My daughter, a friend and a reader of my blog asked about 5G, cell phones and Wi-Fi exposure to radiation. Was it dangerous? I researched this question. It turns out that my knowledge was outdated and I was wrong. Previously I understood that biological matter, cells, etc. were essentially transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation unless that radiation was powerful enough to heat the biological material, that is, absorbance of radio frequency radiation requires existing thermal vibrations in the biological material which had frequency coherence with the radio frequency radiation and powerful radiation. While that is true, it turns out that there are several other important and dangerous interactions.
This is not only about radiation the newer and already problematic 5G and 6G phones, tablets, routers, etc. but also 2G, 3G devices that we have been using for many years.
Please read and watch with your family and friends especially young people, your children and grandchildren. A major change in lifestyle and behavior is probably in order for health protection, especially for children and young adults. Here is an excellent must watch YouTube lecture from 2015 in Melbourne Australia by Dr. Devra Davis. It is a great summary video.
https://youtu.be/8AfBFiQdgt8
Summary of lecture
November 30, 2015: Devra Davis PhD MPH delivered the Dean’s Lecture at Melbourne School of Engineering on November 30, 2015 entitled, The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation: what we know, what we need to find out, and what you can do now. Speaking before the deans of the colleges of engineering medicine and law at the University of Melbourne on Monday November 30, 2015 visiting professor of medicine from the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical Center Devra Davis PhD, MPH revealed stunning new animations showing the greater exposure of the young developing brain to mobile phone radiation. Current standards for mobile devices are nearly 2 decades old, Davis told the interdisciplinary conference.
Discussing the complex policy history of mobile devices in her [then] newly released book–Disconnect–the truth about mobile phone radiation– Davis explains that the nations of Israel, India and France–and other high tech countries–require that all devices be sold with headsets and safety information. In Belgium, it is against the law to sell or design mobile phones for children ages 7 and younger. 20 countries have enacted various precautionary policy to reduce cell phone exposure and protect public health. Secondary insurers will not insure companies against health damages from mobile phones and other wireless devices.
“As recognition grows about the need to produce products that emit the lowest amounts of radiation, opportunities to innovate in design and technology will expand greatly,” she added. Dr. Davis has been giving lectures across Australia this month and most recently was featured in the Australian 9JumpIn Today Show where she shared scientists concerns about children and detailed how families can reduce exposures.
Davis is calling for the creation of major public educational programs to inform the public about why and how to use technology safely. “The public needs to be informed that mobile devices emit a type of radiation which could have serious health consequences. As children are more vulnerable to this radiation, parents need to know how to reduce exposures and in their commmunity. Policy makers worldwide are taking policy actions to lower radiation levels in schools and in the community.” Davis states that a two cents a month fee on every mobile or wireless device user, manufacturer and provider for a period of 8 years would create funding for training in bioelectromagnetics and engineering and would develop and support research.
This Dean’s Lecture was presented by the Melbourne School of Engineering, in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the Faculty of Science and the Melbourne Networked Society Institute, at the University of Melbourne.
Dr. Davis’ slides are here in pdf format: https://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Dr-Devra-Davis-Melb-Uni-Lecture.pdf
Doctors and Public Health Organizations Consensus Statements and Recommendations on Cell Phones/Wireless at this link.
As of October 15, 2019, 252 scientists from 43 nations had signed this Appeal:
Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.
Links to selected references
Fertility and Reproduction
Consistent evidence from experimental research, epidemiological studies, in vitro (cells) laboratory studies, and in vivo (animal) studies shows that RF exposure is associated with reduced sperm count, motility and concentration, as well as DNA damage and altered cell structure. Research also shows damage after wireless exposure to the ovaries of rats and mice, as well as changes in the eggs of flies and birds.
Read the scientific research showing damage to the reproductive system by clicking here
Many other peer-reviewed science studies at this link: https://ehtrust.org/science/wireless-radiation-health-effects/
The Environmental Health Trust website is full of additional information focused on this subject: https://ehtrust.org/
The U.S. National Institutes of Health funded a study. The fact sheet of results is here: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/cell_phone_radiofrequency_radiation_studies_508.pdf and more detail on the study is found here:
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/cellphones/index.cfm This studied the radiation source near to rats, “near field”, simulating a cell phone in your pocket or a table or laptop on your lap.
The Ramazinni Institute in Bologna study was very enlightening to me. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118300367?via%3Dihub This studied the radiation source distant from the rats similar to a cell phone tower at some distance from your home, as well as the entire lifespan of the rats being studied.
Both studies resulted in the same type of cancers.
A 2017 study “Measurements of Radiofrequency Radiation with a body-borne exposimeter in Swedish schools with Wi-Fi” concluded that, “The risk for cancer may be accentuated for children partly because of their likely longer life-time use of wireless devices, but also since their smaller size and thinner skull bone give higher RF radiation to the brain. Children are also growing and have more immature cells which can be more sensitive to RF radiation.” This study found higher RF levels when students streamed videos.
Lahham 2019 followed adults from the West Bank, Palestine and found their total daily exposure from all radiofrequency electromagnetic field sources varied widely depending on their location, the mobile network they use, their activities, and their mode of transportation. The main contribution to the mean exposure was from WiFi 2G (45%), GSM900 uplink (19%), GSM900 downlink, and FM radiobroadcasting (each by 11%). GSM1800, UMTS2100, WiFi 5G, DECT, TETRA, WiMAX, and TV bands all together contributed 14%. During different activities, participants were exposed to the highest exposure level while traveling and to the lowest exposure while they were sleeping.
A 2019 publication in the industry journal Building and Environment summarizes the scientific evidence showing harmful effects at low levels- well below government limits and details best practices in buildings to reduce radiofrequency as including wired technology instead of Wi-Fi, and corded phones in buildings.
The World Health Organization International Agency for the Research on Cancer’s classification of wireless radiofrequency frequencies a Class 2B carcinogen includes wireless radiation from any transmitting source such as cellphones, baby monitors, tablets, cell towers, radar, other wifi, etc. The radiofrequency classification applies to RF-EMF in the range of 30 KHz to 300 GHz emitted from any device. Cell phone frequencies commonly start at 900 MHz (with some cell phones having up to 7 antennas all at different frequencies) and Wi-Fi device frequencies are at 2.45 GHz and 5GHz.
Title: Scientific evidence invalidates health assumptions underlying the FCC and ICNIRP exposure limit determinations for radiofrequency radiation: implications for 5G. International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF) Full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9576312/
The following comprehensive literature review by EPA scientists from 1984 is attached as pdf. The major conclusions at the end are worth reading. (This was my old understanding in this area.)
KEY STUDIES ON CELL PHONE AND WIRELESS RADIATION
budbromley 