Mobile Phone Radiations – Does 5G Cause Cancer?

The enhancement of smartphones and the introduction of the 5G network have elevated the overall experience of using the internet and maintaining effective communication. However, staying glued to a mobile device for extended periods may adversely affect our overall health and well-being. Moreover, the alleged belief that mobile phone radiation also contributes to preventing individuals from freely using mobile devices.

The general misconception of smartphone and 5G use influencing cancer through mobile phone radiation is yet to be proven. However, excessive smartphone usage does contribute to these verified health concerns:

• Disruption in sleep cycle.
• Limiting an individual’s ability to focus.
• Elevated joint pain.
• Escalating cortisol levels.

So, is smartphone radiation real and does it lead to cancer? Let’s deep dive and debunk the fundamentals of this argument to identify relevant answers!

Understanding Smartphone and Radio Frequencies

Just like other modern technologies [radio stations, GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and remote controls], smartphones also emit radiation. Mobile devices rely on invisible energy waves to effectively transfer voice notes, and text messages, share photographs, and share emails all around the world.

However, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, no research has been able to confirm that exposure to smartphone radiation influences health concerns related to cancer. The aspect of “Radiation” is classified into various categories, some of which may adversely affect the overall health of the general public.

Exposure to ionising radiation from Atomic Bombs to X-ray machines possesses the potential to harm the human DNA structure. In turn, causing cancer! On the contrary, mobile phone radiations are classified under the non-ionising category, making them relatively safe as it offers no threat of cancer with prolonged exposure.

Why Does the Misconception of Mobile Phone Radiation Causing Cancer Exist?

The general population fails to understand the difference between ionising and non-ionising radiation. Thus, establishing the misconception that smartphone and 5G usage causes cancer due to smartphone radiation exposure.

Health administrators such as WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA, etc. acknowledge the facts and believe that exposure to mobile phone radiation poses no health risks. However, several studies continue to highlight the negative impact of smartphone radiation.

A recent study conducted in 2010 gained a lot of popularity which linked mobile radiation with brain tumours. Upon investigation, the errors and biases of the researchers were revealed as the study only considered the mobile usage rate of individuals who were already affected by brain cancer.

Related Article: How Smartphones Affect Your Health?

Scientific Consensus on Cell Phone Safety

Over three decades, multiple experiments have been conducted to debunk the consequences of smartphone radiation. Various FDA physicians, engineers, and scientists ensure to consistently monitor the latest developments regarding this concept. However, no concrete evidence has been identified that indicates mobile radiation is the primary cause of cancer.

The FDA is also in charge of maintaining and examining public health data listing the rate of cancer affecting the global population. According to the FDA’s observations, the health data does not highlight any abnormal rise in the nervous system or brain cancer with prolonged use of mobile devices over the three decades.

On the contrary, the rate of cancer and nervous system ailments in the United States of America has decreased in the last 15 years. Several international and national governing bodies continue to initiate studies to gain a thorough understanding of the impact of mobile phone radiation.

Do 4G and 5G Cause Cancer?

Based on the observations listed above, it can be safely concluded that the use of mobile phones through the 4G or 5G network does not cause cancer. The general audience should refrain from indulging in such misconceptions which only contribute to creating panic and distress.

The level of non-ionising radiation emitted by smartphones is considered to be negligible, possessing inadequate energy to adversely affect the human DNA structure. The primary causes of cancer originate from other limitations related to pollution, lifestyle choice, and genetic inheritance.

The development of the 4G and 5G networks raised new concerns among the general public as the network technologies use higher frequency waves compared to previous generations. The non-ionising radiation generated does not feature adequate power to affect human life adversely. However, to safeguard global healthcare standards, research continues to be initiated to better understand the implications of 4G and 5G frequencies on humans.

Interesting Read: Mobile Phone Usage Among Students: Its Pros and Cons

Ongoing Research and Future Directions

To better understand the impact of smartphone radiation and its contribution to cancer, researchers have adopted two distinct techniques. They are:

1. Studies catering to a sample size of people.
2. Studies conducted in labs which include cell cultures and test animals.

The observations collected through the first research method have generated the most accurate results. The following is the synopsis of the most relevant experiments and its findings.

A. Studying the Impact of Mobile Radiation on People Living Near Cell Towers

During this study, two families comprising young children were compared to analyse the impact of mobile phone radiation. The first family included children affected by cancer and the second family featured children that were free from any cancer threats.

The aggregate distance of the two households to a cell tower was similar. It was observed that the mother’s exposure to radio frequencies from the cell tower did not adversely affect the pregnancy. Therefore proving that being exposed to mobile radiation does not influence early childhood cancer.

A similar study was conducted in Taiwan which indicates that people living in developed towns are more likely to be affected by cancer when compared with others who reside in remote locations. This observation may be affected and influenced by the increased exposure to RF waves.

However, both studies failed to record the actual level of mobile phone radiation. The observations were recorded based on estimated RF levels. Researchers are still being initiated to accurately measure smartphone radiation to determine its impact on humans.

B. Studying Monitoring Mobile Usage and Online Media Consumption Habits

The study involves categorising a sample audience size into multiple groups based on their independent mobile usage and online media consumption habits. The general aim of the experiment was to detect the impact of mobile phone radiation on different groups classified.

Upon prolonged investigation, no clear difference between the sample groups was identified. Therefore, establishes that smartphone radiation does not influence cancer.

How Can Individuals Reduce Risk?

Given that there are little to no risks of cancer, mobile phone users must not remain complacent. Be sure to incorporate effective measures to entirely mitigate any health risks that may be paired with mobile phone radiation. Here are some basic tips that can help you to minimise any potential risk of smartphone radiation:

A. Maintain Distance

Maintaining distance from mobile phones helps to overcome being exposed to radiation. Users are recommended to activate the speaker mode while initiating phone calls. Using headphones also offers a feasible solution. Keeping the mobile device away from your head and body can limit smartphone radiation exposure.

Studies indicate that more than 50% of RF waves are absorbed by the body when a mobile device is placed close to the body. Users are recommended to switch off their smartphones while carrying them in their pockets. 

Smartphones continue to emit radiation even when they are not actively being used. Therefore, ensuring to switch off the mobile device while travelling is a smart move to avoid radiation exposure.

B. Avoid Placing Smartphone Near Your Abdomen

Mobile phone radiation does not cause cancer, but it may affect your body adversely in different ways. For instance, carrying a mobile device in your pocket [located close to the abdomen] can affect your fertility. Certain studies indicate that mobile radiation adversely impacts reproductive organs.

This aspect is acknowledged by the majority of smartphone manufacturers as detailed warning messages are listed in every phone manual. Therefore, users must ensure to either switch off the mobile device concerned or carry it in a different bag to maintain safety throughout.

C. Use Mobile Phone in Strong Coverage Areas

Using mobile phones in weak coverage areas generates a larger amount of RF radiation. The radiation level is estimated to multiply by 1000 times in poor coverage areas. A similar impact is generated when an individual uses a smartphone inside a metal vehicle such as airplanes, trains, buses, and cars. Therefore, users are recommended to only use smartphones in strong network coverage areas to limit radiation exposure.

D. Limiting Mobile Application Usage

Mobile applications tend to operate in the background even when they are not actively used. Therefore, deactivating the Background App Refresh option will help users monitor mobile data as well as radiation levels.

Additionally, individuals must also develop a habit of downloading and using limited applications to regulate radiation exposure. Some studies also suggest that connecting to ethernet generates a larger amount of radiation when compared to Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, select the network which offers additional safety from radiation at all times.

Does Airplane Mode Stop Radiation?

Every modern smartphone is equipped with the Airplane Mode feature. This unique property disables the majority of transmitting antennas, in turn, limiting mobile radiation. Activating Bluetooth and Mobile Hotspot amenities also increase the risk of smartphone radiation. Enabling the Airplane Mode deactivates all these settings effectively. Therefore, the Airplane Mode does assist to monitor and control mobile phone radiation.

Conclusion

These were some of the foremost aspects related to the concept of mobile phone radiation. Using smartphones is entirely safe as the technology does not contribute to causing cancer. However, other limitations can be experienced due to prolonged exposure to RF radiation. 

Individuals are recommended to conduct detailed online research to avail more relevant information about this subject. Consult your carrier operator to address other fitting queries concerning smartphone radiation.