Among the many conspiracy theories that circulate about the origin of the coronavirus, probably the one that enjoys the most popularity (both by those who believe it and by those who try to refute it) is that 5G, the fifth generation of telephony technologies mobile, somehow would have helped spread SARS-CoV-2. Many ‘anti-antennas’ activists and even certain well-known figures from the world of art and entertainment have dedicated themselves to spreading a series of ‘slogans’ in favor of the conspiracy over the last few weeks. But where does this popular myth come from? What effects does 5G have on the human body? Do these suspicions have any foundation?
As with most pseudosciences, the arguments of those who defend this hoax are easily rebuttable for experts in the field. For this reason, Muy Interesante has turned to Alberto Nájera López, physicist, doctor in Neuroscience, professor, researcher and coordinator of the Scientific Culture Unit of the University of Castilla La Mancha.
“I thought that this 5G was already more than overcome, but the conversation is not over”, is the first reaction of Nájera when asked about the question, which has become very popular on social networks in recent months.
The idea that the electromagnetic waves of 5G would be, somehow, capable of spreading this coronavirus was born from a ‘conference’ offered by (the self-described doctor) Thomas Cowan on March 12. During his speech, Cowan spoke of a supposed relationship between the electromagnetism of new technologies and the succession of epidemics throughout the planet over the last century and a half.
Next, we present, with the help of Dr. Nájera, five arguments that help to definitively refute the myth that 5G can spread the coronavirus.
1. It is an unfounded hypothesis
Without too many detours, Nájera exposes that the presumption that 5G can ‘transport’ a virus “ignores basic laws of physics and biology . It is comparable to trying to explain why the Earth is flat, because it is not ”.
To begin with, we must understand what we call 5G: what makes it up are non-ionizing electromagnetic waves; that is to say, they do not have the ability to ‘remove’ an electron from the atom; and that therefore they would not be able to modify, for example, the DNA of our cells as they could, in the long term, the energy of thousands of X-rays, for example.
At low frequencies, electromagnetic radiation, which is used by all the devices around us (mobile phones, television, radio, Wi-Fi …) has no capacity to harm us. Therefore, they could not worsen an eventual case of COVID-19 or affect in any way its evolution, or that of any disease.
And neither can it ‘transport’ any type of matter: “The wave carries energy from one place to another, but it does not allow you to transport anything ; if this were the case, we would have already achieved milestones such as teleportation, ”says Nájera.
Because electromagnetic waves are ‘invisible’ and the virus is also (being microscopic), some people may imagine that such transport is possible. “It is an interpretation of walking around the house of a mixture of concepts that does not make sense” , explains Nájera.
In case there are doubts, we continue with more arguments.
2. 5G is not developed, but is implemented in a very specific way
A fact that contributes a profound incoherence to the idea that 5G could worsen or spread the coronavirus is that this technology has barely been implemented in some large cities, and not in all countries. “In South Korea, which is the largest 5G network in the world, is where they have best controlled the pandemic. However, in countries that are experiencing a serious crisis, such as Peru, Colombia or even Spain, their implementation is very limited. Some effects are being attributed to something that does not yet exist . ”As we can see, there is not even a correlation between cases and antennas.
Nájera continues like this: “This idea is part of a conspiracy theory that mixes ingredients from several, such as that there is a worldwide plot of elites that have inoculated the virus and that then Bill Gates’s vaccine will come to save us all. As a science fiction movie plot, it even falls short ”, he jokes.
3. The intensity of the 5G waves does not change much compared to previous technologies
Although 5G was already implemented in a large part of countries, some lovers of the conspiracy will still have doubts about the supposed danger of its power. But the truth, as Nájera indicates, is that the frequencies that are being deployed are very close to those that were already used with 4G and even with 3G.
“Right now, a 3.5 GHz (gigahertz) bandwidth is in place; Furthermore, it is planned that 5G will be installed in two more bands: 700 MHz (0.7 GHz), which is the band that DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) used until recently and that has been left free for 5G ; and 26 GHz (not yet implemented), short range and low intensity ”.
To understand the terms in which we move, Nájera illustrates us with a metaphor: “Let’s imagine that we have a highway with 5 or 6 lanes, but too much information causes them to become saturated. What is being considered with 5G is to implement 3 more lanes to our highway, although one of them is the hard shoulder, it already exists (the 0.7 GHz one). So we get to have more service capacity “.
We have already explained that the electromagnetic waves of 5G, among others, are non-ionizing and, therefore, cannot damage our DNA. But the low frequency and intensity that are used for telecommunications, limits a lot that they can ‘penetrate’ our skin a few centimeters: “The ability to enter the human body is extremely limited. Above 10 GHz, the penetration capacity becomes a few millimeters ”.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radio frequency fields and the human body. But the levels of radiofrequency exposure from current technologies result in “a negligible increase in temperature in the human body.”
A very illustrative example: the microwave, which is used to heat food. Although its intensity is about a million times higher than that of a mobile phone , it is common to heat a plate of pasta and it is cold in the center.
As we pointed out, as the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body’s tissues and the absorption of energy becomes more limited to the surface of the body. However, the WHO adds: “As long as overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no public health consequences are anticipated.”
4. Thirty years of massive use of electromagnetic waves guarantee that they are harmless
For approximately three decades, human beings have been using electromagnetic waves in personal telecommunications on a massive scale. In all this time, the ‘antiants’ movements have tirelessly denounced its use. But the truth, as Alberto Nájera points out, is that ” there are no studies that show what these people say happens.”
5. There are organizations that ensure the safety of electromagnetic waves
For more arguments, there is an agency that is dedicated exclusively to establishing safe mass limits for non-ionizing electromagnetic waves used in telecommunications. It is the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This body, precisely, has manifested itself around the issue of 5G and COVID-19. On its official website, you can read the following:
“Exposure to electromagnetic radiation from 5G devices does not cause COVID-19, nor does it have any effect on the disease process or health outcomes of those who are infected by the novel corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. As described by the WHO, you must come into physical contact with the corona virus to become infected with it, and since 5G waves cannot carry the virus, they cannot put people in contact with it. “
On the other hand, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Radio Frequencies and Health (CCARS), made up of independent experts in Medicine, Physics and Engineering and of which Alberto Nájera himself is a member, ratified the following in a report published in February of this year: “The general population can be calm about the supposed implications that the radiofrequency emitted by this technology could have for health”.
5. So why are these kinds of myths spread?
Many people spread myths for fame, for media coverage, or for various interests; and many Internet users reproduce them because they are convincing, because they fall within their ideological schemes or, simply, because of a lack of information. But anyone can choose two variables that interest them and manipulate them to appear to be related, as did Thomas Cowan, whom we mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Some years ago, an Italian computer developer named Alberto Brandolini issued a rationale on Twitter that became very popular. Translated into Spanish, it would say the following: “The amount of energy we need to disprove a bullshit is ten times higher than that needed to invent it.”
Referring to this statement, Alberto Nájera concludes that, when this type of scientific myth becomes popular, many popularizers and experts have to spend a lot of time and effort to refute them: “Few people are going to dedicate the effort, and this is the strategy to the one that this type of charlatans resort to ”.
Science, once again, is the most appropriate tool to obtain information that allows us to be free.
This article has been prepared with the collaboration of Alberto Nájera, Professor at the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM) and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Radio Frequencies and Health (CCARS).
