5G and human health: Scientific fact or unfounded fear?

Since the 5G network was officially deployed in 2019, the controversy surrounding its impact on human health has not subsided. Although a series of reputable researchers and health organizations have affirmed that 5G devices, if used according to current guidelines, are completely safe, rumors, conspiracy theories and misinformation continue to spread on social media and unofficial media channels.

Now, as the next version of 5G, 5.5 G (5G - Advanced), is gradually approaching the mass deployment stage in many countries around the world, the question of the safety of radio signals is once again raised. So what do experts really say? Does 5G waves have a negative impact on health as many people fear?

According to experts, concerns about 5G can be divided into three main groups, based on their nature and validity. The first group are well-founded concerns, related to the need to better understand the Radiofrequency Radiation (RFR) generated by 5G devices and base stations.

The second group reflects skepticism about the effectiveness of government-imposed regulations governing RFR exposure levels, that is, whether current standards are stringent enough to protect public health.

The third group, more common on social media, includes baseless or mythical claims, such as 5G causing epidemics, mind control or even being a disguised biological weapon.

In the face of a wave of multi-dimensional information, distinguishing between verified scientific data and misinformation is more urgent than ever, especially as 5G continues to develop and expand its influence in all areas, from telecommunications to healthcare and smart transportation.

5G Safety Standards: Who Controls Them and Are They Trustworthy?

In the United States, the issue of safety in exposure to RFR has been a concern for a long time. Since 1982, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - one of the leading organizations in the industry - has issued standards to protect human health from the effects of RFR.

Internationally, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), headquartered in Germany, also works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and many other agencies to develop and update global RFR exposure limits.

Before 5G was officially deployed, the potential impacts of exposure to RFR at new frequencies were thoroughly studied. Much of the spectrum band for 5G, from 600 MHz to 3.5 GHz, was already in use for traditional telecommunications services or was located near established bands, allowing scientists to have a more comprehensive basis for assessment.

Along with IEEE and ICNIRP, government agencies such as the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) have been closely monitoring research related to mobile phone use and health effects. The results collected show that the current standards are appropriate and ensure the safety of users.

For higher frequencies, such as the millimeter wave (mmWave) band commonly used in applications such as airport security scanners, automotive radar systems, and safety sensors, IEEE has established dedicated committees to continue in-depth research.

However, much current evidence shows that the application of these frequencies in 5G networks does not pose a danger to humans if properly controlled and operated according to established technical standards.

Heat, radiation and cancer fears: Is 5G really that scary?

When a cell is overheated or its DNA is severely damaged, division can become uncontrolled, which is one of the mechanisms that lead to cancer.

In our daily lives, we are constantly exposed to rays that can heat up our cells, most notably ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Although the UV rays that reach the Earth’s surface are not ionizing rays, they are still energetic enough to tan and burn the skin, and over time, increase the risk of skin cancer.

Similarly, close exposure to devices that emit extremely high levels of RFR, such as those found in industrial environments, can also pose a health risk to humans. For this reason, governments have set strict limits to prevent overexposure.

However, to cause direct damage to DNA at a level that can cause cancer in internal organs, a stronger type of radiation is needed, such as ionizing radiation. This group includes X-rays and gamma rays - the highest energy types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum, capable of penetrating body tissue and breaking down DNA molecular structure if exposed at high doses.

In contrast, 5G signals, which are a form of RF, are not considered ionizing radiation. That means they do not have enough energy to damage DNA or cause genetic changes that could lead to cancer.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – the agency that regulates radio-related policy – ​​has established RFR exposure limits for both workers and the public, based on guidance from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP).

These radiation limits are based on decades of research and are regularly updated to ensure safety in an increasingly modern living environment.

Phones Heat Up During Use: Health Warning or Just a Technological Misunderstanding?

Surely many people have felt the phone getting hot when making long calls, watching videos continuously or playing heavy games. This phenomenon is called “phone overheating” and often makes many people worry whether the heat emitted can be harmful to health, even leading to cancer.

The answer is no. The phone getting hot has nothing to do with RF, the type of waves that 5G technology uses to transmit signals. In fact, the increased temperature is the result of the processor (CPU) and electronic components inside the phone having to work at high intensity, especially when handling heavy tasks like watching high-resolution videos or 3D games.

The transmission power of mobile phones at any frequency, including 5G, is very low, not enough to heat the skin or body tissue, even when held close to the ear for a long time.

Concerns about cancer risks from cell phone use have been studied by leading health organizations around the world for nearly three decades. Studies funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have shown no reliable link between cell phone use and increased rates of brain tumors in the population.

Even among young people under 20, who tend to use their phones the most, studies from Sweden did not find an increase in brain or thyroid cancer rates.

More importantly, the frequencies that 5G technology uses have been evaluated for safety. The specifications and exposure limits have been clearly established by organizations such as IEEE and ICNIRP, ensuring that everyday phone use remains within the safety threshold for users.

Rejecting the 5G conspiracy theory related to COVID-19

With the advent and expansion of 5G technology has come a wave of misunderstanding and misinformation surrounding RFR. However, one of the most dangerous conspiracy theories to emerge is the allegation that 5G networks caused or helped spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is not just a baseless rumor, it is a real threat. In April 2020, at the height of the pandemic and global panic, at least 77 mobile phone towers in the UK were burned down.

A telecom technician was even hospitalized after being attacked with a knife, just because he worked near a 5G transmission tower. This serious incident forced many governments to step in, setting up official information pages to refute fake news and clearly affirm that there is no scientific link between 5G technology and COVID-19.

Microbiologists, epidemiologists, and journalists around the world have also spoken out, providing scientific evidence and easy-to-understand explanations to refute false claims. There is no biological mechanism, from the structure of the virus to its ability to transmit, that shows 5G waves can create or spread viruses.

However, the conspiracy theory continues to mutate. After the “5G causes COVID” hypothesis was dismissed, some people claimed that the pandemic was just an excuse to secretly implant 5G-enabled micro-devices into people through vaccine injections.

This theory quickly spread on social media, forcing scientists and the media to continue to speak out. Among the rebuttals, many experts pointed out that no current technology can create a 5G device small enough to be implanted through a regular vaccine needle, an unscientific detail that has been widely spread.

The incident highlights the worrying reality that misinformation about technology can not only cause panic, but can also lead to actual violence. And so, transparent communication, accessible science, and fact-checking have never been more important in the digital age.

Does 5G Weaken the Immune System? What Does the Science Say?

Concerns that 5G could weaken the immune system are not new, they have been around since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and have become more widespread as the world has been plunged into a health crisis.

This wave of misinformation has given rise to conspiracy theories linking 5G connectivity to the possibility of contracting the virus, leaving many people concerned about the technology's potential impact on human health.

However, health and science agencies have been quick to step in to clarify the issue. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) - a prestigious organization in the field of radiation risk assessment - has given a clear response during the pandemic.

According to ARPANSA, only when humans are exposed to RFR at power levels many times higher than the government-approved limits can their body temperature rise to a level that temporarily affects their immune system. But in real-world use, 5G devices operate at much lower power levels, not enough to produce any significant biological effects.

Scientists have also conducted many specialized studies to test the impact of RFR waves on immune factors such as antigens and antibodies and found no evidence of changes in immune function.

Long-term, rigorously conducted, and repeatable studies continue to confirm that 5G mobile phone use does not affect the immune system.

At the same time, epidemiological data has not recorded any significant changes in cancer rates or viral infections in the population since the deployment of 5G technology.

In fact, power limits and exposure levels to radio waves from both phones and base stations are tightly regulated by scientific organizations and government agencies worldwide.

These measures are still proving effective in ensuring public health safety, despite misinformation continuing to spread on social media.