Is 5G a revolutionary technology or a health risk? In this podcast, electrical engineer Prof. Jeff Andrews, biologist Prof. Henrik Mouritsen, radiology safety expert Prof. Chris Collins, and psychologist Prof. Rodney Croft discuss the potential impact of 5G on our world, including its benefits, safety concerns, and effects on wildlife. They also address the scientific consensus on 5G's safety, highlighting its limited penetration and regulated power levels.
Scientific consensus suggests that 5G waves do not have enough energy to cause harm, making it a safe technology.
Despite concerns about tower proliferation, the waves used in 5G are too weak to cause harm to humans or wildlife.
Deep dives
The Promise and Concerns of 5G Technology
5G is a revolutionary mobile network that promises ultra-fast downloads, connectivity for all gadgets, and even the potential for technologies like robot hands and robot worms. Governments and tech enthusiasts are excited about the possibilities of 5G, while others express concerns about potential health and environmental risks. Protests have erupted around the world against 5G, with worries about potential cancers and damage to DNA. However, scientific consensus suggests that 5G waves do not have enough energy to break chemical bonds and cause harm. While more research is needed, current evidence suggests that 5G is a safe technology.
The Rollout of 5G and the Increase of Base Stations
To achieve the promised ultra-fast speeds and coverage, 5G requires an increase in the number of base stations, which are small boxes filled with antennas. These base stations transmit and receive the shorter millimeter waves used by 5G. Unlike 4G waves, these millimeter waves have limited range and are easily blocked by obstacles like walls and trees. To compensate for this, engineers must deploy more base stations to ensure continuous coverage. While concerns about tower proliferation exist, research indicates that the waves used in 5G are too weak to break chemical bonds, making it unlikely for them to cause harm to humans or wildlife.
Misconceptions and Concerns about 5G's Impact
There are misconceptions and fears surrounding the impact of 5G technology. Some believe that 5G waves cause symptoms like headaches and nausea, similar to a condition called idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF). However, placebo-like effects and the power of suggestion seem to be at play, as studies show that symptoms are not caused by electromagnetic waves themselves. Additionally, concerns about electromagnetic waves interfering with bird migration or causing harm to wildlife are not supported by scientific evidence. While the long-term effects of 5G warrant further study, current research suggests that 5G technology is safe.
How should we feel about 5G? Is it a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize our world, or in a bid to get new gadgets, are we risking our health? To find out, we spoke with electrical engineer Prof. Jeff Andrews, biologist Prof. Henrik Mouritsen, radiology safety expert Prof. Chris Collins, and psychologist Prof. Rodney Croft.
Credits: This episode was produced by Meryl Horn with help from Wendy Zukerman, Lexi Krupp, Michelle Dang and Rose Rimler. We’re edited by Caitlin Kenney. Fact checking by Michelle Harris, Lexi Krupp, and Michelle Dang. Mix and sound design by Peter Leonard and Bobby Lord. Music written by Peter Leonard, Bobby Lord and Emma Munger. Recording assistance from Olivia Aldridge, Beth McMullen, and Mirjam Steger. A huge thanks to all the people we spoke to for this episode including: Dr. Sarah Loughran, Dr. Stefano Cucurachi, Professor Muriel Médard, Dr. Harish Krishnaswamy, Dr. Christopher Labos, Dr. Jordan Gerth, Dr. Arno Thielens, Prof. David Carpenter, Dr. Jerrold Bushberg, Dr. Patrick Mineault, Norman Carreck and ARPANSA. Extra thanks to Kaitlyn Sawrey, Shahzad Ahsan, Rachel Ward, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.