The Scotland 5G Centre’s position on 5G and health

The Scotland 5G Centre is aware that some members of the public have concerns over the perceived health risks of 5G. In working closely with the Scottish Government, other devolved administrations and UK Government departments, we receive advice from Public Health England (PHE), the UK’s lead technical authority on this matter.

PHE’s current evidence indicates that there should be no consequence for public health. Overall exposure to radio waves when 5G is added to existing networks, or deployed in a new area, remains low relative to guidelines and, therefore, there should be no health implications.

For a full explanation of PHE’s position on 5G and health, you can find more information on the UK Government website.

International guidance

As an organisation, the Scotland 5G Centre continues to track and act on the latest research and reports by the relevant global bodies.

Limits for exposure to electromagnetic fields have been established in internationally recognised guidelines produced by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

The guidelines were updated in March 2020 and 5G levels are well within these limits. The ICNIRP has made a number of changes to ensure its testing keeps up with new technologies, such as 5G, and that they will not cause harm.

In fact, upon updating the guidelines, ICNIRP Chairman Eric van Rongen said: “We know parts of the community are concerned about the safety of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines will help put people at ease.”

For full details of the ICNIRP’s guidelines and its updates on 5G, visit the Commission’s website.

Ofcom tests

In the UK, Ofcom has recently undertaken a series of measurements on electromagnetic field emissions from equipment used to transmit mobile signals and other wireless devices, including frequencies used for 5G.

Measurements from 16 5G sites in 10 cities and towns across the country, focused on areas where mobile use is highest, showed that emissions at every site were a very small fraction of levels included in international guidelines. More information on Ofcom’s tests can be found on its website.

The body of currently available scientific and health evidence is conclusive: 5G does not pose a danger to human health. We are, therefore, satisfied that it should not be a concern to Scotland’s citizens.