A major study by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has revealed an alarming new dimension of radiation risks from 5G networks, particularly for mobile phone users in rural areas. The study shows that the use of smartphones in rural areas – especially when uploading content such as videos or photos – can lead to significantly higher radiation exposure from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) than in urban environments. The reason for this is the lower number of mobile phone masts in rural areas, which means that smartphones have to transmit at higher power levels in order to maintain a stable connection.
The study, led by Adriana Fernandes Veludo, is entitled “Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G” and was conducted as part of the GOLIAT project. The researchers carried out measurements in two major Swiss cities (Zurich and Basel) and three rural villages (Hergiswil, Willisau and Dagmersellen). They found that 5G users in rural areas are exposed to an average radiation level of 29 milliwatts per square metre (mW/m²) when uploading content. These values exceed the World Health Organisation’s safety limit of 10 mW/m² almost threefold and are also significantly higher than the average values measured in urban areas, which are 16 mW/m².
The increased radiation exposure in rural areas is due to the fact that telephones have to amplify their signals considerably in order to communicate effectively. This increased transmission power leads directly to greater exposure of users to potentially harmful radiation. The researchers found a paradox: while fewer mobile phone masts could mean less environmental exposure overall, they also significantly increase the radiation emitted by the user’s personal device.
Another important limitation of the study concerns the measurement methods: The measurements were taken while the phone was held about 30 cm away from the measuring devices. In practice, however, mobile phones are often worn much closer to the body, which means that the actual radiation exposure could be up to ten times higher than the stated values.
The science behind these risks is also evident in other studies. Studies such as the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) have confirmed that RF radiation can have biological effects, including DNA damage and oxidative stress, even at levels well below thermal effects. However, the current standard only considers the thermal effect and ignores these potential risks, potentially exposing millions of people to unnecessary harm.
The results of the Swiss-TPH study emphasise the urgent need to revise the safety guidelines. These should take into account both the actual conditions of use and modern scientific findings. The proposed measures include
- A revision of the safety limits.
- The expansion of independent research funding to investigate the long-term health effects of 5G and future technologies.
- The promotion of safer alternatives such as Li-Fi (light-based communication) and fibre optics to drastically reduce RF exposure.
The study thus underlines not only the risks posed by 5G radiation in rural areas, but also the urgent need for science-based regulation and alternative technologies to minimise these risks.
Read more:
Cover picture: www.quarks.de
