As 5G technology develops, debate over impact on human health gains ground

With increasing adoption of 5G globally for a much faster internet experience some studies have flagged health risks associated with the use of 5G on the human tissues amid conspiracy theories that 5G mobile networks are to be blamed for the Covid19 pandemicThe fear psychosis among a section of people is such that anti5G necklaces sleep masks and childrens bracelets are being sold online on leading ecommerce platforms with the claim that they protect against the harmful effects of 5G cell networksHowever these anti5G wearables have now themselves been classified as dangerousThe Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection ANVS last week issued product alerts for a pendant a sleep mask two necklaces and five different bracelets including one for children saying wearing these products continuously for a long time could cause tissue and DNA damageAccording to industry experts there is still no concrete evidence yet that 5G networks have negative health effects on humans as 5G technology is currently at an early stage of deployment and the extent of any change in exposure to radiofrequency fields is still under investigationThe World Health Organization WHO says that currently exposure to 5G infrastructure at around 35 GHz is similar to that from existing mobile phone base stationsWith the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas exposure could be more variable as a function of location of the users and their usage the WHO saidIn India where broadband technology is still in various trial stages as 5G spectrum rollout gets delayed experts are of the view that the country is currently following international norms on broadband technologiesIndia has far stricter norms than what 198 countries have globally which are following the norms laid out by the International Commission on NonIonising Radiation Protection ICNIRP Pankaj Mohindroo Chairman India Cellular and Electronics Association ICEA told IANSICNIRP is a nonprofit organisation that provides scientific advice and guidance on the health and environmental effects of nonionising radiation NIR to protect people and the environment from detrimental NIR exposureFor example our radiation value or specific absorption rate SAR value is maximum 16 watts on 1 gram of tissue compared to 2 watts on 10 grams of tissue across the world except the US and South Korea Mohindroo informed5G nonionising radiation is not different from 4G or 3G as these norms are capped he addedThe Department of Telecom DoT clearly specifies that all the new designs of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR values of 16 wattskg averaged over 1 gram of human tissueTissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in negligible temperature rise in the human bodyAs the frequency increases there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body skin and eye Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines no consequences for public health are anticipated according to the WHOTo date and after much research performed no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologiesHealthrelated conclusions are drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but so far only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5GAccording to Prabhu Ram HeadIndustry Intelligence Group IIG CMR humans are exposed to varying types of radiation on a daily basis including from sunlight5G generates nonionising radiation at very safe levels and well within the established safety parameters Unlike earlier generations of mobile communications 5G operates by using and emitting less power Ram told IANSA recent paper by the European Parliamentary Research Service EPRS on health impact of 5G cited the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC which classified radiofrequency RF electromagnetic fields EMFs as possibly carcinogenic to humans and recommended RF exposure for reevaluation with high priorityThe 5G pioneer bands identified at EU level have frequencies of 700 MHz 36 GHz 34 to 38 GHz and 26 GHz 2425 to 275 GHzThe first two frequencies are similar to those used for 2G to 4G technologies and have been investigated in both epidemiological and experimental studies for different end points including carcinogenicity and reproductivedevelopmental effects while 26 GHz and higher frequencies have not been adequately studied for the same end points the EU paper readUnfortunately there is a lack of information on the potential harms of RFEMFThe information gap creates scope for deniers as well as alarmists giving rise to social and political tension in many EU countries Campaigns to inform the citizens should be therefore a priority said the paperWhat is definitely required is an early and proactive availability of comprehensive information around 5G and how it worksThese information resources should be easytograsp and understand for all consumer demographics Ram notedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever