Is the 5G telephone network dangerous to human health? This is an issue that worries many as this technology is gradually being commercialized.
What is 5G?
5G or 5G NR (New Radio), as the name suggests, is the fifth generation of cellular communications, which will therefore inherit 4G LTE, and before that, 3G and 2G. Among the flagship promises of the 5G, we first find a speed multiplied by 10, but also a greatly reduced latency, which would itself be divided by 10.
Most importantly, 5G should make it possible to manage a growing number of connected devices. We are no longer just talking about smartphones; we are talking about computers, cars, and the entire ecosystem of connected objects, especially in the professional world. Above all, behind this last idea is the idea that more and more autonomous machines will be connected to the mobile network: smart cities, security, networked homes, and so on.
The deployment of 5G has already started in some countries, but should be democratized from 2020 and in the following years.
The relationship between 5G and health
According to Pocket-Lint, there have been protests against 5G, while some have managed to convince local authorities to stop using it. However, the number of misinformation online on the subject is staggering. According to statements from the government and health authorities, it shows if 5G is truly dangerous.
5G uses radio waves like other technologies and forms of communication but uses waves at higher frequencies than older cellular networks. Based on current scientific evidence, “there are no novel effects from 5G,” says the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the British Public Health Organization (PHE), “Total exposures are expected to remain low compared to guidelines and, as such, have no public health impact. “.
To get a better picture, UK regulatory agency Ofcom is conducting a comprehensive study of this technology. The agency measured 16 5G locations in 10 UK cities and towns examined the places where 5G use was. These places include shopping centers and transportation centers.
To get a better picture, UK regulatory agency Ofcom is conducting a comprehensive study of this technology. The agency measured 16 5G locations in 10 UK cities and towns examined the places where 5G use was. These places include shopping centers and transportation centers.
ICNIRP President Dr. Eric van Rongen said, “We know a part of the community cares about the safety of 5G, and we hope everyone is more comfortable with the updated guidelines. This guide was developed after a careful review of all relevant scientific literature, scientific seminars, and an extensive public consultation process. They offer scientifically proven protection against all harmful effects resulting from exposure to EMF (electromagnetic fields) in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 300 GHz.
It covers all current and future 5G wavelengths. The 5G technology used in the US and UK now complies with all ICNIRP guidelines, and operators are committed to following them.
Exposure to radio waves increases slightly
However, PHE realized that exposure to radio waves was actually possible with a slight increase. “When 5G is added to existing networks or in new areas, there may be a slight increase in overall radio exposure,” the group said. However, total exposure is expected to remain low compared to guidelines and therefore have no public health consequences. “
Is high frequency 5G (mmWave) harmful?
More spectrum is available in 5G, with the highest discussion frequency delivering future 5G, about ten times higher than the frequency used by cellular networks today, up to several tens of gigahertz (GHz).
In metropolitan areas, high frequency (mmWave) technology will be used to maximize power and speed. This has been rolled out in many US cities (albeit with very limited coverage) and will also reach the UK and Europe by the end of 2020 or 2021. It is these higher frequency signals that cause Most concerned about 5G health.
But PHE points out that these high frequency signals have been used in the past and are “present in the environment for many years”. They are still classified as “non-ionizing” in the same way as the signals used to broadcast radio, TV and Wi-Fi.
Dr. Rongen says the new body guidelines show it has good exposure to higher frequency bands above 6 GHz, including mmWave. According to him, the most important thing that everyone needs to remember is that 5G technologies will not do harm once these new principles are followed.
It is true that mmWave has a higher frequency than the wavelengths used for broadcasting, but they still have a lower frequency than visible light, and they are definitely not as “ionized” as X-rays or polar rays. Violet.
In the end, PHE assumed that these waves did not go very far and were blocked by walls and even the human body.