Teorinfo ~ The fifth-generation cellular network, better known as 5G, has arrived. And like all new technologies, the arrival of 5G comes with concerns.
Especially the impact of 5G on the human body. Various conspiracy theories about 5G have started to spread. But what exactly is 5G? And is 5G entirely safe for the human body?
Before we discuss the health effects of 5G, it’s essential to understand what this 5G connection means. If you see a signal icon in the corner of your phone, you’ll also see the cellular network you’re using.
The network can be 2G, 3G, or 4G. But now there is a new standard. Namely, 5G. A 5G network can reach a maximum speed of up to 10GB per second in theory. Or 100 times faster than 4G.
2G to 5G cellular networks can be categorized as radiation. However, before you panic, please note that this radiation is not a dangerous type of radiation.
In general, radiation can be divided into 2 types, namely ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. The difference between these two types is the amount of energy they contain.
Ionization is the event of the release of electrons from the atom. Radiation of ionizing has so much energy that it can cause an ionization process. This is what causes chemical changes in the body, such as the destruction of biological structures.
Ionizing radiation, including ultraviolet radiation, x-ray radiation, and gamma radiation. Keep in mind, this radiation is only dangerous if the exposure is excessive.
That is why we always try to reduce our exposure to such ionizing radiation. While radio waves, microwaves and infrared waves are part of the non-ionizing radiation group.
The 2G to 5G bands are also part of this spectrum. Regarding the side effects of 5G on the human body, many studies have found that exposure to 5G can cause “warming up” in our body.
This is because non-ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to move atoms and cause heating. However, this heating is not too dangerous.
Now back to the first question. Is 5G safe? The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes 5G in category 2B, meaning it has a carcinogenic potential, and there is a possibility (though not sure) that 5G can cause cancer.
But wait, we need to understand that category 2B is considered a shallow risk. In fact, many of the things we use every day can fall into this category, like Coins and Coffee.
So this means 5G technology is totally safe, right? Not completely. The European Parliamentary Research Service (ERPS) states that electromagnetic waves between 10 GHz and 300 GHz should limit their energy density to avoid heating the tissues near the human body.
This is important because 5G cannot penetrate particular objects and only cover shorter distances than 4G. Thus, the source of 5G service providers must always be close to their users.
In the end, it’s important to remember that, as with any new innovation, we must consider whether the benefits that 5G provides are worth the possible risks.
In fact, now we all use the internet. Therefore, a lightning-fast Internet connection can improve the performance of all sectors in society.
