5G Is Coming: How Worried Should We Be about the Health Risks? So far, at least, there’s little evidence of danger

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Scientific American
By Kenneth R. Foster,

Judging from the enthusiastic reception of 5G technology by governments and industry,
we are on the verge of a technological revolution. Initially introduced to help wireless
networks cope with ever-increasing data traffic on their networks, 5G will (its proponents
claim) lead to game-changing innovations such as remote surgery, control of driverless
vehicles and much more.

5G, eventually slated to replace present-day 3G and 4G cellular telephone networks, promises
to speed up the rate of data transfer by 100 times or more, greatly reduce latency (time between
receipt of a signal by a cellular base station and its response) and allow cellular networks to
manage far more wireless-connected devices than presently possible.

5G, however, has become intensely controversial in many locations, with citizens’ groups, and a
few scientists, expressing concerns about the possible health effects of radio-frequency (RF)
energy transmitted by 5G base stations. Public opposition appears to focus on two characteristics
of 5G networks:

First, 5G systems will operate in several frequency bands, including one that is slightly below (and
will eventually extend into) the millimeter-wave part of the RF spectrum that extends from 30 to
300 GHz. While millimeter waves have not heretofore been used for cellular communications, they
have been used for many other applications, including airport security scanners, anticollision radar
for automobiles, and to link present-day cellular base stations.

Public discussions appear to conflate 5G with millimeter-wave communication. In fact, many 5G
networks will operate at frequencies close to those used by present cellular networks, and some may
use millimeter waves to handle high data traffic where needed.

Second, 5G systems will rely on a multitude of “small cells” mounted close to subscribers, often on
utility poles running along public streets. These small cells will incorporate “smart” antennas that
transmit multiple beams (up to 64 with present designs, eventually more), which can be independently
steered to individual subscribers. They operate at much lower power levels than “macro” cells used by
present systems, which are typically located on tops of buildings in urban areas.

In the long run, these will be supplemented by pico cells that are mounted inside buildings, operating
at still lower power levels. The prospects of a dramatic increase in the number of sources transmitting
RF signals is undoubtedly disquieting to many citizens, regardless of the actual health risks as
understood by health agencies.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/5g-is-coming-how-worried-should-we-be-about-the-health-risks/

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