Smartphones have changed the way we interact with the Internet, as cellular networks have evolved over the years to keep pace with our increasing demand, and the fifth generation (5G) network technology is the latest version of the mobile internet.
With the fifth generation (5G) communications networks now in use, there has been speculation about the safety of this technology. You may have heard some of these claims. So, it is time to find out, are 5G networks safe for public health or not?
What is the (5G) network connection technology?
Internet connections in most homes are usually done via Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi networks are common across offices as well, and even in cafes and public places such as malls. Outside these areas, we are connected to the Internet by cellular networks run by telecommunications companies and service providers.
There have been technological advances and revolutions to improve both: mobile Internet speeds, reliability in data transmission, and coverage to support the increase in Internet-connected devices. One of the most important developments in this area was the third generation (LTE) and fourth generation (4G) networks, which allowed us to use our smartphones to broadcast music, video calls and even watch Netflix and YouTube while navigating the streets.
The fifth generation (5G) represents the evolution of cellular networks to deal with the upcoming influx of technological devices. This technology promises speeds comparable to "broadband networks" while outside the home, office and market, in addition to future support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. So there are many ways in which 5G networks will make the mobile Internet faster.
Speeds of the fifth generation networks:
The basic premise of 5G networks is that they provide a paradigm shift of speeds to gigabits per second. As of now, the 5G standard requires speeds of at least 20 Gbps, but this is only the beginning. Speeds are bound to improve further as more versions of this standard appear.
Speaking of frequencies, 5G networks operate at a large scale. The frequency range in these networks is greater than all previous networks, as these frequencies start from 600 MHz to 71 GHz.
This means that the fifth generation (5G) networks will use the low wavelength portion of the spectrum, also known as "ultra-high frequency" (mmWave), which has a frequency between 24-100 GHz. This is a major speed boost, but at the cost of coverage area.
This also means that 5G networks can use "beamforming" to focus the signals emitted from the antennas on areas with more traffic, in contrast to the omnidirectional approach used in 4G and older networks.
Fifth generation (5G) networks are supposed to be a big step in the evolution of cellular networks. There is a belief in industry circles that this technology could be the last big leap in the telecommunications generation, and this technology will need only small reviews.
Are 5G networks a health hazard?
In 2019, there was a public debate about whether Huawei would be able to operate 5G networks. This may make you feel security-wise about governments spying on citizens. You've also likely heard of some health concerns raised around these networks as well. For example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rumored that 5G network towers were related to spreading disease, and some of these towers had already been burned by some people.
There are some other wild claims about the health impact of 5G networks and technologies. However, despite media coverage of such claims, there is no evidence to suggest that 5G networks pose a health risk. The New York Times notes that many of the same issues have been raised around 4G networks as well.
Likewise, with older technologies, there is no evidence that 5G networks are dangerous to health. Initial studies have shown that the amounts of radiation produced by cell phone towers that power the fifth generation (5G) networks and 5G smartphones that support fifth generation communication technologies, are far below the official safety limits authorized.
In March of 2020, the Guardian magazine presented the statements of the International Committee for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), stating that 5G communication technology is safe, while the threat posed by this generation of communications is no different from networks. Other wireless.
However, it makes sense to remain careful - after all, the absence of evidence is not evidence of the absence of harm. That is why governments around the world are keeping the situation under review.
One complication is that scientific studies give different results from each other. Study A may show no negative effect, while Study B shows a small potential effect. In this example, Study A will not be widely reported - it is not interesting to say that nothing happened - but Study B is likely to receive a significant amount of media coverage.
Scientific method in research:
The scientific method was created to deal with inconsistent results. The scientific method is a method of research used by researchers, whereby data is observed without bias or assumption, as much as possible. In this scenario, suppose someone has a question, and they also have groups about to try to answer it by developing a test and then creating a database of data and results.
5G communications networks and the risks of this technology? The researchers then draw conclusions from the data. Once the study is completed, it is subject to a preliminary review, and if it is found to be without errors, then it will be accepted for publication in a scientific journal. This publication allows for public scrutiny of both the study and the conclusions drawn from it.
Other scientists may ask the same or a similar question, but they have a different method of testing. This different method will likely give different results as well. Because of this difference, we will have two studies that give different results, knowing that they are both on the same topic in general.
To counter these attitudes, scholars and governments are seeking consensus on a particular issue. However, such a consensus may be difficult to achieve. For example, two articles in Scientific American have revealed different views on the safety of 5G networks. A first published article by Joel M. Moscowitz raises the argument that 5G networks are insecure. At the same time, another study by David Robert Grimes confirms that personal idealism and low-quality studies are what drove the Moskowitz study to reach these results.
Are 5G networks secure?
Ofcom, the British telecoms organization, conducted one of the first studies in the country in the field of 5G networks. They took measurements at 16 different locations in 10 cities in the UK. The BBC News reported: "Their results showed that the maximum radiation output was 0.039 percent of the official safety limits."
The scientific consensus about the security of 5G networks is based on the data we currently have. So, of course, this may change in the future.
The amount of studies on the topic of 5G networks is currently limited due to the fact that the technology is still under implementation. There are a few users and phones that are compatible with this technology as well. As 5G technology becomes widely available, there will be more opportunities for studies and, more importantly, long-term research into wireless technologies.
Based on our current understanding, 5G technology does not represent a risk to human health.
Wireless networks and cancer:
One of the old claims about the new network is that 5G can cause cancer, so it is worth taking a look at these claims.
Cancer is the uncontrollable growth of body cells. Our DNA contains instructions about how a cell should behave, and it also controls cell growth. If there is a change or mutation in these structures, the instructions become incorrect, leading to abnormal growth and reproduction of cells.
Radiation can damage cells, which leads to these mutations. There are many types and energies of radiation. If the radiation has sufficient energy, it is able to interact with atoms and separate electrons, and this is ionizing radiation and is considered the most dangerous for humans. Despite the damage that ionizing radiation can cause, ionizing radiation is also used in radiation therapy for cancer.
As for low-energy, non-ionizing radiation, it is not able to interact with atoms, and therefore it is unable to affect our cells as well. Wireless technologies, such as "Wi-Fi", radio (Radio) and "LTE" technology, fall into this category of radiation, and this applies to the fifth generation (5G) technology as well. However, since the introduction of cell phones in the 1990s, there have been suggestions that the non-ionizing radiation emitted from these wireless devices could harm us.
Do fifth generation (5G) radiation cause cancer?
The World Health Organization’s 2014 guidelines state that: “… a large number of studies have been conducted over the past two decades to assess whether cell phones pose potential health risks. There has not yet been proven adverse health effects from mobile phone use.”
While this type of non-ionizing radiation may not cause direct mutations, there have also been studies on the other effects of radio frequency radiation. For example, low-energy radiofrequency radiation can cause an increase in temperature. However, investigations have also shown that there are no harmful effects on your health as a result.
This was the case in Australia, as reported by the news site ZDNet, where wireless network operators found that 5G networks were no more harmful than other household gadgets such as baby monitors (cameras) and microwaves.
Is the fifth generation (5G) technology the future?
Although it is necessary to be careful about new technologies, there is no evidence to suggest that 5G networks are more dangerous than 4G, Wi-Fi, or any wireless systems. Others exist today. Until then, the impact of these networks is debatable, with most studies concluding that there is not enough evidence to inform them that 5G networks are unsafe.
Very good