Effects of 5G Wireless Communication on Human Health

Most of the media stories on 5G technology have been about which company will provide the infrastructure and whether they will be trustworthy or not. Lost in this debate has been the potential health effects of our imminent immersion in 5G electromagnetic radiation (EMF).

5G and EMF Explained

What is 5th generation wireless technology? 5G is the means to an end. The end goal is to enable the “internet of things” (IoT) – your cell phone talking to your fridge, your driverless car and your security system. 5G allows faster communication by using higher frequency and shorter wavelength EMF. The frequencies of EMF used by 5G technology, 6 – 100 Giga Hertz, cannot penetrate trees and other structures. This means that for the internet of things to work seamlessly, a fixed, small cell antenna will need to be installed approximately every 300 m throughout populated areas.

It is estimated that over 13 billion of these antennas will be installed in the US alone. Since competing companies are unlikely to use each other’s equipment, many areas will be flooded with overlapping coverage. No one living in a 5G center will be able to avoid exposure. Lest you think you can opt-out, the option to use wired connections will diminish as the companies investing in 5G are removing safer and more secure landlines (eg AT&T in the US).

I have discussed the adverse health effects of high-frequency EMF in my manual “Let your light shine through”. The reading I am doing in preparation for my new book confirms that these risks are very real and occur at even lower levels of exposure than previously thought. An abbreviated list of the dangers from high-frequency EMF includes increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans.

Because of the shorter wavelength of 5G EMF, it will mostly be absorbed by the skin. This means that the health effects will be different from 3G and 4G which penetrate further into the body. 5G will mostly affect the skin and eyes. Nerves in the skin send signals to the other organs including metabolism, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the reproductive system. 5G radiation is heat-producing. It is already used in some crowd control devices and by the military. Because the wavelengths of 5G EMF are in the millimetre range (very short), it is especially harmful to insects. The research already exists that wifi technology is killing insects. The world’s food chain depends on insects and a significant decline in insects due to electro-smog could have devastating consequences.

The article by Manitoba activist, Marg Friesen provides a simple explanation of what 5G is, how it differs from our current technology and why it poses even more health hazards.

A group of international scientists and physicians launched an appeal in 2017 to encourage countries to stop the rollout of 5G technology until the scientific concerns can be addressed. Although most of the signatories are from Europe where the push to halt 5G seems the strongest, 8 signatories are from Canada including Frank Clegg, CEO, Canadians for Safe Technology (C4ST) and former president of Microsoft Canada. The organization he now heads is lobbying for restraint when it comes to 5G.

For those wanting to learn more about the risks of EMF and 5G in particular, the website of the group “Physicians for safe technology” has a detailed and evidence-based discussion of the risks of 5G (and many other forms of technology). 

Author: Eleanor (Ellie) Stein MD FRCP(C)

I am a psychiatrist with a small private practice in Calgary and am an assistant clinical professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Calgary. Since 2000, I have worked with over 1000 patients, all with ME/CFS, FM and ES. My passion for this field comes from my own struggle with these diseases, my desire to improve my health and then pass on what I learn. My goal is for every patient in Canada to have access to respectful, effective health care within the publicly funded system. 

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