A single swallow flying above abstract waves and digital signals, symbolizing caution in interpreting a single 5G research finding.

Illustration generated by AI using OpenAI’s DALL·E — conceptual design by EMFSA, 2025.

Framing the Narrative: discredit opposition without addressing substance

“This work is a thorough rebuttal to the myths, misconceptions, and conspiracies surrounding 5G networks.”

This kind of framing risks delegitimizing even well-founded or scientifically grounded concerns by categorizing them alongside fringe views.

Loaded Language & Certainty Overreach

Examples:

“Our results show with great clarity…”
“Absolutely nothing”
“We hope to close this debate…”

These statements go well beyond cautious scientific language. In high-quality research reporting, especially in fields with public health implications, phrases like “with great clarity” or “close this debate” are red flags. Science rarely “closes debates” based on one study—especially in complex, emerging fields.

Backward logic

“We devised a comprehensive experimental setup… to close this debate.”

This reflects circular reasoning: the null result is used to retroactively justify the method, rather than the method standing independently of the outcome.

Clarifying 5G Frequency Ranges
It is misleading to present findings from studies on millimeter waves (mmWave) as representative of all 5G frequencies. In reality, 5G includes a wide range of frequencies, each with different coverage and potential biological effects.

Most countries use mid-band 5G, particularly n78 (3.5 GHz), due to its balance of speed and range. Low-band (e.g., 700 MHz, n28) supports broad coverage, especially in rural areas, while mmWave bands like n260 and n261 offer high speeds but remain limited due to short range and infrastructure needs.

Regions such as China and South Korea also use bands like n79 (4.9 GHz) and n257 (26 GHz) to boost capacity. The C-Band (n77/n78) is becoming the global standard for its practicality.

In light of this, studies that only examine mmWave exposures—such as those at 26 or 40 GHz—cannot be taken as definitive evidence for the safety of all 5G technologies. Broader investigation across commonly used mid- and low-band frequencies is essential for a more complete understanding of potential health effects.

Study Relevance (According to the Authors)

• The rollout of 5G technology and the planned use of even higher frequencies have raised public concerns, particularly about potential cancer risks and genetic effects.
  
• Previous studies investigating health effects of radiofrequency radiation have been criticized for:
  
  • Lack of blinded conditions,
    
  • Inadequate temperature control,
    
  • Limited transparency in statistical analysis.
    
• This study aimed to address those criticisms through a rigorously controlled experimental setup.
  
• The researchers exposed two types of human skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) to high-frequency electromagnetic fields under worst-case exposure conditions.
  
• According to the authors, no significant changes were found in gene expression or DNA methylation patterns after exposure.
  
• They suggest these findings may help reduce public uncertainty about 5G by providing “well-founded facts.”
  
• The authors also propose that their statistical approach could be useful in other fields where demonstrating the absence of a biological effect is important.

An independent take on key nuances to be aware of

• The exposure duration was either 2 or 48 hours, which may not reflect real-life chronic, long-term exposure.
  
• Cell cultures in petri dishes are not equivalent to whole human biology—this model lacks the complexity of real tissues and systems.
  
• Only two cell types were used, both from the skin, even though 5G signals (including other than mmwaves) can penetrate deeper or affect neurological and immune systems indirectly.
  

It’s worth noting that the study used penicillin-streptomycin in the culture media. Emerging research shows that antibiotics in mammalian cell cultures—especially streptomycin—can affect gene expression and epigenetic regulation. This could introduce subtle confounders—particularly in transcriptomic analyses—where even minor gene expression shifts can be misinterpreted. For more on this topic: Antibiotic Use in Mammalian Cell Cultures – EMFSA

BERENIS on RF-EMF, ICNIRP Guidelines, and the Precautionary Principle

BERENIS, the Swiss expert group on electromagnetic fields and non-ionising radiation, notes that evidence on health effects from RF-EMF in the millimetre wave (MMW) range (>5.8 GHz) remains limited and uncertain. Some studies suggest possible effects on learning and cellular stress, but data quality is poor and human or ecological studies are lacking. BERENIS recommends applying the precautionary principle and supports stricter guidelines for exposures above 6 GHz until more robust research is available.

This is an excerpt. Read the full statement here:
BERENIS – Swiss Expert Group on Electromagnetic Fields, Newsletter, May 2025. https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home/topics/electrosmog/beratende-expertengruppe-nis-berenis/newsletter-of-the-swiss-expert-group-on-electromagnetic-fields-a.html

One study does not settle the science—just as one swallow does not make a summer. As 5G deployment continues, rigorous multi-frequency, long-term studies—free from media hype—remain essential for public trust and scientific integrity.

Independent analysts such as Einar Flydal and Microwave News have also questioned the framing and interpretation of the study’s findings.

• How to Bluff with Research: Alexander Lerchl Rides Again – Einar Flydal https://einarflydal.com/2025/05/24/hvordan-bloffe-med-forskning-alexander-lerchl-rir-igjen
  
• Alexander Lerchl – Microwave News archive https://microwavenews.com/news-tags/alexander-lerchl

References

• 5G Bands by Country: A Global Guide to Frequency Allocations [2025] – OneSDR
  https://onesdr.com/5g-bands-by-country-a-global-guide-to-frequency-allocations
• 5G wireless signals were extensively tested and the final verdict is out on their human impact – Earth.com
  https://www.earth.com/news/5g-wireless-signals-are-finally-proven-to-be-completely-safe
• Even if 5G penetrates a few millimetres into the skin, it is safe – Cosmos Magazine
  https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/internet/5g-safe-gene-expression
• Jyoti Jyoti, Isabel Gronau, Eda Cakir, Marc-Thorsten Hütt, Alexander Lerchl, Vivian Meyer.
  5G-exposed human skin cells do not respond with altered gene expression and methylation profiles.
  PNAS Nexus, Volume 4, Issue 5, May 2025, pgaf127.
  https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf127
• Most Rigorous Study Of Human Cells Exposed To 5G Strikes Blow At Common Conspiracy Theory – IFLScience
  https://www.iflscience.com/what-happened-when-scientists-exposed-human-cells-to-5g-absolutely-nothing-79247
• Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G to See What Would Happen – Gizmodo
  https://gizmodo.com/scientists-blasted-human-cells-with-5g-to-see-what-would-happen-20006025
• Study debunks 5G health conspiracy theory (again) – Popular Science
  https://www.popsci.com/health/5g-conspiracy-theory-debunk
• Take off your tinfoil hat: Exposure to 5G doesn’t alter your genes, new study finds – Android Authority
  https://www.androidauthority.com/5g-study-human-cells-3558167
• Stay calm & keep scrolling: New Constructor University study finds no evidence of cell damage from 5G (Constructor University press release)
  https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2025/05/14/stay-calm-keep-scrolling-new-constructor-university-study-finds-no-evidence-of-cell-damage-from-5g?groupcolor=1
• Constructor University Facebook Reel – “It is safe to use 5G…”
  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1115881970554429
• Constructor University on Instagram –
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJmCssECUPq/

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“The new technology uses higher-frequency waves than the current 4G”

 “5G uses short-range frequencies and is powered by a new technology called millimetre waves (mmWave).”

NOT ALWAYS!

•5G is not automatically deployed using high frequencies.

•5G can be deployed using low, mid and high bands.

•Telecommunication companies will use what they can for their purpose, especially when more bandwidth becomes available as older generations (2G; 3G) of telecommunication services are decommissioned. 

Lower frequencies have the advantage of traveling further and are not so easily blocked by obstacles.

The post The accuracy of statements about 5G: Part 1 appeared first on EMFSA.

Wei Jiang, Hans Dieter Schotten

The fifth-generation (5G) mobile system is now being deployed across the world and the scale of 5G subscribers is growing quickly in many countries. The attention of academia and industry is increasingly shifting towards the sixth generation (6G) and many pioneering works are being kicked off, indicating an important milestone in the history of 6G. At this juncture, an overview of the current state of the art of 6G research and a vision of future communications are of great interest. This paper thus investigates up-to-date 6G research programs, ambitions, and main viewpoints of representative countries, institutions, and companies worldwide. Then, the key technologies are outlined and a vision on “What 6G may look like?” is provided. This paper aims to serve as an enlightening guideline for interested researchers to quickly get an overview when kicking off their 6G research.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.10779

The post The KICK-OFF of 6G Research Worldwide: An Overview appeared first on EMFSA.

A full analysis of the many factual errors, dubious claims and non sequiturs in this paper would be a big job. We comment on a few specific errors, and defer the longer discussion needed to address his biophysical theories. Errors include elementary mistakes in electromagnetics.

The letter is available from:

Foster, Kenneth R. and Balzano, Quirino. “Comments on Martin Pall, “Millimeter (MM) wave and microwave frequency radiation produce deeply penetrating effects: the biology and the physics”, Rev Environ Health, Published online May 26, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2020-0165” Reviews on Environmental Health, vol. , no. , 2021, pp. 000010151520210086. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0086

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According to OpenSignal, the average mobile user in the US today connects to a millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G network less than 1% of the time. That figure is true for Verizon, which has positioned mmWave 5G at the center of its “ultra wideband” nationwide marketing message for years, as well as T-Mobile, which has made barely a mention of mmWave 5G.

Indeed, the difference between the two companies’ mmWave 5G efforts sounds like a rounding error: According to OpenSignal, Verizon customers connect to a mmWave 5G network 0.7% of the time, while T-Mobile customers connect to a mmWave 5G network 0.2% of the time.

Snippet

OpenSignal obtains its data from software installed in more than 100 million phones around the globe, which send back anonymized usage data to the company on a daily basis. OpenSignal’s latest mmWave 5G report features data collected from March to June, 2021.

“The lie of millimeter wave is dead,” agreed the financial analysts at New Street Research after hearing of Verizon’s latest mmWave buildout targets. After all, a Google study from 2019 indicated it would take roughly 13 million transmitters and $400 billion to deliver 100Mbit/s to 72% of the US population using 5G in mmWave spectrum.

Regardless, mmWave proponents march ever onwards. “The global deployment of 5G mmWave is now inevitable,” proclaimed Qualcomm’s new CEO, Cristiano Amon, in a recent release touting international momentum behind mmWave 5G. Qualcomm hopes to profit from the sale of mmWave chipsets to smartphone makers globally.

Most industry observers believe operations in mmWave spectrum will eventually find a place within a bigger 5G network. For example, mmWave 5G might never cover a standard American neighborhood, but it might be widely available in destinations like restaurants or offices.

But that kind of coverage likely will require new technologies that dramatically cut down the cost of mmWave deployments. And in the meantime, expect most mobile users in the US to remain connected to 5G on lowband and midband spectrum, leaving mmWave connections for an occasional trip to the airport or a football game.

For the full article please see https://www.lightreading.com/5g/the-age-of-mmwave-5g-sputters-to-dusty-death/a/d-id/770838

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Matt Kapko | EditorFebruary 21, 2021 3:00 PM

The introduction of millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum for 5G networks presents network operators with a unique, and in many cases, first of its kind assortment of challenges and opportunities.

The vast majority of 5G deployments to date ride on mid- or low-band spectrum, but the dramatic gains that mmWave spectrum can deliver in speed, capacity, and lower latency are without compare in the context of mobile architecture.

However, the costs operators will have to endure to deploy robust and reliable 5G mmWave networks are massive. And therein lies the rub. At least until equipment, and specialized use cases can help offset those costs.

Much of the early hype around 5G focused on mmWave because executives could point to gigabit-plus speeds, lower latency, and fantastical use cases, but the economics don’t bear out and are unlikely to until later this decade.

Read more at: https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/sizing-up-the-gains-pains-of-5g-mmwave/2021/02/

The post Sizing Up the Gains, Pains of 5G mmWave appeared first on EMFSA.

Speculation linking 5G mobile telephony and data networks to a range of health threats, has been rife. Some claims even go to the extent of attributing the current COVID-19 pandemic to the initial rollouts of 5G networks. Unfortunately, a lot of opinions aired do not come with a high degree of credibility and amount to no more than flights of fancy. Some of them even claim that there is no virus and that all the health effects are caused by 5G.

Read more at: https://www.csir.co.za/documents/5g-technical-articlepdf

CONTACT PERSON

Dr Moshe Masonta

mmasonta@csir.co.za

RELATED INFORMATION

https://www.csir.co.za/nextgen-enterprises-and-institutions

https://www.csir.co.za/nextgen-health

The post CSIR: AN ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS REGARDING HEALTH EFFECTS OF 5G MOBILE TELEPHONY NETWORKS appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

The introduction of the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication will increase the number of high-frequency-powered base stations and other devices. The question is if such higher frequencies (in this review, 6–100 GHz, millimeter waves, MMW) can have a health impact. This review analyzed 94 relevant publications performing in vivo or in vitro investigations. Each study was characterized for: study type (in vivo, in vitro), biological material (species, cell type, etc.), biological endpoint, exposure (frequency, exposure duration, power density), results, and certain quality criteria. Eighty percent of the in vivo studies showed responses to exposure, while 58% of the in vitro studies demonstrated effects. The responses affected all biological endpoints studied. There was no consistent relationship between power density, exposure duration, or frequency, and exposure effects. The available studies do not provide adequate and sufficient information for a meaningful safety assessment, or for the question about non-thermal effects. There is a need for research regarding local heat developments on small surfaces, e.g., skin or the eye, and on any environmental impact. Our quality analysis shows that for future studies to be useful for safety assessment, design and implementation need to be significantly improved.

The post 5G Wireless Communication and Health Effects—A Pragmatic Review Based on Available Studies Regarding 6 to 100 GHz appeared first on EMFSA.

Comment by EMFSA:

The transition to 5G is no different than the transition from 3G to 4G in as much as the earlier technology will be heavily relied upon as a backup to the new technology. 4G will still be around at least until the late 2020’s as a backup to 5G.

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