5G networks promise faster speeds and seamless connectivity. But a new study from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) suggests that under certain conditions, specifically when uploading data in rural areas, users’ exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) can be nearly twice that of urban dwellers.
The research highlights a phenomenon many people might find counterintuitive: less dense infrastructure can mean higher personal exposure because your phone “works harder” to maintain a solid connection.
The Key Takeaway: Rural 5G Uploads Mean Higher Exposure
- Higher Than Expected: In rural areas, researchers found an average of 29 milliwatts-per-square-meter (mW/sq-m) of RF-EMF exposure when devices were uploading data.
- Tripled WHO Threshold: The World Health Organization’s recommended safety threshold is about 10 mW/sq-m for this type of radiation—making the rural average roughly three times higher.
- Urban vs. Rural: Urban upload scenarios measured around 16 mW/sq-m, significantly lower than rural readings, despite cities typically having more base stations.
Why Is This Surprising?
Most people assume dense urban environments with numerous cell towers would deliver higher overall exposure. The study, however, underscores that phone-generated emissions (as opposed to tower emissions) can surge in places with fewer towers. Your device essentially boosts its own signal to “reach” the network.
How the Study Worked: Methods and Measurements
- Field Data Collection: The Swiss TPH team wore backpacks equipped with portable RF-EMF meters plus a smartphone running specialized software.
- Locations: They compared two Swiss cities (Zurich and Basel) with three rural communities (Hergiswil, Willisau, and Dagmersellen).
- Experimental Scenarios:
- Flight Mode (Airplane Mode) – phone was mostly idle, so the backpack device mainly captured ambient tower emissions.
- Maximum Download – phone downloaded large files, triggering more focused signals (“beamforming”) from towers.
- Maximum Upload – phone uploaded data, forcing the phone itself to ramp up power output.
Noteworthy Detail: Phone Position
In these experiments, the phone was held about 30 cm (12 inches) away from the measuring device. In everyday use, phones are typically much closer to the body—pocket, purse, or hand—potentially multiplying personal exposure by up to 10 times compared to the study’s readings.
The “Rural Paradox”: Fewer Towers, More Emissions from Phones
- Lower Base Station Density: Rural 5G coverage often relies on fewer, more widely spaced cell sites.
- Phones “Work Overtime”: Because the phone must bridge a greater distance or pass through more obstacles, it increases its own power output, thereby boosting user-level radiation exposure.
According to Adriana Fernandes Veludo, the study’s lead author, “[when] base station density is low, the emission from mobile phones is by orders of magnitude higher,” leading to this “paradoxical consequence” that a user in rural settings faces more RF-EMF during uploads than someone in a city center.
How These Levels Compare to Safety Guidelines
- WHO Benchmark: About 10 mW/sq-m is frequently cited internationally. The study’s 29 mW/sq-m in rural upload scenarios exceeds that threshold.
- U.S. FCC Limits: America’s Federal Communications Commission sets the maximum permitted exposure at a far higher level: 10,000 mW/sq-m—vastly above both the WHO guideline and the Swiss TPH findings.
- European vs. U.S. Approach: This highlights a significant discrepancy between European and U.S. regulatory stances on what constitutes “safe” radiation levels.
The Other Tests: Download Mode and “Ambient” Exposure
While the big news focused on rural uploads, the researchers also examined two other scenarios:
- Ambient (Flight Mode): Rural areas here showed lower background levels (about 0.17 mW/sq-m) compared to urban business districts (about 0.48 mW/sq-m). City environments had more ambient signals from multiple nearby towers.
- Maximum Download: Cities recorded slightly higher exposures (about 6–7 mW/sq-m) than rural locales, owing in part to 5G’s “beamforming” technology, which directs and intensifies signals to specific user devices.
Key Point: The phone’s role in generating the higher exposure for uploads stands out, reinforcing that a phone in a low-coverage area is often the primary source of a user’s RF-EMF exposure.
Implications and Cautions
- Real-World Use: This study offers a snapshot of actual user exposure in various environments, not just theoretical lab tests.
- Possible Underestimation: By measuring phone emissions a foot away from the body, the research may understate real exposures for typical phone holders.
- Rural Connectivity Concerns: As 5G expands, rural areas could face increased personal exposure if tower density remains sparse.
- Health Risk Debate: While the study didn’t weigh in on health outcomes directly—like cancer or neurological effects—it does provide valuable data on how 5G usage patterns can impact radiation levels in day-to-day life.
Addressing Misinformation and Conspiracies
- 5G Myths: There have been wild conspiracy theories linking 5G to everything from COVID-19 to mind control. This study doesn’t validate such claims. Instead, it offers empirical measurements.
- Legitimate Questions: Even absent conspiracies, there are ongoing scientific discussions about non-thermal effects, long-term chronic exposure, and updated safety guidelines—particularly outside the thermal-only lens used by some regulators.
Conclusion: What Comes Next?
More Research
Fernandes Veludo’s team plans additional measurements in nine other European nations over the next three years, aiming to paint a clearer picture of how 5G exposure evolves in varying environments.
Public Awareness
The findings underscore a key lesson: where there’s weaker coverage, your phone typically emits more radiation to maintain a strong connection. Understanding this can inform personal habits—like using Wi-Fi for large uploads when possible or being mindful of device proximity to the body.
Regulatory Perspective
With 5G networks still rolling out globally, agencies may need to re-evaluate how they set and enforce exposure guidelines. The massive gulf between WHO recommendations (10 mW/sq-m) and the U.S. FCC limit (10,000 mW/sq-m) is likely to spark more debate.
Key Takeaways
- Rural Uploading Hazards
- 5G users uploading videos or photos in rural areas experienced nearly double the exposure compared to city users, mainly due to their phones boosting signal output.
- Higher Than WHO Recommendations
- Recorded peak exposures reached 29 mW/sq-m, exceeding the WHO’s 10 mW/sq-m guideline but well below the FCC’s exceptionally high U.S. limit of 10,000 mW/sq-m.
- Phone Placement Matters
- Because the study device was 30 cm from the phone, real-life exposures could be 10 times higher when holding the phone close to your head or body.
- More Science Needed
- While the study doesn’t claim imminent health risks, it adds essential data on how real-world 5G usage can influence radiation levels—and highlights the need for further monitoring and research.
- Rural Paradox
- Fewer base stations mean more phone power output, which can paradoxically result in higher individual exposure outside urban centers.
Final Word
The Swiss TPH findings don’t conclude that 5G is unsafe. They do, however, emphasize how and why radiation levels can spike in certain contexts—particularly rural uploading—and invite a cautious, informed approach to adopting next-gen wireless tech. As 5G continues rolling out, understanding these nuances will be crucial for both public health policy and everyday phone use.