There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
<p class="first" id="d4999270e51">The popularity, widespread use and increasing dependency
on wireless technologies
has spawned a telecommunications industrial revolution with increasing public exposure
to broader and higher frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum to transmit data
through a variety of devices and infrastructure. On the horizon, a new generation
of even shorter high frequency 5G wavelengths is being proposed to power the Internet
of Things (IoT). The IoT promises us convenient and easy lifestyles with a massive
5G interconnected telecommunications network, however, the expansion of broadband
with shorter wavelength radiofrequency radiation highlights the concern that health
and safety issues remain unknown. Controversy continues with regards to harm from
current 2G, 3G and 4G wireless technologies. 5G technologies are far less studied
for human or environmental effects. It is argued that the addition of this added high
frequency 5G radiation to an already complex mix of lower frequencies, will contribute
to a negative public health outcome both from both physical and mental health perspectives.
Radiofrequency radiation (RF) is increasingly being recognized as a new form of environmental
pollution. Like other common toxic exposures, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic
radiation (RF EMR) will be problematic if not impossible to sort out epidemiologically
as there no longer remains an unexposed control group. This is especially important
considering these effects are likely magnified by synergistic toxic exposures and
other common health risk behaviors. Effects can also be non-linear. Because this is
the first generation to have cradle-to-grave lifespan exposure to this level of man-made
microwave (RF EMR) radiofrequencies, it will be years or decades before the true health
consequences are known. Precaution in the roll out of this new technology is strongly
indicated. This article will review relevant electromagnetic frequencies, exposure
standards and current scientific literature on the health implications of 2G, 3G,
4G exposure, including some of the available literature on 5G frequencies. The question
of what constitutes a public health issue will be raised, as well as the need for
a precautionary approach in advancing new wireless technologies.
</p>