EMFSA JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER
The Telecommunications Industry and Sunlight
A few misguided industry representatives are still stuck on the same old misinformation (ad nauseaum), that radiation from the sun is just as dangerous as that emitted from cell towers and wireless devices.
A simple, easy explanation: humans have evolved with the natural radiation from the sun. Our bodies have not adapted to ever- increasing non natural (man made), modulated radiation. Sunlight is crucial to our well being, not only for a healthy circadian system, but also for Vitamin D production.
ICNIRP
- ICNIRP : no evidence that pulsed EMF’s adversely affect health
Source: https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPrfgdl2020.pdf
•Increasing criticism of ICNIRP, this time from a report by two members of the European parliament:
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection: Conflicts of interest , corporate capture and the push for 5G.
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/the-international-commission-on-non-ionizing-radiation-protection-conflicts-of-interest-corporate-capture-and-the-push-for-5g/
Two EU politicians criticize ICNIRP – will their report overcome the telecom lobby?
https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2020/06/21/two-eu-politicians-criticize-icnirp-will-their-report-overcome-the-telecom-lobby/
Replace ICNIRP with “new, public and fully independent advisory” panel:
Source: https://klaus-buchner.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ICNIRP-report-FINAL-19-JUNE-2020.pdf
Facts Matter, Now More Than Ever
https://microwavenews.com/news-center/time-clean-house
Dr. Eric van Rongen, vice chair at ICNIRP:
Image Unsplash.com
“As safe as a cup of tea”
“The science is really straightforward — there’s simply no solid evidence that anything other than a small amount of body heating may result from exposure to 5G radiofrequency fields”
https://www.businessinsider.com/scientist-sets-guidelines-5g-safety-conspiracy-theories-debunked-2020-6?IR=T
Andrew Goldsworthy (Biologist) responds to Eric van Rongen’s (ICNIRP) statements about 5G
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/andrew-goldsworthy-biologist-responds-to-eric-van-rongens-icnirp-statements-about-5g/?fbclid=IwAR3j6CNDYuyy-GQIFe4MlFc07RGvIdJp4nznAyRsioetKzKyYRvha-EGuJE
Professor Croft, Chair of ICNIRP:
We discussed the implications of Professor Croft’s recent appointment as ICNIRP chair in our December 2019 newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/ac5add46efdf/emfnews?fbclid=IwAR0h5tsxe80JHWHt0cqT4WQdEXqov3GRlEjfcBCIUqwYXk-5d8_rHNTvbpY
•ICNIRP itself states that it only acts as an advisory body – it is up to governments to decide what to do with this advice.
Auto translated from German: “The task of ICNIRP GUIDED VALUES must be defined for established health effects. Each country decides for itself whether LIMIT VALUES are stricter or less stringent. ICNIRP cannot and must not. This is also the case with noise, air pollutants etc. with the WHO GUIDELINES.”
•ICNIRP’s Principal Patron: Germany. Among the other agencies that support ICNIRP are: European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” (2014–2020), International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and New Zealand Ministry of Health.
https://microwavenews.com/short-takes-archive/germany-supports-icnirp
16 January 2020: Dr Ken Karipidis, Assistant Director Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA was appointed to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for the term of 2020 to 2024.
https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/arpansa-scientist-appointed-international-commission
IEEE
The article “5G and its effects on human health” by Abbas Haider was published on the 18 June 2020 in Electronics 360. Two days later it was removed.
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/article-discussing-5g-and-health-on-industry-affliated-platform/
Retracted: “Electromagnetic Radiation Due to Cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Technologies: How Safe Are We?” by Naren, A. Elhence, V. Chamola and M. Guizani in IEEE Access, vol. 8, 2020, pp. 42980-43000.
Our concerns about the above study
https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/concerns-about-ieee-paper/
The IEEE Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) has published an “expert statement” in the journal Health Physics that claims “(w)ithin current exposure limits, there appears to be little or no risk of adverse health effects related to radiofrequency (RF) exposure from 5G system. Is COMAR qualified to issue an “expert statement” regarding health effects?
https://www.saferemr.com/2020/06/IEEE-COMAR.html
Health Bills
New Jersey: Assemblyman Jamel Holley sponsors Bill for Commission to Study 5G Safety. Holley: “My constituents have expressed some deep concerns about the potential health impacts of these antennas, especially in high-density communities like Elizabeth and Union Township,” Holley said. “We need to analyze the involuntary exposure of citizens to 5G technology, especially without their express knowledge or consent of the potential health impacts.”
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/new-yersey-assemblyman-jamel-holley-sponsors-bill-for-commission-to-study-5g-safety/
Washington: Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Military Aviators Cancer Incidence Study Act, a bill directing the military to conduct a study comparing cancer prevalence among military aviators to that of the general population.
https://yubanet.com/usa/feinstein-cornyn-introduce-bill-to-investigate-military-aviators-risk-of-cancer/?fbclid=IwAR3xWuysGrk28369rySerRorjsq_dvURdPYUluZNHgby9m9npTuSl_ejWuA
Research
The authors: “Our present commentary is a necessary action to protect authorship and restore science in regards to experiments with mobile and cordless phones.”
Commentary paper and explanatory text:
https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/comments-on-diverse-radiofrequency-sensitivity-and-radiofrequency-effects-
The ORSAA executive team has again published in the Journal of Radiation Protection in Australasia with collaborating scientists/medical doctors from New Zealand.
Korean study on 4G-LTE and cell proliferation: Activists, please, “hold your horses”…
https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2020/06/14/korean-study-on-4g-lte-and-cell-proliferation-activists-please-hold-your-horses/
Comparison of Intraocular Pressure Changes Due to Exposure to Mobile Phone Electromagnetics Radiations in Normal and Glaucoma Eye. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jan-Mar; 27(1): 10–13.Published online 2020 Apr 29. doi: 10.4103/meajo.MEAJO_20_19
According to the authors: ” The study suffered from limitations. This study only included the patients with open angle glaucoma; therefore, our results cannot be generalized to all types of glaucoma. This study was set up to determine the effects of EMWs emitted from the mobile phone on the IOP of patients with glaucoma. Our investigation showed that after 5-min phone call, the IOP will significantly increase in glaucoma patients, while there is no dramatic change in the normal eyes. We suggest that glaucoma patients apply mobile phones less often. This study can serve as a basis for future research and evaluating the chronic effects of EMWs.”
Upcoming in August
CIE/ICNIRP ONLINE TUTORIAL ON THE MEASUREMENT OF OPTICAL RADIATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/cie-icnirp-online-tutorial-on-the-measurement-of-optical-radiation-and-its-effects-on-photobiological-systems/
South Africa: Telkom contravened municipal by-laws and policies, loses Concourt cell masts case. The court’s decision is likely to have a far-reaching impact on telcos that have previously faced criticism over cellphone masts.
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/telkom-loses-concourt-battle-on-cellphone-masts/
Big court battle over MTN cellphone towers in Durban.This case is due to be heard in the Durban High Court in October
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/357453-big-court-battle-over-mtn-cellphone-towers-in-durban.html
As from the 30th of June South Africa will have 3 5G providers:
June 2020-COVID 19 National Disaster Temporary Spectrum Allocation – MTN to join Rain and Vodacom in 5G rollout in South Africa
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/june-2020-covid-19-national-disaster-temporary-spectrum-allocation-mtn-to-join-rain-and-vodacom-in-5g-rollout-in-south-africa/
Investors ready to put billions of rands into South Africa: Ramaphosa.
Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille said the program will offer opportunities to invest in green technology and confirmed that the government was considering introducing green infrastructure bonds.
The New Development Bank, which was established by the governments of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will make funding available and is keen to invest in green infrastructure bonds, according to Leslie Maasdorp, one of the lender’s vice presidents.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/410095/investors-ready-to-put-billions-of-rands-into-south-africa-ramaphosa/?fbclid=IwAR1g7J57vK8JB6a9-8_xYbVAO6f8xMZ_PbkNTfmGEAtSuosX_VF2jfJ2XvE
Overconsumption and growth economy key drivers of environmental crises:
A group of researchers, led by a UNSW sustainability scientist, have reviewed existing academic discussions on the link between wealth, economy and associated impacts, reaching a clear conclusion: technology will only get us so far when working towards sustainability—we need far-reaching lifestyle changes and different economic paradigms
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR) with converging, step-change innovations in digital technology, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D-printing, biotechnology and nanotechnology—has been touted as an enabler of absolute decoupling through sheer exponential efficiency gains 95. While digitalisation is already a key driving force in societal transformation, it has so far led to more consumption and inequality and remained coupled with the indirect use of energy and materials, therefore sustaining resource-intensive and greenhouse-gas growth patterns at the macro-economic level.
Even if the FIR were to achieve absolute decoupling, this would come at a potentially high risk for privacy, liberty, data sovereignty, civic rights, security, equality and democracy.
https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/overconsumption-and-growth-economy-key-drivers-of-environmental-crises/
Space Pollution: The Kessler Syndrome
With more and more satellites (the next 57 Starlink Internet satellites are about to be launched), space debri is a real concern.
IEEE article of 2012 – “We’ve Already Passed the Tipping Point for Orbital Debris.” In a Telecompetitor article, 6/12/20, by Joan Engebretson, space trash is mentioned as a risk and concern affecting broadband service delivered from low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This is according to a new report from CoBank Knowledge Exchange, a unit of rural broadband lender CoBank.
https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/space-pollution-the-kessler-syndrome/?fbclid=IwAR1tl9gp-XLBT_oUBRwGN
In closing, to reflect upon:
Credit: source unknown
Until next month – thank you for reading our newsletter and be safe.
The EMFSA Team