How Bad Is the Air Pollution at Train Stations and Can It Harm Your Health?

If most of our time is spent indoors, then the next place of significance is our commutes. Many people rely on the public transport system and it may be convenient and ecological. We know the air at these high-traffic urban areas probably is not the best, but how bad is the air pollution and how bad it is for your health?

Studies on Air Pollution at Train Stations

Metro systems play a crucial role in public transportation worldwide. Given that metro stations are unique built environments with a significant volume of daily commuters, ensuring a satisfactory air quality in these spaces becomes paramount.

Small particulates

The general air quality in an urban background already has a particulate matter, but on top of that you have all these extra emissions coming from trains stations. These include particles that come from the carriage moving along the rails, the brake blocks rubbing on the wheels, and the electrical connection between the collector plate and the live rail.

The London Underground, for example, sees up to five million passengers hopping on and off its network. Its 11 lines serve 272 stations, and at peak times there can be over 500 trains hurtling around beneath the streets of London.

All of our fellow passengers, human and otherwise, also contribute to the dust. Hair and skin cells, plastic fibres from clothing, and animal particulates.

Some particles are large enough to be caught by the hairs in our nose and throat, stopping them from getting into our lungs and causing damage there. These are typically referred to as PM10; particulate matter that is under 10 micrometres in diameter, or roughly 0.01mm.

Underground Air Is Worse than Ground-Level

Several studies have reported that particulate matter in underground metro stations were higher than those reported at street-level. In a study of three European metro systems (Barcelona, Athens and Oporto), PM2.5 concentrations in commuter platforms were higher than that in the urban ambient environment (Martins et al., 2016a).

Mean PM2.5 concentrations in underground metro stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, were found to be higher than those at street-level (Shakya et al., 2020).

In Nanjing, China, particle concentrations in underground station concourses were typically higher than those in ambient air (Ji et al., 2021). In Prague, particulate matter concentration levels in the underground metro peaked during rush hour and were found to be highly enriched with iron and other metallic elements during train operating hours (Cusack et al., 2015).

Exposure to Bad Air at Train Stations vs in Cars

While the car isn’t worse than the tube in the case of PM2.5, it is much worse for other pollutants like nitrous oxides.”

It also depends on the design of the train station.

In Singapore, measures such as opting for full-height doors at the platform help maintain air quality on trains and in stations. One study found that PM2.5 levels in the majority of stations exceeded WHO 24-h guideline values.

The PM2.5 & PM10 levels were negatively associated with depth of platforms; the lower the train platforms were underground, the PM2.5, PM10, CO and CO2.

(Being in public areas expose you to other forms of pollution too, such as quats heavily found in almost all typical cleaning supplies. Tube trains and stations are cleaned with hospital-grade cleaning substances that are graded “anti-bacterial”. But this is another article.)

Studies on Indoor Air Quality and Sick-Building Syndrome at Metro Stations

One study looked at the Copenhagen Metro. Ventilation via doors during platform stops caused a drop in observed PM (and CO2) at stations, but the system is surprisingly polluted despite its recent construction.

CO2 mixing ratios ranged from ambient to around 600 ppm. Measures should be taken to control PM levels using a combination of source control and increased clean air supply of the Copenhagen and other similar metro systems.

More Pollution in Low-Humidity Winters

Metro station in Tianjin, China: With a lower relative humidity in winter, the coefficient of friction between railway wheels and rails increased, thus increasing particle emission. The carcinogenic risk of Cr on the platform was unacceptable. Moreover, the health risks induced by Ba should be investigated. The findings indicate that PM control at metro stationss, particularly on platforms in winter, should be emphasized.

Wide Range of Air Pollutants

Study from China, a review of 160 relevant studies performed across over 20 countries: These comprised more than 2000 individual measurement trips. Particulate matters, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls and airborne bacteria have been identified as the primary air pollutants inside metro system:

1. Fe was found as the most dominant element in the metro PM. Mechanical wear at the brake–wheel and wheel–rail interfaces were commonly recognized as the primary PM source in the metro air.

   As for the gaseous pollutants, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and acrolein were mostly found in the metro air. Service time of metro system, frequency of passing train, ventilation mode and airflow rate, the age and air-tightness of the metro train, interior materials, the number of passengers and the ambient pollution level outside the metro stations were identified as the key determinants that could play important roles of influencing the metro air quality.

2. The concentrations of aromatic VOCs in new metro carriage were 1-2 times lower than that in the old ones, as higher quality paint were used in new trains.

   Less air circulation and ventilation inside underground carriage was likely the reason of higher VOCs levels than the above-ground track. To reduce the exposure levels of air pollutants, PSDs, air purifier unit, high-efficiency air filter seemed to be effective measures. Among these measures, PSDs have been frequently installed in the newly built metro platforms worldwide.

3. Metro PM showed genotoxicity and ability to induce inflammatory due to large magnetite component. According to the acceptable level proposed by the WorldHealth Organization (1×10−6–1×10−5), the life carcinogenic risk of commuters by subway was sometimes above the acceptable level.

Study: Air Pollution Can Make You Fat

The effects of air pollution is one of the most well-studied topics in the field of environmental toxins research. Air pollution has also been linked to conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to dementia, Alzheimer's and stroke.

But did you know it can literally make you fat?

The Study

Researchers wanted to find out how exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (diameter, <2.5 μm [PM(2.5)]) pollution impacted adiposity (how fat is laid in the body), as well as metabolic parameters and inflammation. They were interested particularly in exposure during the earlier part of life.

Their breeder at the Ohio State University, Qinghua Sun, had been interested in studying why city-dwellers seem to be at a particularly high risk of heart disease compared to country folk.

It’s common to hear lifestyle habits as a factor in obesity and metabolic diseases. In most cities, a fast food chain is rarely more than a block away, which makes it all too easy to fall in a habit of unhealthy eating.

The breeder wondered if another answer may be hanging, invisibly, in the air we breathe.

To find out more, he started to raise laboratory mice in the kinds of conditions you might find across various cities. Some breathed filtered, clean, air, while others were funnelled the kinds of fumes you might find next to a motorway or busy city centre. Along the way, his team weighed the mice and performed various tests to study how their metabolism was functioning.

Research Findings

After just 10 weeks, the effects were already visible. The rats developed insulin resistance, greater adiposity, and widespread inflammation throughout their body.

• The mice exposed to the air pollution showed greater volumes of body fat, both around the belly and around the internal organs; at the microscopic level, the fat cells themselves were around 20% larger in the mice inhaling a fine mist of pollutants.

• The rats seemed to have quickly become less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that signals to cells to convert blood sugar into energy: the first step towards diabetes.

• The tiny irritating particles may also unleash a flood of inflammatory molecules called “cytokines” to wash through the blood, a response that also triggers immune cells to invade otherwise healthy tissue. Not only does that too interfere with the tissue’s ability to respond to insulin; the subsequent inflammation may also interfere with the hormones and the brain processing that govern our appetite, says Michael Jerrett at the University of California, Berkeley.

This study with laboratory mice offered some of the earliest concrete clues that the effects of air pollution may penetrate far beyond the lungs.

This supports the findings of other studies.

Large studies from cities across the world suggest that humans might be suffering the same consequences.

Chen, for instance, examined the medical records of 62,000 people in Ontario, Canada over a 14-year period. He found that the risk of developing diabetes rose by about 11% for just every 10 micrograms of fine particles in a cubic metre of air.

This is a troubling statistic, considering that the pollution in some Asian cities can reach at least 500 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

In Switzerland, a study saw a similar signs of increased insulin resistance, hypertension, and waist-circumference in a sample of nearly 4,000 people living among dense pollution.

References and Resources:

• Xu X, Yavar Z, Verdin M, Ying Z, Mihai G, Kampfrath T, Wang A, Zhong M, Lippmann M, Chen LC, Rajagopalan S, Sun Q. Effect of early particulate air pollution exposure on obesity in mice: role of p47phox. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Dec;30(12):2518-27. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.215350. Epub 2010 Sep 23. PMID: 20864666; PMCID: PMC3065931.

• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151207-the-air-that-makes-you-fat

Air Pollution --- What You Need to Know

Air is a basic for life. But we take it for granted. Air pollution is a fact of most modern living now, and crosses boundaries across countries and into neighbourhood — it is difficult avoid it completely.

It can have serious health consequences over a lifetime. It's pretty grim reading, with impacts ranging from strokes to mental health issues.

But clean air is becoming increasingly rare. To the point that in some cities in the world, doing just 30 minutes of exercise does more harm than good [4].

In recent decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has had great success in improving air quality. The emission of air toxins has declined 74 percent since 1990 [5].

However, by 2019, 82 million American’s were still living in counties that pollution levels still exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

1. Air Pollution Has Been Well Established as Detrimental to Our Health.
   Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer have been linked to air pollution in urban environments [7].

2. Air Pollution Hurts Cognitive Functions.

   Air pollution acts as a toxin and promotes inflammatory responses, which may cascade into neuroinflammation, dysregulation and neurodegeneration.

   Studies show that air pollution is linked to impaired judgement, mental health problems, poorer performance in school and most worryingly perhaps, higher levels of crime.

   Heavy metals in air is one contaminant that crosses the blood-brain barrier. The air we breathe could be changing our behaviour in ways we are only just beginning to understand.

   In 2011 that Sefi Roth, a researcher at the London School of Economics was pondering the many effects of air pollution. He was well aware of the negative outcome on health, increased hospital admissions and also mortality. But he was staggered to find a clear link between air quality and how well students perform in their examinations! Read more about his study here.
   
   This can be particularly harmful to children. Researchers at an asthma summer camp found that air pollution was significantly and consistently correlated with acute asthma exacerbations, chest symptoms and lung function decrements [8].

   A slew of studies have looked at air pollution and students’ academic performance in schools: Mohai et al. 2011; Grineski et al. 2020; Lu et al. 2021; Berman et al. 2018) and absenteeism (Berman et al. 2018; Zhang et al. 2022)

3. Children Are Especially Vulnerable to Air Pollution

   Our young children are most vulnerable to adverse health effects from air pollution due to smaller physiques, faster rates of respiration, and developing organ systems (Legot et al. 2012; Gauderman et al. 2007; Garcia et al. 2021; Calderón-Garcidueñas et al. 2014).

4. Air Pollution Correlates with Crime and Violence.

   Roth analysed two years of crime data from over 600 of London’s electoral wards, and found that more petty crimes occurred on the most polluted days, in both rich and poor areas.

   We know heavy metals — common in air pollution— is one toxin that predicts more aggressive and violent behaviour in schools.

   Research, led by Jackson Lu of MIT examined nine years of data and covering almost the entire US in over 9,000 cities. It found that “air pollution predicted six major categories of crime”, including manslaughter, rape, robbery, stealing cars theft and assault. The cities highest in pollution also had the highest crime rates. This was another correlational study, but it accounted for factors like population, employment levels, age and gender – and pollution was still the main predictor of increased crime levels.

5. Air Pollution Can Result in Reduced Productivity.

   This 2016 study backed up the above studies as well as Roth’s initial findings that pollution can result in reduced productivity.

6. Air Pollution Can Make You Fat.

   So we know two people can eat the same foods, and do the same exercise, but over the course of a few years, one may put on more weight… It is due to an impaired metabolism (basically how your body makes energy), and air pollution is one major contributor to worsening metabolism.

   Traffic fumes and cigarette smoke are the top culprits because their tiny, irritating particles are able to trigger widespread inflammation and disrupt the body’s ability to burn energy.

   “We are starting to understand that the uptake and circulation of air pollution in the body can affect more than just the lungs,” — Hong Chen, a researcher at Public Health Ontario and the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Canada.

7. Particulate Matter (pm2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) - Both of Which Come From Vehicle Exhausts Are Particularly Harmful.

   Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is comprised of solid and liquid aerosolized particles, so these can deposit deep into the lungs causing oxidative stress and inflammation in several organ systems including the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic and neurological systems

   Check out these studies: Bont et al. 2022; Li et al. 2019; Burkart et al. 2022; Delgado-Saborit et al. 2021.

   Researchers couldn’t find any threshold where PM2.5 did no harm, and even those living in the least polluted suburbs of London were affecte.

8. Very Low Amounts of Carbon Monoxide (Co) Can Impair Brain Functions.

   Other air pollutants target the body via separate pathways.

   For example, carbon monoxide (CO) binds exceedingly well with Hemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin, essential for oxygen delivery, binds with CO 200–300 times more than with oxygen, preventing oxygen from binding to hemoglobin (Patel et al. 2023)!

   CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas so carbon monoxide poisoning easily occurs, in which the body experiences severe hypoxia. The symptoms include: a shortness of breath, headache, an altered mental status. Finally, it can lead to death (Patel et al. 2023).

   A study of university students exposed to varying levels of CO revealed even low-level exposure resulted in impaired cognition and visual processing (Amitai et al. 1998).

9. Nitrogen Dioxide Can Cause Respiratory Diseases.

   NO2 in air pollution irritates the airways, aggravating including asthma (Epa 2022). It also affect the neurological system, as researchers have found associations between NO2 and dementia (Chang et al. 2014)

10. more than half of the world’s population now live in urban environments – and more of us are travelling in congested areas than ever before.

References and resources:

Rau AT, Harding AB, Ryan A, Ramirez MR, Renner LM, Berman JD. Ambient air pollution and the risk of violence in primary and secondary school settings: a cross-sectional study. Inj Epidemiol. 2024 Jun 13;11(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40621-024-00512-6. PMID: 38867329; PMCID: PMC11170797.

Building Biology: The Ultimate Checklist for First Time Moms

Be Sparing and calm

When I had my first, I remember having a stash of like 12 binkies. Every time my daughter dropped one, I would put it aside for sanitizing and give her a new one. I also had glass milk bottles and a manual breast pump. Each night, I would sterilise the glass, bottle, as well as wet mop with an organic cellulose sponge all the dust throughout the apartment.

These had fallen on our own floor, by the way, the one I cleaned daily, myself. But I digress… 12 binkies are too many, 25 blankets *are* too many, 150 burp clothes might be enough, but my advice is to buy the big size laundry detergent because you’ll be washing clothes and burp cloths for the rest of your life. 

• Stick with essentials 

• Don’t overthink it 

• Limit your information sources (and overwhelm!)

You don’t need as many items as you might think for a new baby. There may be things you’ll need to go out and buy later, but there’s time for that. Until then, don’t overwhelm yourself with how many of each item you need.

After 2 babies (plus one on the way!), I can tell you, you only really *need* a handful of things. Here is what I think is the most important to have on hand. 

The Ultimate Checklist for First Time Moms

The absolute basic essentials, the only 27 things you should absolutely have before baby makes the grand entrance: 

1. Birth Bag and a Hospital Bag 

2. Diapers - dioxin-free at the least 

3. Wipes

4. Swaddle blankets 

5. Organic Onesies (long sleeve or short, depending on your climate)

6. Zipper/footie pajamas

7. Nail file/clippers 

8. Suction bulb or nose Frida 

9. Bottles 

10. Breastpump 

11. Milk storage bags 

12. Hakaa silicone manual breast pump 

13. Baby carrier (wraps/ring sling for at home, HBC for going out) 

14. Reusable breast pads 

15. Nipple cream (Lansinoh lanolin is my fav!) 

16. Pullover sports bra or shelf tank

17. Burp Cloths (I use cloth diapers because they’re super absorbent)  

18. Binkies (like 5 is good)

19. Car seat 

20. Stroller 

21. Car seat cover or blanket 

22. Diaper Bag 

Very Optional Checklist

With my three children, I did not use these. You may choose to.

1. Pack n Play (with changing station and napper)

2. Pack n Play sheets

3. Baby seat or bouncer 

4. Baby monitor, wired

5. Mirror for the car 

Your Last-Minute Holiday Gift Checklist (Tox-Free!)

Running a little behind this year? But you do not want to be gifting things that inadvertently burdens your loved ones with toxins.

After some years of hunting for presents and tackling different needs, I’ve learnt some things about the materials or ingredients that go into products.

I've compiled some of my favorite last-minute gift ideas here. This list will be short and sweet to inspire you as you will likely be brimming with your own ideas after reading it.

Keeping in mind the tox-free factor also works for those on your list who “have it all”. I bet it will end up being the best gift they ever received! You can bet it will end up being one of the most thoughtful gifts that they ever received.

I try to refer to brands that are committed to toxin-free products and/or ecological lifestyles. . As always, do your own research and happy shopping!

Beeswax Candles

Candles as a holiday gift is a cosy classic that can work for anyone. Make it beeswax and phthalate-free fragrance oils and premium essential oils, so your loved one can claim the benefits of its natural air-cleaning properties, zero chemicals. These candles will not trigger allergies or irritate airways.

Beeswax candles in particular conjures up notions of craftsmanship, quality materials, and sustainable practices that are kind to our earth.

What you want:

✔ no hardeners or stabilisers

✔ beeswax

✔ phthalate-free fragrance oils

✔ premium essential oils

These items are usually very easy to find in stores, so they're great last minute gifts. Just try to stick with neutral colors to up your chances of them actually being well-loved.

These 100% beeswax candles are smokeless: Decorative Beeswax Smokeless & Unscented Candle

Bath salts

Emotional Detox Bath Soak. I received this as a gift last Christmas, and there is something truly magical about it! $35.

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

One of the earliest presents I started getting for my family were these bottles from Klean Kanteen (Stainless Steel Water Bottle). It’s clean, it’s safe, the water is only touching stainless. This is what my whole family drinks from on the go!

What you want:

✔ no exposed lead fasteners / seals

✔ food-grade quality stainless steel

✔ water only touching steel; no plastics

Cleaning supplies

Swedish Dishcloths

Reuseable, washable, and biodegradable, these make simple and fun gifts. Get them in cute patterns that your little ones will enjoy helping out in the kitchen with.

Bees Wrap– Plastic and Silicone free, reuseable beeswax food wraps. Always a great gift!

Silk night cap

For those with luscious locks, 100% organic silk goes a long way in maintaining tangle-free shiniest hair, and prevent breakage. 100% natural, unadulterated and organic. You don't have to settle for substandard materials or synthetics. The price is higher for silk; but with the right care, your silk pillowcase will last for years without losing quality.

https://masa.organic/

What you want:

✔ natural and organic, certified if possible

✔ OEKO-TEX® Certified (Standard 100) to be free of chemicals

✔ no synthetic materials

Kitchen Appliances in tox-free materials

Sometimes accidents happen and we need a new blender/kettle/crock… For example, this retro tea kettle is handcrafted of pure ceramic, our tea kettle is safe, non-toxic, and never made with metals or other harmful chemicals.

HEPA Air Filters

We spend about 90% of our time indoors, where the air is up to 5 times more polluted than outdoors. HEPA Vacuum– A high quality HEPA filter vacuum can be pricey; however it goes a long way for breathing sweet clean air if you are living in an area of pollution. Choose one that can filter pollutants that are 2.5 microns or less in size, that is about 30 times smaller than that of a human hair. Common types are smoke, pet dander, bacteria and viruses. It should trap Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are gases and chemicals released from paint, furniture, and the use of cleaning products.

If your loved one doesn’t have one already, this is a great gift to help them suck up dust that may have accumulated toxins.

You can find high quality air filter from Blueair.

What you want:

✔ high CADR — how well the filter can clean amounts of air

✔ low noise and high energy efficiency

✔ filter pollutants that are 2.5 microns or less in size.

I hope this low toxic gift guide has been a help, whether picking something out for a friend or as a gift to yourself. Follow along here, on Instagram. Did you find any toxin-free gifts for your loved ones?

5G FAQs: Why is there an international appeal to stop the rollout of 5G?

The 5G Space Appeal is signed by over 260,000 international scientists, medical doctors and engineers warning against the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields on humans, animals and the environment.

The appeal calls for a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation, 5G, for telecommunication.

The 5G Space Appeal can be found here  and states, “We the undersigned scientists, doctors, environmental organizations and citizens, urgently call for a halt to the deployment of the 5G (fifth generation) wireless network, including 5G from space satellites.

5G will massively increase exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation on top of the 2G, 3G and 4G networks for telecommunications already in place. RF radiation has been proven harmful for humans and the environment. The deployment of 5G constitutes an experiment on humanity and the environment that is defined as a crime under international law.” 

What is 5G?

The term 5G refers to a fifth-generation cellular wireless technology. It is a new wave form of short wave radiation and will utilise not only the frequencies currently in use from 1G to 4G of wireless technology, but also higher millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave frequencies.

5G aims to enable “smart” homes, “smart” businesses, “smart” highways, “smart” cities and self-driving cars. Virtually everything we own and buy, from refrigerators and washing machines to milk cartons, hairbrushes and infants’ diapers, will contain antennas and microchips and will be connected wirelessly to the Internet.

In fact, 5G as a global standard is meant to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution and change the social and economic landscape. In this article, we focus instead on the biological impacts of the technology.

5G antenna — closer, denser

(Note that this is different from current WiFi radio signals that are at either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. 5G celluar technology uses higher frequencies in the THz range. Older WiFi runs at 2.5GHz while newer runs at 2.5GHz and 5GHz. Many devices such as laptops can only use the 2.5Ghz signal.)

5G is a new wave form of short wave radiation, which the WHO classifies as a Group 2B carcinogen. [https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf]

Little is known about these millimeter waves (30GHz-300GHz). While these frequencies only permeate a small fraction of the human epidermis (the skin), the effect on the cornea, in particular, needs serious research. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180823220918/https://www.pcmag.com/commentary/363244/the-problem-with-5g]

As Frank Clegg, former President of Microsoft Canada, explains, because these waves are poor at travelling long distances, more transmitters will be needed to make 5G work:

"5G will impact you personally. There are designs that show the requirement for small cell 5G antennas as close as every third house in the neighbourhood and could be as close as every 500 feet in public areas. The impact of that radiation at that level of frequency and intensity and power, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week is unprecedented and is not understood.” [https://ehtrust.org/former-president-of-microsoft-canada-frank-clegg-on-safety-5g-wireless-technologies/]

What is the controversy around 5G?

The word “controversy” leads us to think there is “Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions” (borrowing from a dictionary here).

However, you will find that such disputes come from different interests and perspectives, less about the actual facts themselves.

One example: for a long time, it was thought that non-ionising radiation had no health impacts, unlike ionising radiation such as X-rays. As the use of wireless technology became ubiquitous, and as we increased our exposure to wireless technologies of 2G, 3G and 4G — that we use today with our cell phones, computers and wearable tech, there is increasing evidence for concern around high frequency radiation.

The Bio initiative Report was instrumental in gathering thousands of studies showing the biological impact of 5G, leading to the WHO recognition of wireless technology as a possible carcinogen.

Thousands of independent studies conclude that non-ionising radiation like wireless radiation does cause biological harm, including:

• oxidative stress

• cancers

• brain tumours

• sperm/testicular damage

• neuropsychiatric effects

• DNA damage

• hormonal changes

More about the health impacts [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355?fbclid=IwAR0YSqoBqW2OE2zUIzBQiR5JAVEGxuoimf0CGyPbNAWKqtP-BWasDGk_BcM]

As our EMF exposure increases with 5G networks, we need to critically evaluate our exposure. Mounting evidence are calling for concern and precaution over biological effects of wireless radiation on people as well as the ecosystem and our environment.

Meanwhile, rollouts for 5G continue to be ever more ambitious. Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX was authorised by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November 2018 to launch a fleet of 7,518 satellites in a scheme to provide global satellite broadband services to every corner of the Earth— a “smart planet” of sorts. [https://futurism.com/spacex-satellites-approval-fcc]

What is the science behind 5G (fifth generation wireless)?

The wireless industry admit they have no safety studies on 5G and do not plan to do any. "The stark truth is the health hazards are unknown and unstudied." Senator Richard Blumenthal, Dec 2018, in a February 2019 US Senate hearing [https://youtu.be/z8I4XDKX2a4]

5G is not simply an upgrade from 4G. It will be tens to hundreds of times more powerful and will use a completely different technology that has never been tested. 4G networks use frequencies below 6 GHz, but 5G uses extremely high frequencies in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range.

Most common wireless devices currently operate below 10 gHz. 5G will operate 10gHz+ into the tHz, which is uncharted territory. It has shorter wavelength and a higher frequency. Theoretically those higher frequencies cannot penetrate as easily and cant travel as far. To compensate for these, more devices will likely need to be built to get coverage and power increased.

So far, over 134,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experts have signed an international appeal to the UN, the WHO, the EU, the Council of Europe and governments of all nations to stop the rollout of 5G.

Read the appeal in English here:

https://www.5gspaceappeal.org/s/International_Appeal_Stop_5G_on_Earth_and_in_Space-4dfh.PDF

As the 5G standard is new, there are no studies that have looked at long term human exposure to 5G.

However, evidence that wireless technology is harmful to life is already overwhelming—enough data for scientists to call for a moratorium. [https://ehtrust.org/scientific-research-on-5g-and-health/]

If the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are tens to hundreds of times greater than what exists today, without any possibility of escape anywhere on the planet. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the Earth’s ecosystems.

Immediate measures must be taken to protect humanity and the environment, in accordance with ethical imperatives and international agreements. — The 5G Space Appeal

5G harms the ecosystem, including bees

Beekeepers were recently added due to the increasing scientific and direct observation that RFR and cell towers are injurious to bees.

Which countries and cities have opted out of 5G?

Cell phone companies began deploying 5G in 2019. In USA, 5G coverage is already available in many areas.

But not everyone is as enthusiastic about the deployment of 5G. Many towns, cities, and whole countries have decided to ban 5G, or halt its rollout, for two growing concerns: it has not been proven safe and it may take more time to ascertain its fuller effects; and growing concern about the data emerging over 4G/5G densification.

Their decisions affirm that technological advancement will never be at the expense of the health and welfare of their citizens.

Why the rush for 5G?

The 5G rollout is being called “progress” in the drive for "faster, better internet”. As most of us already own mobile phones and have access to the internet, expanding to 5G holds untapped markets for the wireless carriers and for the IoT device and sensor makers.

Read more about the wireless industry https://safeg.net/5g-the-real-story/.

How much of this push is really a gold rush for the wireless industry? Much of the things being touted by the wireless industry—such as “smart meters”, driverless cars, the Internet of Things, remote surgery by camera, and improved virtual reality—are things most people can live without, or can be done better and more securely with wired connections.

The practical considerations may prove cumbersome instead, as smart cities “will be exceedingly complex to manage, with all sorts of unpredictable vulnerabilities” — Shoshanna Saxe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto writes.

Billions are being invested in 5G. But will technologies, as in the case of smart meters considered as one of the most mature and most widely adopted applications of IoT technology, rapidly become obsolete?

Are savings, whether to the consumer or to government, worth the expense of capital and infrastructure?

Who determines accuracy, privacy, and efficacy? [https://www.smh.com.au/business/smart-meters-too-toxic-to-touch-20120906-25ge2.html] [https://www.ema.gov.sg/reply_to_forum_letter.aspx?news_sid=201612075WEXOFyHRyge] 

How can we exercise precaution?

While debate continues, there are many steps we can take as individuals to protect our own health amidst a denser electro-polluted environment.

I list a few considerations that, when implemented, could have the most impact in reducing our exposure to wireless radiation:

• Children are especially susceptible to EMFs. Children’s developing brains, eyes and bone marrow absorb electromagnetic radiation three to 10 times deeper than adults. Their brain tissues are more absorbent, their skulls are thinner and their relative size is smaller. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213879X14000583] Microwave exposure can result in degeneration of the protective myelin sheath that surrounds brain neurons, at critical stages of their development. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/myelin]

• Understand microwave exposure limits have remained unchanged for over 20 years. Take responsibility to educate yourself on EMFs and how to recognise and reduce your exposure to this environmental toxin.

• Rethink your SMART home. The more devices connected to your Wi-Fi or cellular network, the more EMF exposure your family is going to have. Decline having a smart meter installed by the utilities. Ditch the “smart home” devices that offer to turn on/off lights or air conditioning.

• Avoid living near cell antennas. Don’t buy a house or rent an apartment right next to cell antennas, especially if you have or plan to have kids.

• Consult a Building Biologist trained in EMF mitigation. If you want to understand your real exposure to wireless radiation and other sources of EMFs, get in touch with me or another Building Biologist in your area.
  What can you do?

If you are concerned about the possible health impacts, and you want to ensure your own safe living environment:

1. Sign the international appeal.

2. Join “Stop 5G” groups in your part of the world. Connect through the internet and in-person. More people are becoming aware of wireless radiation as an environmental toxin and recognise health symptoms as a sign of hypersensitivity. Sign any local petitions and support the appeals in any way you can.

3. Learn more about the 5G Global Protest Day. 205 events in more than 195 cities in 33 countries are being planned for 25 January 2020. Events are planned in: Australia (5 cities), Belgium. Bermuda, Canada (13 events), Croatia (6 cities), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (7 cities), Finland, France, , Germany (11 cities), Greece - Patras, Hungary (3 cities), Ireland - Dublin, Italy (39 cities), Japan - Tokyo, Kenya, Malta, Netherlands - Amsterdam, New Zealand (15 cities), Norway (5 cities), Poland (9 cities), Portugal - Lisbon, Romania (4 cities), Serbia - Belgrade, Slovenia - Ljubljana, South Africa - Durban and Cape Town, Spain, Sweden (3 cities), Switzerland (13 cities), United Kingdom (13 events), and the United States (34 events).

4. Subscribe to the SafeG Alliance mailing list to receive updates. Subscribe to my newsletter as I share updates and research about EMFs.

5. Share this information with others.

References and resources:

1. Birds Bees and Mankind: Destroying Nature by “electrosmog” by Urlich Warnke. https://www.naturalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/kompetenzinitiative-ev_study_bees-birds-and-mankind_04-08_english.pdf

2. https://ehtrust.org/international-actions-to-halt-and-delay-5g/