The advent of 5G technology has introduced new frequencies into our daily lives, particularly in the millimeter-wave (MMW) range, which brings about unique concerns regarding radiation absorption. Notably, the effect of 5G radiation is not uniform across all age groups, with younger and older populations being disproportionately affected. This blog delves into the scientific principles behind age-dependent radiation absorption and the implications for public health.
Abstract
With the development of 5th generation (5G) mobile networks people of different ages will be exposed in the upper part of the microwave spectrum. From the perspective of non-ionizing radiation dosimetry, an accurate analysis of age-dependent electromagnetic power deposition and resulting heating is required. In this study, we evaluate the effect of age on exposure at 26 GHz and 60 GHz. A near-surface tissue model illuminated by a plane wave is used to asses the exposure considering both frequency-independent and frequency-dependent limits. The age-related variation of the skin thickness and tissue electromagnetic properties has been considered. Moreover, the blood flow decrease rate has been taken into account to assess the age-dependent heating. Our results demonstrate that the overall variations of the power density, specific absorption rate (SAR) and heating in the near-surface tissues are limited to about 10–15%. These variations are mainly due to the tissue permittivity and blood flow change with age. In contrast to the transmitted power density that increases with age, the peak SAR decreases at both frequencies. The peak steady-state heating increases from 5 to 70 years old by roughly 11% at 26 GHz and 13% at 60 GHz. s41598-021-82458-z
As the world transitions to 5G, concerns about the health effects of electromagnetic radiation have intensified. While much of the focus has been on the general population, recent studies highlight that the effects of 5G radiation are not uniform across different age groups. Children and the elderly, in particular, experience different levels of radiation absorption, potentially making them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of 5G.
The Science of 5G Radiation Absorption
Radiation absorption by biological tissues is influenced by several factors, including the frequency of the electromagnetic waves, the composition of the tissues, and age-related changes in tissue properties. The penetration depth of 5G radiation in human tissues is notably shallow, primarily affecting the skin. The skin consists of several layers, including the stratum corneum, viable epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat, each with distinct electromagnetic properties.
At frequencies above 6 GHz, which include the 26 GHz and 60 GHz bands used by 5G, most of the electromagnetic energy is absorbed within the skin. This shallow penetration raises concerns about the differential impact of 5G radiation on individuals of different ages, given the variation in skin properties with age.
Impact of Age on Skin Thickness and Tissue Permittivity
Skin Thickness
Skin thickness varies significantly with age, impacting the absorption of electromagnetic radiation. In children, skin is thinner, which could potentially lead to higher absorption rates. However, the situation is more complex. The study by Sacco et al. (2021) indicates that while the skin thickens during youth, it begins to thin during older age, particularly after 60 years. This thinning could alter the way electromagnetic waves interact with the skin, leading to differences in power deposition across age groups.
Tissue Permittivity
Tissue permittivity, which is the ability of tissues to store electrical energy, also varies with age. This variation is largely due to changes in water content within the tissues. As people age, the water content in the skin decreases, reducing tissue permittivity. This reduction affects how much of the 5G radiation is absorbed and converted into heat, particularly in the higher frequency bands.
According to Sacco et al., the decrease in tissue permittivity with age leads to a higher transmission coefficient, meaning more of the incident radiation penetrates the skin rather than being reflected. This is particularly significant in the 60 GHz band, where the transmission coefficient increases from 60.5% in children to 66% in the elderly.
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Variability Across Ages
The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is a critical measure of how much radiation is absorbed by the body. SAR values are used to ensure that exposure limits are not exceeded. However, SAR is not uniform across different age groups.
Age-Dependent SAR
Sacco et al.’s study reveals that SAR values decrease with age at both 26 GHz and 60 GHz. This decrease is attributed to the lower conductivity of aged tissues, which reduces the amount of energy absorbed. Interestingly, while the absorbed power density increases with age due to higher transmission coefficients, the peak SAR decreases. This paradoxical finding suggests that while more energy enters the body, it is distributed over a larger volume, resulting in a lower SAR.
Temperature Elevation in Tissues
Another important aspect of 5G radiation absorption is the resulting temperature elevation in tissues. The heating effect of electromagnetic radiation is a key concern, particularly in the context of prolonged exposure.
Age-Dependent Temperature Rise
The study indicates that temperature rise in tissues is more pronounced in older individuals. This is due to the combined effects of reduced blood flow and changes in tissue permittivity. At 26 GHz, the temperature rise in the skin increases by approximately 11% from age 5 to 70, and by about 13% at 60 GHz. The reduced blood flow in older individuals hampers the body’s ability to dissipate heat, leading to higher steady-state temperatures under the same exposure conditions.
Public Health Implications
The differential absorption and heating effects of 5G radiation across age groups raise significant public health concerns. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to potential adverse effects, not only because of their different physiological responses but also due to their prolonged exposure over a lifetime.
Risks to Children
Children’s thinner skin and higher water content make them more susceptible to higher SAR levels. Moreover, given their long lifetime ahead, the cumulative effects of exposure could be significant. There is a need for stricter guidelines and more research to understand the long-term impacts of 5G exposure on children.
Risks to the Elderly
For the elderly, the risks are associated with reduced tissue repair mechanisms and slower recovery from thermal stress. The higher temperature elevations observed in older age groups could exacerbate existing health conditions, particularly those related to thermal regulation and skin health.
Restore NTP Funding for Critical Health Research
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has long been a leader in researching the health impacts of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), particularly in relation to radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Their groundbreaking studies have revealed alarming evidence of cancer risks associated with prolonged exposure to RF radiation, especially at levels that mimic those experienced by humans through everyday use of cell phones. These findings are not just significant—they are crucial to our understanding of the long-term health effects of modern wireless technology.
However, despite the importance of this research, the current administration has discontinued further studies by the NTP due to funding constraints. This decision poses a significant threat to public health, as it halts the momentum of research that could lead to better safety standards, improved public awareness, and potentially life-saving regulations.
The Importance of Restoring NTP Funding
Restoring funding to the NTP is essential for the continuation of this vital research. The NTP’s work has provided us with some of the most compelling evidence to date that long-term exposure to RF radiation can lead to serious health consequences, including cancer. Without continued funding, we risk losing the ability to fully understand these effects and to develop the necessary measures to protect public health.
Moreover, this research is critical for the advancement of bioelectric medicine—a field that holds the promise of revolutionizing healthcare. By better understanding how electromagnetic fields interact with biological tissues, we can pave the way for innovative treatments that could address some of the most challenging medical conditions. Prioritizing this research is not just about addressing current health risks; it’s about preparing for a future where bioelectric medicine could become a cornerstone of healthcare.
Update FCC Safety Guidelines
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established safety guidelines for RF radiation back in 1996, and these guidelines have remained largely unchanged despite the rapid evolution of wireless technology. A recent court ruling has highlighted the inadequacy of these outdated guidelines, emphasizing that they fail to address the full spectrum of health risks associated with RF radiation.
The Need for Updated Guidelines
Over the past two decades, a growing body of scientific research has revealed that the health risks associated with RF radiation extend far beyond the thermal effects that the FCC’s guidelines currently address. These studies, including those conducted by the NTP, indicate that RF radiation can have non-thermal effects, such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and disruptions to cellular signaling, all of which can lead to serious health consequences.
Notably, major studies like the Interphone study, the Hardell group studies, the CERENAT study, and the BioInitiative Report have all pointed to increased health risks from exposure to RF radiation at levels commonly experienced by cell phone users. These findings suggest that the current FCC guidelines are not sufficient to protect public health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Non-Thermal Effects: A New Understanding of RF Radiation
One of the most significant advancements in our understanding of RF radiation comes from research into its non-thermal effects. Traditionally, it was believed that non-ionizing radiation, such as that emitted by cell phones, could only cause biological harm through heating effects. However, recent studies have shown that RF radiation can interact with biological tissues in ways that do not involve heating, but can still lead to serious health consequences.
For example, the FDA-approved TheraBionic treatment uses RF radiation at power levels significantly lower than those emitted by cell phones to treat inoperable liver cancer. This treatment works through non-thermal mechanisms, such as resonance effects and disruption of cellular signaling, challenging the long-held assumption that non-thermal RF radiation is biologically inert. This new understanding underscores the urgent need for the FCC to update its safety guidelines to reflect the full range of potential health risks.
The Lawsuit That Changed Everything: FCC vs. Environmental Health Trust
In recent years, the FCC has faced increasing scrutiny for its outdated safety guidelines, culminating in a landmark lawsuit brought by the Environmental Health Trust, Children’s Health Defense led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and several other organizations. This lawsuit argued that the FCC’s guidelines fail to account for the non-thermal effects of EMR exposure, which are just as critical, if not more so, than the thermal effects traditionally considered by regulatory bodies.
Key Points of the Lawsuit
- Non-Thermal Effects Ignored: The lawsuit highlighted that the FCC’s guidelines, last updated in 1996, focus solely on the thermal effects of EMR, which involve tissue heating. However, substantial scientific evidence has since emerged indicating that non-thermal effects—such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and other biological impacts—pose significant health risks.
- RFK Jr.’s Involvement: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., through his organization Children’s Health Defense, was instrumental in bringing this issue to court. His involvement brought significant attention to the dangers posed by outdated EMR safety standards and helped galvanize public and legal efforts to hold the FCC accountable.
- Court Ruling: The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the FCC had failed to adequately address the growing body of scientific evidence pointing to the non-thermal effects of EMR. This ruling was a major victory for public health advocates and underscored the need for updated regulations that better protect consumers.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Findings: Clear Evidence of Cancer
The NTP’s findings represent a game-changer in the field of EMR research. Their comprehensive study, which spanned over a decade and cost $30 million, provided “clear evidence” that RF radiation can cause cancer. Specifically, the study found a significant increase in cancerous heart tumors in male rats exposed to RF radiation at levels comparable to those experienced by humans using cell phones.
Key Findings from the NTP Study
- Increased Cancer Risk: The study found increased incidences of malignant schwannomas (a type of nerve sheath tumor) in the hearts of male rats exposed to RF radiation.
- Brain and Adrenal Tumors: There was also evidence of increased brain tumors (gliomas) and adrenal gland tumors in the exposed animals.
- Regulatory Implications: These findings were significant enough to prompt calls for more stringent regulation and safety guidelines to protect public health.
Why the NTP Findings Matter for You
The NTP’s findings directly challenge the assumption that cell phones are safe as long as they meet FCC guidelines. This research shows that even at levels that do not cause significant tissue heating, RF radiation can have serious health consequences, including cancer. For consumers, this means that current safety standards may not provide adequate protection, particularly for those who use cell phones frequently or for extended periods.
A Call to Action
It is imperative that we restore funding to the NTP to continue this critical research. The stakes are too high to ignore the evidence that RF radiation poses significant health risks, particularly as our reliance on wireless technology continues to grow. Additionally, the FCC must update its safety guidelines to reflect the latest scientific findings, including the non-thermal effects of RF radiation. By doing so, we can better protect public health and ensure that our technological advancements do not come at the cost of our well-being.
The transition to 5G technology brings with it new challenges in understanding and mitigating health risks associated with electromagnetic radiation. The age-dependent variations in radiation absorption and resulting tissue heating underscore the need for age-specific safety guidelines. While the current exposure limits are designed to protect the general population, they may not adequately account for the heightened vulnerabilities of children and the elderly.
FAQs
Q1: Why is 5G radiation more concerning for children and the elderly? A1: Children have thinner skin and higher water content in their tissues, leading to higher absorption rates of radiation. The elderly, on the other hand, have reduced skin thickness and permittivity but face higher temperature elevations due to decreased blood flow, making them more susceptible to thermal stress.
Q2: What is SAR and why does it vary with age? A2: SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) measures the rate at which the body absorbs radiation. It varies with age due to differences in tissue conductivity and permittivity. Older individuals have lower SAR values but may still experience higher total energy absorption.
Q3: Are current 5G exposure limits sufficient? A3: While current limits are designed to protect the general population, they may not fully account for the unique vulnerabilities of different age groups. More research and potentially revised guidelines may be necessary to ensure comprehensive protection.