Comment on Redmayne, M.; Maisch, D.R. ICNIRP Guidelines' Exposure Assessment Method for 5G Millimetre Wave Radiation May Trigger Adverse Effects. 2023, , 5267.

International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023 · No effect · Insufficient evidence

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No effectInsufficient evidencePaper 5765

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2023

Study typeother

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

This article discusses the contention in the commented-upon paper that Brillouin precursors generated by 5G New Radio (5G NR) and other cellular systems are a possible cause of tissue damage at deeper layers of tissue than the power penetration depth of the carrier frequency. The original theory for Brillouin precursors from pulsed radiofrequency signals (RF-EMF) and speculation about their possible health effects dates back to the 1990's and was based on studies of the propagation of very short (nanosecond) ultrawide-bandwidth RF pulses through water. This assumption is not correct for cellular telephone signals due to their narrow bandwidth. The commented-on paper provides no alternative rationale as to why Brillouin effects should cause tissue damage from RF-EMF radiation from cellular and other communications systems. Other inaccuracies in this paper concerning thermal responses of tissue to RF-EMF are also noted.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposuremmWave

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This comment argues that the Brillouin-precursor mechanism proposed in the commented paper is not applicable to cellular telephone signals because those signals are narrow bandwidth, unlike the very short ultrawide-bandwidth pulses used in earlier Brillouin-precursor studies. It states the commented paper provides no alternative rationale for Brillouin effects causing tissue damage from cellular/communications RF-EMF and notes additional inaccuracies regarding thermal tissue responses.

Outcomes measured

tissue damage (discussed/contested)
thermal responses of tissue to RF-EMF (discussed)

Limitations

Commentary/critique rather than original experimental or epidemiologic study
Does not present new exposure measurements or health outcome data in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "mmWave",
    "source": "5G NR / cellular systems",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "tissue damage (discussed/contested)",
    "thermal responses of tissue to RF-EMF (discussed)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This comment argues that the Brillouin-precursor mechanism proposed in the commented paper is not applicable to cellular telephone signals because those signals are narrow bandwidth, unlike the very short ultrawide-bandwidth pulses used in earlier Brillouin-precursor studies. It states the commented paper provides no alternative rationale for Brillouin effects causing tissue damage from cellular/communications RF-EMF and notes additional inaccuracies regarding thermal tissue responses.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Commentary/critique rather than original experimental or epidemiologic study",
    "Does not present new exposure measurements or health outcome data in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "5G",
    "5G NR",
    "millimetre wave",
    "RF-EMF",
    "Brillouin precursors",
    "bandwidth",
    "tissue damage",
    "thermal effects",
    "ICNIRP guidelines"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Focuses on 5G millimetre-wave exposure assessment and critiques claims about adverse effects."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.72,
      "reason": "Directly concerns ICNIRP guidelines and their exposure assessment method."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20227029
PubMed: 37998260

Read the original paper →

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