While its deployment is underway everywhere, this new technology is also raising concerns. Not without foundation.
The question of the effects of 5G on health often comes up, especially among opponents of the new standard. “Despite a lot of research, there is no indication for the moment that exposure to low-intensity electromagnetic fields is dangerous for human health,” said the World Health Organization. This lack of proven short-term effect applies “to the various sources of exposure, mobile phones being among the most present in number and intensity”, explained Olivier Merckel, expert from the National Health Security Agency ‘food, environment and work (ANSES), before the start last January of its expertise on 5G.
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Nevertheless, some studies suggest “a possible increase in the risk of brain tumor, in the long term, for intensive users of cell phones”, recalls ANSES, which published in 2013 an assessment of the risks associated with radiofrequencies. This is why the Circ, the WHO agency specializing in cancer, in 2011 classified radiofrequencies as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”, recommending hands-free kits for laptops.
An awaited report from ANSES
Moreover, in a 2016 report, ANSES estimated that waves from cellphones, tablets or connected toys could have effects on children’s cognitive functions – memory, attention, coordination -. She recommended limiting their exposure.
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Another point: “studies have shown the existence of biological effects on certain very specific parameters, such as sleep or blood pressure,” according to Mr. Merckel. But, and this point is important, biological effect does not necessarily mean health effect, that is to say danger to health. A distinction difficult to grasp for the general public. The whole question is whether the accumulation of biological effects exceeds the adaptive capacity of our body, which can then have consequences on health.
This is the subject of the expert appraisal that ANSES is currently carrying out and the results of which are expected in the first quarter of 2021.
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