5G Health Risks:International Appeal Calls for a 5G Moratorium
International scientists and physicians warn against the health risks of the 5G mobile communications standard and demand a moratorium. They call for technology review, setting new, safe “maximum overall exposure limit” limits for all wireless communications, and expanding wired digital telecommunications.
” Scientists warn of potentially serious health effects of 5G cellular technology “
More than 180 signatory scientists and physicians of 36 countries, recommend a moratorium on the expansion of the fifth generation of telecommunications until potential risks to human health and the environment have been fully explored by industry-independent scientists. 5G will greatly increase exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) by adding it to GSM, UMTS, LTE, WLAN, etc. already used for telecommunications. It has been proven that HF-EMF is harmful to humans and the environment.5G leads to a massive increase in forced exposure through wireless communication.
The 5G technology works only over short distances. Due to solid material, the signals are transmitted poorly. Many new antennas will be needed, and the full rollout will result in antennas in urban areas spaced from 10 to 12 homes. Therefore, the forced exposure is greatly increased.
With “the ever-increasing use of wireless technologies,” nobody can avoid an exposure. In addition to the increased number of 5G base stations (even within homes, shops and hospitals), “10 to 20 billion wireless connections” (from refrigerators, washing machines, surveillance cameras, self-driving cars and buses, etc.) are part of the Internet of Things be. All this together can lead to an exponential increase in the total long-term exposure of all EU citizens to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).
Harmful effects of HF-EMF have already been proven Over 230 scientists from more than 40 countries have expressed their “serious concern” regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to electromagnetic fields from electrical and wireless devices, even before the addition of 5G. They refer to the fact that “numerous recent scientific publications have shown that electromagnetic fields affect living organisms, even at intensities well below most international and national limits.” The effects include increased cancer risk, cell stress, an increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damage, structural and functional changes in the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, as well as adverse effects on general well-being in humans. Damage does not just affect humans. There are increasing ones Evidence of adverse effects in plants and animals .
After the scientist’s appeal was written in 2015, additional research has confirmed the serious health risks associated with RF EMF from wireless technology. The (US $ 25-million) National Toxicology Program (NTP) study , the largest in the world, shows a statistically significant increase in the incidence of brain and heart cancer in animals exposed to electromagnetic fields below the ICNIRP. Limit values (ICNIRP, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection). These limits apply in most countries. These results support the findings in human epidemiological studies to high-frequency radiation and the brain tumor risk. A large number of peer-reviewed scientific reports show damage to human health from electromagnetic fields.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) cancer research agency, concluded in 2011 that electromagnetic fields of frequencies ranging from 30 KHz to 300 GHz may be carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). However, new studies, such as the NTP study mentioned above, as well as several epidemiological studies, such as the most recent studies on cell phone use and brain cancer risks, confirm that radio frequency radiation is carcinogenic to humans.
The EUROPAEM EMF guideline 2016 states that “There is strong evidence that long-term exposure to certain EMFs is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer’s and male infertility. Common symptoms of EHS include headache, difficulty concentrating, sleep disorders, depression, lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. “
An increasing proportion of Europe’s population is affected by the disease symptoms that have been associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields by wireless techniques in the scientific literature for many years. The International Scientific Declaration on EHS & Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS),Brussels 2015 states: “In light of our current scientific knowledge, we underline that all national and international bodies and organizations … recognize EHS and MCS as actual medical conditions. They have the role of guardian diseases. In the coming years, there could be far-reaching public health problems. This applies to all countries in which wireless technologies based on electromagnetic fields as well as marketed chemical substances are used without restrictions. … Inaction leads to costs for society and is no longer an option. We unanimously acknowledge this grave threat to public health.
Precautionary Measures
The precautionary principle (UNESCO) was adopted by the EU in 2005 : “If human activities can cause morally unacceptable damage that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, action must be taken to prevent or reduce that damage.”
The Resolution 1815 (Council of Europe, 2011): “Take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, in particular to high frequency waves from mobile phones, and in particular exposure of children and young people for whom the risk of brain tumors is greatest seems to be. … The Assembly strongly recommends that the ALARA (ALARA) principle be applied as low as reasonably achievable. Both the so-called thermal effects and the athermal (non-thermal) or biological effects of electromagnetic emissions or radiation must be taken into account “. In addition, (point 8.5) “the standards and the quality of the risk assessment must be improved”.
The Nuremberg Codex (1949) applies to all experiments on humans. It therefore includes the expansion of 5G with new, stronger exposure to RF-EMF. For all such experiments: “The trial shall be so planned and based on results of animal experiments and scientific knowledge about the disease or the research problem that the expected results will justify the conduct of the experiment. … No attempt may be made if it can be assumed from the outset that it will lead to death or permanent harm. “(Nürnberger Kodex, points 3-5). Previous published scientific studies show that “it can be assumed from the outset” that there are real health risks.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) warns against “radiation risks from everyday equipment”, although the radiation is below the WHO / ICNIRP limits . The EEA also concludes: “There are many examples where the precautionary principle has not been used in the past and where there have been serious and often irreversible damage to health and the environment. … harmful exposures can be widespread before there is both “convincing” evidence of damage from long-term exposure, as well as a biological understanding [mechanism] of how this damage is caused. “
“Safety guidelines” protect the industry – not the health The current ICNIRP “Security Guidelines” are outdated. All documented damages mentioned above occur even though the radiation is below the ICNIRP “Safety Guidelines”. That’s why new safety standards are required.
The reason for the misleading guidelines is due to the conflict of interest of the ICNIRP members due to their relationship with telecommunications or electricity companies. This undermines the impartiality that should guide the establishment of public exposure standards to non-ionizing radiation. … To assess cancer risks, it is necessary to include scientists with expertise in medicine, especially oncology. “The current ICNIRP / WHO guidelines for electromagnetic fields are based on the outdated hypothesis that” the critical effect of exposure to HF-EMF, which is relevant to human health and safety, in the heating of exposed tissue“However, scientists have proven that many different types of diseases and injuries have been caused without heating (” non-thermal effects “) at radiation intensities well below the ICNIRP limits.
We strongly suggest to the EU:
1) Take all reasonable measures to stop the propagation of 5G high frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) until independent scientists can ensure that for EU citizens 5G and the total radiation intensities produced by RF-EMF (5G with GSM, UMTS, LTE and WLAN) are not harmful, especially for infants, children and pregnant women as well as for the environment.
2) To recommend that all EU countries, and in particular their radiation protection authorities, comply with resolution 1815 and educate their citizens, including teachers and physicians, about health risks from RF EMF radiation and how and why wireless communication should be avoided, in particular in / on / near day care centers, schools, housing, workplaces, hospitals and aged care facilities.
3) Immediately, without industry interference, appoint an EU working group of independent, genuinely impartial scientists on EMF and health without conflict of interest, to assess health risks and:
a) To decide on new, safe “maximum total exposure limits” for all wireless communication within the EU.
b) To explore the total and cumulative exposure that affects EU citizens.
c) to draw up rules that are required / enforced within the EU to determine how to prevent the new “maximum total exposure limits” in the EU being exceeded. This applies to all types of electromagnetic fields to protect citizens, especially infants, children and pregnant women.
4) To prevent the wireless communications / telecommunications industry, via its lobby organizations, from persuading EU officials to make decisions in Europe on further distribution of high-frequency radiation, including 5G.
5) To prefer and expand wired digital telecommunications.
Millimeter wave health effects:
Release 163GPP (5G Phase 2) includes enhanced features like 5G above 52.6Ghz band.Frequencies in the range between 30 and 300 GHz is called mmwave or millimeter wave. If 5G Network uses The millimeter wave (mmWave) bands between 30 and 300 GHz offer massive amounts of raw bandwidth to enable multi-Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) wireless data rates.Thus, the main safety concern is heating of the eyes and skin caused by the absorption of mmWave energy in the human body.
Author Profile
- Amram David
- Amram is a technical analyst and partner at DFI Club Research, a high-tech research and advisory firm .He has over 10 years of technical and business experience with leading high-tech companies including Huawei,Nokia,Ericsson on ICT, Semiconductor, Microelectronics Systems and embedded systems.Amram focuses on the business critical points where new technologies drive innovations.