5G Antenna Uncomfortably Close?
One day you go outside and a new 5G antenna has been placed on the light poll outside your house. These little antennas have been popping up in neighborhoods all over the US.
SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?
International health organizations ( WHO) state that RF exposure from 5G is well below safety limits and there is no conclusive evidence of adverse health effects from low-level RF exposure like that from 5G
The WHO is currently undertaking a project to assess the health risks of 5G, with a risk assessment due in 2025.
A recent study published in NeuroImage found that individuals with specific gene variants who are exposed to 5G frequencies experienced changes in their brain wave activity — measured via an EEG — during sleep.
5G uses radiofrequency (RF) waves, which are a form of non-ionizing radiation, meaning they lack the energy to damage DNA... so this is not the same as an x-ray
Research into potential effects is ongoing ( after all the technology is relatively new especially at the propagation level we are seeing today). Some studies have explored potential effects like changes in brain wave activity during sleep under specific conditions, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and concentrating but it will take YEARS to get strong large research on the topic
There are different types of 5G antennas: some are designed to be much stronger and travel further, (“ low band” and can travel 10+ miles. not usually found in neighborhoods but I have seen them close to homes) while others are smaller and designed to travel up to 1,500 feet. (These are called ‘ low band” ) If you are seeing multiple antennas in your neighborhood, its likely the lowband which can be placed up to 750 feet apart.
Given the uncertainties surrounding RF exposure, and the ongoing research that is taking place internationally on the topic based on today’s levels of exposure, many like to take a precautionary approach: just like you’re hopefully not using your cell phone every day next to your ear ( use wired, headphones, or the speakerphone) you might not feel comfortable with a 5G antenna right outside your home
BUT no need to panic. Here’s what I recommend you do.
Measure: invest in an RF meter (like the Safe and Sound Pro 2) to measure the signal strength inside your home, or hiring company to do this. Focus on the areas of the home that are closest to the antenna because these antennas do not tend to transmit for very long distances. So if the antenna is directly in front of your house test, all the rooms that are facing the front of the house and test near the windows and then beyond to get a better understanding of how strong the signal is inside the room affected.
Distance: before you take any drastic action, remember that RF radiation is greatly reduced with distance ( which is why you want to test in different areas of any room that is affected with high readings ). If you find that your bed is placed in an area with high EMF exposure ( perhaps against a wall or window that faces the antenna) consider moving the bed to the opposite side of the room, same if there is a play space corner where your child likes to hang out a lot. Sometimes rearranging your furniture, to be as far as possible from the outside antenna and any windows or walls facing it, is enough.
If moving furniture that is used often is not an option you might want to consider EMF mitigation.
I do recommend taking the following steps with the assistance of an EMF expert. The reason for this is that:
you do not want to create a room that is sealed on all surfaces from EMF entering, but then any Wi-Fi device used inside the room will be significantly magnified as it has to work harder to get a signal from inside the space ( you would have to consider using an ethernet cable for your internet connection instead of Wi-Fi.).
Grounding: For shielding materials like paints and meshes to be most effective, they must be properly grounded by a licensed electrician. Grounding directs the absorbed EMF energy safely away from your living space.
Mitigation Options:
Shielding paint: Apply special conductive paints to your home’s exterior walls or roof. These paints often contain carbon or graphite and can block or absorb RF signals. Many can be painted over with a standard latex paint for a finished look.
Window film: Transparent, metallic-coated films can be applied to windows to significantly reduce the amount of radiation that enters.
Metal mesh: Heavy-duty, stainless steel mesh can be installed during construction or renovations to create an effective shield within walls, roofs, or beneath the flooring.
Natural barriers: dense trees and bushes can provide a small reduction in RF signals.
SHOP THE STORY
Safe and Sound radio frequency meter : give you a measurement
Safe and SoundRadio Frequency Detector: just detects in different ranges (high/ medium/low)
MORE READING
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-5g-mobile-networks-and-health
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-021-00297-6
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381192500343X
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40541756/
https://defendershield.com/blogs/5g-internet-of-things/how-the-5g-network-is-different-than-4g-how-to-protect-from-5g-wireless-emf-exposure?srsltid=AfmBOornbrb_cIJU7laXT0HG4dBvAqat-OBDp-bl1dSZvcBfdWGw5IBp