The Opportunities and Threats of 5G Technology: An Area of Highly Politicized Science

Over the past two decades, my colleagues and I have studied the adverse health effects ofexposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Recently, we have focused onpossible threats associated with 5G technology that is currently in use in some countries.Despite lack of widespread use, introducing this new technology has raised growing globalconcerns regarding its potential detrimental health effects. While 5G, like 3G or 4G, usesradiofrequency radiation, the frequencies are usually much higher that leads to very limitedpenetration. Regarding potential hazards of 5G technology, there were two different theoriesabout its adverse health effects on human skin (risks such as increased skin cancer rate, breastcancer, and premature skin aging). The first theory considers sweat ducts as helical antennaswhile the second one focuses on the formation of standing waves between strata. As thesetheories are valid only when the wavelength of radiofrequency radiation lies within a specificrange, the proposed effects cannot be extrapolated to the whole frequency band of 5G. Basedon our studies, we recently proposed a new theory that is based on the density of reactiveoxygen species (ROS/cell). According to our theory, 5G RF-EMF can behave like high LETionizing radiations which have the maximum energy deposition per unit distance. Given thisconsideration, the low penetration and very high energy deposition per unit distance of 5Glead it to the generation of high levels of free radicals in a short distance (cells within a fewmm from the skin surface). Therefore, the high density of ROS, in turn, can increase the riskof skin cancer, premature skin again, and cornea diseases. Furthermore, substantial evidencethat shows 5G Technology is highly politicized will be provided. Finally, the cost-benefitanalysis, and the opportunities and threats of this technology will be discussed.