Electromagnetic Pollution

Cities are often where electromagnetic pollution is concentrated and increasing year-by-year.

With increases in Wifi installations, more cellular communication devices, 5G network installations, the “Smart City” agenda, and the "Internet of Things "(IoT) agenda, we can expect more transmissions over the microwave and radio frequencies in our cities.

What are the consequences of these changes in our exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)?

This is how the World Health Organisation introduces the issue:

“Electromagnetic fields (EMF) of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of EMF, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. Electromagnetic radiation has been around since the birth of the universe; light is its most familiar form. Electric and magnetic fields are part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation which extends from static electric and magnetic fields, through radiofrequency and infrared radiation, to X-rays.”

5G (fifth generation wireless mobile phone technology)

In 2023, just over 3 years since widespread deployment of 5G technology, the World Health Organisation dismisses potential public health concerns. However, as seen in the quote below, the World Health Organisation also acknowledges the lack of scientific data on both how exposure levels change with 5G antennas as well as the lack of scientific studies on the biological effects of specific 5G frequencies.

“Exposure levels

Currently, exposure from 5G infrastructures at around 3.5 GHz is similar to that from existing mobile phone base stations. With the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas, exposure could be more variable as a function of location of the users and their usage. Given that the 5G technology is currently at an early stage of deployment, the extent of any change in exposure to radiofrequency fields is still under investigation.

What are the potential health risks from 5G?

To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions are drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but, so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G.

Tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in negligible temperature rise in the human body.

As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body (skin and eye). Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated.”

As the above quote indicates, organisations such as the World Health Organisation often give the impression that tissue heating is the main health and safety concern with this technology.

Other organisations and concerned people, would dispute the claim WHO that “no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies” and would argue that non-thermal effects are the main health concerns related to low-intensity electromagnetic radiation exposure.

According to the Environmental Health Trust:

“An ever growing body of evidence shows that cell phone and wireless radiation – at even very low levels- can harm our health in a number of different ways. There is no doubt that there are harmful biological effects, documented by scientific research.”

Why is CityWatch NZ covering this issue?

Whereas much exposure to the EMF from consumer electronics is a personal choice where people can chose to read the RF safety notices that came with their device, and minimise their exposure accordingly. The contemporary urban environment is deliberately blanketed in EMF signals without the informed consent of the people living, working, and travelling in those environments.

Like many issues covered by CityWatch NZ, this is another change which has been imposed on cities and the people within those cities.

There will be claims that the benefits out way the risks with these technologies and arguments that this is all for the ‘greater good’. However, these claims and arguments are only valid, reasonable, and in good faith if we have genuinely open, transparent, and well-informed consultation as part of the decision-making process.

[Last updated 25/11/2023]