India is expected to start 5G internet service by 2020 next year. 5G technology is gradually spreading its wings all over the world. 4G internet speed is now proving insufficient due to the increasing use of video streaming and online gaming on smartphones. Meanwhile, both mobile companies and consumers are excited about 5G technology, health experts seem a little worried about it.
5G i.e. Fifth Generation is claiming:
- mobile technology
- fast internet browsing
- high speed downloading
- good connectivity
But some scientists have different opinions about the electromagnetic radiation spread by this technology and its effect on our health.
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Why are phone signals considered dangerous?
You will often hear that 'radiation' spreads from the mobile tower. But do you know what radiation is? Radiation is the energy emitted from any source. Continuous heat released from our body is radiation too. However, some radiation can prove to be dangerous for health, such as, it increases the risk of cancer.
Continued exposure to radiation
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The radiation through 3G and 4G mobiles have low frequency and high wavelength. This radiation does not have enough energy to damage the DNA of humans. At the same time, some scientists believe that 5G radiation will not directly damage our DNA, but it is likely by some other biological actions. For example, continuous exposure to 5G radiation can lead to increased oxidative stress in the body, which can lead to:
- inflammation and cancer
- diabetes
- cardiovascular disease
- neurological problems
Electromagnetic radiation affects health
In 2011, 30 international scientists working with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) attempted to find out how much the radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMFs) are at risk of causing cancer. The study was published in the journal The Lancet Oncology. The study found that prolonged exposure to RF-EMFs may increase the risk of a particular cancer of the central nervous system, known as 'glioma'. Besides, some other studies suggest that it may also increase the risk of acoustic neuroma. More than 40 experiments were conducted on mice for this study.
World Health Organization (WHO)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Health problems have not been revealed to any person due to exposure to radiofrequency so far. But scientists are constantly researching onthis."
Overall, in the absence of adequate research, it is difficult to say how 5G technology will affect humans. But scientists are unanimous that the lesser the exposure to radiation, the better it is for health. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off the mobile at bedtime and to keep the mobile data off if not necessary.
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