A BRIEF ON POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF 5G WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY: CURRENT EVIDENCE, CONTROVERSIES, AND RESEARCH GAPS

Abstract

The deployment of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks has raised concerns regarding potential health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. Unlike previous generations, 5G uses higher-frequency millimeter waves, wider spectral bands, increased base station density, and adaptive beamforming, creating novel exposure patterns not fully addressed by current guidelines. Thermal effects from tissue heating are well-characterized and mitigated under existing limits, but emerging evidence suggests possible non-thermal interactions, including oxidative stress, altered cell signaling, and changes in gene expression. Case reports have described headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties near 5G installations, though small sample sizes, self-reporting, and limited dosimetry constrain interpretation. Significant gaps remain regarding long-term exposure, vulnerable populations, and health impacts of millimeter-wave, pulsed, and beamformed signals. This article provides a brief crux of the reviews available in the literature, and highlights the need for standardized dosimetry, mechanistic studies, and longitudinal epidemiological research to clarify potential risks and inform evidence-based regulatory policies.