5G New Radio Requires the Best Possible Risk Assessment Studies: Perspective and Recommended Guidelines

Abstract

The development and establishment of mobile communication technologies has necessitated assessments of possible risks to human health from exposures to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). A number of expert committees have concluded that there is no evidence for such risks as long as exposures are at or below levels that do not allow tissue heating. These assessments have been based primarily on studies investigating frequencies up to 6 GHz including frequencies similar to those used by two of three major bands of fifth generation (more accurately 5G New Radio or 5G NR) of mobile communication. Bioeffects studies in so-called high-band at 25–39 GHz are particularly sparse. Future assessments relevant for these frequencies will need to rely on still unperformed studies. Due to few available studies at 5G NR “high band” frequencies, and questions raised by some existing studies, a recent review recommended a wide range of RF biostudies be done at 5G NR “high band” frequencies. It is of importance that such studies be done using the best possible science. Here we suggest factors to consider when performing future studies in this area. The present focus is on laboratory studies to clarify biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) energy at 5G “high band” frequencies and, more generally at millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequencies (30-300 GHz) which will be increasingly used by communications technologies in the future. Similar comments would apply to epidemiology and exposure assessment studies, but those are not the focus of the present Perspective.

Biological Effects of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Fields at 27 GHz on Sperm Quality of Mytilus galloprovincialis

“…The introduction of this new technology which operates in different frequency bands has attracted a significant amount of toxicity studies [3][4][5]. To date, however, only a few studies have been conducted on the high frequencies that will be used by 5G [2], and the data are not sufficient to conclude on the existence or not of health effects related to exposure to electromagnetic fields at frequencies around 26 GHz [6].…”

“…Some evidence suggests that the global environment conditions are rapidly changing, and the contaminated conditions could interfere with reproductive mechanisms. In this view, some literature studies have shown biological effects on reproductivity at different frequency bands below 6 GHz [2,5]; thus, in this paper we have investigated the effect of electromagnetic fields at 27 GHz on the sperm quality of bivalve mollusk Mytilus galloprovincialis by in vitro assays. The experiments were conducted with a commercial pyramidal horn antenna with an incident density power not exceeding the international limits set by the ICNIRP for frequencies above 6 GHz; spermatozoa were exposed to electromagnetic fields for up to 1 h, and during the exposure we evaluated motility and vitality, important parameters that reflect the health status of the spermatozoa and consequently the reproductive success of species.…”

Thermal damage to the skin from 8.2 and 95 GHz microwave exposures in swine

“…But data on damage threshold levels is sparse, and using rate-process models for estimating damage requires verification. To address these gaps in the upper GHz band, others have asked for empirical studies to help inform model development (Foster & Vijayalaxmi 2021, Hirata et al 2021, Mattsson et al 2021. This study attempts to help address both of those concerns by providing thermal responses and histological assessments of 352 trials on swine skin.…”

An Exposimetric Electromagnetic Comparison of Mobile Phone Emissions: 5G versus 4G Signals Analyses by Means of Statistics and Convolutional Neural Networks Classification

“…As the field of research progresses, exposure guidelines may be adjusted to account for new scientific findings and further understand the potential effects of RF EMF on human health [14]. The development of the NextGEM Innovation and Knowledge Hub for EMF and Health [15] established, starting in 2022, a partnership spanning telecommunication engineering, cell biology, human studies, and epidemiology, and the gained knowledge will be integrated into an evidence-based risk assessment for use by different stakeholders.…”