Is the 5G health scare unfounded?

The introduction of the 5G network has been mired in numerous controversies. Governments across the globe, activists and telecom operators are embroiled in a bitter fight, filing lawsuits and protesting in large numbers. Although most of the available research on electromagnetic fields (EMF) reveals that there are no harmful effects from mobile radiation, some studies do reveal that it has the potential to damage the very structure of the DNA. Cancer, impaired reproductive health and numerous other disorders, including psychiatric, have been attributed to 5G. Will the implementation of the 5G network have serious health implications, or are these fears unfounded? We try to weigh-in the opposing sides.

- Sanjiv Das

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened new avenues of how people do their day-to-day work and how children as young as three are undertaking online lessons. Though a handful of offices have opened, a majority of the workforce is somehow managing to work from home. And all this has led to increased consumption of the Internet. The high demand for the Internet has forced telecom operators to look out for an advanced form of technology to cater to the demands.

We are all aware of the harmful radiation being emitted from mobile phones and not only adults but even children are always hooked to mobile phones. The introduction of the fifth generation or 5G network has made many cautious about the harmful effects of mobile radiation. However, healthcare experts and the government have been able to allay some fears among the general public, as there is no concrete evidence to prove that mobile radiation can cause health hazards.

A few years back health specialists have raised concerns and believed that too much handling of mobile phones may lead to headaches, heart diseases, and sometimes fertility issues. With COVID-19 on the loose, things have changed for good. With little option in hand, the urban and rural areas have seen a surge in the demand for Internet connectivity.

Now, on one hand, we need good Internet service for online classes and webinars and online conferences happening in large numbers and on the other, we are concerned about the health hazards due to radiation being emitted from mobile phones and other gadgets.