ConsumerWatch: 5G Cellphone Towers Signal Renewed Concerns Over Impacts on Health
This CBS Bay Area news segment, posted on YouTube on 26 January 2018 and viewed over 205,000 times, highlights community concerns about cellphone towers and potential health impacts. Importantly, the discussion is not limited to 5G it also involves 2G, 3G, 4G, and the cumulative effects of all mobile base stations.
This important report is less than five minutes long, making it quick to watch while providing useful context for why residents and public health advocates call for precautionary setbacks like 500 meters from homes, schools, and workplaces. It predates the NTP and Ramazzini studies, which later provided clear evidence of cancer risk in animal studies associated with long-term RF exposure.
Watch Here:
References
- New Hampshire Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology. Final Report, November 2020. Recommendation #7 calls for a setback of 500 meters (1,640 feet) for all new cell towers from residences, businesses, and schools. The report reviewed 17 historical documents evaluating the health and environmental effects of mobile base stations (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G).
PDF Link - National Toxicology Program (NTP). Long-term animal studies demonstrating “clear evidence” of carcinogenic activity (heart schwannomas and other tumors) in male rats exposed to RF radiation.
NTP RF Studies - Ramazzini Institute (Falcioni et al., 2018). Life-span study of rats exposed to GSM-like RF radiation showing increased tumor incidence.
PubMed Link - World Health Organization / International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) RF EMFs classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) 2011 https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf
- California Firefighters – Opposition to Cell Towers on Fire Stations. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) adopted a position in August 2004 opposing siting cell towers on fire department facilities until a rigorous health study proves it is safe. This reflects concerns about low-intensity RF/MW exposure hazards. https://www.radiationresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Resolution_15_IAFF.pdf
- Susan Foster, MSW, medical writer and advisor to the EM Radiation Research Trust, organised a small pilot study of California firefighters exposed to a tower on their station and was a co‑author of Resolution No. 15. The resolution also called for a $1 million study of firefighters across the U.S. and Canada regarding RF exposure health effects and recommended a moratorium on placing cell towers on fire stations. https://mdsafetech.org/2019/09/28/firefighters-fighting-fires-and-now-cell-towers/