Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland
There is an ongoing discussion about electromagnetic hazards in the context of the new wireless communication technology – the fifth generation (5G) standard. Concerns about safety and health hazards resulting from the influence of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by the designed 5G antennas...
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Format: | Article |
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Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2020-01-01
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Series: | Medycyna Pracy |
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Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Ochrona-zdrowia-ludnosci-przed-zagrozeniami-elektromagnetycznymi-wyzwania-wynikajace,114069,0,2.html |
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Article |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Marek Zmyślony Paweł Bieńkowski Alicja Bortkiewicz Jolanta Karpowicz Jarosław Kieliszek Piotr Politański Konrad Rydzyński |
spellingShingle |
Marek Zmyślony Paweł Bieńkowski Alicja Bortkiewicz Jolanta Karpowicz Jarosław Kieliszek Piotr Politański Konrad Rydzyński Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland Medycyna Pracy electromagnetic field environmental health radio communication precautionary principle environmental protection 5g networks |
author_facet |
Marek Zmyślony Paweł Bieńkowski Alicja Bortkiewicz Jolanta Karpowicz Jarosław Kieliszek Piotr Politański Konrad Rydzyński |
author_sort |
Marek Zmyślony |
title |
Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland |
title_short |
Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland |
title_full |
Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland |
title_fullStr |
Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in Poland |
title_sort |
protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5g network planned in poland |
publisher |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine |
series |
Medycyna Pracy |
issn |
0465-5893 2353-1339 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
There is an ongoing discussion about electromagnetic hazards in the context of the new wireless communication technology –
the fifth generation (5G) standard. Concerns about safety and health hazards resulting from the influence of the electromagnetic
field (EMF) emitted by the designed 5G antennas have been raised. In Poland, the level of the population’s exposure to EMF is
limited to 7 V/m for frequencies above 300 MHz. This limitation results from taking into account the protective measures related
not only to direct thermal hazards, but also to diversified indirect and long-term threats. Many countries have not established
legal requirements in this frequency range, or they have introduced regulations based on recommendations regarding protection
against direct thermal risks only (Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC). For such protection, the permissible levels of electric
field intensity are 20–60 V/m (depending on the frequency). This work has been created through an interdisciplinary collaboration
of engineers, biologists and doctors, who have been for many years professionally dealing with the protection of the biosphere
against the negative effects of EMF. It presents the state of knowledge on the biological and health effects of the EMF emitted by
mobile phone devices (including millimeter waves which are planned to be used in the 5G network). A comparison of the EU
recommendations and the provisions on public protection being in force in Poland was made against this background. The results
of research conducted to date on the biological effects of the EMF radiofrequency emitted by mobile telecommunication devices,
operating with the frequencies up to 6 GHz, do not allow drawing any firm conclusions; however, the research evidence is strong
enough for the World Health Organization to classify EMF as an environmental factor potentially carcinogenic to humans. At the
moment, there is a shortage of adequate scientific data to assess the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic millimeter waves,
which are planned to be used in the designed 5G devices. Nevertheless, due to the fact that there are data indicating the existence
of biophysical mechanisms of the EMF influence that may lead to adverse health effects, it seems necessary to use the precautionary
principle and the ALARA principle when creating environmental requirements for the construction and exploitation of the
infrastructure of the planned 5G system. Med Pr. 2020;71(1):105–13 |
topic |
electromagnetic field environmental health radio communication precautionary principle environmental protection 5g networks |
url |
http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Ochrona-zdrowia-ludnosci-przed-zagrozeniami-elektromagnetycznymi-wyzwania-wynikajace,114069,0,2.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT marekzmyslony protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT pawełbienkowski protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT alicjabortkiewicz protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT jolantakarpowicz protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT jarosławkieliszek protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT piotrpolitanski protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland AT konradrydzynski protectionofthepopulationhealthfromelectromagnetichazardschallengesresultingfromtheimplementationofthe5gnetworkplannedinpoland |
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1724798102140878848 |
spelling |
doaj-dcd7f9ddd5ee4e6db96b8fadd824b60b2020-11-25T02:36:53ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineMedycyna Pracy0465-58932353-13392020-01-0171110511310.13075/mp.5893.00867114069Protection of the population health from electromagnetic hazards − challenges resulting from the implementation of the 5G network planned in PolandMarek Zmyślony0Paweł Bieńkowski1Alicja Bortkiewicz2Jolanta Karpowicz3Jarosław Kieliszek4Piotr Politański5Konrad Rydzyński6Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Ochrony Radiologicznej / Department of Radiological Protection)Politechnika Wrocławska / Wrocław University of Sciences and Technology, Wrocław, Poland (Katedra Telekomunikacji i Teleinformatyki / Department of Telecommunications and Teleinformatics)Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics)Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labor Protection − National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland (Zakład Bioelektromagnetyzmu / Department of Bioelectromagnetism)Wojskowy Instytut Higieny i Epidemiologii / Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, PolandInstytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Ochrony Radiologicznej / Department of Radiological Protection)Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, PolandThere is an ongoing discussion about electromagnetic hazards in the context of the new wireless communication technology – the fifth generation (5G) standard. Concerns about safety and health hazards resulting from the influence of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by the designed 5G antennas have been raised. In Poland, the level of the population’s exposure to EMF is limited to 7 V/m for frequencies above 300 MHz. This limitation results from taking into account the protective measures related not only to direct thermal hazards, but also to diversified indirect and long-term threats. Many countries have not established legal requirements in this frequency range, or they have introduced regulations based on recommendations regarding protection against direct thermal risks only (Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC). For such protection, the permissible levels of electric field intensity are 20–60 V/m (depending on the frequency). This work has been created through an interdisciplinary collaboration of engineers, biologists and doctors, who have been for many years professionally dealing with the protection of the biosphere against the negative effects of EMF. It presents the state of knowledge on the biological and health effects of the EMF emitted by mobile phone devices (including millimeter waves which are planned to be used in the 5G network). A comparison of the EU recommendations and the provisions on public protection being in force in Poland was made against this background. The results of research conducted to date on the biological effects of the EMF radiofrequency emitted by mobile telecommunication devices, operating with the frequencies up to 6 GHz, do not allow drawing any firm conclusions; however, the research evidence is strong enough for the World Health Organization to classify EMF as an environmental factor potentially carcinogenic to humans. At the moment, there is a shortage of adequate scientific data to assess the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic millimeter waves, which are planned to be used in the designed 5G devices. Nevertheless, due to the fact that there are data indicating the existence of biophysical mechanisms of the EMF influence that may lead to adverse health effects, it seems necessary to use the precautionary principle and the ALARA principle when creating environmental requirements for the construction and exploitation of the infrastructure of the planned 5G system. Med Pr. 2020;71(1):105–13http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Ochrona-zdrowia-ludnosci-przed-zagrozeniami-elektromagnetycznymi-wyzwania-wynikajace,114069,0,2.htmlelectromagnetic fieldenvironmental healthradio communicationprecautionary principleenvironmental protection5g networks |