Biggest myths about safety of 5G technology

It’s set to improve the way we work and play, but some Aussies are concerned about the safety of 5G. We break down the biggest myths.

Next-generation mobile technology 5G is becoming available in a growing number of homes across the country – but some Aussies are concerned about health risks.

Misinformation being spread online suggesting that exposure to the technology can give you cancer.

But, according to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, there’s no need to be alarmed.

“There are no established health effects from the radio waves that the 5G network uses,” ARPANSA said.

“We urge you to be cautious of claims from anti-5G campaigns. These campaigns are generating unfounded fear and concern within the community. We have seen increasing misinformation about health effects, our role, and 5G or radio waves generally.”

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Some of the facts about 5G technology. Picture: Optus

Here’s the truth about 5G technology.

WHAT IS EME?

Electromagnetic energy (EME) is the energy carried by radio waves.

While Australians are worried that introducing 5G technology will increase the radio waves, more sites will actually result in less power per site and result in lower EME emissions.

The 5G networks are designed to be more efficient and will transmit less power than networks for existing services, such as 4G.

“This network currently runs on radio waves similar to those used in the current 4G network, and in the future will use radio waves with higher frequencies,” ARPANSA said.

Higher frequencies do not mean higher or more intense exposure.

“Higher frequency radio waves are already used in security screening at airports, police radar guns to check speed, remote sensors and in medicine, and these uses have been thoroughly tested and found to have no negative impacts on human health,” ARPANSA said.

WHAT IS RADIOFREQUENCY RADIATION?

Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is the transfer of energy by radio waves, and is produced by both natural and artificial sources.

WHAT ARE TYPICAL SOURCES OF RF EXPOSURE?

Natural sources of RF EMR are things like the sun, the earth and the ionosphere — all of which emit low-level RF fields.

Artificial sources of RF EMR are mainly used for telecommunications purposes.

Radio and TV broadcasting, mobile phones, wireless networks (such as wi-fi), cordless phones, police and fire department radios and satellite communications all produce RF EMR.

Other sources of RF fields include microwaves, industrial heaters and sealers, and various medical appliances.

HOW IS 5G REGULATED?

Optus’s sites are regulated, independently tested and comply with science-based standards and international recommendations.

Higher frequent radio waves are already used in every day things like security screening at airports.

IS 5G TECHNOLOGY A RISK TO YOUR HEALTH?

You might have read that 5G will cause cancer or kill bees – both of these are false.

“Australians can be confident that we have rigorous safety standards which set tight limits on how much EME can be emitted from telecommunications networks and devices,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said.

“The weight of evidence shows that regulated levels of EME from telecommunications devices do not pose a health risk.

“When 5G equipment is tested – both base stations and also handsets – it often shows EME levels which are below the safety limit by a factor of one hundred or even one thousand.”

The low-powered radio waves emitted by mobile phone networks and other wireless telecommunications are different to the ionising radiation associated with nuclear energy or used in medicine.

To ensure the public remains protected, ARPANSA has established limits for EME to protect people from exposure to radio waves.

Limits are set well below the levels where there is evidence of some biological effects, such as tissue heating.

HOW DOES RADIATION AFFECT YOUR BODY?

ARPANSA assessment and advice section assistant director Dr Ken Karipidis is an expert on how radiation affects the human body.

When the 5G network does move to higher frequencies, the depth of RF EME penetration into human tissue is “short”, Dr Karipidis said.

“This energy is absorbed mostly within the skin where surface heating is the predominant effect. At these higher 5G frequencies, the limits in the ARPANSA safety standard are set to prevent excessive heating at the surface of the skin and the eye.”

“The higher frequencies (of 5G) actually means that the energy doesn’t penetrate as deeply into the body than previous fourth generation and other generation technologies have,” University of Wollongong Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research director Dr Sarah Loughran said.

EME exposure to the public from base stations is typically hundreds of times below the limits of the RF Standard. Picture: AAP/John Gass

DO BASE STATIONS CAUSE ANY HEALTH EFFECTS?

Health authorities around the world, including ARPANSA and the World Health Organisation, have examined the scientific evidence regarding possible health effects from base stations.

Research indicates there are no established health effects from the low exposure to the RF EME from mobile phone base station antennas.

In fact, EME exposure to the public from base stations is typically hundreds of times below the limits of the ARPANSA RF standard.

WHO IS SPREADING FAKE 5G NEWS?

According to The New York Times, a major source of disinformation about the 5G network has been the Russian TV network Russia Today, which is available worldwide.

RT said the 5G network poses risks including “brain cancer, infertility, autism, heart tumours and Altzheimer’s disease”, but there is no scientific proof to support this.