Story:
Contact With 5G Towers Damage Firefighters Brains in Sacramento
Other Versions
Firefighters Suffer Neurological Damage After Contact With 5G Cell Towers
Fact Check:
A story in circulation online warns mobile users that Radiation from 5G Towers Damage Firefighters Brains in Sacramento. Allegedly, some of the firefighters suffer Neurological damage after they were in contact with 5G cell towers. So, let us examine the claims and check whether it is fact or not.
About 5G Network and Health Concerns
The 5G wireless cellular network uses high-frequency waves that support faster speeds but does not travel as far as the current wireless frequencies. So, the 5G technology requires the installation of new equipment and small cell towers across the United States. CNET website cnet.com states 5G networks can offer more than just advanced cellular technology. It can form the foundation of remote surgery, Internet of Things accessories and improved drone capabilities among others.
On the other hand, with the installation of large number of small 5G cell towers, some people express concerns about the emitting radiation. They fear about Cancer risks in people around and also mention environmental effects. Some experts also believe the effects of widespread use of 5G mobile technology have to be studied better before it goes mainstream. Officials from the Companies, however, suggest the small 5G cell towers emit less radiation compared to traditional, 4G antennas. Apart from United States, even China is competing to invest in 5G infrastructure.
Did 5G Towers Damage Firefighters Brains in Sacramento?
On 4th March 2019, Health Nut News website healthnutnews.com published an article with title ‘Firefighters suffer neurological damage after contact with 5G cell towers‘. It mentioned the firefighters in Sacramento (California) have reported neurological damage like memory problems and confusion after the new generation 5G cell towers were installed outside their fire station. It also mentioned a ‘related’ quote from CBS news story from Sacramento:
Firefighters in San Francisco have reported memory problems and confusion after the 5G equipment was installed outside of fire stations. The firefighters claim the symptoms stopped when they relocated to stations without equipment nearby.
It is a fact the quote comes from a report published on CBS Sacramento website sacramento.cbslocal.com in late May 2018. But it was actually referring to an old pilot study conducted for few years starting in 2001. It was in fact examining harm from levels of RF radiation from 2G towers at the time – not directly related to 5G cell towers.
The Health Nut News article also mentions that in 2011 the World Health Organization classified all sources of Cell Phone and Wireless WiFi Radiation as a Possible Carcinogen. Yes, the WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radio-frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). But again, that was years back when 5G technology or towers did not surface. More importantly, the article originally comes from News Punch website (earlier YourNewsWire), a well-known fake news website. The original article published in July 2018 on News Punch website newspunch.com was taken down later.
To conclude, the message warning mobile users that radiation from 5G towers damage firefighters brains in Sacramento is just a hoax. It originated from a fake news website.
Hoax or Fact:
Hoax.
0 Comments