https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1619781/full

James C. Lin

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States

EXCERPT:

Concerns about the impacts on the public health and safety of radiofrequency (RF) exposure are increasing with the rapid proliferation of cellular mobile telecommunication systems and devices. There is also lack of confidence surrounding the applicability of stated health safety rules, limits and guidelines for RF exposure including their use for 5G and the expected 6G. This paper: (1) considers the currently promulgated standards for safe human exposure to RF radiation, (2) examines assumptions underlying the standards, (3) describes the roles of the military industrial complex in influencing research on the health effects and standards setting for safety levels, (4) discusses the engagement of an industry-regulatory complex, (5) explains the interaction between ICNIRP and the WHO-EMF, (6) scrutinizes recent publications of WHO-EMF commissioned systematic reviews, and (7) concludes with some observations on an apparent paradigm shift.

Introduction

In 2021, there were nearly 15 billion cellular mobile devices operating worldwide. The number of RF mobile devices is expected to reach 18 billion by 2025, an increase of 4 billion devices compared to 2020 levels (1). The current world population is about 8.2 billion according to the most recent United Nations estimates (2). These numbers suggest that currently each person alive on Earth is subjected to the exposure of two or more RF radiating devices. Likewise, about 97% of adults in the U.S. own a mobile phone or cellular device including 99% of those between the ages of 18–29 and 94% of the population residing in rural areas (3).

The fast spread of cellular and mobile telecommunication devices and systems is raising concerns about the health impacts and safety of radiofrequency (RF) exposure. There is also unease about the effectiveness of publicized health safety rules, limits, and standards for RF radiation used by these devices and systems. …

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