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Health Council of the Netherlands (2020)

5G and Health
https://www.healthcouncil.nl/documents/advisory-reports/2020/09/02/5g-and-health
The committee has made four recommendations to Parliament

  • Because the lower frequency bands for 5G (up to 3.5 GHz) have already been used for telecommunications applications and Wi-Fi for years without resulting in any proven adverse health effects, the committee sees no reason to stop or restrict the use of these frequency bands. It does however recommend that the exposure should be monitored before, during and after the rollout of the 5G systems. This will make clear to what extent exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields changes as a result of the introduction of 5G and any long-term health risks can then be estimated better. The WHO analysis can also be used in estimating the risks.
  • The committee recommends doing more research: epidemiological research into the relationship between exposure to the 5G frequencies used and the incidence of cancer, reduced male fertility, poor pregnancy outcomes and birth defects. An ongoing international study into the use of mobile telephones, in which the Netherlands is participating, can play a role in this.
    • experimental research into the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 26 GHz frequency band.
    • scenario studies to get a picture of the exposure of individuals as a result of wireless communications systems (3G, 4G and 5G).
  • The committee recommends not using the 26 GHz frequency band for 5G for as long as the potential health risks have not been investigated.
  • Finally, the committee recommends using the latest guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) as the basis for exposure policy in the Netherlands. Because it cannot be excluded that exposure under the latest ICNIRP standards also has the potential to affect health, the committee recommends taking a cautious approach and keeping exposures as low as reasonably achievable.
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https://ehtrust.org/health-council-of-the-netherlands-2020-5g-and-health-report/ Source: Environmental Health Trust