Is 5G Dangerous to Health?

Is 5G Dangerous to Health?

While current world is using 4G LTE access network technology which is the fastest so far, the next-generation wireless technology which is deployed is 5g network. This is expected to hugely change the way of living and business trends in the world in near future. Is 5G Dangerous to human health and the environment?. This question is asked by many people and arguments processing regarding this. We will look into that detail fully on upcoming topics.

5G technology is expected to provide more times faster internet speed than the existing 4G LTE network. It could handle many connected devices effectively. The introduction of 5G is enabled many new features and products to market. Since 2018, many countries started to implement 5G on their network.

Before going on to the topic, Is 5G dangerous? I would like to briefly go through what is 5G technology, microwave spectrum and radiation.

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What is 5G Technology?

5G Technology is the evolution of previous technologies in the series, access networks, 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G. 5G can provide higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connect new industries.

Like other access technologies 5G wireless technology also has electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, there are same health impacts as previous access network technologies caused. Studies say electromagnetic radiation cause developing certain type of cancers. 

The following diagram illustrates where 5G frequency falls into. 5G technology uses a low-frequency spectrum. Hence, it has low energy level and therefore, it cannot serve devices too far from cells like previous (1G, 2G, 3G and 4G) networks. So 5g wireless technology needs more cells positioned too close to ground level.

Considering 5G Spectrum and radiation, Is 5G Dangerous?

5G lies in non-ionizing radiation range of electromagnetic spectrum. Radiation is classified as being either non-ionizing or ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation is longer wavelength/lower frequency lower energy. While ionizing radiation is short wavelength/high frequency higher energy. 

Ionizing Radiation has sufficient energy to produce ions in matter at the molecular level. If that matter is human body, significant damage can result including damage to DNA and denaturation of proteins. Then considering non-ionizing radiation, Is 5G dangerous as much as ionizing radiation?. Obviously No, because non-ionizing radiation can’t cause injury to humans but the injury is generally limited to thermal damage i.e. burns.

Intense, direct exposure to radiofrequency (RF) or microwave radiation may result in damage to tissue due to heat. These more significant exposures could occur from industrial devices in the workplace. For an example microwave equipment on telecom industry.

Health Impacts due to 5G technology

As mentioned earlier due to the electromagnetic radiation of all access technologies used by mobile devices, there is a considerable long time effect on human health. If so, Is 5G technology dangerous?. Yes, there are risks when frequency goes high.

As per WHO, there are no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use, said in 2014. But, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has defined that all radio frequency used by mobile phones are “possibly carcinogenic”.

On 2018, as per the study of US Department of Health, exposed male rats to high doses of radio frequency radiation developed a type of cancerous tumor in the heart. In this research, male rats are exposed to mobile phone radiation for nine hours every day for two years. And also female rats are not found to have cancer links. It was also found that rats exposed to the radiation lived longer than those in the control group.

Dr Frank De Vocht, who helps advise the government on mobile phone safety says “although some of the research suggests a statistical possibility of increased cancer risks for heavy users, the evidence to date for a causal relation is not sufficiently convincing to suggest the need for precautionary action”.

Apart from these, a group of scientists have written to EU to halt the 5G rollout.

5G cells low power compared to previous technologies. Therefore, 5G requires lots of new base stations. Due to increased number of cells, level of radiation exposure on environment will less. 

 

How dangerous is 5G if it exceeds frequency limits?

1. Denser Soup of Electrosmog

As 5G technology requires an increased number of cellphone base stations, it will create a more complicated denser soup of electrosmog than ever. It will create harmful atmosphere to human.

2. Effects on Skin

The biggest concern is how these new wavelengths will affect the skin. The human body has between two million to four million sweat ducts. Dr. Ben-Ishai of Hebrew University, Israel explains that our sweat ducts act like “an array of helical antennas when exposed to these wavelengths,” meaning that we become more conductive.

A recent New York study which experimented with 60GHz waves stated that “the analyses of penetration depth show that more than 90% of the transmitted power is absorbed in the epidermis and dermis layer.” The effects of MMWs as studied by Dr. Yael Stein of Hebrew University is said to also cause humans physical pain as our nociceptors flare up in recognition of the wave as a damaging stimulus.

So we’re looking at possibilities of many skin diseases and cancer as well as physical pain to our skin. A 2003 Chinese study has also found damage to the lens epithelial cells of rabbits after 8 hours of exposure to microwave radiation and a 2009 study conducted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Pakistan conclude that EMFs emitted by a mobile phone cause derangement of chicken embryo retinal differentiation.

3. Effects on Eyes

A 1994 study found that low-level millimeter microwave radiation produced lens opacity in rats, which is linked to the production of cataracts. An experiment conducted by the Medical Research Institute of Kanazawa Medical University found that 60GHz “millimeter-wave antennas can cause thermal injuries of varying types of levels. The thermal effects induced by millimeter waves can apparently penetrate below the surface of the eye.”

4. Effects on the Heart

A 1992 Russian study found that frequencies in the range 53-78GHz (that which 5G proposes to use) impacted the heart rate variability (an indicator of stress) in rats. Another Russian study on frogs who’s skin was exposed to MMWs found heart rate changes (arrhythmias).

5. Effects on Immune system

A 2002 Russian study examined the effects of 42HGz microwave radiation exposure on the blood of healthy mice. It was concluded that “the whole-body exposure of healthy mice to low-intensity EHF EMR has a profound effect on the indices of nonspecific immunity”.

6. Effects on Cell growth rates

A 2016 Armenian study observed MMWs at low intensity, mirroring the future environment brought about by 5G. Their study conducted on E-coli and other bacteria stated that the waves had depressed their growth as well as “changing properties and activity” of the cells. The concern is that it would do the same to human cells.

7. Effects on Bacteria Resistance

The very same Armenian study also suggested that MMW’s effects are mainly on water, cell plasma membrane and genome too. They had found that MMW’s interaction with bacteria altered their sensitivity to “different biologically active chemicals, including antibiotics.” More specifically, the combination of MMW and antibiotics showed that it may be leading to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

This groundbreaking finding could have a magnum effect on the health of human beings as the bandwidth is rolled out nationwide. The concern is that we develop a lower resistance to bacteria as our cells become more vulnerable – and we become more vulnerable.

8. Effects on Plants Health

One of the features of 5G is that the MMW is particularly susceptible to being absorbed by plants and rain. Humans and animals alike consume plants as a food source. The effects MMW has on plants could leave us with food that’s not safe to consume.

Think GMOs on steroids. The water that falls from the sky onto these plants will also be irradiated. A 2010 study on aspen seedlings showed that the exposure to radio frequencies led to the leaves showing necrosis symptoms. Another Armenian study found that MMWs of low intensity “invoke(s) peroxidase isoenzyme spectrum changes of wheat shoots.” Peroxidase is a stress protein existing in plants. Indications are that 5G will be particularly harmful to plants – perhaps more so than to humans.

9. Effects on Atmosphere and Development of Fossil Fuels

Implementation of the 5G global wireless network requires the launching of rockets to deploy satellites for 5G. These satellites have a short lifespan which would require a lot more deployment than what we’re currently seeing.

A new type of hydrocarbon rocket engine expected to power a fleet of suborbital rockets would emit black carbon which “could cause potentially significant changes in the global atmospheric circulation and distributions of ozone and temperature” according to a 2010 Californian study. Solid-state rocket exhaust contains chlorine which also destroys the ozone. The effects on the ozone are thought to be worse than current day CFC exposure.

Google’s Project Loon is said to bring the Internet to rural and hard-to-access areas by using helium balloons. But these balloons only have a 10-month lifespan. We’re looking at a lot of helium being used here, more than what we can possibly have on Earth?

10. Disruption of Natura Echo System

Since the year 2000, there have been reports of birds abandoning their nests as well as health issues like “plumage deterioration, locomotion problems, reduced survivorship and death,” says researcher Alfonso Balmori. Bird species that are affected by these low levels, non-ionizing microwave radiation are the House Sparrows, Rock Doves, White Storks, Collared Doves and Magpies, among others.

But it’s not just the birds. The declining bee population is also said to be linked to this non-ionizing EMF radiation. It reduces the egg-laying abilities of the queen leading to a decline in colony strength.

5G technology and COVID-19 – CORONA Virus

There was a question circulating during the 2020-January period, which is, “Are there any relation between 5G technology lanch and COVID-19 Corona Virus?”

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated very clearly that, “5G technology does NOT cause coronavirus”.

That question was posted in many websites and people were arguing about that. They claimed that the 5G frequency weaken the immune system in human body and caused the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. And also high-frequency waves caused  mutation in SRAS and produced the CORONA virus. The reason is Wuhan was the first to launch 5G wireless network in China. However, other large Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou also had the same technology rolled out at the time the Coronavirus outbreak occurred.

As per the UK’s Public health agency, there are no proven studies to establish the claims, COVID-19 Coronavius damages the immune system or any significant biological effect on human health.D

Conclusions

However, 5G is not entirely safe, but, not harmful too. Anyhow every man-made technologies are harmful beyond their recommended limits.

The harmfulness explained in the above article is not unique to 5G, also applicable to our existing and previous technologies, 4G,3G and 2G. 

A the end we can conclude within certain limits 5G is not harmful to human health. But, future studies and researches may introduce new challenges to health and the environment. However whatever the technology, they should be used within certain safety guidelines to protect ourselves and the environment.

Finally, there is no evidence to prove, the reasons for COVID-19 outbreak Coronavirus is 5G. For any comments and suggestions please write to us through contact us page.

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