Positive Health Online

Is it possible that something we cannot see could have a serious effect on our health? Clearly, judging by the devastating consequences caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the answer is yes. As Matt Hancock, UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, recently stated

“We are fighting against an invisible enemy…”

However, there is another invisible threat to our health, a type of pollution not widely recognised: manmade electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which powers the wireless technology which has become so prevalent in our modern world.

Respected scientists have major concerns regarding the effects of manmade electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on health and the way in which it reduces our immunity.[9] Over 30,000 peer-reviewed scientific studies show clear links between EMR and rising levels of modern illnesses. The observed effects include levels of cancer, harmful free radicals and neurological disorders, to name but a few, increasing in tandem with our exposure.[1] Furthermore, many of these results are reproducible (i.e. they have been replicated by other researchers.)

Some concerns have been recognized by governments in several countries; in fact, the UK government recently advised the public to reduce exposure to mobile phones. On 4 February 2020, Public Health England (PHE) updated their guidelines on mobile phone safety, advising that people - especially children - reduce their exposure to mobile phone radiation.[6] They refer to advice from the former UK Chief Medical Officer, Sir William Stewart, who, along with many other experts, has been warning of the risk to health from EMR for years. PHE advise phone users to keep phones away from the body, to text rather than call, and to buy phones with lower specific energy absorption rates (SAR).

Campaigners against increasing numbers of mobile phone masts believe that this is a step in the right direction but that it is inadequate to protect populations from the escalating levels of EMR to which we are being exposed. We may be at the beginning of an upward curve, especially for young people who are exposed to unprecedented levels of radiation from masts and devices. Studies show that aggressive brain gliomas - of the type found in laboratory rats exposed to EMR - have doubled in some countries and quadrupled in France in the last twenty years. Two recent multi-million dollar studies, from the US and Italy, showed ‘clear evidence’ of a link between EMR and tumours.[2,3,4]

Independent international experts say that the increasing emissions from phone masts as well as the addition of many small-cell antennas as used in Fifth Generation technology (5G) could be a serious health hazard to populations. 5G frequencies include low-band, mid-band and high-band microwaves, and soon will involve millimetre wave frequencies (30 GHz or higher). Besides using different carrier frequencies than older wireless technology, 5G employs technologies known as phased arrays, beam forming and MIMO, a wireless technology that uses multiple transmitters and receivers to transfer more data at the same time; these have yet to be studied for health effects. These new technologies are likely to increase risk of harm due to exposure to short bursts of intense radiation.  

Interestingly, Lloyds of London, the world’s largest insurer, has announced that it will not insure against ill effects from 5G.[19] It is also advising policy holders to hold schools who install Wifi or mobile phone masts responsible for health problems pupils might suffer if wireless technology is later confirmed to have been responsible.

Initial studies on the high-frequency radiation used in 5G show that, contrary to industry claims, it can penetrate the skin and damage the nervous system. Low-frequency radiation, such as that used in 4G and WiFi have also been proved to be harmful as it is a pulsed, propagating wave which penetrates walls and bodies and damages our DNA.[11, 13] 5G is different in that it has not yet been tested on populations for safety and the aim is for blanket coverage, with no possibility of opting-out. This will result in a massive increase in inescapable, involuntary exposure to wireless radiation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s stance on the subject focusses on the potential thermal effects, stating "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."

However, this is a red herring, since the studies have found adverse biologic and health effects from exposure to low-intensity (i.e. non-thermal levels of) radiofrequency fields.[12] As the guidelines do not cover long-term exposure and low-intensity effects, they are insufficient to protect public health.

They also state that "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).” 

Although it is true that there is less body penetration for higher frequencies, especially millimetre wave frequencies, there are proven adverse secondary effects from these exposures especially on the testes, the sweat glands, the peripheral nervous system, the immune system [9, 10] and the cardiovascular system.

Vested Interests?

Emission levels are set by a small, private group, the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) whose “Guidelines For Limiting Exposure To Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz)” were established in 1998. These guidelines are accepted by the WHO and numerous countries around the world. The WHO is calling for all nations to adopt the ICNIRP guidelines to encourage international harmonization of standards. In 2009, the ICNIRP released a statement saying that it was reaffirming its 1998 guidelines, as in their opinion, the scientific literature published since that time “has provided no evidence of any adverse effects below the basic restrictions and does not necessitate an immediate revision of its guidance on limiting exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields.” Independent research shows that biological effects begin at just a tiny fraction of the radiation limits ICNIRP sets.

ICNIRP continues to the present day to make the same assertions, in spite of growing scientific evidence to the contrary. Moreover, it appears that the regulators have deliberately excluded the scientific evidence of harm; their hypothesis that any dangers would only result from thermal effects is at best out of date.[9] ICNIRP have been repeatedly exposed as having ties to the telecom industry .[5]

To sum up, the various agencies setting safety standards have failed to impose sufficient guidelines to protect the general public, particularly children who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMR. 

Is it possible that the desire for profit is blinding the telecom industry to the true facts?

History Repeating Itself?

As an example of a similar scenario, from the 1930s scientists were aware that asbestos caused cancer. The medical literature identified asbestos as a major carcinogen and environmental hazard, with over 200 publications describing the dangers of asbestos by the end of the 1960s. Notwithstanding this knowledge, and the deaths that resulted from breathing in the dust from asbestos products, as late as the 1970s the manufacturers and installers of these materials, including those used in household products, continued to sell and use them without warning workers of the dangers, nor providing protection from the dust or substituting with equally effective materials.

Tragically, many companies were aware of the connection between asbestos and cancer. However, they altered research reports to hide these findings from the public. Therefore, the public were misled.[7)]

Could it be that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is the new asbestos? That may sound farfetched and alarmist but is it? 

Is this history, the asbestos story, repeating itself with companies avoiding facing the truth about the threats caused to human, animal and plant life caused by EMRs especially 5G? 

What Is Being Done?

Switzerland has placed an indefinite moratorium on 5G due to health concerns, specifying the application of more stringent precautionary measures; several cantons have already imposed their own voluntary moratoria.[8]

Concerned citizens in many cities have been lobbying their local councils with some success. Many consider that installing 5G masts without warning residents of the potential dangers represents a clear  violation of human rights.[14] For example, Wells, in Somerset, recently became the first UK city to call for a moratorium to prevent 5G from being activated and imposed upon its citizens. The official report says: “This Council has a responsibility to protect the public and environment from exposure to harm, albeit unpredictable in the current state of scientific knowledge, and therefore opposes the roll-out of 5G in the Parish of Wells City Council – based on the Precautionary principle – until further information is revealed.” This action has also been considered by other councils in the Mendip District, such as Glastonbury, Frome and Shepton Mallet.

More than 300 scientists and medical doctors, including several emeritus professors, have called for a moratorium on the rollout of 5G "until independent scientists can assure that 5G and the total radiation levels caused by RF-EMF (5G together with 2G, 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi) will not be harmful for EU-citizens, especially infants, children and pregnant women, as well as the environment…. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.  

“These findings justify our appeal to the United Nations (UN) and all member States in the world, to encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging precautionary measures, and educating the public about health risks, particularly risk to children and foetal development.  By not taking action, the WHO is failing to fulfil its role as the preeminent international public health agency." [15]

Other experts raising the alarm on EMR include Frank Clegg, former CEO of Microsoft in Canada[16] and Dr Magda Havas PhD.[17]

Yet 5G masts are currently being quietly erected in many cities and towns in the UK, despite the fact that only emergency work has been allowed to be carried out during the current Covid 19 virus crisis, and other countries, without consultation with local residents.[21]

Is 5G the new asbestos only worse? Are we going to leave it to future generations to discover the harm done?

What Can We Do?

1. In addition to social distancing, consider adding "tech-distancing” to the current vernacular as a strategy for better protecting our immune system. Tech-distancing means keeping as far away as possible from mobile phone masts, wireless devices, and all so-called “smart” things, and choosing hard-wired internet connections whenever possible rather than wireless connections such as WiFi or smartphones. (N.B. Even Ofcom advises:- “Try wired rather than wireless - For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using wifi. This is a computer networking cable which should give you a faster, more reliable connection. They’re available from as little as £3.00/$4.00.”)[20]
2. Use your mobile device on speaker and keep it several inches away from your body at all times. Whenever possible, use a landline for phone calls and put your mobile on airplane mode. 
3. We must be especially mindful of children now doing schoolwork online as they are far more susceptible to harm from wireless due to their small size and developing bodies. Limit kids’ screen time and take advantage of these value-fillable days to rekindle children’s ability to play, imagine, be silly, daydream, play in the dirt, explore nature, and most of all spend quality time with family and friends.
4. Wireless Education https://www.wirelesseducation.org/ is a non-profit organisation giving information on how to put tech distancing into practice in ways that fit with modern lifestyles and to help people learn how to share this information with others easily. They say: “Wireless radiation hits the immune system especially hard, along with the central nervous system. The effects are cumulative over time so the longer we use wireless technology, the more harm we may be doing to ourselves, and those around us via second-hand radiation.
   …With COVID-19 in play, it's important to do what we can to support our immune system and learning to use technology safely will go a long way.” Topics covered include such things as: “Keep your sleeping areas a sanctuary. It's not just the light from the screens, it's the radiation pulses too. Our bodies are meant to do cell growth and repair during sleep and the science shows wireless radiation hampers this critical process.” Their online courses only take about half an hour to complete, and they provide a printable sheet at the end, chock full of useful device-specific pointers for safer technology use. 
5. Here’s a great flyer from 5G Crisis about the use of hard-wired technology, Staying Safe at Home During the Crisis, that you can share this with others. https://8a6b8cd0-359b-4b1b-b042-cdb0cdb8be26.filesusr.com/ugd/2cea04_e602ade44cde4579b40154920ce46366.pdf
6. Visit https://stop5ginternational.org/suggested-actions/ to find out how to raise awareness. Write letters to legislators, government officials, councils etc., requesting that they halt the deployment of 5G until and unless it has been proved to be safe. (Letter templates available on the website).
7. Subscribe to https://stop5ginternational.org/contact for updates on the forthcoming Webinar in June/July (date tbc) about international legal actions being taken; for more information about global protest events see https://www.facebook.com/5GGlobalProtestDay/
8. https://actionagainst5g.org/ is an exciting new initiative to commence legal proceedings to challenge the UK government’s failure to take sufficient notice of clearly identified health and safety risks of wireless radiation and increased exposure  from the deployment of 5G.

“One person can make a difference and everyone should try.” Robert Kennedy.

Or, as the Dala Lama says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”  

References 

1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-studies-link-cell-phone-radiation-with-cancer/
2. https://www.jrseco.com/wp-content/uploads/Martin_Pall_PhD_5G_Great_risk_for_EU_US_and_International_Health-Compelling_Evidence.pdf
3. https://www.radiationresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/On-the-Clear-Evidence-of-the-Risks-to-Children-from-Smartphone-and-WiFi-Radio-Frequency-Radiation-Final-2019.pdf
4. https://www.investigate-europe.eu/publications/how-much-is-safe/
5. https://www.saferemr.com/
6. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/radio-waves-reducing-exposure/radio-waves-reducing-exposure-from-mobile-phones?fbclid=IwAR2n4XYTbY17k-pvn4CegVwW_18uVrX5fjBtfAX3BzBY_GGGcTnhGxAXhQQ
7. https://www.mesotheliomahelp.org/asbestos/history
8. https://www.ft.com/content/848c5b44-4d7a-11ea-95a0-43d18ec715f5
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969713003276 Szmigielski, Stanislaw.  “Reaction of the immune system to low-level RF/MW exposures.” 
10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bem.20605 Grigoriev, Yury G., et al. “Confirmation studies of Soviet research on immunological effects of microwaves: Russian immunology results.” 
11. https://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/61946 Adverse Effects of Wireless Radiation - Ronald N. Kostoff, Ph.D. 
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25869215
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6701402/
14. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/towering-5g-phone-mast-stands-17802812
15.  http://www.5gappeal.eu/  
16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyb2dACQMWo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3zsOYyscnwtsa2V0iLcbC3_ir3o7MxFaWDrXAmPrm-42YcfcVU_NdwVLQ
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh8DNKmDGk0
18. https://mdsafetech.org/links/
19. https://www.jrseco.com/lloyds-insurance-company-does-not-cover-health-damage-caused-by-electromagnetic-radiation/ 
20. https://mdsafetech.org/links/ for links to more resources and information 
21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXIEIpA1TBg Concern about 5G infrastructure in Carmel