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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• A French research project: 5G RFR (26 GHz) and co-exposures with nanoparticles (PCC-NPs) in personal care/cosmetic products

Background

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has selected 45 research projects which will receive funding amounting to a total of €7.41 million. This research seeks to provide new knowledge on environmental risks to human health in the general or occupational populations, as well as on risks to ecosystems.

The research projects include five on 5G deployment and two on assessing the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/pnr-est-projects-selected-2023?fbclid=IwAR118efqiWEDz0pi20p6kBQOYCkUX25TmwkGNSCp5sExPbG3FlQB1rzHaZE

5G-5-CARA: for a full summary of this research project, please see:

Page 7-9

https://www.anses.fr/en/system/files/APR2023-Recueil-des-resumes-projets-retenus.pdf

The aim is to assess the potential health risks upon exposure to 5G radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (5G-EMF) 

• In the 26GHz band alone,
•  and in combination with  nanoparticles derived from personal care/cosmetic products

Why 26GHz?

The higher the frequency, the less penetration into tissues and organs.

As a consequence of the weaker penetration, studies of effects and potential risks are more focused on human skin, eyes and nerve endings.

Nanoparticles

Nowadays nanoparticles are ubiquitous in different kinds of personal skin care products, such as deodorants, creams, sunscreens.

In addition to the possible local enhancement of nearfield induced by exposure to 5G EMF in the vicinity of nanoparticles, PCC-NPs may induce oxidative stress, trigger redox reactions, and cause premature aging or other potentially harmful biological effects, which have not yet been studied.

• An Iranian study: Indirect effects of interference of two emerging environmental contaminants on cell health: Radiofrequency radiation and gold nanoparticles

In this study the authors investigated the Bystander Effect (BE)  induced by RFR in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNP). 

The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was also studied.

The results for the first time indicated that RFR induces indirect effects in the presence of GNP. However, the molecular mediators of these effects differ from those in the absence of GNP. The authors state that, to their knowledge, this is the first study to show that COX-2 is not involved in the bystander effect induced by 900 MHz RFR.

Reference: Najmeh Jooyan, Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi, Bahram Goliaei, Reza Faraji-Dana, Indirect effects of interference of two emerging environmental contaminants on cell health: Radiofrequency radiation and gold nanoparticles, Chemosphere, Volume 349, 2024, 140942, ISSN 0045-6535, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140942. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653523032125?via%3Dihub

• General note about gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have now been used in skin care creams for several years, with marketed anti-aging, moisturizing, and regenerative properties. Information on the harmful effects of these nanoparticles is lacking, a concern for the use of AuNPs as cosmetic ingredients. Reference: Majerič P, Jović Z, Švarc T, Jelen Ž, Horvat A, Koruga D, Rudolf R. Physicochemical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles for Skin Care Creams. Materials (Basel). 2023 Apr 11;16(8):3011. doi: 10.3390/ma16083011. PMID: 37109847; PMCID: PMC10144145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37109847/

• Cumulative effects of manganese nanoparticle and radiofrequency radiation in male Wistar rats

 In this study, adult male Wistar rats were exposed to manganese nanoparticles (MNPs) and mobile phone radiation for 45 days and their separate, as well as cumulative impact, was investigated.

The effect of the MNPs and RFR on liver, kidney, and reproductive parameters were studied. Histopathology as well as liver and kidney parameters were altered when exposed to MNPs and RFR separately. However, their combined treatment did not show a synergistic toxic response in liver and kidney functions.

MNPs and RFR both caused a highly significant decrease in sperm count, which further decreased in the combined treatment (MNPs + RFR). These results indicate that the combined treatment of these stressors can have an additive toxic response to the male reproductive system.

Reference: Sonali Pardhiya, Usha Singh Gaharwar, Rohit Gautam, Eepsita Priyadarshini, Jay Prakash Nirala & Paulraj Rajamani (2022) Cumulative effects of manganese nanoparticle and radiofrequency radiation in male Wistar rats, Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 45:3, 1395-1407, DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2020.1833905

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Surprisingly little is known about the long-term health effects of tattooing, which has become a global trend in recent decades. Tattoos are often considered an artistic form of self-expression, but from a scientific perspective, tattooing can be defined as the intradermal injection of poorly soluble inorganic and/or organic colour pigments diluted in a carrier liquid. Despite attempts to control the ingredients used in the manufacture of inks at the national and international level, the resulting chemical mixtures often have hazardous toxicological profiles and may contain substances classified by the IARC Monographs programme as carcinogenic (Group 1), probably carcinogenic (Group 2A), or possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) to humans upon dermal and respiratory exposure. Because most of the pigment particles, which are often nanoparticle-sized, will eventually be transported from the dermis to adjacent draining lymph nodes, exposure to tattoo ink may be systemic rather than locally confined. Therefore, potential systemic health effects of tattoos are not limited to the dermis but could include various types of lymphoma, as well as cancers of the kidney, bladder, and liver.

This website presents the latest research stream from the Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch at IARC on the potential long-term health effects of tattooing.

https://tattoo.iarc.who.int/

The post Research on Potential Long-Term Health Effects of Tattooing appeared first on EMFSA.

https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36897-4/fulltext

The post An Unexpected Role: UVA-Induced Release of Nitric Oxide from Skin May Have Unexpected Health Benefits appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

In the last decade, it has been proposed that the sun’s IR-A wavelengths might be deleterious to human skin and that sunscreens, in addition to their desired effect to protect against UV-B and UV-A, should also protect against IR-A (and perhaps even visible light). Several studies showed that NIR may damage skin collagen content via an increase inMMP-1 activity in the same manner as is known for UVR. Unfortunately, the artificial NIR light sources used in such studies were not representative of the solar irradiance. Yet, little has been said about the other side of the coin. This article will focus on key information suggesting that IR-A may be more beneficial than deleterious when the skin is exposed to the appropriate irradiance/dose of IR-A radiation similar to daily sun exposure received by people in real life.IR-A might even precondition the skin–a process called photo prevention–from an evolutionary standpoint since exposure to early morning IR-A wavelengths in sunlight may ready the skin for the coming mid-day deleterious UVR. Consequently IR-A appears to be the solution, not the problem. It does more good than bad for the skin. It is essentially a question of intensity and how we can learn from the sun. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26745730/

The post Infrared and skin: Friend or foe appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

Background

Following the inception of video games and the subsequent development of progressive innovations in videogame technology, many reports of videogame-related dermatologic conditions soon emerged in literature. Children and adolescents, in particular, are among the most avid consumers of online digital entertainment.

In an effort to better detail the impacts of these cutaneous manifestations and provide recommendations for injury prevention as it relates to video games, we performed an extensive systems-based literature review pertaining to the clinical features, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of reported cases of dermatoses resulting from the misuse of video games.

Results

A literature review using PubMed, SCOPUS, Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed. Hardware implicated in the reported cases include video games consoles, personal computers, laptop computers, mobile phones and tablets. The dermatologic conditions are primarily localized to the extremities, particularly the palms and fingers. The majority are associated with repetitive friction and trauma, as well as allergic contact sensitivities. For all cutaneous manifestations induced by video gaming, early recognition and removal of the offending agent was most often described as effective in symptom resolution.

Conclusions

The universal use and pervasive popularity of video games for recreational purposes present an emerging dermatological concern. As videogames become increasingly advanced and immersive, various cutaneous conditions arising from intensive gaming will likely become common over time. Consequently, it is critical that dermatologists consider video games with a high index of suspicion when encountering dermatological ailments in underage patients engaging in persistent gaming behavior.

Extract

2. Conclusions

With the technological revolution, games have spatially shifted from the real-world arena to virtual world web, with adolescents being among the most avid consumers. Although playing video games is one of the most popular leisure activities in the world, there has been considerable debate about the influence of gaming that may continue without a clear consensus in the foreseeable future. The untimely and daily use of video games can be responsible for a certain number of organic pathologies, including benign and reversible dermatoses. For all cutaneous manifestations induced by modern-age sources, cessation of use is a sensible and often most effective treatment.

It seems apparent that this field would benefit greatly from validated measures that quantify or categorize the types of cutaneous manifestations being activated by different games and game types as well as research studying longitudinal negative cutaneous consequences of video gaming. Moreover, evidence is needed on excessive play and on defining what constitutes excess in the first place. Raising the level of awareness may encourage the video game industry to alter the structure of video-game-related devices and make it finger and thumb safe. The consumers also need to be thoroughly educated about the potential negative impact of excessive video gaming. Perhaps it is time to disconnect.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352646719301541?via%3Dihub

The post Skin in the game: Video-game–related cutaneous pathologies in adolescents appeared first on EMFSA.

One has to be SPECIFIC about the frequencies when discussing 5G.

5G is a technology, or to be more accurate, a mixture of technologies. It can, and is transmitted at frequencies [bandwidths] previously occupied by earlier technologies.

Therefore the common mistake to automatically assume that 5G is millimeter waves is wrong.

Millimeter waves do help to speed things up somewhat, but do not have the range or penetration power of the lower frequency technologies.

5G in the mid band [3.5GHz centimeter waves] will penetrate deeper into body tissue whereas 5G,  band  [26-28GHz, and above, mm waves ] will not penetrate much deeper than the skin. However, we do have concerns about millimeter waves and the skin:

Mid- and low-bands for coverage and capacity

Low-bands (e.g. sub-1 GHz) support widespread coverage, including indoors, across urban, suburban and rural areas, while mid-band spectrum offer a good mixture of coverage and capacity benefits.

The majority of commercial 5G networks are relying on spectrum in the 3.5 GHz range (3.3 GHz-4.2 GHz). This momentum makes it vital that regulators assign as much contiguous 5G spectrum as possible in the range.

In the long term, more spectrum will be needed to maintain 5G quality of service and meet growing demand. This includes more spectrum in the 3.5 GHz, 4.8 GHz, 6 GHz and 10 GHz ranges which will all be considered at WRC-23.

GSMA – 5G spectrum in the millimeter waves

Pioneering ultra-high speeds and the lowest latencies are dependent on access to spectrum in the latter range. Real-world networks have already shown gigabit speeds are possible, and vendor trials are hinging at an even greater potential.

For 26 GHz and 40 GHz, the global identifications WRC-19 give the bands a big boost. Regulators can now assign mmWave spectrum knowing there will be an ecosystem in place. The 28 GHz is already used in commercial networks, with a growing number of devices.

Source: The GSMA at WRC-23 https://www.gsma.com/spectrum/wrc-series/

The post A common error when discussing 5G appeared first on EMFSA.

(Auto-translated from French) https://tinyurl.com/brhx5ukx

Technological developments and the multiplication of digital uses are modifying the exposure of the population to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. With the deployment of 5G, new frequency bands are being (3.5 GHz band), or will soon be used (26 GHz band). In line with its research on radiofrequencies and health, and on the basis of the scientific data available to date, ANSES considers it unlikely that the deployment of 5G in the 3.5 GHz frequency band will present a new health risk. For the 26 GHz frequency band, the data are not, at present, sufficient to conclude on the existence or not of health effects. As knowledge of the links between exposure and health effects needs to be strengthened, ANSES stresses the need for further research, and in particular, to monitor changes in the exposure of populations as the number of antennas changes and the use of networks increases. On April 20, 2021, the Agency is launching a public consultation in order to gather possible comments from the scientific community and interested stakeholders.

5G: new 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands to allow higher speeds and communications between more connected objects

The major difference between 5G and previous generation mobile networks is the much larger amount of data that should be able to be exchanged without network congestion. This new technology aims to promote the development of innovative services and new uses, both for individuals and businesses in multiple areas: virtual reality, transport, urban connections, industry, telemedicine, online education.

Beyond the exploitation of the frequency bands already used by other mobile technologies, 5G now uses the 3.5 GHz band for coverage in large geographical areas , allocated to the four mobile operators at the end of 2020. The 26 GHz band will complete the network in the next few years, particularly for communication between connected objects.

Deployment of 5G in the 700 MHz-2.1 GHz frequency band largely covered by previous ANSES research

To date, operators have mainly deployed 5G in the 700 MHz – 2.1 GHz band. This band includes frequencies used for several years by the current generations of mobile communication, 2G, 3G and 4G.  

Previous work carried out by ANSES on the effects linked to exposure to electromagnetic waves in the radiofrequency range indicates that there is currently no proof of a health effect linked to electromagnetic fields sources corresponding to current digital uses. The examination of possible effects, such as the development of cancer, impaired brain function or fertility, however, continues to be the subject of research and evaluation.

For exposure levels, studies carried out internationally and by the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) show that they vary little with antennas emitting 3G, 4G or 5G signals.

Deployment of 5G in the 3.5 GHz band: new health risks unlikely

The 5G mobile telephone network in the frequency band around 3.5 GHz has recently been commercially opened in France. The resulting exposure to electromagnetic fields today is not representative of what it will be in the future.

Due to the lack of scientific data concerning possible effects at this frequency, ANSES has carried out additional investigations to identify whether exposure to different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation causes the appearance of different biological effects or in modulus. intensity. A rigorous extrapolation of the results of scientific studies carried out at different frequencies to draw conclusions about the possible effects in the frequency band around 3.5 GHz was not considered feasible by the experts.  

In addition, the available data relating to exposure, particularly abroad and in studies carried out by ANFR in connection with the experiments, do not suggest, in the state of knowledge, a significant increase in exposure. exposure of the population.

In view of these elements, the Agency considers it unlikely that the deployment of 5G in the frequency band around 3.5 GHz currently poses new health risks.

Exposure to the frequency band around 26 GHz: exposures concerns the superficial layers of the organism and of a probably low level, but insufficient data to conclude whether or not a risk to health exists.

As the deployment of 5G applications in the frequency band around 26 GHz is still in the planning stages, no exposure data is currently available.

ANSES considered a widened frequency band, from 18 to 100 GHz, for which the depth of penetration of the waves is similar, to investigate the possible effects on health described in the available scientific literature. This mainly studied the effects on the skin, the eye, the membranes, the central nervous system and cells from various human or animal tissues (skin, neurons, cornea, etc.).

ANSES sought to assess the probable exposure in the 26 GHz band: it differs from other frequency bands by a much smaller depth of penetration of the waves into the body, of the order of a millimeter, exposing surface layers of the skin or eye. The available simulations suggest low exposure levels .

However, at present, the data are not sufficient to conclude whether or not there are health effects linked to exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 26 GHz band.

A need to continue producing new data and knowledge

As knowledge of the links between exposure and health effects needs to be strengthened, ANSES stresses the need for further research. Indeed, the Agency’s experts recommend characterizing the exposures and deepening our knowledge of the links between exposure and biological or health effects for new frequencies, including experimental studies. Work on 5G has led to the identification of the need to take into account new points of attention (eg signal intermittence or surface layer exposure for the 26 GHz band). It will also be particularly important to monitor the evolution of exposure as the antenna base expands and the use of networks increases.

A public consultation of the Agency’s work until June 1, 2021

In view of the societal interest in the subject and the possible rapid emergence of new data in connection with the current deployment of 5G, the Agency is launching a public consultation on April 20, 2021 in order to collect any comments from the scientific community. and interested stakeholders. A completed report and opinion, if applicable, will be published after taking into account the comments received during this consultation, which begins today for a period of 6 weeks.

The post ANSES, 5G: health risks around 3.5 GHz unlikely (in view of the available data). For 26 GHz, currently insufficient data. appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract 

As the skin is the largest body organ and critically serves as a barrier, it is frequently exposed and could be physiologically affected by radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. In this study, we found that 1760 MHz RF-EMF (4.0 W/kg specific absorption rate for 2 h/day during 4 days) exposure could induce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HaCaT human keratinocytes using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate fluorescent probe analysis. However, cell growth and viability were unaffected by RF-EMF exposure. Since oxidative stress in the skin greatly influences the skin-aging process, we analyzed the skin senescence-related factors activated by ROS generation. Matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3, and 7 (MMP1, MMP3, and MMP7), the main skin wrinkle-related proteins, were significantly increased in HaCaT cells after RF-EMF exposure. Additionally, the gelatinolytic activities of secreted MMP2 and MMP9 were also increased by RF-EMF exposure. FoxO3a (Ser318/321) and ERK1/2 (Thr 202/Tyr 204) phosphorylation levels were significantly increased by RF-EMF exposure. However, Bcl2 and Bax expression levels were not significantly changed, indicating that the apoptotic pathway was not activated in keratinocytes following RF-EMF exposure. In summary, our findings show that exposure to 1760 MHz RF-EMF induces ROS generation, leading to MMP activation and FoxO3a and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These data suggest that RF-EMF exposure induces cellular senescence of skin cells through ROS induction in HaCaT human keratinocytes.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87263-2

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https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2021/03/22/arpansas-misinformation-guest-blog-by-victor-leach-of-orsaa/

Posted on March 22, 2021

Below is the next in a series of Guest Blogs on BRHP. The opinions expressed in this Guest Blog are of Victor Leach of ORSAA himself. Publication of these opinions in BRHP does not imply that BRHP automatically agrees with or endorses these opinions. Publication of this, and other guest blogs, facilitates an open debate and free exchange of opinions on wireless technology and health.

On March 17, 2021, ARPANSA heralded the publication of “World-first reviews into 5G radio waves”.

ARPANSA was mistaken, as I commented in my blog.

Guest Blog on ARPANSA’s unfounded claims

by Victor Leach of ORSAA

What can I say about these two latest papers that are the work of Dr Ken Karipidis (ARPANSA) and Prof. Andrew Wood from Swinburne University? I too am a product of education at Swinburne Technical College Junior school where my love of science began  and I also once worked for ARPANSA when it was called the Australian Radiation Laboratory.  However, my understanding of the science of radiation protection and the setting of health standards are quite different.

This is also not the first time that I have called out Karipidis and Wood with respect to their poor-quality publications of the past relating to WiFi in schools and reports like TRS-164. but this really takes scientific misinformation to a new high.  ARPANSA declares  “5G is safe, look at Airport RF scanners” but a 10 second security scan at an airport is hardly comparable to 24/7 exposure of the public to mmWaves on an ongoing basis. True, people are not dropping dead after having a scan but this only validates that an acute exposure impact is not directly killing people immediately. Accumulated exposures, cellular damage and subsequent diseases such as cancer develop over years.

For most lay persons the science can appear to be very complicated. They want a simple message and ARPANSA provides that message but is it the right message?  When I read this statement from the abstract “This Review also included 31 epidemiological studies that investigated exposure to radar, which uses RF fields above 6 GHz similar to 5 G.”, most readers would blindly think this is an okay statement, except while it may be true that the carrier frequencies are in the same GHz range or mmWaves range this 5G wireless radiation characteristics are nothing like radar. So again, we have misinformation at work here. This is because 5G is embedded with Gigabits of low-frequency data referred to as modulations and this makes it a completely different physical agent. In fact, the US Airforce has studied the propagation of these waves in tissue and have warned that the wave front may travel much deeper in tissue. This is called the Brillouin Precursor.  Again, this casts doubt over the degree of applicability of the ICNIRP heat modelling approach which has not been resolved to any degree of certainty.This modelling treats skin as an inert substrata. Skin tissue is not just a wet sponge. The problems with treating skin as just an overcoat, as Dariusz has stated in his excellent article  , is a problem and more research is needed if we are going to blanket the earth with mmWaves. The problem with treating skin as just an overcoat or a wet sponge as ICNIRP do in their assessment of the health effects of millimetre waves is they ignore that skin is part of a whole-body biological system. The ICRP critical organ approach is lost on ICNIRP and ARPANSA because ICNIRP lacks medical representation and is too closely aligned to the telecommunication industry. Skin as an organ is rich in nerves and is the body’s first defence from chemical or mechanical exposures. The skin has receptors that carry out abundant innervation associated with the central nervous system. Skin innervation is carried out by both branches of the cerebrospinal nerves and nerves of the autonomic nervous system. Skin is rich in protective bacteria.

One example of many includes the production of vitamin D in a chemical reaction that occurs when sunlight hits the skin.  Ultra -Violet (UV) another form of non-ionising radiation is used to make Vitamin D that our bodies need for health. Is this man-made 5G radiation going to change Vitamin D production?  We don’t know because nobody has studied this. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium so that blood calcium levels are at the ideal point. This helps enable the mineralization of bone that is required for strong, healthy bones.  Low Vitamin D makes an individual more prone to infections and illness, cardiovascular disease and mental illnesses, including mood disorders like depression. Skin plays an important and integral role in our immune, waste management and endocrine systems.

The biological impact of 5G is not being addressed by these papers that relegate most of the research of super-high-frequencies or mmWaves to the dust-bin because of claims of methodological limitations.

We have not done enough research to blanket the earth with this man-made radiation with little regard for life on this planet.

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