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The fifth generation of cellular telecommunications is almost ready for implementation in 2019. We are progressing toward this new technology because the current set of frequency bandwidths in use are reaching a point of total saturation. By transitioning to a 5G experience, we can have better speeds, more effective communication, and our Internet of Things devices can deliver on their promises.
Although there are several benefits to consider with this technology, there are also some exceptional dangers and health concerns which we must take under advisement. The World Health Organization already classified the radiation from radio frequencies as a potential 2B carcinogen.
We also know that the National Toxicology Program, a $25 million investment into the health and wellbeing of humanity, concluded that the radiation from radio frequencies that current cellular phones use could cause cancer.
With 5G technology on its way, using frequencies that exist above and underneath the current bands, there are some specific issues to consider now before adopting to this new world of opportunity.
What Will Our 5G World Look Like in the Future?
A 5G world promises faster processing speeds by offering more available bandwidth options. High-frequency millimeter waves (MMWs) which sit untapped offer the potential for more communication. The only problem is that these high-frequency waves can only travel a short distance before their usefulness expires.
They also don’t fare well when obstacles are in the way. That means our infrastructure needs will change to accommodate this technology. There would need to be many more cell towers available, some as small as 3mm, with spacing every few feet to be effective.
One of the proposed ways to manage 5G installations is to place a small antenna on the top of every lamp post and power pole in a neighborhood.
That means it would be almost impossible to hide from this technology if you live in the city or the suburbs.
Once 5G is available, you can expect download speeds up to 100 times faster than what current 4G networks support. For comparison, 4G was 10 times faster than 3G speeds.
That means our download speeds can easily reach 10 gigabits per second, which is plenty of bandwidth to stream, collaborate, and explore without any lag. It promises an almost unrestricted call volume and a nearly infinite foundation for data broadcasting.
It will support at least 100 billion devices before another upgrade would be necessary for our global data network. That is why many governments and telecommunications providers are onboard with this project.
It is a way to create more connections, improve rural access, and increase productivity at all levels of society.
The only trouble is that there are a series of health problems and dangers that are possible when the new 5G network receives global deployment.
Dangers and Health Concerns of 5G Radiation
Before I list out the problems associated with 5G radiation, I highly recommend you watch the video by CNBC below. It clearly spells out the levels of health concerns, risks and dangers which all of us should be aware of.
The list of health concerns, risks and dangers associated with 5G radiation are listed in the table below:-
Sl No | Problem |
---|---|
#1 | More Frequency Pollution |
#2 | Impact of 5G Radiation on the Skin |
#3 | Dangers to Heart Health |
#4 | Vision Problems |
#5 | Reduced Bacterial Resistance |
#6 | Danger of Ecosystem Disruption |
#7 | Danger of Ozone Disruption |
#8 | Crop and Plant Health Risks |
#9 | Cell Growth Depression |
#10 | Other Severe Health Concerns Due 5G Radiation |
Problem #1: More Frequency Pollution
When we start using 5G products for the first time, then we will be bombarding ourselves with very high and low frequencies using short-range intensities that create a dense layer of pollution. The antennas that work with the higher ranges are smaller, creating lower intensities that works against the signal disruptions that occur from various human-made and natural obstacles.
There are three critical layers to consider with this problem.
- The primary coverage layer ranges from 600 MHz to 2.6 GHz.
- Then the capacity layer ranges from 3.1 GHz to 4.9 GHz, depending on the country or continent of origin.
- Finally, the high throughput layer ranges between 24.25 GHz to 40 GHz with its commercial studies and deployments.
Each grouping creates a different set of wavelengths that could be dangerous to human health with constant exposure. Since the low-intensity design of the 5G network tries to get around the issue of building blockage, there will be fewer places on our planet where you can escape exposure.
Problem #2: The Impact of 5G on the Skin
When electricity and radio frequencies reach a wet environment, then they become more conductive. During experiments with 60 GHz frequencies, researchers found that over 90% of the power transmitted through the wavelengths receive absorption as far down as the dermis layer of the skin. This stimulus can be damaging enough that it causes physical pain in some individuals. Constant exposure to it may also increase the risk of cancer development and various skin diseases.
When the skin is unable to protect the body from this invisible intrusion, we lose many of the benefits it provides. Healthy skin works like a solid brick wall, offering bio-lipids that cooperate to form “mortar” that keeps this organ healthy. Issues with pH balance, hormonal imbalance, and moisture retention are all possible outcomes thanks to 5G exposure.
Because your sweat glands will essentially act as a set of antennas for these new frequencies, the impact due to its constant exposure could create additional wellness risks for people who are usually healthy.
Problem #3: Heart Health Risks and 5G
When the human body receives exposure to frequencies above 53 GHz, then it can impact heart rate variability, which is a prime indicator of stress for the organ. This issue can create adverse conditions in the body which can even lead to arrhythmia. When children receive exposure to these 5G frequencies, then adverse health impacts can start as low as 17 GHz.
Some people can even become sensitive to the presence of electromagnetic radiation in the environment. In a review of 10 epidemiologic studies, 70% of which dealt with neurobehavioral effects, it was determined that there are more symptoms reported when there is proximity to a base station compared to those who do not receive consistent exposure.
The people who live closest to antennas experience more problems with sleep disturbances, ongoing fatigue, headaches, trouble concentrating, visual disruptions, irritability, and problems with their heart. These symptoms also become more common as people age.
Study results from a project where male rats received 9 hours of daily exposure to radio frequency radiation in a simulated 5G environment for two years developed rare tumors in the heart and brain. There was also DNA damage noted in male and female mice and rats in the study.
Problem #4: Vision Problems
Studies that date back as far as 1994 have found that the presence of microwave radiation in the environment can create lens opacity issues in animals. This trait has a direct link to the formation of cataracts on the eye. In animal studies that exposed localized very high radio frequency fields to a single ocular system at 24.5 GHz, cataracts could form in the exposed eye, but not the other one.
Research from Kanazawa Medical University also found that transmitters which produce frequencies of 60 GHz or higher can cause thermal injuries to the eye or optic nerve of varying types and levels. The issue that people face with 5G is that the wavelengths can penetrate below the surface of the eye.
The speed of cell deterioration is one of the most frightening attributes of this potential health danger with 5G technologies. The electromagnetic fields that come from a mobile phone could cause derangement of cells with as little as 8 hours of exposure. Additional health issues to consider here are retinal lesions, corneal degradation, and other changes to a person’s visual capacity.
Problem #5: Reduced Bacterial Resistance
Doctors are already concerned by the steady increase we see in the levels of resistance to antibiotics. The CDC calls this issue one of the most urgent threats to the overall health of the general public.
“Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant ones may be left to grow and multiply,” the CDC warns. “Overuse of antibiotics is a major cause of increases in drug-resistant bacteria.”
That means the medical community limits the use of antibiotic subscriptions unless there is a professional determination that one is necessary. The presence of 5G frequencies around the world would create new interactions with bacteria that alter their sensitivity to different biologically-active compounds, which means the existence of this technology could contribute to their overall resistance.
Millimeter waves and antibiotics combine to form a powerful combination to create more resistance to our medications. If we become more vulnerable to bacterial invasions without the help of medicine, then we could experience severe health issues in the future because of this technology.
Problem #6: Danger of Ecosystem Disruption
Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Is there a tablet or phone next to your bed that you use to run shows on Netflix or music as you fall asleep?
If so, then the presence of non-ionizing EMF radiation from the device, its charger, or other electrical components in your bedroom could be to blame. Scientists have observed aviary issues like nest abandonment, reduced survival rates, and plumage deterioration because of the presence of very high or very low frequencies.
Bee populations may experience adverse impacts because of this issue as well. Anyone or anything sensitive to these frequencies can experience a disruption of their natural ecosystem.
In a review of over 900 different studies which evaluated the presence of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, almost two-thirds of them concluded that there were adverse impacts on insect, aviary, and human populations with its presence.
When we embrace a 5G world, we will be creating even more frequencies that could cause further problems in this area.
Problem #7: Danger of Ozone Disruption
The current plan for worldwide 5G implementation includes the use of satellites, helium balloons, airplanes, and other supportive structures to ensure that hard-to-access areas and rural communities receive the same high-speed data and communication supports that those who live in urban or suburban areas receive.
Rocket proposals that would support this infrastructure for space delivery would likely use a solid synthetic hydrocarbon fuel that is sometimes called “black carbon.” Not only would the fuel particles create a potential issue for our atmosphere, but the presence of this greenhouse gas could also be even more devastating than what we experienced with CFCs in the past.
A reduction in protective ozone could increase the potential for skin cancer development. When you combine the exposure risk of 5G frequencies with this issue, there is a strong possibility that there could be quick and severe impacts on the human autoimmune system.
Problem #8: Crop and Plant Health
Plants have a natural ability to absorb the energy that exists around them. This process encourages photosynthesis, allows for carbon storage, and provides food so that growth becomes possible.
Plants can also absorb electromagnetic radiation when it exists in their presence. Liquid water does an excellent job of this as well. Up until we reach the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum, these optical frequencies are all part of the EMF landscape that we encounter.
A 1979 study found that there was a possible exposure threat with non-ionizing EMFs and a risk of childhood leukemia when living near power lines. We also know that higher exposure levels to diagnostic radiation that begins at 5 EHz can become problematic.
Therapeutic radiation at 5,000 EHz kills cells, which is why we use it for cancer treatments.
If we receive continued low-level exposure to anything harmful, then it can become a problem over time. It just requires a more extended period of development before it starts developing an issue.
Take the issue of noise-induced hearing loss as an example of this trait. Even though a sound at 85 decibels can cause physical pain, you can receive up to 8 hours of continuous exposure to the noise before possible damage occurs.
If you increase the noise level of the sound, then the permissible exposure times decrease.
- You can receive 1 hour of exposure at 94 decibels before possible damage occurs.
- You can experience 7.5 minutes of exposure at 103 decibels.
- If your environment offers 115 decibels of exposure, then it takes under 30 seconds to cause damage.
Now let’s correlate what that means to 5G technologies. Not only are we increase the GHz levels we experience each day, which further increases risks, but we also receive multiple areas of exposure through the foods we eat. It can even be in the rain that falls.
That is why there are so many potential dangers and health hazards linked to 5G exposure. Will it impact everyone? Maybe not, but it could become a problem for someone you know.
Problem #9: Cell Growth Depression
When we receive a low-level uniform exposure to an electromagnetic field, then there is the potential for it to promote human cell proliferation. This outcome is possible because there is a decrease in the intracellular reactive oxygen species levels that occurs with a consistent 60 Hz.
Once you start going into the GHz spectrum, the results begin to become very different.
A 2016 study from Armenia shows that electromagnetic radiation levels at low-level intensities which simulate the future 5G environment we’re creating could depress cell growth in bacteria.
Researchers looked at E.coli and other common bacteria with this study, finding that there were changing properties and activities in the bacterium cells as well. Their concern is that a similar outcome would happen with human exposure to this environment.
Problem #10: Other Severe Health Concerns of 5G Radiation
The issue that studies find with MMW and low-level radio frequency radiation are that the results can be unpredictable at the individual level.
Some people might never experience a 5G-related health issue after the deployment of this technology.
Then there are the individuals who experience health problems and other physical dangers that don’t fit into any other category. There is a litany of studies which show low-level radio frequency radiation exposure can cause any or all of the following problems.
- DNA single-strand and double-strand breaks that can contribute to cancer development.
- Increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
- A reduction in melatonin production that can lead to chronic insomnia and an increased risk of disease development.
- Disruption of the brain’s glucose metabolism processes.
- An increase in the generation of stress-related proteins in the body.
When you encounter a 5G network, then you are receiving an equivalent dose of radiation that you would get from an airport scanner. The reality of our current scientific understanding is that the long-term impacts of this technology are not well-studied.
What we do know is that higher radiation levels with higher frequencies are not a combination that we want to mess around with on a planetary scale.
The Counterargument to 5G Dangers and Health Risks
Although proponents of 5G technologies downplay the potential for danger and health risks that are possible, even the National Cancer Institute notes that the epidemiologic research shows a potential association between the use of cellular devices and a higher risk of cancer.
Here is a direct quote from their fact sheet.
“Most published analyses from an Interphone case-control study have shown no statistically significant increases in brain or other central nervous system cancers related to higher amounts of cell phone use. One analysis showed a statistically significant, although modest, increase in the risk of glioma among the small proportion of study participants who spent the most total time on cell phone calls.”
Think about what that admission says for a moment. The people who have the highest exposure rates to 4G cellular technologies experience a statistically significant increase in their risk of developing glioma.
With 5G technologies, we’re adding more exposure levels to virtually everyone on our planet. How many people will find themselves in the next high-risk group?
Most research studies which are critical of the idea of radiation coming from cellular devices or antennas use self-reporting surveys, research questions, or personal interviews to determine the possible health consequences of their use. Direct observation studies in this category are rare, but when they do occur, the heaviest users almost always have a significant increase in their risk of developing a glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma.
Dig deeper into the studies that say 5G technologies present a minimal risk to the general population. Avoid reading the user-friendly summaries which are laden with opinions, and then focus on the facts presented to the heaviest users.
When we all start using 5G, we might all find ourselves falling into the current definition of a heavy cellular user.
Testing of 5G Networks is Already Happening
Read my guide on locating 5G towers in your area.
Defense agencies have already been using 5G frequencies to create non-lethal methods of crowd control. Active Denial Systems are guns that emit these wavelengths purposely, which can cause your body to feel like it is on fire if you’re close enough to one. Now we are having telecommunication companies willingly install nodes and antennas around the world that operate in the same range.
AT&T is currently focused on deveoping its 5G networks in a total of 20 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago. Their “5G Evolution” product is available in Austin, TX, for users who have a Samsung S8 or S8 Plus.
Charter Communications received approval from the U.S. government for an experimental license at 28 GHz to use fixed transmitters in the Los Angeles area that have a 1-mile or smaller effective usability radius.
Qualcomm already reports that the 5G antennas that are part of their network are averaging 27 decibels more noise than older transmission technologies. Additional organizations like T-Mobile, Sprint, and Oracle are working on testing platforms to help make this technology available throughout the world.
That means now is the time we must act if we wish to start protecting ourselves from the potential radiation and health dangers that 5G technologies provide. The guidelines for non-ionizing radiation protection have not changed in more than 20 years, which means radio frequency microwave radiation or millimeter wavelengths are not classified as harmful unless an individual experiences a heating effect.
There has even been a movement to reclassify the adverse impacts of high-frequency exposure to the skin as being a limb, like an arm or a leg, because it would receive less scientific attention during the 5G testing process.
Since the eyes and the dermis receive the most damage with this technology, this issue could allow for even higher exposure levels and a greater public health risk.
Now is the time to contact your elected officials to tell them about your concerns regarding 5G exposure. Even though this technology could provide a brand-new way to communicate and conduct business, the risks to our health might be too high of a price to pay.
Will We Ever Get What is Promised in a 5G World?
The early speed test results from 5G implementation are not showing impressive results. As of January 2019, AT&T currently has 12 cities out of their targeted 20 equipped with this technology. Unless a user has a supporting handset, the only way to access this network is to use a hotspot.
The Netgear Nighthawk hotspot is the first consumer-ready mobile 5G device that is available for sale.
Most people are still using their previous devices, which means their access to the faster 5G speeds is limited.
Speed tests run on the Nighthawk find that there is minimal value so far in the investment in 5G technologies.
A user test on the 5G network found that download speeds were 194.88 Mbps, with an upload speed of 17.08 Mbps.
The hotspot achieved speeds of 187.44 Mbps and 8.14 Mbps respectively when using the same hotspot on a 4G LTE network.
Will these speeds improve over time? Probably. Is it worth all of the bluster about how great 5G technologies are when there are so many potential risks involved with network installation?
Maybe not.
If users have an underwhelming experience with their first exposure to 5G technologies, then adopting the new network might not go as quickly as anticipated. That could at least delay the need to protect oneself from possibly dangerous health issues.
How You Can Protect Yourself from 5G Radiation
If you are concerned about how your health will respond to the radiation threat presented by 5G technologies, then there are some steps that you can take to understand what your risks currently are in your home.
Go ahead and read my detailed guide on 5G Radiation Protection.
There are three different types of electromagnetic fields to consider, with all of them linked to significant biological effects in scientific studies.
- Magnetic fields can trigger childhood leukemia and other cancers, with sources including electrical wiring, power lines, and appliances. Stray electricity and wiring errors can create pockets of exceptionally high exposure rates in some homes.
- Electric fields increase the sensitivity levels of individuals to an electromagnetic source. Any exposure can create a measurable voltage level measured at skin level.
- Radio frequency fields, including microwaves, can trigger tumor growth in some individuals in addition to the health problems described in this content. You receive exposure to them from Wi-Fi, wireless computers, cordless or cellular phones, cell towers and antennas, and even microwave ovens.
Before you can take action to protect yourself, it is necessary to understand what your total exposure level is every day. Catalog each source of electromagnetic fields in your home and at your job, and then use an EMF meter to identify where hotspots may be.
Then you can mitigate your exposure levels by eliminating problems, moving away from a radiation source, or shielding your body in some way.
If you want to take a proactive approach to this issue, then here are some ways that you can start limiting your exposure today.
- Talk on your cellular phone using the speakerphone mode instead of holding the device to your ear.
- Turn off your phone if you keep it next to your body all day.
- Use your devices when they have the highest number of bars available to reduce radiation production.
- Avoid using your device in an enclosed area, such as a vehicle, airplane, or elevator.
- Text instead of call whenever possible.
- Use wired landlines in your home instead of cordless or cellular phones for your communication needs.
- Keep your wireless router away from your high-traffic rooms. Keep your bedroom free of any tablets, computers, smartphones, or smartwatches to limit exposure. You may want to unplug any electric devices close to your bed as well.
- Use an Ethernet cord to connect to the Internet whenever possible.
- Disable Bluetooth features whenever they are not in use to reduce EMF exposure.
- Avoid smart meters that control power consumption as they might be a significant source of electromagnetic radiation.
We often take technology for granted, assuming that the companies which sell us these devices entirely research their potential dangers. The reality of our 5G marketplace is very different. It is up to each of us to ensure that we take the necessary steps to protect our health.