There have been a few conspiracies floating around the Internet about the safety of 5G to people. In recent weeks, 5G has been the subject of claims in different parts of the world including the United States and in Europe.
World Health Organization (WHO) has already said that there are no proven detrimental effects caused by exposure to 5G or to any wireless technology up to this day.
“Currently, exposure from 5G infrastructures at around 3.5GHz is similar to that from existing mobile phone base stations. With the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas, exposure could be more variable as a function of location of the users and their usage,” the WHO explained.
A published article by the UK’s The Guardian says that the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the international body in charge of setting limits to exposure to radiation, asserts that 5G is safe.
The ICNIRP is a German-based scientific body that studies the health risks of radio broadcasts. They explain that the 5G wireless standard uses a beam-foaming technology which allows radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) “to be focused to the region where it is needed.” This means that that it won’t be spread all throughout a large area. This will allow, for example, the same RF EMF frequencies to be sent to different users concurrently without interfering with one another, which increases communication rates because the frequency band does not need to be shared between users.
“We know that parts of the community are concerned about the safety of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines will put people at ease,” said Dr. Eric van Rongen, chiar of the ICNIRP.
Both the WHO and the ICNIRP agree that 5G isn’t a health risk as long as overall exposure sticks to the international guidelines.
Experts in the Philippines have also chimed with their own opinions. Dr. Gladys R. Cabrera, Health Physicist IV of DOH, said that since 2001, the Health Department has maintained that no study so far has proven that cell sites cause cancer. “Cell sites do not cause adverse side effects. It is harmless,” she explained.
Dr. Johanna Cañal, VP of the Philippine Radiology Oncology Society, shares the same sentiments. She maintains that proximity to cell sites does not cause any known health risks, contrary to what many homeowners associations believe.
“Texting while driving or walking will cause more harm than radiation from cell phone use or cell tower. So far, the science says, there is no evidence to say that cell phone use or a nearby cell tower causes cancer,” she added.
5G is safe for the public and more importantly, there is no evidence to support the connection between the pandemic and 5G.
