizing radiation has not yet been proven to have a similar effect. Additionally, a Food and Drug Administration team of physicians, scientists, and researchers who study radiofrequency have reported on “Current Limits on Radiofrequency Energy Set by the U.S. Government.” [FCC] remains permissible to protect public health. ” and, Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology “There is no convincing evidence that low-level RF fields above 6GHz, such as those used in 5G networks, are harmful to human health,” the researchers found.

Still, you may have heard that electromagnetic fields can cause tissue heating and that your skin can absorb electromagnetic energy, increasing your body temperature. That’s true. “Electromagnetic radiation in the communications band is absorbed by tissue in the form of heat,” Collins says, stressing that this occurs at very low levels and therefore has no potential for health effects.

“Electromagnetic radiation is limited to levels that do not cause an increase of more than a fraction of a degree Celsius in tissues,” he explains. To put this into perspective: “When you walk outside on a sunny day, you can feel your skin rapidly heating up by several degrees, and your core body temperature can change by about 1 degree Celsius over the course of a day. Also, the reason your phone feels warm is because the phone’s electronics heat up, not because of radio radiation on your skin.”

Health concerns about 5G

Still, some experts have expressed concerns. In 2017, doctors and scientists launched a petition calling for a halt to the rollout of 5G in the EU due to cancer risks. One concern is that because 5G is new, there hasn’t been time to properly test whether it’s secure. There is also a lack of scientific analysis of the potential effects of 5G density and chronic 5G exposure in densely populated cities, some experts say.

5G’s potential impact on more people means increased diversity, with certain genes involved in radiation sensitivity, experts say. For example, one 2021 study found that the genetic effects of EMFs depend on factors such as frequency, intensity, cell type, and duration of exposure, and that the type of gene expression affected is “a study showing that EMFs cause genetic damage.” This is consistent with the results.”

Additionally, many government-approved RF regulations were established in the late 1990s and are based on limited research. Scientists currently believe the issue is not so clear-cut, and some remain silent. To date, more than 3,500 physicians across preventive medicine, environmental medicine, toxicology, and other specialties have united against 5G and, according to peer-reviewed scientific literature, the main risks associated with non-ionizing radiation. as cancer, cellular stress, genetic damage, changes in reproductive function, defects and neurological disorders.

“Actions must be taken now to keep human exposure to non-ionizing radiation as low as possible, including pausing the deployment of 5G,” said Anthony B., professor emeritus at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. says Miller, MD. The University of Toronto said in a 2020 statement from the Physicians Health Initiative on Radiation and the Environment and the British Society for Ecological Medicine.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) also found a possible link between electromagnetic field strength and increased risk of childhood leukemia in some studies in the 1990s, but the link was weak. He points out that But now the organization says: “In the age of cell phones, wireless routers, and the Internet of Things, all of which use EMFs, there continues to be concern about the possible link between EMFs and adverse health effects. We recognize the need and encourage continued education on practical ways to reduce exposure to EMFs.”

And as we learn more about 5G, peer-reviewed studies and data published in various medical journals point to its potential negative health effects.

5G fact and fiction

The World Health Organization (WHO) and FDA have declared 5G safe. And, according to Collins, “all wireless communications use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation to transmit energy and information through space without the need for wires.” Because it has a higher frequency, it can carry more information. It also has a shorter wavelength, so it doesn’t penetrate the body as much as low-frequency energy.”

Not all experts agree with these conclusions. Researchers are still studying whether 5G can have a negative effect on the brain, and we’ll likely be monitoring it for some time.

Meanwhile, other 5G controversy myths have already been debunked:

Belief: 5G causes COVID-19
Verdict: Fiction

They claim that 5G weakens the immune system, making people more susceptible to the coronavirus or directly causing the virus. Simply put, research highlights that the idea that 5G can cause or spread COVID-19 is not true.

Belief: 5G is dangerous for airplanes
Verdict: Facts

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that 5G interference could affect altitude readings on some jets, including how far the plane is flying above the ground. This includes interference with the altimeter being measured. In 2020, the nonprofit Aeronautical Technology Committee published a study detailing how this interference could cause dangerous malfunctions in worst-case scenarios. The FAA has since established buffer zones around many airports to limit 5G activity.

Belief: 5G creates cybersecurity risks
Verdict: It’s complicated.

The US Department of Homeland Security has noted that the introduction of 5G has created several cybersecurity risks. One concern is the introduction of malicious software and hardware into the 5G supply chain. Additionally, 5G uses more information than previous technologies, which leaves more room for error. Because of these concerns, the Department has developed a set of strategic standards designed to reduce risk.

Concerns about hackers using 5G to steal data and too many people texting on planes are valid, but the evidence is in both directions when it comes to potential health effects.