5g has dramatically transformed the technology world by vastly improving internet speeds. With 5g technology, we have moved from having an average of 10mps to a whopping 10gbs.
This has been much appreciated when everyone relies on the internet for work, school, and other social activities.
Yes, it is fun to have top-tier gaming speeds, no video rendering, and smooth communication with other people in the world, but at what price?
Whilst 5g has improved our lives, it also comes with a few dangers to our health. There is a lot of ambiguity when dealing with the topic, and the best option is to listen to the science behind it.
This article will teach you how to protect yourself from 5g. We will go over at what 5g is, what the danger is, and how to protect yourself from the harmful side and after-effects.
What Is 5g?
5g is the latest global wireless standard after the succession of 1g, 2g, 3g, and 4g. It is designed in a way that effectively connects everyone on a variety of devices.
Its main selling point is the increased speed of service. The 5g technology also provides low latency, massive network capacity, increased availability, and consistent user experiences. These features are highly desired in a world where almost everything requires technology to work.
5g technology was first launched in 2019 and is now installed in most of the recent smartphones. According to the GSM association, 5g networks are predicted to have 1.7 billion subscribers by the end of 2025.
Why was 5g introduced?
5g has an increased bandwidth, which means that we will eventually use it beyond mobile phones and tablets. We will also use it in laptops, desktops, and other more significant smart devices.
This will lead to the extinction of existing systems, such as cable internet, whilst introducing new applications such as machine-to-machine communication.
Unfortunately, 4g cellphones cannot connect to 5g networks, and one has to buy a 5g enabled wireless device if they want to benefit from 5g technology.
How do 5g networks work?
5g networks work by dividing service areas into smaller geographic regions known as cells. The wireless devices within the service areas connect to the Internet and telephone networks through waves transmitted through a radio antenna.
The radio waves are transmitted through a low antenna array and low power automated transceiver over frequency channels that are transceived by the transceiver and then reused in other cells.
Just like other cell networks, transmissions between cells are seamlessly passed on to each other. New 5g networks are much better at this than their predecessors because they can support up to a million devices per square kilometer. Previous 4g networks can only handle a tenth of this capacity.
There is no one way to build 5g networks. They are made in different ways from multiple bands of the wavelength spectrum. High-band millimeter frequencies have greater bandwidth by they require the cells to be close together.
Whilst they are super fast, they aren’t suitable for urban areas because they cannot penetrate buildings. Mid-band frequencies provide a balance by having great speed and a great range. Low-band frequencies are often used for 5g networks because they have the most comprehensive coverage and the highest rates.
The Benefits of 5g
The 5g network does more than just improve network connections; it provides new opportunities and offers groundbreaking solutions to some of modern society’s challenges. The 5g technology advances society by improving safety and sustainability.
Reduced Waste
With 5g connections, we can have smarter electric grids. Smart electric grids use existing gridlines to reduce the amount of waste produced during the electricity production process. Therefore, the use of 5g networks saves the earth by reducing the amount of carbon emissions.
Improved Communication
The 5g networks improve safety by improving communication between people and their machines. The increased internet and telecommunications speeds will be incredibly beneficial during emergencies.
Many vehicles can easily share data (through navigational apps), which will prevent road collisions. Also, we can quickly deploy emergency vehicles to accident sites. Thus, 5g technology goes a long way in saving and preserving human life.
Improved Business Operations
The 5g technology transforms industries by introducing flexible and efficient ways of conducting business. Production lines are already automated, but introducing 5g technology will teach them how to react to supply and demand autonomously. This is a highly efficient system that eliminates the need for human intervention.
Also, new technology can produce replicas that can predict machinery faults before they happen. This will save us time and improve the machines’ durability.
The use of 5g networks will improve the communication between different parts of the business. For example, faster communication between the production and logistic departments will lead to better movement of products, which will get your products in your customers’ hands at a quicker rate.
We can also improve logistics networks by automatically rerouting goods in accordance with real-world conditions.
Businesses benefit from using 5g networks because they improve accountability. You’ll be able to trace your product’s journey from the moment it is manufactured in the factory until it is sold in stores. This reduces waste and makes it easier to identify any problems within this process.
Enhanced Experiences
Using 5g technology will improve how we experience and use technology for social activities. The increased use of Virtual Reality and Augmented reality apps has increased the demand for faster internet speeds with low power needs.
With 5g, you can add sensory experiences to device use. For example, you’ll be able to add elements such as touch and smell to your gaming experience.
With most of the world’s population working and learning from home, a stable internet connection is essential. 5g technology provides a stable and fast connection without putting pressure on the electric grid.
It also improves the visual and audio aspects of basic activities such as video-calling. People with a 5g connection are at a great advantage because they can make clear video-calls with crisp audio.
Stable Connectivity
5g networks can handle a large volume of devices in small spaces. Unlike their predecessors, they are unlikely to slow down when many devices are in the same geographical area. You can still have stable and reliable connections in crowded spaces. You won’t have to worry about losing connectivity in large crowds.
Also, 5g technology opens up the possibility of being able to spectate virtual events remotely. You can get real-life experiences without leaving your home. With 5g connectivity, you won’t have to worry about buffering or losing picture quality either.
The Dangers of 5g
Like everything in the world, there is a good and bad side to using 5g technology. Most of the danger associated with 5g networks is from the radiation produced by the cell towers.
In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radiofrequency radiation as potentially 2B carcinogenic and linked them to certain specific types of brain tumors.
Cancer
A recent study by the National Toxicology Program about cell phone radiofrequency radiation scientists found that high exposure to some cell phone radio frequencies can cause cancer. The tests performed on adult male rats showed that increased exposure could lead to cancerous heart tumors, brain tumors, and tumors in the adrenal glands.
However, it is essential to note that these tumors could have been coincidental. Some scientists who looked at the study say that the tumors could have occurred by chance, and the amount of exposure is way more than humans will ever be exposed to.
Skin and Vision
There have been concerns about how the 5g waves will affect the skin. The human body has between 2 and 4 million sweat ducts that work as an array of antennas when exposed to 5g radio waves. There is a possibility that we might become more conductive as the development of these waves continues.
A New York study has shown that 60GHz waves can be absorbed by the dermis and epidermis layers. This means that there is a possibility that exposure to such high-frequency waves could cause skin cancer and might also cause physical pain.
High-level waves are not the only ones that may cause danger. Past studies have also shown that low-level millimeter microwave radiation produced lens opacity in rats linked to cataracts’ production. This indicates that low-level frequencies could have a damaging effect on humans’ eyesight as well.
A 2003 Chinese study has also found damage to rabbits’ lens epithelial cells after 8 hours of microwave radiation exposure. Whilst these studies provide reasonable evidence, it is essential to note that no human studies have been conducted as of yet. Just because radio frequencies had adverse effects on rats and rabbits does not mean that they will have a similar impact on human beings.
Cell Growth
There are worries about the risks of 5g waves on the human system and how they impact cell growth. A 2002 Russian study examined the effects of 42HGz microwave radiation exposure on the blood of healthy mice. The study found that radiation exposure affected the rats’ heartbeat patterns. If this were to happen to human beings, it would have detrimental effects.
Another study found that microwave radiation depressed cell growth and changed their properties. Thus, long-term exposure could lead to changes in our cells and maybe a difference in our DNA.
These studies show real concerns, but they are most likely to develop over time and not show up immediately. There is a possibility that humans will have come up with ways to combat these after-effects before they even take place.
Antibiotic Resistance
An Armenian study shows how radiation exposure could possibly lead to antibiotic resistance. They performed experiments that showed how the right amount of radio waves altered the antibiotics’ biological structure.
Antibiotics resistance would be deadly because it would lead to the re-emergence of extinct diseases. Infections that we fought off centuries ago could return and they would be more difficult to treat.
Plant Life
Another danger of using 5g is that the MMW is easily absorbed by rain. Once it rains, the water is then absorbed by plants and animals. Plants are the lifeblood of human existence, so any radiation would be detrimental.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. If the plant supply is compromised, our food sources would also be negatively impacted. Additionally, this would also affect animals. If the animals are affected, there would be an imbalance in the ecosystem and thus a serious threat to life as we know it.
Ecosystem
The popularity of 5g won’t just affect humans alone but it will also disrupt the ecosystem. According to researcher Alfonso Balmori, since the year 2000, there have been reports of birds abandoning their nests as well as health issues like “plumage deterioration, locomotion problems, reduced survivorship, and death.
Birds are not the only species affected, as there is proof that the declining bee population is linked to microwave radiation. A declining bee population is worrying because it affects our food security.
Radiation and More
The fear around 5g technology is the number of cell towers that need to be built to work effectively. The waves cannot penetrate buildings, so each cell will require at least one tower every 200-300 meters. This will expose more people to millimeter radiation (compared to 4g and 3g networks).
5G also employs new technologies (e.g., active antennas capable of beam-forming, phased arrays; massive multiple inputs and outputs, known as massive MIMO), which pose unique challenges for measuring exposures.
Since 5G is a new technology, there is no research (that has been performed on humans) on health effects, so we are “flying blind,” to quote a U.S. senator. However, we have considerable evidence about the harmful impacts of 2G and 3G.
Little is known about the effects of exposure to 4G, a 10-year-old technology, because governments have been remiss in funding this research. Thus, it is up to you to take the necessary steps and learn how to protect yourself from 5g.
Tips to Protect Yourself from 5g
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Create Some Distance Between You and Your Devices
You should create some space between you and your electronic devices. It is advised that you keep your phone at least 10 meters away from you when you’re sleeping.
You should also avoid bodily contact with your cell phone, tablet, and your computer. When answering your phone, do not put it directly against your ear but rather hold it 10mm away. You shouldn’t sleep with your phone under the pillow or anywhere on your bed. The best practice is to keep it on your bedside table or even further away if possible.
Don’t use your laptop on your lap. The radiation can travel from your computer and go directly into your body. This is especially important for people who are trying to have children. Also, be careful not to fall asleep with your laptop on the bed. Apart from the electrocution risks, it turns your bed into a hotbed of radiation.
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Buy an EMF Measuring Device
Electromagnetic fields (often referred to as EMFs) are an essential part of the physical world. Electric and magnetic fields occur naturally within our bodies in association with nerve and muscle activity. Natural EMFs are imperative, but the EMFs produced by human-made objects are harmful. Devices such as the TV, smartphones, laptops, and tablets emit this dangerous pollution.
You must know how much EMF you are constantly exposed to. It may seem like an overreaction, but an EMF meter will come in handy in the future. EMF meters detect and monitor harmful electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields surrounding personal or work areas.
Handheld devices vary in terms of measurement speed and cost but are reliable instruments for detecting electromagnetic pollution. Specifications for EMF meters include measurement range, frequency bandwidth, percent accuracy, sampling rate, minimum resolution, number of axes, weight, dimensions, power requirements, and operating temperature.
An EMF meter will help you make more conscious choices about where you decide to spend your time. You can avoid areas where there is high radiation and focus on spending time in places with the least amount of radiation. A meter can also give you a basic idea of which parts of your home and work area you need to work on and reduce radiation.
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Use EMF Shields
It’s one thing to know the radiation levels in your home, but it’s also essential to take action against them. With rising concern about radiation in the houses, most companies now sell EMF Shields that you can put on your devices. There are EMF cases for phones, routers, computers, and even televisions that claim to minimize the RF impact by up to 92%.
You are advised to buy an EMF Shield for your phone. Whilst phones make our lives easier and keep us connected to the rest of the world; they are among the most significant radiation sources. Every time you hold your cell phone to your ear, you absorb over 50% of the cell phone radiation it transmits. You can buy a shield that will protect you from this radiation.
Unfortunately, most EMF shields are not as effective as they claim to be. It’s essential to purchase your cases from trustworthy and reliable retailers. They are guaranteed to reduce the radiation around you and build a barrier between you and your devices.
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Practice Grounding
Earthing is a process that removes the negative electrons from our bodies. It also acts as a therapeutic action that connects us to the earth.
You practice grounding by putting your bare feet on the ground (the soil or grass particularly) and allowing energy to pass through you. According to earthing science and grounding physics, the electrical charges from the earth positively impact you. Grounding is an under-researched science, but there is conclusive evidence that shows that it works.
The Earth’s electrons act as a mop, clean up positively-charged electrons, and create balance in your electrical circuitry. Practicing Earthing regularly if you live in an urban area can pose some challenges, but there are special conductive devices that you can use, even while you sleep.
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Make Your Home a Low-EMF Sanctuary.
With most devices becoming wireless, your home is probably a high source of EMF. Some devices do some severe harm without you being aware of their actions.
WiFi routers are the primary source of harmful EMFs. When possible, it is advised to use Ethernet cables instead of routers. However, this is slightly impractical because you are probably exposed to your neighbors’ routers if not your own. It is advised to switch off your router whenever it is not in use and not use it through the night.
Smart meters are also culprits because they constantly emit erratic, high-intensity pulses. You can revert to an analog meter instead of using a smart meter. If your power company does not give you the option to opt-out of a smart meter, shield yourself from EMF signals using an anti-EMF bed canopy and other shielding options.
It is also important to note that changing to an analog meter is slightly costly and will cost you an extra 20-25 dollars a month.
When possible, use the stove/oven to heat up instead of using a microwave. Microwaves are notorious for producing large amounts of radiation. If you still need to use the microwave, you must stand at least 10 feet away from when it is in use.
Bottom Line
5g technology is rapidly developing, which makes it difficult for us to keep up. With each day that passes, some new innovations might be putting our lives at risk. Hence, we must prepare for the worst.
In this article, we have taught you how to protect yourself from 5g. Hopefully this will help keep you safe, and please feel free to explore the rest of our site and learn about other ways to stay safe from 5g.
