by Daniel Tressel and Christina Pirskanen, 20min.ch, 5 October 2023 - auto-translation
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| 20min/Matthias Spicher |
There is still a lot of skepticism among the population about 5G. At the same time, the mobile network should be expanded as quickly as possible.
That's what it's about
That's what it's about
- 28 percent of the Swiss population is concerned about their health because of cell phone radiation.
- According to radiation protection expert Martin Röösli, no harmful effects of 5G on health have yet been scientifically proven.
- FDP National Councilor Christian Wasserfallen is committed to a faster expansion of 5G. His motion was accepted by almost all parties – except the Greens.
- Green National Councilor Marionna Schlatter criticizes accelerated 5G expansion. The long-term consequences are not yet known and we should act with the necessary caution, she says.
The expansion of the 5G network is still a hotly debated topic. Residents repeatedly object to the construction of new antennas. Even Health Minister Alain Berset fought against the construction of an antenna in his hometown.
As a survey by 20 Minutes and Tamedia shows, 28 percent of the Swiss population is worried about their health because of cell phone radiation. This is despite the fact that, according to an environmental epidemiologist and radiation protection expert, no harmful effects of 5G on health have yet been scientifically proven.
That's what science says
Martin Röösli is a professor of environmental epidemiology at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and a radiation protection expert.
What effect does 5G radiation have on the body?
5G is microwave radiation. This warms the body. The limits for the public are set so that the entire body does not heat up more than 0.02 degrees Celsius. Locally, the body can warm up to a maximum of 0.4 degrees when using cell phones. If the limit value were significantly exceeded, it would be a long-term burden on the body - like having a fever. So far, no other health effects have been proven below the limit values.
How conclusive are the investigations so far?
Of course there are still unanswered questions. Science cannot prove that something is harmless, only how harmful it is. It is clear that if cell phone radiation was as harmful as fine dust or noise, it would have been visible.
What is the difference between 4G and 5G?
Both are microwaves and have a similar frequency and modulation. There are no reliable reasons why 5G should have different health effects than 4G. The decisive factor is the strength of the mobile phone radiation and not whether it is 4G, 5G, WLAN or Bluetooth. So far, there is no evidence that radiation is increasing because of 5G.
Wide support from left to right
5G is also a big topic in politics . FDP National Councilor Christian Wasserfallen is committed to the expansion. His motion, which calls for speed in the construction of 5G antennas, has just been approved by Parliament. “There is currently a lot of difficulty, over 3,000 permits are at a standstill,” says Wasserfallen.
The motion was supported by almost all parties. Only the Greens voted against it. There were a few dissenting votes from the SP and SVP, but the majority accepted the motion.
That’s how good the 5G coverage is currently in Switzerland
Higher frequencies are needed for 5G, says Christian Grasser, managing director of the Swiss Telecommunications Association asut. “Coverage with these frequencies is currently between 70 and 75 percent.”
However, the coverage with the full performance of 5G is significantly lower because the performance of the transmission systems is limited by the precautionary system limits.
Greens: “Call on politicians not to decide carelessly”
One of the harshest critics of accelerated 5G expansion is Green Party National Councilor Marionna Schlatter. “Compared to other countries in Europe and around the world, Switzerland is already very progressive in expanding the mobile network,” she emphasizes. Since there is no pressure, she does not think it is appropriate to undermine the approval process for 5G antennas.
Even if science has so far classified the radiation emitted by 5G as harmless, its long-term consequences are not yet known. “The fact that more than a quarter of the population is concerned about their health because of cell phone radiation is all the more a call to politicians to act with the necessary caution and not to make decisions carelessly,” appeals Schlatter.
The telecommunications industry lobbies intensively
There is a lot of lobbying in the Federal Palace by the telecommunications companies. Dozens of national and state councils have come together under the name “Chance5G” to advocate for 5G. The group was launched and is financed by the umbrella association of the telecommunications industry ASUT and its members - in particular Swisscom, Sunrise, Ericsson, Huawei and Cellnex.
Only recently “Chance5G” started a new project. An online game should attract attention. «With ‹5G. “The Game” is intended to sensitize the population in a playful way to the topic and the importance of a powerful, comprehensive and sustainable mobile communications infrastructure,” explains Co-President and FDP Council of States Hans Wicki.
Original article in German:
https://www.20min.ch/story/zoff-um-das-netz-politik-will-5g-ausbau-jeder-4-hat-angst-vor-mobilfunkstrahlung-329712562580
As a survey by 20 Minutes and Tamedia shows, 28 percent of the Swiss population is worried about their health because of cell phone radiation. This is despite the fact that, according to an environmental epidemiologist and radiation protection expert, no harmful effects of 5G on health have yet been scientifically proven.
That's what science says
Martin Röösli is a professor of environmental epidemiology at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and a radiation protection expert.
What effect does 5G radiation have on the body?
5G is microwave radiation. This warms the body. The limits for the public are set so that the entire body does not heat up more than 0.02 degrees Celsius. Locally, the body can warm up to a maximum of 0.4 degrees when using cell phones. If the limit value were significantly exceeded, it would be a long-term burden on the body - like having a fever. So far, no other health effects have been proven below the limit values.
How conclusive are the investigations so far?
Of course there are still unanswered questions. Science cannot prove that something is harmless, only how harmful it is. It is clear that if cell phone radiation was as harmful as fine dust or noise, it would have been visible.
What is the difference between 4G and 5G?
Both are microwaves and have a similar frequency and modulation. There are no reliable reasons why 5G should have different health effects than 4G. The decisive factor is the strength of the mobile phone radiation and not whether it is 4G, 5G, WLAN or Bluetooth. So far, there is no evidence that radiation is increasing because of 5G.
Wide support from left to right
5G is also a big topic in politics . FDP National Councilor Christian Wasserfallen is committed to the expansion. His motion, which calls for speed in the construction of 5G antennas, has just been approved by Parliament. “There is currently a lot of difficulty, over 3,000 permits are at a standstill,” says Wasserfallen.
The motion was supported by almost all parties. Only the Greens voted against it. There were a few dissenting votes from the SP and SVP, but the majority accepted the motion.
That’s how good the 5G coverage is currently in Switzerland
Higher frequencies are needed for 5G, says Christian Grasser, managing director of the Swiss Telecommunications Association asut. “Coverage with these frequencies is currently between 70 and 75 percent.”
However, the coverage with the full performance of 5G is significantly lower because the performance of the transmission systems is limited by the precautionary system limits.
Greens: “Call on politicians not to decide carelessly”
One of the harshest critics of accelerated 5G expansion is Green Party National Councilor Marionna Schlatter. “Compared to other countries in Europe and around the world, Switzerland is already very progressive in expanding the mobile network,” she emphasizes. Since there is no pressure, she does not think it is appropriate to undermine the approval process for 5G antennas.
Even if science has so far classified the radiation emitted by 5G as harmless, its long-term consequences are not yet known. “The fact that more than a quarter of the population is concerned about their health because of cell phone radiation is all the more a call to politicians to act with the necessary caution and not to make decisions carelessly,” appeals Schlatter.
The telecommunications industry lobbies intensively
There is a lot of lobbying in the Federal Palace by the telecommunications companies. Dozens of national and state councils have come together under the name “Chance5G” to advocate for 5G. The group was launched and is financed by the umbrella association of the telecommunications industry ASUT and its members - in particular Swisscom, Sunrise, Ericsson, Huawei and Cellnex.
Only recently “Chance5G” started a new project. An online game should attract attention. «With ‹5G. “The Game” is intended to sensitize the population in a playful way to the topic and the importance of a powerful, comprehensive and sustainable mobile communications infrastructure,” explains Co-President and FDP Council of States Hans Wicki.
Original article in German:
https://www.20min.ch/story/zoff-um-das-netz-politik-will-5g-ausbau-jeder-4-hat-angst-vor-mobilfunkstrahlung-329712562580
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