Steve R
Should we be concerned about 5G? Most people don’t know much about 5G and EMF generally. Let’s learn a bit about it.
5G stands for the 5th generation of technology for transferring information electronically. The first was 1G created in 1979.
A common denominator of all communication is waves (pulses). One of the ways in which waves vary is in their length, i.e. the distance between wave peaks (wavelengths). In the electromagnetic spectrum, we can also refer to a wavelength by talking about frequency, which means how many times the wave peaks (pulses) per second (Hertz).
The electromagnetic spectrum starts with very short waves (higher frequency) at one end, and as we move through the spectrum the wavelengths increase (lower frequency). Higher frequency waves equate to more energy because they are vibrating faster. At the high frequency end are gamma rays and X-rays which are able to penetrate (and damage) many things, including human bodies.
As one moves through the spectrum through ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves and radio waves, the frequency and energy are reduced, as is the ability to penetrate things like human bodies. As we know, a torch (visible light) can’t penetrate much at all, and that has a much higher frequency and energy than radio waves such as 5G.
As per the diagram above, a radio wavelength (e.g. 5G) is around 10,000 times longer than a visible wavelength. The logical conclusion from this is that, with the frequency (energy) of 5G being just one hundred-trillionth of the frequency (energy) of visible light, we don’t have anything to worry about.
The hype about 5G, that we are being encouraged to buy into, is that the energy it emits is going to wreck us all. The science just doesn’t support this.
Other things to ponder:
- If you touch a 100 Watt bulb you may burn yourself. If you hold your finger 10 mm away from the bulb, you may feel some warmth. If you hold your finger 300 mm away you probably won’t feel a thing. With small increases in distance from an energy emitting source, the effects from that source diminish sharply. By the time a low frequency emission from a tall 5G tower gets to you on the ground its effects would be more or less nothing.
- The frequencies that 5G is using to transmit are weak and easily blocked. A 5G tower emits at 20 – 60 Watts (think of a low-wattage light bulb). That can’t penetrate anything much at all, including even a raindrop. Like the torch, they need an uninterrupted line of sight between the transmitter (the 5G tower) and the receiver (your phone). That is why the spacing between 5G towers needs to be shorter than anything previously, especially where there are more obstacles (like tall buildings) blocking the line of sight. Sorry, the towers aren’t that pretty, but under 5G there need to be more of them for your phone to work wherever you are.
To wrap up, 5G emits harmless amounts of energy. If we choose to be worried about the very low-frequency energy coming out of a 5G tower, we should definitely stay inside with the drapes closed and lights off, so as to protect ourselves from that dangerous visible light (yeah right!!).
The Fox
Here is a 15-minute video to further explain the science: