By 2025, the fifth generation of mobile network technology (5G) is expected to account for 1.2 billion connections, according to GSMA Intelligence, citing its growing adoption worldwide.
Over the years, humanity has grown dependent on technology, fundamentally changing how we work, live, and interact. Since its initial deployment in 2019, 5G (IMT-2020) has revolutionized connectivity, paving the way for developing innovative applications that were once fragments of our imagination.
The global adoption of 5G was met with enthusiasm, with millions experiencing enhanced speed, lowered latency, and increased capacity.
As the world celebrates this technological leap, concerns regarding human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) produced by radio frequencies (RF) have sparked discussions among the public, including scientists, doctors, and advocates.
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Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Wireless Network Technologies
The emergence of 5G heralds a new era in technological upgrades, enabling the development of smart cities, advanced applications, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
However, the deployment of network technologies emits radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), which are utilized for information transmission.
Wireless technologies such as 2G and 3G emit non-ionizing radiation, which are not strong enough to cause DNA damage, however, they are able to cause vibrations in atoms, leading to heating.
Unlike previous wireless communications, 5G network technology utilizes higher radiofrequency. Its expanded spectrum includes the millimeter waveband (mmWave) above 30 GHz.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) underscored that exposure levels from 5G infrastructures operating at 3.5 GHz are comparable to those of existing mobile phone base stations.
Currently, most telecommunication systems operate at frequencies below 6 GHz, including wireless technologies.
As the demand for higher data rates accumulates, telecommunication companies plan to operate at frequencies exceeding 6 GHz, ultimately venturing into the millimeter-wave range (30-300 GHz).
Implementing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies and beamforming in 5G networks has also raised health concerns among the public, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive research as our technology evolves.
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Health Concerns and Wireless Network Technologies
For decades, myths regarding the effects of modern technology on human health have sparked global concern. Different studies have been conducted to identify the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure from mobile phone usage.
In 2018, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) commenced toxicology studies on animals to assess the potential health risks associated with RFR from 2G and 3G mobile phones operating between 700-2700 megahertz (MHz). According to NTP’s findings, high exposure to RFR (900 MHz) was linked to heart and brain tumors in male rats.
The following year, the U.S. NTP released reports on another study evaluating the DNA damage in the animals’ brains, livers, and blood cells. The analysis suggested that unrepaired DNA damage could lead to tumor development.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has established guidelines to limit exposure to EMF of up to 300 GHz, ensuring that RF exposure does not affect human health. The guidelines were designed to prevent excessive heating of the skin and eyes.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) cited that tissue heating is dominant on frequencies above 6 GHz, with RF exposure levels resulting in negligible temperature rise in the body. Current RF exposure levels from existing technologies cause only a minimal increase in body temperature.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) debunked the myths about the effects of network technology on humans, stating that the prolonged use of mobile phones is not linked to brain and neck cancers. Additionally, the WHO reiterated that electromagnetic frequency exposures below the limits suggested by ICNIRP do not have health consequences.
In terms of 5G, numerous studies were conducted to review the potential health implications. In 2021, a study about low-level RF fields above 6 GHz was conducted, focusing on observations that include genotoxicity, cell proliferation, gene expression, membrane effects, cell signaling, and electrical activity.
The ITU underscored that 5G displays no known evidence to cause cancer, electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), and infertility.
Interestingly, these statements exhibit a contrasting perspective from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NBCI). In their EUROPA EM-EMF Guideline, they cited strong evidence of increased risk factors for certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and male infertility as a result of long-term exposure to EMFs. Additionally, they associated headaches, concentration difficulties, sleeping problems, depression, and a lack of energy with EHS.
In 2017, doctors and scientists established a petition to suspend the 5G rollout in the EU, driven by the critical increase in exposure to RF-EMF on top of existing wireless communication technologies. According to the 5G Appeal, 438 scientists and medical doctors have signed the appeal as of July 2024.
The group cited that the reasoning behind establishing the petition was due to EMF effects such as increased cancer risk, cellular stress, exposure to harmful free radicals, genetic damage, structural and functional changes in the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, and neurological disorders.
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5G and 5G-Advanced Rollouts
The advent of 5G technology has supported the global establishment of smart cities, autonomous cars, machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT). This network upgrade paved the way for enhanced virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based systems.
Internationally, telecommunication companies are making significant strides in the rollout of 5G. According to the GSMA, 5G will be the dominant network by 2030, driven by its relentless advancement and global adoption.
In the Middle East, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are leading the region in establishing 5G connectivity.
Recently, Kuwait initiated the phase-out of 2G and 3G services in the country to allocate for 4G and 5G networks. Prior to the rollout of 5G-Advanced (5G-A), new frequencies were introduced, bolstering the expansion of 4G and 5G services in the country.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s stc Group initiated a large 5G network expansion, covering more than 75 cities and governorates in the Kingdom. Another Saudi Arabian telecommunications company, Zain KSA, accelerated its 5G network expansion by investing SAR 1.6 billion this year.
Notably, UAE telecommunications giant, Etisalat by e&, became the first in the Arab region to deploy 5G. Last year, the company solidified its position as a 5G leader by becoming the first to commercially deploy a G in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Another UAE telecom company, du, sealed strategic cooperation with Huawei to bolster the deployment of 5G-A in the country.
However, suspensions of the 5G rollout were sent to the European Union (EU) multiple times, as the public demanded stricter guidelines for RFR exposure.
These network advancements and expansions have paved the way for Project GOLIAT (5G expOsure, casuaL effects, and rIsk perception through citizen engAgemenT). This EU-funded, five-year initiative comprised of 25 institutions from 12 countries, aims to monitor RF-EMF exposure of 5G and its potential effects on human health.
Project GOLIAT researchers conducted a study observing the human brain activities of 34 healthy participants exposed to 5G’s 3.5 GHz frequency. The study revealed no significant differences in brain oscillations (alpha, beta, delta, and theta) due to exposure. However, some electrodes recorded notable changes in brain activity linked to eye conditions.
This suggests exposure to 3.5 GHz frequencies does not affect electroencephalogram (EEG) activities in humans as long as they are within the regulated limits and contained in controlled environments.
Moreover, Action Against 5G, a group supported by doctors and scientists, took legal action against the rollout of 5G in the EU in 2021. Their application for judicial review was eventually denied.
The ongoing rollout of the 5G network and the upcoming commercialization of 5G-A will push network boundaries to herald innovations. These significant leaps will drive economic growth across various sectors, however, these network expansions may raise more health concerns for the public.
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Final Thoughts
While 5G technology’s adoption is rapidly increasing, a significant gap in research on its direct health effects persists. In the journey towards technological evolution, public health and welfare should be as important as the value of the economy.
Understanding the implications of new technologies is paramount and more comprehensive studies should be conducted to monitor the potential long-term health implications associated with exposure to wireless telecommunications.
Undoubtedly, 5G represents a significant technological leap. It is a game-changer; is transforming lives globally and is driving economies to new horizons. But as 5G and forthcoming network technologies expand, uncertainty and skepticism loom over its potential health impacts, indicating that caution must be exercised and the possible consequences that modern innovations may deliver must be fully considered.
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