Your Health and 5G
The fifth generation of cellular (移动电话) data service, or 5G, promises to bring lightning-fast data connection speeds. Much faster, even, than broadband internet connections currently offered in many homes. High-speed cellular service has the potential to revolutionize many different technologies, from virtual reality to medicine. Not everyone is excited about 5G service, however.
Some people worry that the technology behind 5G might present serious health risks. There are even protests aimed at slowing down or even stopping companies from installing the equipment necessary for 5G service. Why are people so worried, and do they have credible reasons to be concerned?
To understand the possible health risks of 5G, it is important to understand how the new service is different from existing ones, like 3G or 4G. The main difference is the new frequency of the signals that will be used to transmit data. 5G uses a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum than previous cellular services. The signals have short wavelengths measured in millimeters called millimeter waves. Millimeter waves are perfect for high-speed data, but small transmitters and antennas (天线) must be put up everywhere to ensure good connections. This presents a cause for concern.
