Answer to Question #12896 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Cell Phones, Radiofrequency Radiation, and Powerline Fields — Cell Phones

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

What health effects are anticipated with the advent of 5G wireless telecommunications networks? If there are health effects what is the anticipated incidence? And, are there methods of mitigation to prevent these health effects? 

A

5G is still a developing technology and the operating parameters of 5G systems have not been finalized. While some present 5G systems use frequency bands close to present cellular bands (such as 3–4 gigahertz [GHz]), others use the millimeter-wave band near 30 GHz. It is expected that 5G technology will increasingly use millimeter-wave energy (since that is where available spectrum lies). 

The only established health and safety hazards of radiofrequency (RF) energy at these frequencies involve excessive heating of tissue and present safety limits protect against such hazards with a large margin of safety. It is very unlikely that environmental exposures from 5G systems could come close to or exceed US or major international safety limits, but care will be needed when designing millimeter-wave handsets whose antennas are close to the skin.

Millimeter waves do not penetrate more than 0.5 mm or so into skin and the obvious potential hazards involve excessive heating of near-surface tissues such as skin or the cornea of the eye. There is a scattering of studies in which humans have been exposed to millimeter waves, some at quite high levels. There have been numerous other studies concerning use of millimeter waves for medical purposes as well as basic biological studies. None of these have convinced health agencies that significant hazards exist from millimeter waves at exposure levels below US and major international safety limits. That said, there have been rather few standard risk studies involving mm-waves and probably none involving specific 5G waveforms. Given the anticipated widespread use of millimeter waves as 5G technology develops, this will undoubtedly be an area of considerable research in the future.

Kenneth R Foster, PhD
Professor, Department of Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania

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