Assessment of the potential threats to brain health posed by the radiation from 5G sub-6 GHz base

Abstract

Assessment of the potential threats to brain health posed by the radiation from 5G sub-6 GHz base stations in China using dosimetric methods Lin J, Ding G, Liu X, Li J. Assessment of the potential threats to brain health posed by the radiation from 5G sub-6 GHz base stations in China using dosimetric methods. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 May;31(21):31015-31027. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-33172-6. Abstract The 5G sub-6 GHz radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) are the most widely used in China's communications. The public has expressed concerns about possible brain health effects of the higher frequency bands in 5G compared to 2G, 3G, and 4G bands. It is imperative to empirically investigate the potential health hazards of these novel frequency bands in 5G communication technology. This study evaluates the assessment of brain tissue dose coupling from sub-6 GHz band EMF emitted by base stations in China. Based on the 3D virtual human body model, the simulation environment was established. Dose including specific absorption rate (SAR) and internal electric field (IEF) between 2G, 3G, and 4G bands and 5G sub-6 GHz was investigated using normalized exposure values and exposure limits. The results indicate that the sub-6 GHz high-frequency band of 5G has the lowest dose value. It can be concluded that high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in 5G sub-6 GHz reduces the dose and health threats to the brain. This provides strong support for the promotion of 5G commutation in China and other regions. Conclusion The research employed dosimetric methodology to comparatively evaluate the potential threat of communication EMF emitted by base stations to the human brain in China. Normalized evaluation showed that the dose value of brain tissue decreased with the increase of frequency. Moreover, the study explored the brain dose and health threats in accordance with both international mainstream ICNIRP guidelines and Chinese national standards. The findings indicate that the sub-6 GHz high- frequency band of 5G has the lowest dose value, thus ensuring a low risk of use. However, it should be noted that the choice of industry standards and physical evaluation quantities can slightly influence the evaluation results and trends. The research supplements the inadequacy of laboratory animal experiments and comparatively elaborates on the potential harm of EMF exposure from 5G sub-6 GHz to the brain’s health. From a perspective of normalized assessment and the guideline comparison assessment, it can be concluded that high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in 5G sub-6 GHz reduces the harm of dose and risk values. This provides strong support for the promotion of 5G commutation in China and other regions. However, the limitation of this study is that the actual public exposure value does not take into account the measured value as the massive geographic information and statistical data. In the subsequent stage, the investigation of exposure measurement and dose evaluation can be merged with epidemiological research to probe deeper into the repercussions of novel frequency bands on the brain and its affiliated organ system. Open access paper: link.springer.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using a 3D virtual human body model and normalized exposure values/limits, the study reports that 5G sub-6 GHz bands produced the lowest brain tissue dose metrics (SAR and IEF) compared with 2G/3G/4G bands. The authors conclude that increasing frequency (within the compared communication bands) is associated with decreased brain dose and lower inferred health threat/risk under the evaluated guideline frameworks.

Outcomes measured

• Brain tissue specific absorption rate (SAR)
• Brain internal electric field (IEF)
• Dosimetric comparison across 2G/3G/4G vs 5G sub-6 GHz bands
• Assessment relative to ICNIRP guidelines and Chinese national standards

Limitations

• Dosimetric/simulation-based assessment rather than epidemiological or clinical outcomes
• Actual public exposure values were not based on measured exposure data; geographic information and statistical data were not incorporated
• Choice of industry standards and physical evaluation quantities may slightly influence evaluation results and trends

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.78)
  Study explicitly compares results against ICNIRP guidelines and Chinese national standards.

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    "main_findings": "Using a 3D virtual human body model and normalized exposure values/limits, the study reports that 5G sub-6 GHz bands produced the lowest brain tissue dose metrics (SAR and IEF) compared with 2G/3G/4G bands. The authors conclude that increasing frequency (within the compared communication bands) is associated with decreased brain dose and lower inferred health threat/risk under the evaluated guideline frameworks.",
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