On Monday 31 May, the European Parliament presented the conclusions of two studies on the environmental and health impact of 5G. These were requested by MEPs Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France) and Ivo Hristov (S&D, Bulgaria), both members of the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA), and managed by the European Parliament’s Science Foresight Unit.
In concrete terms, these studies take stock of the state of knowledge regarding the risks associated with the development of 5G. While there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity and reproductive effects at low frequencies in humans - described as “sufficient evidence” for animals depending on the frequency - the authors of the documents stress that, for the most part, “no adequate investigation” has yet been carried out at medium and high frequencies.
In addition, the authors of these studies also reviewed the existing literature on dielectric heating potentially induced by exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. Here again, the conclusions point above all to a relative lack of knowledge in this area, particularly for invertebrates, plants and for exposure to high frequencies (between 6 and 300 GHz).
“The studies unveiled today on the health and environmental impact of 5G underline the huge uncertainties that accompany the desire to launch 5G at all costs”, explains MEP Michèle Rivasi, who continues: “Where such research exists and is admissible - even if it is limited in number - the published papers demonstrate biological effects of concern and it is disingenuous and dishonest to ignore them”. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)