5G health threats unfounded – CSIR

Anne 0 Comments May 2, 2024May 4, 2024 EMF-home-inspection

With concerns around fifth-generation (5G) technologies being raised by citizens across social media in recent months, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has put to bed the theories surrounding the new technologies’ deployment on human health. Over the past few months, discussions on whether 5G is harmful to citizens’ health have accelerated, leading to widespread fear that the new technology is causing the spread and mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as cancer, skin effects, electromagnetic hypersensitivity and male infertility.

However, many of these health threats are unfounded, based on pseudoscience, misinformation and fake news, said CSIR senior researcher Dr Essa Suleman.

Unpacking the myths surrounding 5G during a webinar, he explained that, based on the current available research, there is no evidence that 5G technologies pose health threats to humans.

“Many of the studies reporting alleged health effects associated with electromagnetic frequency (EMF) levels only observe possible negative effects when the levels are consistently higher than those emitted from 5G equipment and under very specific laboratory conditions.”

“There have been many different studies, some using animal models and some using human population level studies,” he noted, adding that that animal studies show possible carcinogenic effects, but at higher than normal EMF levels and under “very controlled laboratory conditions” which are not necessarily a reflection of real world conditions.

Human population level studies do not show strong correlation between EMF and cancer.

“However, as a precaution, despite the lack of evidence under real world conditions, I think further research is necessary, just to confirm that there is no significant threat to human health,” Suleman commented.

Meanwhile, he dismissed the conspiracy theories surrounding 5G and Covid-19, including that EMF radiation from 5G towers will weaken the immune system; that the roll-out of 5G technologies contributed to the spread and mutation of the Sars-CoV-2 virus; and that 5G chips will be included in the vaccines for governments to spy on and track citizens, besides others.

Suleman said these were false and that there is no correlation between 5G distribution and Covid-19 distribution, and there was no evidence to support any of the claims.

Further, CSIR chief researcher Dr Fisseha Mekuria said that wireless technology standards are highly regulated with checks and balances.

The CSIR, which has undertaken directed research on 5G technologies, assures that the number of checks and balances undertaken before a new technology is commercialised is significant to ensure that health is not compromised.

Health concerns are studied during the standardisation process of any new technology, with the technology also having to go through several research and development phases with innovation labs, universities, industry associations and regulators, besides others, before being peer-reviewed internationally and investigated and tested in depth at worldwide forums.

The long, extensive process is to ensure that all the checks and balances are in place and that any new technology is not harmful to any population before being commercialised.