Is 5G network dangerous to human health?

Carriers around the world are starting to develop 5G networks. In the US, AT&T has launched the first 5G network in 12 cities. The first 5G device, called Netgear Nighthawk 5G, was also announced at the same time.

5G networks will be the future of mobile connectivity. Photo: StartupStories

In 2019, phones that support 5G connectivity will appear one after another. It can be said that 5G will be the future of mobile connectivity.

However, many people will wonder, with a frequency much higher than older technologies, whether 5G is dangerous to our health.

What is 5G millimeter wave?

Until now, the popular frequency band used for mobile transmission is in the range of 600 MHz to 2.6 GHz. This is the lowest frequency range used in everyday life.

Netgear Nighthawk 5G is the world's first 5G-connected device. Photo: PhoneArena

5G technology will use higher frequencies, including the much-talked-about “millimeter waves.” While carriers are still using lower frequencies to deliver 5G, to get the most out of the technology’s speed and superiority, cellular signals need to be transmitted on higher bands, such as 3.5 GHz, 6 GHz, and even 30 GHz.

The manufacturer hasn’t announced what frequency band the Netgear Nighthawk 5G operates on, but it does say it’s a millimeter wave device, so we can assume the Nighthawk 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem, which operates at 30 GHz.

Millimeter waves are waves that are transmitted at frequencies from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, because 30 GHz corresponds to a wavelength of approximately 10 mm and 300 GHz is approximately 1 mm. This high frequency band has finally been opened up for 5G mobile transmission.

Are 5G millimeter waves safe?

Some people believe that the high frequencies of millimeter waves can damage the brain. However, this is not true for the frequency bands used by 5G networks.

There are very high frequency electromagnetic waves, which exceed the tolerance threshold of humans and animals. But the dangerous threshold is not 30 GHz, nor even 300 GHz.

Radio waves used in mobile connections are not dangerous. Photo: University of Washington.

5G networks in the 30 GHz band will not be strong enough to pose a danger to us. In the range of 300 GHz and below, we have radio waves that are widely used around the world.

At a higher level, infrared waves have a frequency range from 300 GHz to 385 THz (1 THz = 1,000 GHz). Therefore, infrared waves will have wavelengths from 1 mm (shortest microwave) to 780 nm (1 mm = 1,000 nanometers). Infrared rays are invisible to the human eye.

This type of wave itself is also widely used in life and does not pose any health risks. In fact, half of the sun's energy is transmitted to the earth in the form of infrared radiation.

As the frequency continues to get higher, between 430 THz and 790 THz, we have “visible light”, which can be seen with the naked eye, and this type of light is generally harmless to living things and humans.

What type of waves are dangerous?

When the frequency crosses the stage of visible light, things get more dangerous.

Frequency from 790 THz to 30 PHz (1 PHz = 1,000,000 GHz), we have ultraviolet rays. This spectrum has wavelengths from 400 nm to 10 nm. Ordinary ultraviolet rays are also harmless, however, they have the ability to transform from non-ionizing to ionizing form.

Ionizing radiation poses a health risk. Photo: ISHN

Ionizing radiation carries a lot of energy and can strip electrons from molecules or atoms, giving them an electrical charge.

At the next higher frequency, we have X-rays operating on the 30 THz to 30 EHz band, i.e. wavelengths in the range of 10 nm to 0.1 nm. If these rays are exposed to low intensity for a short time, they do not cause much harm. Humans have applied X-rays in medicine.

At the highest frequency is Gamma rays, wavelength is less than 0.1 nm. This ray is also used in medicine and industry but needs to be strictly controlled because its power will cause great harm if it comes into direct contact with humans.

Conclude

Thus, radiation is divided into two types, non-ionizing and ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves and visible light are considered safe, while ionizing radiation such as ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays are potentially dangerous.

Although 5G will use higher frequencies than previous generations, it is still within the safe spectrum. The name millimeter wave may sound scary, but in reality, it is not dangerous.

Nguyen Mai