Introduction
Wireless devices, including cell phones and Wi-Fi routers, have been a part of our daily lives for nearly two decades. But now, it is becoming more urgent to modify our behaviors.
The reason is simple : 5G.
5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology, but it is much more than just a simple upgrade from 3G or 4G. This new technology will operate at a different frequency, which has not been tested for long-term health impacts. Moreover, it will add to the existing wireless technology rather than replacing it, meaning there will be an exponential increase in electromagnetic frequency (EMF) exposure with 5G radiation.
The 5G Network and Millimeter Waves
5G radiation is a type of Electromagnetic Radiation. The frequencies used in 5G are structurally different from those powering 3G and 4G networks, as 5G will add a bandwidth between 24 and 28 GHz and, eventually, a bandwidth above 30 GHz. Part of these frequencies will be millimeter waves (MMWs), which are waves with a length of fewer than 10 millimeters.
While MMWs will enable data to be transmitted at a faster speed, with significantly shorter wait times, and to a larger number of users in a small geographic area, they are easily obstructed by physical structures and can be absorbed by rain and humidity. Hence, billions of additional antennas will be required to provide consistent and reliable coverage, compared to the existing 300,000 cellular towers.
Small Cells and Massive MIMO
To ensure connectivity, the 5G network will require the installation of “small cell” stations, which will be mounted on top of utility poles, lampposts, buildings, and bus stops. Unlike the 90-foot cell towers that 3G and 4G technology use, these small cells are small enough to be mounted closer together and are capable of geolocating mobile devices with greater precision.
They have enough room for around 100 antenna ports, each using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which enables several users to send and receive information simultaneously. This technology, known as massive MIMO, will allow for the exponential expansion of users and information on the network, but it also increases the probability of interference.
Beamforming and Interference
Beamforming is a technology used in wireless communication that allows signals to be concentrated into a beam that takes the most direct route to a user. This technology is particularly useful in the propagation of signals using millimeter wave (MMW) frequencies, which have a higher frequency and shorter wavelength than traditional radio waves.
One of the challenges with MMW frequencies is that they cannot easily penetrate common building materials such as wood, brick, stucco, and even regular glass. Without the use of beamforming, these signals may bounce around and become weakened or lost altogether. By concentrating the signal into a beam, beamforming allows the signal to travel through the air more effectively and reach the intended user.
Beamforming increases the likelihood of interference. This is because when signals are concentrated into a beam, they may bounce off nearby surfaces and interfere with other signals in close proximity. This interference leads to a decrease in signal quality and may affect the overall performance of the communication system.
To mitigate the effects of interference, Beamforming algorithms are designed to adjust the direction and shape of the beam in real-time. This allows the system to adapt to changes in the environment and minimize interference.
This makes it almost impossible to escape 5G radiation if you're in a close proximity of a 5G tower.
Health Effects of 5G
To date, there have been no studies on the effects of prolonged exposure to MMWs, let alone exposure to MMWs simultaneously with other EMF frequencies. Nonetheless, there are some things that we do know. For instance, MMWs have been used in Eastern Europe as a complementary therapy for ulcers, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer, and research has been conducted on the health effects of this treatment. (Millimeter waves bio effects CIA Declassified in 2012 Zalyubovskaya 1977.pdf - Google Drive) Studies have found that up to 80 percent of people can sense the presence of MMWs on their skin, as well as increased electro hypersensitivity, particularly in postmenopausal women.
Russian scientists conducted research in the 1970s on the health effects of exposure to millimeter radiation. While this research was classified by the US Central Intelligence Agency, it was declassified in the 2010s. The studies revealed that millimeter waves caused changes in the body, including structural alterations in the skin and internal organs, qualitative and quantitative changes of the blood and bone marrow composition, and changes of the conditioned reflex activity, tissue respiration, activity of enzymes participating in the processes of tissue respiration and nucleic metabolism. (Electromagnetic Radiation Safety: 5G Wireless Technology: Millimeter Wave Health Effects (saferemr.com)
Minimal research on the subject links MMW technology to potential health problems, including eye problems such as lens opacity in rats, impacted heart rate variability in rats and heart rate changes (arrhythmias) in frogs, modified structure and function of cellular membranes, suppressed immune function, and effects on bacteria, including depressed growth and increased antibiotic resistance. (Wayback Machine archive.org)
Unfortunately, there are no studies that assess a safe threshold for MMW exposure, leading some experts to worry that the proliferation of 5G could turn into nothing short of a public health disaster. Dr. Martin Pall, a biochemistry professor at Washington State University and one of the leading voices on the dangers of EMFs, has even called the idea of putting in tens of millions of 5G antennae without a single biological test of safety "the stupidest idea anyone has had in the history of the world."
Notably, MMWs are known to penetrate human skin tissue at a depth of 1 to 2 millimeters and to cause pain in the skin. This is likely because MMWs trigger the nerve cells in the skin known as nociceptors that alert the brain of potentially damaging stimuli by eliciting a pain response. Furthermore, sweat ducts in human skin act as antennae when they come in contact with MMWs. Dr. Yael Stein of the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel, has studied 5G MMW technology and its interaction with the human body and believes that humans could sense these waves as heat and physical pain via nociceptors. The use of sub-terahertz (millimeter wave) communications technology (cell phones, Wi-Fi, antennas) could cause humans to perceive physical pain.
Finally, it's not just human health that's at stake with the widespread use of 5G, but also insects, plants, animals, and microbes, especially since MMWs are absorbed by both plants and rain. Widespread MMW exposure could even pose a threat to our environment in unforeseen ways.
Conclusion
5G is an untested experiment that will be unleashed over the world without the considering the health risks associated with it. According to what we know so far, this carcinogen will mostly likely prove to be hazardous in the very near future. Staying away from 5G towers and avoiding the use of 5G by us and the people around us is our best bet.
We will be releasing a comprehensive blog about 5G Radiation Safety Tips soon, so stay tuned for that!
References
1. Burrell L. “5G Radiation Dangers: 11 Reasons to Be Concerned.” ElectricSense.
2. Allan Holmes. “5G Cell Service Is Coming. Who Decides Where It Goes?” New York Times
