The impact of the many international appeals on RF radiation safety, if any, is unclear. However, they will be historical documents on warnings that have been thus far ignored by the EU and the WHO. This is exemplified below.
The deployment of 5G for microwave radiation has given increasing awareness and concern among individuals regarding the risks to human health and the environment resulting in massive protests and even a moratorium in certain EU countries and US cities (https://tinyurl.se/5gstoppers). 5G uses a different technology compared with previous generations, such as 2G, 3G and 4G. In the following, our 5G appeal to EU is discussed (www.5Gappeal.eu). This has currently been signed by >260 scientists and medical doctors from a number of countries. It is still open for endorsement.
Scientists and doctors warn of potential severe health effects of 5G
āWe the undersigned scientists and doctors recommend a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation, 5G, for telecommunication until potential hazards for human health and the environment have been fully investigated by scientists independent from industry. 5G will substantially increase exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on top of the 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, etc. for telecommunications already in place. RF-EMF has been proven to be harmful for humans and the environmentā.
5G leads to the marked increase of mandatory exposure to wireless radiation
ā5G technology is effective only over short distance. [The range of 5G radiation is decreased due to its increased carrier frequency (up to ~100 GHz) compared to previous mobile telephony generations and other existing microwave telecommunications radiations such as Wi-Fi (up to 2.6 GHz), and according to Rayleigh’s law which explains that the intensity of scattered electromagnetic radiation (Jscat) is proportional to f 4 (where f is the frequency of the radiation) when the dimensions of the scattering particles – such as the molecules of the air, of the building materials, etc. – are smaller than the wavelength (which is the case for all mobile telephony radiations): Jscat ā f 4(33)]. It is poorly transmitted through solid material. Many new [base] antennas will be required and full-scale implementation will result in antennas every 10 to 12 houses in urban areas, thus massively increasing mandatory exposureā.
ā[Moreover, apart from the increase in background exposure, 5G is likely to induce significant thermal effects in addition to the already non-thermal ones, again due to its significantly higher frequency (34)]ā.
āWith āthe ever more extensive use of wireless technologies,ā (35) nobody can avoid to be exposed. Because on top of the increased number of 5G-transmitters (even within housing, shops and in hospitals) according to estimates, ā10 to 20 billion connectionsā (36) (to refrigerators, washing machines, surveillance cameras, self-driving cars and buses, etc.) will be parts of the Internet of Things. All these together can cause a substantial increase in the total, long term RF-EMF exposure to all EU citizensā.
Harmful effects of RF-EMF exposure have already been proven
āOver 230 scientists from >40 countries [now 252 scientists from 43 nations] (37) have expressed their āserious concernsā regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices already before the additional 5G roll-out. They refer to the fact that ānumerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMFs affect living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelinesā. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects (38) to both plants (39) and animals (40)ā.
āAfter the scientistsā appeal was written in 2015 additional research has convincingly confirmed serious health risks from RF-EMF fields from wireless technology. The world’s largest study (25 million US dollar) National Toxicology Program (NTP) (41), shows statistically significant increase in the incidence of brain and heart cancer in animals exposed to EMF [intensities] below the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines followed by most countries. These results support results in human epidemiological studies (17) on RF radiation and brain tumour risk. A large number of peer-reviewed scientific reports (2) demonstrate harm to human health from EMFsā.
āThe International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2011 concluded that EMFs of frequencies 30 KHz – 300 GHz are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) (12,42). However, new studies like the NTP study mentioned above and several epidemiological investigations including the latest studies on mobile phone use and brain cancer risks confirm that RF-EMF radiation is carcinogenic to humans (17)ā.
āThe EUROPA EM-EMF Guideline 2016(1) states that āthere is strong evidence that long-term exposure to certain EMFs is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and male infertilityā¦Common EHS (electromagnetic hypersensitivity) symptoms include headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, depression, lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptomsāā.
āAn increasing part of the European population is affected by ill health symptoms that have for many years been linked to exposure to EMF and wireless radiation in the scientific literature. The International Scientific Declaration on EHS & multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), Brussels (43), declares that: āIn view of our present scientific knowledge, we thereby stress all national and international bodies and institutionsā¦to recognize EHS and MCS as true medical conditions which acting as sentinel diseases may create a major public health concern in years to come worldwide i.e. in all the countries implementing unrestricted use of electromagnetic field-based wireless technologies and marketed chemical substances⦠Inaction is a cost to society and is not an option anymore⦠we unanimously acknowledge this serious hazard to public healthā¦that major primary prevention measures are adopted and prioritized, to face this worldwide pan-epidemic in perspectiveāā.
Precautions
āThe Precautionary Principle (44) was adopted by EU 2005(45): āWhen human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harmāā.
āThe Council of Europe Resolution 1815(46): āTake all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumoursā¦Assembly strongly recommends that the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle is applied, covering both the so-called thermal effects and the athermic [non-thermal] or biological effects of electromagnetic emissions or radiationā and to āimprove risk-assessment standards and qualityāā.
āThe Nuremberg code (47) applies to all experiments on humans, thus including the roll-out of 5G with new, higher RF-EMF exposure. All such experiments: āshould be based on previous knowledge (e.g., an expectation derived from animal experiments) that justifies the experiment. No experiment should be conducted, where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects,ā Nuremberg code pts 3-5(47). Already published scientific studies show that there is āa priori reason to believeā in real health hazardsā.
āThe European Environment Agency (48) is warning for āRadiation risk from everyday devicesā in spite of the radiation being below the WHO/ICNIRP standards (49). EEA also concludes: āThere are many examples of the failure to use the precautionary principle in the past, which have resulted in serious and often irreversible damage to health and environmentsā¦harmful exposures can be widespread before there is both āconvincingā evidence of harm from long-term exposures, and biological understanding [mechanism] (50) of how that harm is causedāā.
āSafety guidelinesā protect the industry, not health
āThe current ICNIRP āsafety guidelinesā are obsolete. All proofs of harm mentioned above arise although the radiation is below the ICNIRP āsafety guidelinesā (49). Therefore new safety standards are necessary. The reason for the misleading guidelines is that āconflict of interest of ICNIRP members (10) due to their relationships with telecommunications or electric companies undermine the impartiality that should govern the regulation of Public Exposure Standards for non-ionizing radiationā¦To evaluate cancer risks it is necessary to include scientists with competence in medicine, especially oncologyā.
āThe current ICNIRP/WHO guidelines for EMF are based on the obsolete hypothesis that āThe critical effect of RF-EMF exposure relevant to human health and safety is heating of exposed tissueā (51). However, scientists have proven that many different kinds of illnesses and harms are caused without heating (ānon-thermal effectā) (52) at radiation levels well below ICNIRP guidelinesā.
The authors thus urge the EU to carry out the following
i) āTo take all reasonable measures to halt the 5G RF-EMF expansion until independent scientists can assure that 5G and the total radiation levels caused by RF-EMF (5G together with 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi) will not be harmful for EU-citizens, especially infants, children and pregnant women, as well as the environmentā. ii) āTo recommend that all EU countries, especially their radiation safety agencies, follow Resolution 1815 and inform citizens, including, teachers and physicians, about health risks from RF-EMF radiation, how and why to avoid microwave radiation, particularly in/near e.g., daycare centers, schools, homes, workplaces, hospitals and elderly careā. iii) āTo appoint immediately, without industry influence, an EU task force of independent, truly impartial EMF-and-health scientists with no conflicts of interest (to re-evaluate the health risks and: a) To decide about new, safe āmaximum total exposure standardsā for all microwave radiation within EU. b) To study the total and cumulative exposure affecting EU-citizens. c) To create rules that will be prescribed/enforced within the EU about how to avoid exposure exceeding new EU āmaximum total exposure standardsā concerning all kinds of EMFs in order to protect citizens, especially infants, children and pregnant womenā. iv) āTo prevent the wireless/telecom industry through its lobbying organizations from persuading EU-officials to make decisions about further propagation of RF radiation including 5G in Europeā. v) āTo favor and implement wired digital telecommunication instead of wirelessā.
First reply from the EU
A reply from the EU was sent on October 13, 2017 by the Directorate-General Health and Food Safety (Public health, country knowledge, crisis management) in Luxembourg. It was not replied to by the Commissioner Andriukaitis, but instead by Mr. John F. Ryan, Director (for the full text please see: http://www.5gappeal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/reply_ryan.pdf). Some paragraphs are presented below:
āIt is worth underlining that for the Commission health protection is always taken into account in all of its proposals. There is consistent evidence presented by national and international bodies (International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection – ICNIRP, Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks – SCENIHR) that exposure to electromagnetic fields does not represent a health risk, if it remains below the limits set by Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (https://ec.europa.eu/health//sites/health/files/electromagnetic_fields/docs/emf_rec519_en.pdf)ā.
āThe Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, which is independent of the Commission, has a standing mandate to provide this updateā.
āIt has already produced five opinions. The last opinion was adopted in January 2015 on āPotential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fieldsā. (https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/emerging/docs/scenihr_o_041.pdf)ā.
āThese scientific opinions have not provided any scientific justification for revising the exposure limits (basic restrictions and reference levels) under Council Recommendation 1999/519/ECā.
āDigital technologies and mobile communication technologies, including high speed internet, will be the backbone of Europe’s future economy, allowing all citizens to be connected. At the same time, all citizens deserve appropriate protection against electromagnetic fields from all types of sources including from wireless devicesā.
āMost 5G networks are expected to use smaller cells than previous generations with lower electromagnetic fields exposure levels. This is confirmed by the experience so far gained. The introduction of 3G and 4G has not increased exposure from environmental fields and this has been published also in peer-reviewed journals. In particular, the introduction of 3G has lowered exposure of mobile phone users for calls, compared to 2Gā.
āRelated to the issue of the alleged conflicts of interests, the Commission is not aware of any conflicts of interests of members of international bodies such as ICNIRP or the members of SCENIHR. Please be informed that the Ombudsman conclusion in case 208/2015/P concerning conflicts of interests in a Commission expert group on electromagnetic fields is that there was no maladministration by the European Commission (https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/cases/decision.faces/en/78175/html.bookmark)ā.
āPlease be assured that the Commission will pursue scrutiny of the independent scientific evidence available to ensure the highest health protection of our citizensā.
Comment: There are obvious misconceptions in this reply such as: āThe introduction of 3G and 4G has not increased exposure from environmental fields and this has been published also in peer-reviewed journalsā. On the contrary, numerous peer-reviewed articles have demonstrated that exposure to ambient RF radiation has increased substantially, as discussed (3-6).
In addition, the statement that: āthe Commission is not aware of any conflicts of interests of members of international bodies such as ICNIRP or the members of SCENIHRā does not represent the scientific evidence of inherent conflicts of interest both in ICNIRP and SCENIHR (9,10). The very Commission seems to be ill-informed or even misinformed, as the EU seems to take information mainly from these two fraudulent organizations, but not from independent researchers. The EU does not seem to rely on sound science and thereby downplays the RF-related risks (7-12,53,54).
b) First rebuttal to the EU and the response
On November 13, 2017, a rebuttal was sent to the EU Commissioner of Health, Dr Andriukaitis. The whole letter can be found at: https://www.environmentandcancer.com/letter-to-vytenis-andriukaitis-13-11-2017/.
āWe suppose that you know that Director John F. Ryan, October 13, 2017 replied (Ares 2017 5015409 – Reply to the EU 5G-appeal, and that he said: āThere is consistent evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields does not represent a health risk⦠if below the limits ā¦ā His conclusion is based on the opinions of ICNIRP and SCENIHRā.
āAs early as February 1, 2016, in a Comment on SCENIHR to Mr. Ryan it was shown in article and letter by Drs. [Sage], Carpenter and Hardell, representing BioInitiative and ECERI, that: āThe evidence in the SCENIHR Final Opinion on EMF clearly and convincingly establishes the potential for health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields [EMF]. Based on the evidence provided in this Opinion, the Committee is obligated to draw to the attention of the [EU] Commission that EMF is a new and emerging problem that may pose an actual or potential threatāā (55).
āIn spite of all this, Mr Ryan in his reply to us still continues to claim that EMF ādoes not represent a health riskā and – without any other references than ICNIRP and SCENIHR – defends industry’s standpoint that EMFs are harmless if below the ICNIRP āsafety guidelinesā. In addition he ignores the IARC evaluations on both ELF-EMF and RF-EMF to be āpossibleā human carcinogens, Group 2Bā.
āIn the 5G-Appeal we urge EU to appoint a truly independent expert group of EMF-and-health researchers (contrary to ICNIRP and SCENIHR) to decide about new safe guidelines for EMF exposure. It is imperative to immediately apply EU:s Precautionary Principle (and ALARA) enabling rapid response to stop distribution of 5G products in order to diminish the harm that has already been proven by scientists. A European pan-epidemic may follow if you don’t do soā.
Second reply from EU on 29 November, 2017
This was sent from the European Commission, Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Head of Cabinet Brussels, written by Arūnas Vinciunas. The full reply can be found at: http://www.5gappeal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/reply_vinciunas.pdf).
āWhen Mr Ryan answered your email, in which you stated your disagreement with the Commission’s stance on the 5G appeal, he presented the conclusions of roughly two decades of research on the potential health effects of EMF, and the views expressed in the Scientific Opinions produced by the independent Scientific Committees. [ICNIRP – International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and SCENIHR – Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks]. The Committee’s last Opinion on EMF, published in 2015, is based on hundreds of peer-reviewed studies published worldwide and is the fourth Opinion on EMF published since EMF legislation was adopted in 1999. The Committee’s conclusion in this latest Opinion was based on exposure studies, epidemiological studies and in vivo and in vitro studies, and studies on any suggestions of causality were considered for the weightingā.
āThe Commission services are confident that the advice provided by the Scientific Committees is unbiased, accurate and scientifically sound and therefore do not feel it necessary to appoint an independent expert group of EMF-and-health researchers to discuss new safe guidelines for EMF exposureā.
āThe recourse to the EU’s Precautionary Principle to stop the distribution of 5G products appears too drastic a measure. We first need to see how this new technology will be applied and how the scientific evidence will evolve. Please rest assured that the Commission will keep abreast of future developments in view of safeguarding the health of the European citizens at the highest level possible and in line with its mandateā.
Comment: This reply from EU is far from adequate. It does not represent a sound evaluation of the RF-related radiation risks based on published peer-reviewed studies. This is again outlined in our response to the EU.
c) Second rebuttal to the EU and the response
On January 17, 2018, a letter was sent to Dr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner of Health. Sections of this letter are presented below and the full text can be found at: https://www.environmentandcancer.com/letter-to-vytenis-andriukaitis-and-donald-tusk-17-01-18/.
āFollowing the letter and the Scientist Appeal calling for a moratorium on 5G (āThe 5G Appealā), which we sent to your office, we received a response from Director John F. Ryan on October 13, 2017 and then, upon our reply, a letter from Mr. ArÅ«nas VinciÅ«nas dated 29.11.2017ā.
āDespite the conclusive evidence presented in our letters, both Director Ryan and Mr. VinciÅ«nas gave generic responses and continued to claim that EMF ādoes not represent a health riskā. In doing so they only refer to ICNIRP and SCENIHR opinions without explaining why they disregarded the compelling evidence and references under the 5G-Appeal headline: āHarmful effects of RF-EMF exposure are already provenāā.
āThe ICNIRP exposure limits are dependent on an unproven hypothesis that āonly heat from EMF can cause health hazardsā. This hypothesis has clearly been rejected in a large number of scientific studiesā.
āBoth EU officials defend the industry-supportive standpoint that EMFs are harmless if below the ICNIRP āguidelinesā. However, many of the scientists on both ICNIRP’s and SCENIHR’s committees are connected to the telecom industry with obvious conflicts of interestā.
āMr VinciÅ«nas stated in his letter: āThe recourse to the EU’s Precautionary Principle to stop the distribution of 5G products appears too drastic a measure .ā Mr VinciÅ«nas finishes his letter: āwe need to see ⦠how the scientific evidence will evolveāā.
āAccording to Communication from the Commission on the precautionary principle: āWhether or not to invoke the Precautionary Principle is a decision exercised where scientific information is insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain and where there are indications that the possible effects on the environment, or human, animal or plant health may be potentially dangerous and inconsistent with the chosen level of protection.ā That describes the situation with 5G perfectly. Existing data shows that 5G frequencies [radiations] are hazardous. However, additional studies will be necessary to fully determine the extent of the riskā.
Third reply from the EU
This letter was replied to on April 27, 2018 by Mr. ArÅ«nas VinÄiÅ«nas from the Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. For the full third reply to our appeals please see: https://www.environmentandcancer.com/answer-from-arunas-vinciunas-27-04-2018/.
āThank you very much for your letter of 15 March 2018 which was also transmitted by email on 19 March. Commissioner Andriukaitis has asked me to reply to you on his behalfā.
āFinally, let me refer to the previous correspondence you have had with John F. Ryan, Director of Public Health and me (29 November 2017, 13 October 2017 and 19 February 2018) where we have comprehensively explained our position with regard to the arguments you have raised. It is my view that we have now extensively deliberated on the matter and that we should refrain from further repetitionā.
āPlease rest assured that the Commission will remain committed to safeguarding the health of the European citizens, at the highest level possible and in line with his mandateā.
d) Third rebuttal to the EU and the response
This rebuttal had the title āRequest for a moratorium on the 5G rollout. Request for guidelines based on independent research. Request for documents showing that 5G is safeā. On May 20, 2019 a letter with these requests was sent to Dr Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner of Environment and Dr Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner of Health. For the full text please see: https://www.environmentandcancer.com/letter-to-vytenis-andriukaitis-20-05-2019/.
āWe make reference to the Precautionary Principle (PP) (56) It āenables a rapid response to be given in the face of a possible danger to human healthā¦institutions may take protective measures without having to wait until the reality⦠of risks become apparent ⦠preventive action should be takenā (57). Research confirms 5G to be a risk to all life on earthā.
āWith this communication we touch upon three points:ā i) āFirstly, we request in the 5G Appeal to EU (www.5gappeal.eu), of which you are a public servant and representative, to declare an immediate moratorium on 5G deployment. The 5G appeal to EU is now confirmed by 230+ truly independent scientists and physicians from 36 countries. The Space 5G appeal (58) has more than 83,000 affirmations from 168 countries. According to PP (56) and EU IP/00/96(59) āprotection of health takes precedence over economic considerations.āā ii) āSecondly, we ask for groups of truly industry-independent researchers to establish new guidelines for exposure. An āIn-depth analysisā of the deployment of 5G (60), published by EU in April 2019, needs to be seriously considered. It stated thatā One aspect, for example, that is not well understood today is the unpredictable propagation patterns that could result in unacceptable levels of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.ā(p. 6)ā. iii) āThirdly, with this letter we are formally requesting, in accordance with Art. 42(61) on EU Fundamental Rights, access to all documents in your possession, either created by you or at your disposal, related to the effects of EMF to human health and the environment. Once in possession of such a list, we will decide which of those documents, if any, are of interest and show that 5G is safe. The list of the documents, and the ways to access them, should be sent to the email addresses belowā.
āWe note that, while the EU is eagerly promoting the rollout of 5G, a new EU report admits (60) āthe problem is that currently it is not possible to accurately simulate or measure 5G emissions in the real worldā (p. 12). āSignificant concern is emerging over the possible impact on health and safety arising from potentially much higher exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation arising from 5Gā (p. 4). The EU report also stresses dangers: āIncreased exposure may result not only from the use of much higher frequencies in 5G but also from the potential for the aggregation of different signals, their dynamic nature, and the complex interference effects that may result, especially in dense urban areas.ā (p. 11)ā.
Fourth reply from the EU
Finally, a response was delivered by the EU on September 5, 2019, although with reference to the wrong date of our letter. It was sent by Arunas Vinciunas from the Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. The full response can be read at: https://www.environmentandcancer.com/answer-from-arunas-vinciunas-05-09-2019/.
āThank you for your email of 7 July 2019 to Commissioner Andriukaitis in which you request to halt the 5G expansion in the EU immediately in order to allow a moratorium for industry independent research. Commissioner Andriukaitis has asked me to reply to you on his behalfā.
āIn my latter note to you I already expressed my view that we had extensively deliberated on the matter and that we should refrain from further repetitionā.
āAs regards your request to halt the launch of the new 5G technology, I would like to confirm the view already expressed in my note of 29 November 2017 to you that stopping the distribution of 5G products appears too drastic a measure. I repeat that first there is a need to see how this new technology will be applied and how the scientific evidence will evolveā.
āConcerning your call for a scientific evaluation and new guidelines for exposure, the second point you have raised, let me stress that the Commission will review the situation once the review of the guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Protection (ICNIRP) will be finalised which is expected in due courseā.
āAs regards your third point, documents related to the effects of electromagnetic fields to human health and the environment, please be referred to the opinion of the Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks of 20 January 2015 on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) (https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/emerging/docs/scenihr_o_041.pdf) that provides an extensive list of references to scientific literature on this issueā.
Comment on the fourth reply from the EU appeal: There is no new evidence of the safety in this letter from EU compared with the earlier replies. Of note, the EU relies on documentation of risk only on old and biased selection of references in one single report from SCENIHR (https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/emerging/docs/scenihr_o_041.pdf). Thus, EU officials still seem to base the evaluation of the health risks on reports from the ICNIRP and SCENIHR that have been seriously criticized. Of note, the EU relies on a report from 2015 as to scientific publications on the safety of 5G, a technology that was not developed during that time. This suggests that perhaps the EU is reluctant to deal with the safety issues associated with 5G technology.
e) Fourth rebuttal to the EU
On October 24, 2019 a fourth rebuttal was sent to the EU (https://www.environmentandcancer.com/letter-to-arunas-vinciunas-24-10-2019). We wrote that āSpecifically now, as we wish to assist the Commissioner in giving due response, it can be further specified from this side that we need the list of documents related to EMFs created by RF/Radiofrequencies (so: not by ELF) and even more specifically, to the list of those documents based on which the Commission is basing its current position that 5G should not be stopped nor subject to a moratorium (see the statement of your letter that āfirst there is a need to see how this new technology will be applied and how the scien6fic evidence will evolveā). We leave aside our total disagreement on the merits of such position at this time: formally, we are entitled to receive from you such a list of documents based on which the Commissioner determined that 5G is safe. Based on that list we will decide which of those documents, are of interest. Please provide such list by email no later than October 31, 2019. This is urgentā.