RF/EMF/5G
What is RF? Cell phones and other wireless devices use radiofrequency radiation (RF), which is regulated in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
According to the FCC, “For wireless devices intended for use near or against the body (such as cell phones, tablets and other portable devices) operating at or below 6 GHz, these guidelines specify exposure limits in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The SAR is a measure of the rate that RF energy is absorbed by the body. For exposure to RF energy from wireless devices, the allowable FCC SAR limit is 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg), as averaged over one gram of tissue.
bubl’s trouble with this is that this SAR measurement used by the FCC does not account for modern usage or impact on fetuses/children. The FCC is “using standardized models of the human head and body that are filled with liquids to simulate the RF absorption characteristics of different human tissues.”
What does EMF mean? EMF stands for electromagnetic fields which exist everywhere in our environment naturally as well as unnaturally, or man-made.
On the natural front, think thunderstorms or the fact that we have electrical fields within our bodies which is why defibrillators can restart a heart when our own internal electrical system needs a reboot. These naturally occurring electromagnetic fields exist alongside man-made ones like X-rays, microwaves, cell towers, power lines. Not all electromagnetic fields are created equally. The frequency and wavelength of x-rays are much shorter than any of the aforementioned man-made fields, which science says are more dangerous, hence the reason the x-ray technician covers other parts of your body with a lead blanket to limit the x-ray to only the necessary body part, then promptly hides behind something when administering x-rays to protect himself.
Most common technology-related EMF in our daily lives include RF-emitting devices like microwave ovens, mobile phones, tablets, routers and 5G – the newest generation of mobile communication.
What is 5G?
5G is different from 4G because it works utilizing millimeter wavelengths that transport information more efficiently and faster. However, higher frequencies have a shorter range. That’s why the rollout of 5G requires mini towers to be placed on poles with current 4G antennas. That means 5G may not project over long distances and so more 5G boxes will need to be placed in closer vicinity to one another. Smaller frequencies also don't penetrate obstacles very well. That makes it a line-of-sight technology meaning that your wireless modem or phone will need to be close to a base station for best transfer speeds. (Source) This means that small cell towers will most likely be rolled out close by to your home. Some home owners are taking action to fight and stop the roll out in efforts to keep home values from decreasing due to proximity near a cell tower.
But, is it safe?
The truth is that there has NOT been sufficient research or evidence that proves that 5G is completely safe long term given the amounts of cell and radiation wireless we are typically exposed to in our daily lives. We do know that the research that has been done to date on cell phone emitted EMF radiation (2G-4G type of frequencies) has proven that cell phones could be dangerous for your health- a Group 2B Carcinogen (IARC Rating).
Perhaps, we should listen to the scientific community on this. Over 240 scientists and doctors from 41 nations who have published research in this field do NOT believe that the rollout 5G is safe. In fact, they have appealed to the United Nations calling for urgent action to reduce wireless exposures based on their findings. They wrote to the FCC citing the serious risk to human health that they believe 5G would create.
Already, some countries with stricter limits on radiation are refusing to allow the rollout of 5G technology. Some of these countries include China, India, Poland, Russia, Italy, and Switzerland.
What do we know about 5G?
A couple studies have researched the type of EMF that would emit from 5G, called millimeter waves. These studies have shown that for waves of this small range, our sweat ducts basically act as antennas on our skin (Source) (Source). The effects of this and whether or not some people would be more affected than others is still to be determined.
We also know that 5G, millimeter waves, has been used in weapons (Source).
To make things more confusing, a recent meta-analysis looked at the outcomes of different EMF studies based on who was the source of funding for the research. The studies have found that EMF research that is funded by the industry is less likely to find health risks than studies paid for by private institutions or authorities. -Investigate Europe 2019 (Source)