Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola
Video
Link: https://youtu.be/0VRpk6DPjmY
November 23, 2025
Story at-a-glance
· Several studies published between 2022 and 2024
underscore the health risks posed by 5G technology
· Research contradicts the
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines,
demonstrating various harmful biological effects of radiofrequency radiation
(RFR) on humans and the environment, including cancer risk
· Studies reveal 5G’s potential
to induce neurological damage and psychiatric problems, highlighting its
effects on brain development, including the increased risk of conditions like
dementia through mechanisms such as the impairment of neurosin
· A December 2023 study
illustrates the detrimental effects of 5G RFR on rat sperm, showing decreased
sperm count and quality, with melatonin offering a protective effect
· February 2024 research
indicates significant changes in the fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles
in mice exposed to 5G RFR, hinting at broader implications for health,
including mental well-being and immune function
Editor's Note:
This article is a reprint. It was originally published April 14, 2024.
Over the past
decade, I’ve written many articles discussing the evidence of biological harm
from nonionizing electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation and radiofrequency
radiation (RFR) from wireless technologies.
The video above
features an interview I did with Siim Land in February 2020 for his Body Mind
Empowerment podcast in which I discuss EMF — what it is, your greatest sources
of exposure, how it affects your biology, and how to minimize your exposure. I
also review how the telecommunications industry manipulates the truth to keep
you unaware of the hazards.
While the wireless
industry is built on the premise that the only type of radiation capable of
causing harm is ionizing — X-rays being one example — researchers have for a
long time warned that even nonionizing and non-heating radiation can jeopardize
your health. This includes not only human health,
but also that of plants and animals.
Over time, I became so convinced of the deleterious
effects of EMF, I took three years to write “EMF*D” which was
published in 2020. In it, I reviewed the overwhelming evidence showing EMFs are
a hidden health hazard that simply cannot be ignored any longer.
During the pandemic, we also witnessed the rollout
and installation of 5G across the country, which has exponentially increased
exposures, as it’s added on top of the already existing wireless
infrastructure.
The short video below, published by Investigative
Europe in January 2019, gives a quick overview of how 5G differs from previous
wireless technology. At the time, little if any research had been done on 5G
specifically, but between 2022 and 2024, 10 studies have been published that
shed more light on this fifth-generation technology.1
5G Appeals for Moratorium Ignored Despite Evidence
The first of these, published in September 2022 in
the journal Reviews on Environmental Health,2 provides a good overview of the hazards 5G
poses. The authors
pointed out that, since September 2017, over 400 scientists and doctors have
collectively submitted six appeals to the European Union, calling for a
moratorium on 5G technology. All have been ignored.
The September
2021 appeal included an “extensive cover letter” in which experts argued that
the EU’s reliance on guidelines by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) places public health at risk because the
guidelines only consider “heating and no other health relevant biological
effects from RFR.”
The letter
countered the ICNIRP’s guidance with research from European and international
expert groups detailing myriad adverse biological effects of RFR on humans and
the environment. According to the authors:3
“Evidence to
establish this position is drawn from studies showing changes to
neurotransmitters and receptors, damage to cells, proteins, DNA, sperm, the
immune system, and human health, including cancer.
The 2021 Appeal
goes on to warn that 5G signals are likely to additionally alter the behavior
of oxygen and water molecules at the quantum level, unfold proteins, damage
skin, and cause harm to insects, birds, frogs, plants, and animals.”
Aggregation of Signals Pose
Serious Concerns
Under the
subhead “Great Plans, Great Promises but False Claims,” the authors go on to
highlight the government’s own findings:
“… the
potential health and safety risks associated with RFR have been exposed in a
recent EU-commissioned review of the currently available scientific evidence,
the 2021 European Parliamentary Research Service’s EPRS/STOA Health impact of
5G report.4
The conclusions
of the comprehensive review declared sufficient evidence for cancer from RFR in
animals, sufficient evidence for adverse effects from RFR on the fertility of
men, male rats and mice, and that RFR is probably carcinogenic to humans.
In short, the EPRS/STOA report shows
that RFR is harmful for health. The report subsequently calls for measures to
incentivize the reduction of RF-EMF exposures (p. 153), such as lowering the
limit for allowed exposures and the preferential use of wired connections.
Similarly, the EU’s own (ITRE
committee) 2019 in-depth analysis, 5G Deployment: State of Play in Europe, USA,
and Asia5 warned that, when added to 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi,
WIMAX, DECT, radar etc., 5G will cumulatively lead to dramatically more total
radiation: not only from the use of much higher frequencies in 5G but also from
the potential for the aggregation of different signals, their dynamic nature,
and the complex interference effects that may result, especially in dense urban
areas (p 11).
These concerns
are based on the complexity of communications signals and the unknowns of their
interactions. Electromagnetic signals transmitted by manmade communication
devices are not regular waves; rather, they are a complex combination of
ultra-high frequency carrier waves, and modulations that encode the messages
using extremely-low and ultra-low frequencies.
In addition,
the signals are pulsed at ultra-low frequencies (sent in short on-off bursts).
This means that although the RFR carrier waves may sit in the high frequency
GHz range, their modulations and pulse rates are much closer to brain-wave
frequencies; e.g., the 217 Hz pulsing of a GSM phone signal.
Pulsed or
modulated RFR signals have been shown to be more bio-active than simple
continuous waves of the same intensity and exposure duration. This is of
significant concern in relation to public health and is not limited to just the
higher 5G frequencies.
Furthermore, as
the report noted, the effects of these new complex beam formed signals have
unpredictable propagation patterns that could result in unacceptable levels of
human exposure to electromagnetic radiation (p. 6) but are yet to be mapped
reliably for real situations, outside the laboratory.”
5G Causes Neurological and
Psychiatric Problems
The second study,6 published
in November 2022, investigated the effects of 4.9 GHz (one of several 5G
frequencies) RFR on the emotional behaviors and spatial memory in adult male
mice. The exposure was found to induce “depression-like behavior” caused by
“neuronal pyroptosis in the amygdala.”
Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death
distinct from other forms of apoptosis, characterized by its inflammatory
response. It involves the swelling and bursting of the cell, leading to the
release of proinflammatory cytokines and intracellular contents that can
trigger an immune response in the surrounding tissue.
This process is controlled by gasdermin proteins,
which form pores in the cell membrane, and is often initiated in response to
infections by pathogens or other signals indicating cellular damage.
5G induces cell death in the amygdala, a region of
the brain involved in emotion regulation, memory, and decision-making.
The amygdala is a region of the brain involved in
emotion regulation, memory, and decision-making. So, pyroptosis in this area
could be indicative of neurological damage or inflammation, affecting emotional
regulation, behavior, and cognitive functions.
This could be
relevant in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, brain injuries or
infections that impact the central nervous system, leading to various
neurological and psychiatric implications.
4 Studies Confirm 5G’s
Impact on Neurology
Another four studies published in 2023 also show a
variety of damage occurring in the brain:
•5G increases permeability of the
blood-brain barrier7 — In the first, RFR from 5G
cellphones at 3.5 GHz or 4.9 GHz for one hour per day for 35 days straight was
found to increase the permeability of the BBB in the cerebral cortex of mice.
•RFR impairs neurogenesis and causes
neuronal DNA damage8 — In the second, continuous RFR
from cellphones at 2115 MHz for eight hours was shown to induce higher levels
of lipid peroxidation, carbon-centered lipid radicals, and single-strand DNA
damage, resulting in impaired neurogenesis in the hippocampal region and
neuronal degeneration in the dentate gyrus region.
Translation:
Cellphone radiation causes cognitive impairment and deficits, behavioral
changes and dysfunctional mood regulation, neurodegenerative disorders (due to
the oxidative stress within neurons) and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety
and depression.
•Electromagnetic
radiation associated with anxiety9 — This study
found anxiety-like behavior in male mice exposed electromagnetic radiation at
2650 MHz for four hours a day for 28 days.
•5G may promote
dementia10 — Lastly, a follow-up study on previous research
concluded that RFRs at 1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz:
◦Inhibit neurosin, an enzyme that plays a
role in brain health, including the breakdown of proteins that, if not properly
managed, could lead to conditions like Alzheimer's disease. This finding suggests that cellphone radiation
could interfere with the brain's ability to prevent the buildup of harmful
proteins.
◦Inhibit the electrical activity of
neurons in vitro — Neurons communicate with each
other using electrical signals and this activity is crucial for everything your
brain does, from processing sensory information to controlling muscle
movements. Inhibiting
electrical activity means disrupting normal brain cell communication, which
could impact brain functions.
5G Affects Brain
Development
An October 2023
study11 by Bodin et al.
investigated the effects of exposure to 5G during the perinatal period — around
the time of birth — on the neurodevelopment of rats. The main goal of this
study was to explore how being exposed to 5G EMF around the time of birth
affects the brain development of rats as they grow into juveniles and
adolescents.
Both male and
female rat pups exposed to 5G EMF showed delayed incisor (front teeth)
eruption. This indicates that EMF exposure could slow down certain aspects of
physical development. The study also found notable differences in behavior
based on the sex of the rats.
In adolescent
female rats, there was a significant reduction (70%) in stereotyped movements,
such as repetitive patterns of behavior, in the open field test. This suggests that
exposure may reduce certain repetitive behaviors in females. In contrast, male
rats exhibited a 50% increase in stereotyped movements, indicating that the
same exposure led to an increase in repetitive behaviors.
In short, the research suggests that exposure to 5G
EMF at levels below the regulatory threshold during a critical period of
development (perinatal period) has the potential to cause disturbances in
neurodevelopment. These effects are seen in juvenile and adolescent descendants
and manifest differently in males and females.
While it’s difficult to predict what the human
health implications of this might be, it’s worth noting that repetitive
behaviors are often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In
such cases, these behaviors may signal underlying neurological differences and
can impact an individual's social interactions, learning, and daily
functioning.
In some instances, repetitive behaviors can also be
symptomatic of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), stress-related
disorders, and self-harming behaviors such as skin picking or hair pulling. For some individuals,
repetitive behaviors can interfere with attention and focus, affecting academic
performance, workplace productivity, and the ability to complete daily tasks
efficiently.
It can also
affect an individual’s social interactions and relationships, and can lead to
social isolation, bullying, or stigma, particularly in children and
adolescents, further impacting emotional well-being and self-esteem. Repetitive
behaviors, particularly those associated with anxiety or compulsive disorders,
can also disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or poor sleep quality,
which in turn affects overall health and well-being.
RFR Decimates Male
Fertility — Melatonin Can Help Restore It
A December 2023
study,12 which explored the
negative effects of long-term exposure to 2100 MHz RFR on rat sperm
characteristics, brought both good and bad news.
On the
downside, male rats exposed to RFR at 2100 MHz for 30 minutes a day had a
significantly higher percentage of sperm with abnormal shapes. There was also a
significant reduction in the total sperm count among the exposed rats.
At a more
detailed level, examining the sperm structure under a microscope (the
ultrastructural level), damage was observed in critical parts of the sperm,
including the:
·
Acrosome, a cap-like structure that
helps the sperm penetrate an egg
·
Axoneme, the central shaft of the sperm
tail
·
Mitochondrial sheath, which powers the
sperm tail's movement
·
Outer dense fibers, which are part of
the sperm tail
The good news is that melatonin supplementation was
able to prevent these problems. Rats given 10 milligrams of melatonin per kilo
of bodyweight via subcutaneous administration had increased sperm counts and
the proportion of sperms with normal shapes increased. Moreover, the
ultrastructural damage to sperm caused by RF exposure was fully reversed. As
reported by the authors:
“The
percentages of abnormal sperm morphology were significantly increased with RF
exposure, while the total sperm count was significantly decreased … The number
of total sperms, sperms with normal morphology increased, and ultrastructural
appearance returned to normal by melatonin administration.”
Case Study of an 8-Year-Old
Boy
In January
2024, Hardell et al. presented a case study13 of an eight-year-old
boy experiencing severe headaches and other symptoms while attending a school
located near a mobile phone tower equipped with 5G base stations.
The boy's school is situated 200 meters away from a
mobile phone tower with 5G base stations, with his classroom being 285 meters
away. Soon after starting school, he began experiencing headaches, which were
initially sporadic, not occurring every day or every week.
By autumn 2023,
the boy's headaches intensified, occurring daily and rated as a 10 on a
10-grade scale, where 0 signifies no discomfort and 10 indicates unbearable
pain. He also experienced fatigue (rated 5) and occasional dizziness (rated 7),
specifically while at school. At home, he occasionally had mild headaches
(rated 2) that subsided relatively quickly.
In the autumn of 2023, he started wearing an
RF-protective cap and outerwear at school, both indoors and outside, after
which the headaches vanished.
This paper also
cites epidemiological studies and laboratory research linking RF radiation
exposure to cancer through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, mRNA effects
and DNA damage, and argues for classifying RF radiation as a Group 1 human
carcinogen, noting that “This classification should have a major impact on
prevention measures.”
5G Alters Your Microbiome
Lastly, a
February 2024 study14 by Wang et al. examined the impact of 5G RFR
on the fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in mice. The results indicated
that the mice exposed to RFR experienced significant alterations in their
intestinal microbial compositions, characterized by a decrease in microbial
diversity and shifts in the microbial community distribution.
Through
metabolomics profiling, the researchers identified 258 metabolites that were
significantly differentially abundant in the mice exposed to RF fields compared
to controls, which suggests it can have a profound impact on metabolic
processes.
The authors
concluded that exposure to 4.9 GHz RFR can cause intestinal microbiota
dysbiosis in mice and hypothesized that the observed imbalances in gut
microbiota and metabolism might be linked to depression-like behaviors in mice
seen in so many studies. The imbalance in the metabolic profile may also be
associated with changes in immune regulation or inflammation.
5G Will Harm Every Living Being
In September
2019, the Minister for Communications, Hon. Paul Fletcher MP asked the
Committee to complete and inquiry into the “deployment, adoption, and
application of 5G in Australia.”15 In response, Paul Barratt, on behalf of ElectricSense,
submitted a document, available as a download from aph.org, stating, in part:
“5G is dangerous and will harm every
living being. Thousands of studies link low-level wireless radio frequency
radiation exposures to a long list of adverse biological effects, including:
·
DNA single and double strand breaks
·
oxidative damage
·
disruption of cell
metabolism
·
increased blood brain
barrier permeability
·
melatonin reduction
·
disruption to brain
glucose metabolism
·
generation of stress
proteins
Let’s not also
forget that in 2011 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified radio
frequency radiation as a possible 2B carcinogen. More recently the $25 million
National Toxicology Program concluded that radio frequency radiation of the
type currently used by cell phones can cause cancer.
But where does
5G fit into all this? Given that 5G is set
to utilize frequencies above and below existing frequency bands 5G sits in the
middle of all this. But the tendency (it varies from country to country) is for
5G to utilize the higher frequency bands. Which brings its own
particular concerns.”
Barratt goes on
to list “11 reasons to be concerned about 5G radiation,” including:
1.
Denser electrosmog
2.
Skin diseases and pain, as “analyses of
penetration depth show that more than 90% of the transmitted power is absorbed
in the epidermis and dermis layer”16
3.
Eye damage
4. Effects on the heart, including
impacts on heart rate variability and arrhythmias
5.
Reduced immune function
6.
Depressed cell growth rates and
alterations in cell properties and cell activity
7.
Increased risk of antibiotic-resistant
pathogens
8. Necrosis in plants, and the
possibility that plant foods may become unsuitable for human consumption
9. Atmospheric effects and
fossil fuel depletion
10. Eco system disruptions
11. Misleading 5G study results, as most do not pulse
the waves. As noted by
Barratt, “This is important because research on microwaves already tells us how
pulsed waves have more profound biological effects on our body compared to
non-pulsed waves. Previous studies, for instance, show
how pulse rates of the frequencies led to gene toxicity and DNA strand breaks”
Protect Yourself and Your
Family from Excessive EMF
There’s no
doubt in my mind that RF-EMF exposure is a significant hazard that needs to be
addressed if you’re concerned about your health. The
rollout of 5G certainly makes remedial action more difficult, but the added
hazards are all the more reason to get involved and do what we can to minimize
exposure.
Here are several suggestions that will help reduce
your EMF exposure and help mitigate damage from unavoidable exposures. For even
more do’s and don’ts, see the infographic by the Environmental Health Trust
below.
•Identify major sources of EMF, such as your
cellphone, cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth headsets and other
Bluetooth-equipped items, wireless mice, keyboards, smart thermostats, baby
monitors, smart meters, and the microwave in your kitchen. Ideally, address
each source and determine how you can best limit their use.
Barring a life-threatening emergency, children
should not use a cellphone or a wireless device of any type. Children are far
more vulnerable to cellphone radiation than adults due to having thinner skull
bones.
Research17 also demonstrates that infants under the age
of 1 do not effectively learn language from videos, and do not transfer what
they learn from the iPad to the real world, so it’s a mistake to think
electronic devices provide valuable education.
•Connect your desktop computer to the internet via
a wired Ethernet connection and be sure to put your desktop in airplane mode. Also avoid wireless
keyboards, trackballs, mice, game systems, printers, and portable house phones.
Opt for the wired versions.
•If you need to use Wi-Fi, shut it off when not in
use, especially at night when you’re sleeping. Ideally, work toward hardwiring
your house so you can eliminate Wi-Fi altogether. If you have a notebook
without any Ethernet ports, a USB Ethernet adapter will allow you to connect to
the internet with a wired connection.
•Avoid using
wireless chargers for your cellphone, as they too will increase EMFs throughout
your home. Wireless charging is also far less energy efficient than using a
dongle attached to a power plug, as it draws continuous power (and emits EMF)
whether you’re using it or not.
•Shut off the electricity to your bedroom at night.
This typically works to reduce electrical fields from the wires in your wall
unless there is an adjoining room next to your bedroom. If that is the case,
you will need to use a meter to determine if you also need to turn off power in
the adjacent room.
•Use a battery-powered alarm clock, ideally one
without any light.
•If you still use a microwave oven, consider
replacing it with a steam convection oven, which will heat your food as quickly
and far more safely.
•Avoid using
“smart” appliances and thermostats that depend on wireless signaling. This
would include all new “smart” TVs. They are called smart because they emit a
Wi-Fi signal and, unlike your computer, you cannot shut the Wi-Fi signal off.
Consider using a large computer monitor as your TV instead, as they don’t emit
Wi-Fi.
•Refuse a smart
meter on your home as long as you can, or add a shield to an existing smart
meter, some of which have been shown to reduce radiation by 98% to 99%.18
•Consider moving your baby’s bed into your room
instead of using a wireless baby monitor. Alternatively, use a
hard-wired monitor.
•Replace CFL
bulbs with incandescent bulbs. Ideally remove all fluorescent lights from your
house. Not only do they emit unhealthy light, but more importantly, they will
actually transfer current to your body just being close to the bulbs.
•Avoid carrying your cellphone on your body unless
in airplane mode and never sleep with it in your bedroom unless it is in
airplane mode. Even in airplane mode it can emit signals, which is why I put my
phone in a Faraday bag.19
•When using your cellphone, use the speaker phone
and hold the phone at least 3 feet away from you. Seek to radically decrease
your time on the cellphone. Instead, use VoIP software phones that you can use
while connected to the internet via a wired connection.
•Avoid using
your cellphone and other electronic devices at least an hour (preferably
several) before bed, as the blue light from the screen and EMFs both inhibit
melatonin production.20,21
Research
clearly shows that heavy computer and cellphone users are more prone to
insomnia.22 For example, one 2008
study23 revealed that people
exposed to radiation from their mobile phones for three hours before bedtime
had more trouble falling asleep and staying in a deep sleep.
•The effects of EMFs are reduced by calcium-channel
blockers, so make sure you’re getting enough magnesium. Most people are
deficient in magnesium, which will worsen the impact of EMFs. As previously noted
by EMF expert Dr. Martin Pall:
“When you’re
deficient in magnesium, you get excessive activity of the VGCCs. You also get
excessive calcium influx through the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, caused by
magnesium deficiency, which is also problematic, so it’s important to allay
that deficiency.”
•Pall has also
published a paper24 suggesting that raising your level of Nrf2
helps ameliorate EMF damage. One simple way to activate Nrf2 is to consume
Nrf2-boosting food compounds. Examples include sulforaphane-containing
cruciferous vegetables, foods high in phenolic antioxidants, carotenoids
(especially lycopene), sulfur compounds from allium vegetables, isothiocyanates
from the cabbage group, and terpenoid-rich foods.
•Molecular hydrogen has been shown to target free
radicals produced in response to radiation, such as peroxynitrites. Studies
have shown molecular hydrogen can mitigate about 80% of this damage.25,26,27,28,29
Molecular hydrogen will also activate Nrf2, a
biological hormetic that upregulates superoxide dismutase, catalase, and all
the other beneficial intercellular antioxidants. This in turn lowers
inflammation, improves your mitochondrial function and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis.
Sources and References
·
1 Global Research March 21, 2024 (Archived)
·
2, 3 Reviews on Environmental Health
September 22, 2022
·
4 European Parliamentary Research
Service, Scientific Foresight Unit. Brussels 2021
·
5 Luxembourg: Policy Department for
Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies, European Parliament; 2019
·
6 International Journal of Environmental Health Research November 22, 2022;
34(1): 316-327
·
7 Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2023; 12: 176-181
(Archived)
·
8 NeuroToxicology, Volume 94, January 2023, Pages 46-58
·
9 Brain and Behavior April 28, 2023; 13(6): e3004
·
10 Front. Public Health, 07 August 2023,
Sec. Radiation and Health, Volume 11 - 2023
·
11 Environmental Science and Pollution
Research October 18, 2023; 30: 113704-113717
·
12 Revista Internacional de Andrología, Volume 21, Issue 4, October–December
2023, 100371
·
13 Annals of Clinical Case Studies,
2024, Volume 6, Article 1093, ISSN: 2688-1241
·
14 Scientific Reports, Volume 14, Article Number: 3571 (2024)
·
15 Parliament of Australia, Inquiry Into 5G in Australia (Archived)
·
16 YouTube, Environmental Health Trust, 5G Technology:
Potential Risks To Human Health: Excerpts From Scientific Conference
·
17 AAP.org, Growing Up Digital October 1, 2015 (Archived)
·
18 The Global Healing Center November 13, 2014
·
19 Amazon.com, Mission Darkness
Non-Window Faraday Bag for Phones
·
20 Journal of Advanced Research, Volume 4, Issue 2, March 2013, Pages
181-187
·
21 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Feb
12;12(2):2071–2087
·
22 Behav Sleep Med.
2014 Sep 3;12(5):343-57
·
23 CNN June 12, 2014
·
24 Sheng Li Xue
Bao. 2015 Feb 25;67(1):1-18
·
25 Biochemical and Biophysical Research
Communications, Volume 389, Issue 4, 27 November 2009, Pages 651-656
·
26 Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry January 2013; 373(1-2): 1-9
·
27 Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism September 2014; 32(5): 494-504
·
28 British Journal of Pharmacology 2013; 168: 1412-1420
·
29 Frontiers in Pharmacology October 27, 2016
Source: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/11/23/health-risks-of-5g.aspx
