5G technology has generated significant public concern about health effects. The topic has also attracted misinformation, making it difficult for people to understand what scientific research actually shows about 5G safety.
5G operates across different frequency bands—some similar to existing 4G networks, others using higher frequencies (millimeter waves) that are relatively new for widespread consumer exposure. This page focuses on what peer-reviewed research says about radiofrequency radiation at 5G frequencies.
We present the scientific evidence objectively, including both studies that raise concerns and those that find no effects, so you can make informed judgments based on actual research.
Jiang B, Nie J, Zhou Z, Zhang J, Tong J, Cao Y. · 2012
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for up to 14 days, then tested DNA damage from high-dose radiation. Mice pre-exposed for 3+ days showed significantly less DNA damage, suggesting low-level RF exposure may help cells resist radiation damage.
Lu YS, Huang BT, Huang YX. · 2012
Researchers exposed human immune cells to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for eight hours at typical usage levels. The radiation killed 37% of immune cells by triggering harmful molecules called free radicals, demonstrating that everyday phone exposure can damage your immune system.
Khalil AM, Gagaa MH, Alshamali AM. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz for 2 hours and measured a specific marker of DNA damage (8-oxodG) in their urine. They found significant increases in DNA damage markers throughout most of the exposure period, with peak damage occurring 1 hour after exposure began. This suggests that cell phone radiation can cause oxidative damage to DNA, which is a key mechanism linked to cancer development.
Güler G et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed infant rabbits to cell phone-type radiation (1800 MHz) either before birth, after birth, or both, then measured cellular damage in their livers. They found that this radiation increased both DNA damage and lipid damage (cellular breakdown) in the young animals. The study suggests that developing organisms may be particularly vulnerable to radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices.
Avci B, Akar A, Bilgici B, Tunçel ÖK · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone-level radiation (1.8 GHz) for one hour daily for three weeks and found it caused protein damage in brain tissue. The study also tested whether garlic extract could protect against this damage and found it significantly reduced the brain protein damage caused by the radiation. This suggests that cell phone radiation can harm brain proteins, but certain antioxidants may offer some protection.
Pilla AA · 2012
Researchers exposed brain cells to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at 27.12 MHz and found the fields instantly triggered a nearly 3-fold increase in nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is a crucial signaling molecule that helps regulate blood flow, immune responses, and healing processes in the body. The study shows that EMF exposure can immediately alter fundamental cellular communication pathways.
Maskey D, Kim HJ, Kim HG, Kim MJ. · 2012
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (835 MHz) for one month at power levels similar to what phones emit during calls. They found significant damage to brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain region critical for memory and learning, including loss of protective proteins and signs of brain injury that worsened at higher exposure levels.
Karaca E et al. · 2012
Turkish researchers exposed mouse brain cells to radiofrequency radiation at 10.715 GHz (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 6 hours daily over 3 days. They found an 11-fold increase in DNA damage markers and significant changes in gene expression related to cell death. This suggests that RF radiation at levels comparable to wireless devices can directly damage brain cell DNA and disrupt normal cellular functions.
Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Kizil G, Kizil M, Cakir DU, Yokus B · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 2 hours daily over 10 months and examined their brains for signs of damage. They found significantly increased protein carbonyl levels, which indicates protein damage from oxidative stress. This suggests that long-term cell phone radiation exposure may harm brain proteins, potentially contributing to neurodegenerative processes.
Khalil AM, Gagaa M, Alshamali A. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at typical call levels for 2 hours and measured DNA damage markers in their urine. They found significant increases in 8-oxodG, indicating DNA damage from oxidative stress, suggesting mobile phone radiation can cause measurable cellular damage.
Cogulu O. · 2012
Researchers exposed mouse brain cells to radiofrequency waves at levels similar to cell phone radiation for 18 hours total over three days. They found an 11-fold increase in DNA damage markers and significant changes in genes that control cell death. This suggests that RF radiation at everyday exposure levels may harm brain cells and damage DNA.
Chen G, Lu D, Chiang H, Leszczynski D, Xu Z · 2012
Researchers exposed yeast cells to both 50 Hz magnetic fields and 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation to see if electromagnetic fields could change gene activity. They found that magnetic fields caused no confirmed gene changes, while radiofrequency exposure affected only 2-5 genes out of thousands tested. This suggests that EMF effects on basic cellular processes may be more limited than some studies indicate.
Chen G, Lu D, Chiang H, Leszczynski D, Xu Z. · 2012
Researchers exposed yeast cells to power line magnetic fields and cell phone radiation for six hours to study genetic changes. Magnetic fields caused no confirmed gene alterations, while cell phone radiation changed only two genes out of thousands tested, suggesting minimal genetic impact.
Sakurai T et al. · 2011
Japanese researchers exposed human brain cells (glial cells) to 2.45 GHz radiofrequency radiation at various power levels for up to 24 hours and examined whether this changed gene activity. Using advanced genetic analysis techniques, they found no significant changes in how genes were expressed in the exposed cells compared to unexposed controls. This suggests that RF radiation at these levels did not trigger detectable genetic responses in this type of brain cell.
Roux D et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed human skin cells (keratinocytes) to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation similar to cell phone signals for 10 minutes at very low power levels. They found essentially no biological effects, with only 20 out of 47,000 genes showing minor changes that weren't confirmed in follow-up testing. This suggests that brief, low-level cell phone radiation exposure may not significantly affect skin cells in laboratory conditions.
Bourthoumieu S et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed human cells to GSM-900 MHz cell phone radiation for 24 hours at various power levels to see if it caused aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome numbers that can lead to genetic disorders). They found no significant changes in chromosome structure even at the highest exposure level of 4 W/kg. This suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels does not cause this particular type of genetic damage in laboratory conditions.
Sakurai T et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed human brain cells (glial cells) to 2.45 GHz radiofrequency radiation at power levels up to 10 times higher than current safety limits for up to 24 hours. They used advanced genetic analysis to look for changes in how genes were expressed, but found no significant alterations. This suggests that even at high exposure levels, this type of RF radiation may not directly damage the genetic machinery of brain cells.
Volkow ND et al. · 2011
Researchers used brain scans to measure glucose metabolism (brain activity) in 47 healthy people while they had cell phones placed against their ears for 50 minutes. They found significantly increased brain activity in the area closest to the phone's antenna compared to when the phones were turned off. The clinical significance of this brain activity change is unknown.
Lukac N et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed bull sperm to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) for different time periods and measured sperm movement using computer analysis. They found that longer exposure times significantly reduced sperm motility and swimming ability, with the most dramatic effects occurring after 7 hours of exposure. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation can impair sperm function in a time-dependent manner.
Jorge-Mora T et al. · 2011
Spanish researchers exposed rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as WiFi and microwave ovens) and measured brain activity in a region called the hypothalamus that controls stress responses. They found that both single and repeated exposures triggered significant increases in cellular activation markers, with repeated exposure causing more than double the brain activity compared to unexposed animals. The effects occurred at power levels that didn't heat tissue, suggesting the brain responds to microwave radiation through non-thermal mechanisms.
Esmekaya MA et al. · 2011
Turkish researchers exposed human blood cells to 1.8GHz cell phone radiation for up to 48 hours and found significant genetic damage, including broken chromosomes and destroyed cell structures. However, when cells were pre-treated with Ginkgo biloba extract, much of this damage was prevented. The study suggests that cell phone radiation can harm our DNA, but natural antioxidants might offer some protection.
Sannino A et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed human immune cells (lymphocytes) to cell phone radiation at 1.25 W/kg for 20 hours, then tested how well the cells could protect themselves against a cancer-causing chemical. They found that cells exposed during their DNA-copying phase developed better defenses, while cells exposed during resting phases did not. This suggests that cell phone radiation may trigger protective responses in immune cells, but only when cells are actively dividing.
Monselise EB, Levkovitz A, Gottlieb HE, Kost D. · 2011
Researchers exposed duckweed plants to radio waves from AM antennas for 24 hours. The plants produced alanine, a chemical stress marker, with stronger radiation creating more stress. Vitamin C prevented this damage, suggesting the radiation creates harmful free radicals that stress living cells.
Masuda H et al. · 2011
Japanese researchers exposed rat brain tissue to 2-GHz radiofrequency radiation at various intensities and measured changes in blood flow and temperature. They found that RF exposure significantly increased both local brain blood flow and temperature in a dose-dependent manner - the higher the exposure, the greater the response. This demonstrates that RF radiation directly affects brain physiology by triggering the body's natural response to increased heat in brain tissue.
Esmekaya MA et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed human immune cells to 1.8GHz cell phone radiation for up to 48 hours and found significant DNA damage and cellular destruction that worsened over time. Ginkgo biloba extract provided some protection, suggesting certain antioxidants might help reduce radiation-induced genetic damage in immune cells.
For a comprehensive exploration of EMF health effects and practical protection strategies, explore these books by R Blank and Dr. Martin Blank.
