5G radiation is very different than the radiation emitted by the previous networks. The fifth generation of telecommunications utilizes high millimeter frequency waves to transport data. It was in 2019 that 5G was first widely deployed.
The World Health Organization claims that 5G will increase the performance of wireless communications. They also state that it will be used for new applications, such as e-Health.
E-Health is defined as the industry of telemedicine, remote surveillance and telesurgery.
The First Generation
The cellular telecommunications industry began with 1G – or the first generation. 1G was launched in 1979 in Tokyo. The audio transmissions under 1G were analog, not yet digital.
In 1981, 1G was introduced to parts of Europe by Nordic Mobile Telephone.
In 1983, a company called Ameritech introduced 1G to parts of the United States. Ameritech became AT&T.
By 1984, all of Japan was covered by a first generation network of wireless, making Japan the first country to have nationwide wireless service.
In the 1980s, the majority of wireless communication technologies were used by military, not yet by civilians.
The Start of Cellular
Before the introduction of 1G, wireless communication did exist, but it was not yet cellular. The first generation marked the introduction of cellular technology. For the first time, land was divided into small sectors. These sectors were called cells. A base station was positioned on each cell. Radio signals were used to communicate with wireless mobile devices.
2G, 3G, & 4G
The second generation of wireless communication was the first generation to be digital. Digital transmission allowed for better reception, as well as the introduction of SMS text messaging. 2G was first launched in 1991 in Finland.
3G was first launched in 1998 and it ushered in the era of the internet. High speed transmission allowed for the playing of music and the watching of videos. It is referred to as 3G Internet communications.
4G came around 2009 and was first implemented in Norway. It enabled faster load times for multimedia. It also brought in IP telephony. This is the use of the internet for voice calling, voicemail, video calling and conferencing, faxing and instant messaging.
How is 5G Different
According to the WHO, 5G represents a giant leap in telecommunications standards. Its goal of providing faster internet is based on its use of higher frequencies.
Proponents of 5G claim these higher frequencies will allow for quicker download times. The higher frequencies will also require a larger amount of 5G base stations than previous networks – as these higher frequencies do not travel as far as frequencies used in the previous 4 generations.
5G Radiation
5G radiation is different than previous generations.
The higher frequencies used are called high millimeter waves. While the WHO states these high millimeter waves are safer than radiation from the previous generations, this has not been proven.
High millimeter wave radiation, according to the WHO, does not penetrate the body as deeply as radiation from previous generations. Therefore, they state it affects mostly the skin and eyes, rather than organs, making it safer.
However, it has yet to be shown through studies that this is the case.
According to independent scientists who are opposed to 5G radiation, it has never been tested for long-term exposure. In addition, many claim it has never been approved for ‘retail’ use. Meaning, the general public.
While the WHO states that these high millimeter frequencies have been used in body-scanners for security checks, this in itself does not translate into its safety. Many people believe the amount of radiation received from airport body-scanners is dangerous to health. The amount of radiation one is exposed to when getting a body scan or administering a body scan, is not known. This is because the scanners are not tested for radiation output, as they are not considered to be medical devices and therefore are not required to be tested.
4G vs 5G Radiation
Compared to the current fourth generation radiation, the fifth generation will be more powerful but with a shorter range.
So, when using 5G, you are being exposed to stronger radiation. The short range of 5G frequencies is why the amount of antennas for this network is so much greater than with previous networks.
In order to make 5G work for telecommunications, it requires the mass installation of what are being called small cells. Small cells transmit signals using beam forming. 4g and all previous networks did not transmit the signals in beams. The beam technology can work to concentrate the radiation.
Another difference between 4G and 5G is how the signal works. The 4G signal goes from antenna to antenna. Your device hooks up to this signal.
5G is designed more to track the device. So, rather than the signal going from antenna to antenna, and your device picking up that signal. 5G targets your device. Hence, it is said to follower the user.
Is 5G Harmful For Humans?
The WHO states that “after much research, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies”.
However, both the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the Ramazzini Institute of Italy study have found that cellular radiation exposure on lab animals led to cancer.
The US NTP study was a $25 million study conducted by the US government over a period of years to clarify if there were any potential health hazards, including cancer, linked to continual RFR exposure.
The study found “clear evidence of an association with tumors in the hearts of male rats”. The tumors were malignant schwannomas.
The US study also found “evidence of an association with tumors in the brains of male rats”. These tumors were malignant gliomas. These findings were published in 2018, a year before the widespread roll-out of 5G.
The Ramazzini Institute study, which was the largest animal study on cell tower radiation to date, exposed lab animals to environmental levels of cell tower radiation and found the animals developed cancer. The results of this study were also published in 2018.
The author of the Ramazzini study said, “Our findings of cancerous tumors in rats exposed to environmental levels of RF are consistent with and reinforce the results of the US NTP studies on cell phone radiation, as both reported increases in the same types of tumors of the brain and heart in Sprague-Dawley rats. Together, these studies provide sufficient evidence to call for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to re-evaluate and re-classify their conclusions regarding the carcinogenic potential of RFR in humans.”
Due to the results of these two studies, scientists have called on the WHO to re-evaluate the carcinogenicity of all generations of cell phone radiation. With 5G being stronger in radiation, using high-millimeter waves, and more focused due to it traveling in beams – it could prove to be the most dangerous form of radiation used for wireless communications yet.
Sources:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/first-generation-1g-mobile-phones
https://ehtrust.org/worlds-largest-animal-study-on-cell-tower-radiation-confirms-cancer-link/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118300367?via%3Dihub
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/cellphones
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-5g-mobile-networks-and-health
