Government: 5G has "not significantly" increased mobile phone radiation exposure

Contents

With the introduction of the 5G mobile communications standard, some people are becoming increasingly concerned about health risks from electromagnetic fields (EMF). This is the conclusion of the eleventh report on research findings on mobile phone emissions and health effects, in which the German government gives the all-clear: "Measurements to date show that exposure to EMF has not changed significantly since the introduction of 5G."

The German government is thus essentially sticking to its assessment from the tenth report on mobile phone radiation exposure from the beginning of 2023. Critics accuse politicians of shying away from a serious debate on the issue and primarily wanting to ensure product protection for the telecommunications industry. In contrast, the government now refers to a measurement report by the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection from August 2023.

According to the NRW analysis, measurements on a commercially available smartphone that was logged into an operational mobile phone network showed immission values extrapolated to a maximum transmission power that were not considered harmful to health.

Federal Office for Radiation Protection stays on the ball

The federal government also reminds us once again that the UMTS networks (3G) have been switched off in Germany by the end of 2021. The frequency ranges previously used for this purpose have been allocated to mobile network operators on a technology-neutral basis and may therefore also be used by other mobile network generations such as 4G, 5G and soon 6G. In addition to the economic efficiency of frequency usage, this also promotes a reduction in the increasing density of frequency ranges and the implementation of energy-saving generations.

The report states that it "remains to be seen" whether the ongoing network expansion will lead to a higher overall exposure of the population in view of the ever-increasing data transmission volumes, including via WLAN, Bluetooth & Co. The aim is to be able to "take countermeasures in good time" if necessary. A substantial part of the changing exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (HF EMF) relates to mobile communications.

The Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) "have therefore stepped up the information and dialogue offerings", the government emphasizes. It refers, for example, to the Electromagnetic Field Competence Center (Kemf) set up in Cottbus in 2020. In order to clarify outstanding questions and reduce scientific uncertainties regarding the long-term effects of intensive mobile device use, the effects of millimeter waves (below 20 GHz) or exposure from new antenna types, the BfS is "continuing to pursue the remaining need for research".

No damage to skin cells from 5G

The Federal Government refers to a study by Constructor University Bremen on the effects of exposure to centimeter and millimeter waves in the range above 20 GHz on cells on the surface of the body. These frequencies should be used for 5G in the future. For the study, human skin cells were exposed to two different power flux densities and two different frequencies (27 GHz and 41 GHz). No effects on cell processes were observed "that went beyond stochastic random hits". There was no evidence of negative effects in this range.

According to the report, according to the current state of scientific knowledge, the decisive factor for the assessment of possible health effects of RF-EMF continues to be tissue heating. Only when the body or tissue temperature has increased significantly as a result of exposure to RF-EMF, "could significant adverse health effects be demonstrated in scientific studies".

According to the authors, the public and scientific debate now often revolves around the question of whether so-called non-thermal effects at low intensities could lead to adverse health effects. In the low-intensity range of RF-EMF, however, such effects have not been "scientifically proven in decades of research".

Nocebo effect in electrosensitive people

The government has few new findings on "electrosensitivity": This concerns people who may be particularly sensitive to RF-EMF. Even the results of new studies "do not change the assessment of the BfS that a causal relationship between the complaints of electrosensitive persons and RF-EMF cannot be proven". The current data situation rather suggests that a "nocebo effect" plays a role. The expectation of negative consequences alone ensures that these are actually felt.

The German government considers it crucial "that issues relating to RF-EMF are consistently taken into account as a framework condition during the development of the technology". The German government is also adopting this approach, which was already practiced with 5G, "in the gigabit strategy for the ongoing development of the 6G standard". It continues to support "energy-saving and low-emission technologies". This is particularly important for the future mobile communications standard, as the use of higher frequency ranges, including over 100 GHz, is being discussed.

(mho)