ICNIRP Research Articles

ASSESSING THE COMPLIANCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS RADIATED BY BASE STATIONS AND WIFI ACCESS POINTS WITH INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

This paper presents a series of electromagnetic field measurements performed on the campus of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in order to assess the compliance of radiation levels of cellular base stations and WiFi access points with international guidelines. A calibrated, broadband and isotropic probe is used and recommendations of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are followed up throughout measurements. More than 300 outdoor and indoor locations have been systematically chosen for measurements. The recorded data are post-processed and compared with the guideline of International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Measured power densities of WiFi access points are low and do not exceed 1% of the level allowed by ICNIRP. For cellular base stations, measured power density is usually low outdoors, but reaches up to 16% of the allowed radiation level in publicly accessible indoor locations. Comprehensive exposure assessment, as recommended by ITU, has been performed to estimate the maximum possible radiation of one indoor base station. It is concluded that precautionary actions have to be taken by university authorities to limit the presence of students in close proximity to specific indoor antennas. Moreover, comprehensive exposure assessment is more likely necessary for indoor base stations whereas such assessment is not usually required outdoors.

Inter-individual variations in electric fields induced in the brain by exposure to uniform magnetic fields at 50 Hz

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard establish safety limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields. At low frequencies, only a limited number of computational body models or simplified geometrical shapes are used to relate the internal induced electric fields and the external magnetic fields. As a consequence, both standard/guidelines derive the exposure reference levels for the external magnetic field without considering the variability between individuals. Here we provide quantitative data on the variation of the maximum electric field strengths induced in the brain of 118 individuals when exposed to uniform magnetic fields at 50 Hz. We found that individual characteristics, such as age and skull volume, as well as incident magnetic field direction, have a systematic effect on the peak electric field values. Older individuals show higher induced electric field strengths, possibly due to age-related anatomical changes in brain. Peak electric field strengths are found to increase for larger skull volumes, as well as for incident magnetic fields directed along the lateral direction. Moreover, the maximum electric fields provided by the anatomical models used by ICNIRP for deriving exposure limits are considerably higher than those obtained here. On the contrary, the IEEE elliptical exposure model produces a weaker peak electric field strength. Our findings are useful for the revision and harmonization of the current exposure standard and guidelines. The present investigation reduces the dosimetric uncertainty of the induced electric field among different anatomical induction models. The obtained results can be used as a basis for the selection of appropriate reduction factors when deriving exposure reference levels for human protection to low-frequency electromagnetic exposure.

Effect of Protective Measures on Eye Exposure to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation.

In this study, ocular biologically effective exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVBE) is investigated with six kinds of sun protective measures (spectacle lenses, sunglasses, cap, bonnet, straw hat and under parasol). Ocular UV exposure measurements were performed on manikins during the summer period in Shenyang city (41.64° N, 123.50° E, 66m a.s.l.), China. The measurements include the ocular UV exposure of an unprotected eye and the ambient UV as a control concurrently. Based on the relative spectral weighting factors of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the ocular biologically effective UV is calculated and compared with the 8-h exposure limits of ICNIRP (30Jm-2 ). The UV index (UVI) of the measurement days is 0-8, and the 8-h (8:00-16:00 China Standard Time, CST) cumulated UVBE of the unprotected eye is 452.0Jm-2 . The 8-h cumulated UVBE of the eye with spectacle lenses, sunglasses, cap, bonnet, straw hat and under parasol are 364.2, 69.1, 51.4, 49.0, 56.8 and 110.2Jm-2 , respectively. Importantly, it should be noted that the eye could be exposed to risk despite protective measures. The 8-h cumulated UVBE of the eye with protection is ca 1.6-15.1 times the exposure limit, respectively. As indicated in the present study, during summer months, high exposure to the sun for more than 30min without eye protection and more than 1h with eye protection is not advisable. The protection measures could effectively reduce the UVBE reaching the eye, yet there is still a high degree of risk when compared with the ICNIRP 8-h exposure limits.

Assessment of Levels of Occupational Exposure to UV-A and UV-C Radiation among Shielded Metal Arc Welders in Accra, Ghana

This study attempted to quantify the irradiance levels of ultraviolet A (UV-A) and ultraviolet C (UV-C) from the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process to welders in Accra, Ghana. Exposures were assessed via measurements, observations, and interviews. The assessments were done based on safe exposure levels prescribed by recognized international organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Results from the measured UV-C irradiance levels E UV-C ranged between 0.16 ± 0.08 W/m 2 and 10.46 ± 1.96 W/m 2 with its corresponding permissible exposure duration t max‑UV‑C per day ranging from 5.74 s to 367.35 s. The measured UV-A irradiance levels E UV‑A ranged from 0.88 ± 0.03 W/m 2 to 23.72 ± 6.66 W/m 2 with its corresponding permissible exposure duration t max‑UV‑A per day ranging from 421.59 s to 11,363.64 s. The obtained effective irradiance E eff has a range of 2.08 W/m 2 to 28.79 W/m 2 with the range of permissible exposure duration t max per day of 1.04 s to 14.40 s. It was found that the total exposure time of the welders exceeded the permissible exposure durations and that the safety practices among the welders were unsatisfactory.

Design of Low-SAR Mobile Phone Antenna: Theory and Applications

This article focuses on the design of a low specific absorption rate (SAR) mobile phone antennas. First, the interaction mechanism of the radiation fields of mobile phone antennas with nearby human tissues is analyzed by using boundary conditions of electromagnetics. The relations between SAR and the electric field are constructed. Then, a concept of reverse current is proposed to decrease the electric field radiated by the antenna at the air-tissue interface and, consequently, reduce the SAR of human tissues. Finally, a metal-rimmed mobile phone antenna is designed according to the proposed theory. The ground clearance of the designed antenna is 2 mm. Their measured normalized peak head and body SAR values are lower than 1.0 W/kg, much less than the SAR safety limit of 1.6 W/kg according to the guidelines of IEEE and FCC or 2.0 W/kg according to the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measured -6 dB impedance bandwidths are 830-1040 and 1670-2730 MHz, respectively. The measured efficiencies are higher than -5 dB at the lower band and -4 dB at the higher band. The measured results prove that the proposed theory can provide guidance for the design of low-SAR mobile phone antennas.

Design of an Integrated Platform for Mapping Residential Exposure to Rf-Emf Sources.

Nowadays, information and communication technologies (mobile phones, connected objects) strongly occupy our daily life. The increasing use of these technologies and the complexity of network infrastructures raise issues about radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (Rf-Emf) exposure. Most previous studies have assessed individual exposure to Rf-Emf, and the next level is to assess populational exposure. In our study, we designed a statistical tool for Rf-Emf populational exposure assessment and mapping. This tool integrates geographic databases and surrogate models to characterize spatiotemporal exposure from outdoor sources, indoor sources, and mobile phones. A case study was conducted on a 100 × 100 m grid covering the 14th district of Paris to illustrate the functionalities of the tool. Whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) values are 2.7 times higher than those for the whole brain. The mapping of whole-body and whole-brain SAR values shows a dichotomy between built-up and non-built-up areas, with the former displaying higher values. Maximum SAR values do not exceed 3.5 and 3.9 mW/kg for the whole body and the whole brain, respectively, thus they are significantly below International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommendations. Indoor sources are the main contributor to populational exposure, followed by outdoor sources and mobile phones, which generally represents less than 1% of total exposure.

Exposure assessment of radio frequency electromagnetic field levels in hospitals of Samsun Province, Turkey.

With the increase in the use of different types of electronic systems used inside and outside the hospital, the electromagnetic medium in the hospital has changed significantly. The increase in the number and type of EMF sources in sensitive mediums such as hospitals has led researchers to measure EMFs to assess the potential risk to patients and staff. For this reason, this study aims to determine the radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels to which patients and staff are exposed voluntarily or unintentionally in the hospital environment and to control their compliance with the limits defined in the standards. In order to achieve these goals, three different types of RF-EMF measurements were carried out as, short-term, long-term, and band selective in 21 state hospitals in the Samsun Province, Turkey. Total RF-EMF in the band between 100kHz and 3GHz is measured using PMM-8053, while band selective is conducted using SRM-3006 in the frequency range from 27MHz up to 3GHz. The recorded RF-EMF values were statistically analyzed, and the main RF-EMF sources in the medium were determined. The highest average RF-EMF exposure level obtained for short-term measurements was 2.52V/m. For long-term measurements, the highest average RF-EMF was 3.11V/m and the highest mean RF-EMF was 2.29V/m. Within our measurements, the limit of 3V/m set by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) was exceeded in the hospital, although the highest RF-EMF was below the limit level set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Long-term measurement results showed that the RF-EMF level at midday was higher than at night; the highest RF-EMF was measured in the afternoon and during evening hours. The mean RF-EMF levels are 1.01V/m, 1.15V/m, 1.12V/m, and 0.84V/m, for morning, afternoon, evening, and night respectively. The RF-EMF level measured during the afternoon hours maybe about 37% higher than the RF-EMF levels measured at night. The main sources of total RF-EMF in the environment determined from the band-selective RF-EMF results were base stations located outside the hospital and their contribution to total RF-EMF was 92.6%. Systems that make the most contribution to the RF-EMF in the environment are base stations using the LTE 800, GSM 900, GSM 1800, LTE 1800, and UMTS 2100 frequency bands. Among these, the UMTS 2100 frequency band gave the highest contribution with 40.42%. With the use of these main RF-EMF sources, an empirical model that helps in computing the total E of the medium with 99.8% accuracy was proposed.

Study on safe distance between human body and wireless charging system of electric vehicles with different power and frequencies

In this paper, a wireless charging system and a human body model with various operating frequencies and output power are constructed to study the safe distance between the human body and the charging system when the electric vehicle is wirelessly charging. The models are simulated for electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic thermal effects. This paper mainly focuses on the induced electric field intensity of the human body and main organs during the static charging of electric vehicles under different operating conditions in a wireless charging system. The results are compared with the standards established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) to derive the minimum safe distance for electric vehicles charged wirelessly. The results show that when the system works at a frequency of 85 kHz with output power of 3.7 kW, 7.7 kW, 22 kW, 33 kW, 66 kW, and 150 kW, the minimum safe distance between the human body and the system is 0.5 m, 0.6 m, 0.7 m, 1.0 m, 1.2 m, and 1.7 m; when the system works at an output power of 66 kW with frequency of 85 kHz, 300 kHz, 500 kHz, and 700 kHz, the corresponding minimum safe distance is 1.2 m,0.9 m, 0.8 m, and 0.6 m. Moreover, the induced electric field intensity distribution of human organs at different power is also calculated, and the results show that the induced electric field intensity of the liver and kidney is higher than that of other organs. When the human body is at the minimum safe distance, the temperature changes caused by the electromagnetic heating effect of various organs are within the normal adjustment range of the human body, indicating the rationality of the minimum safe distance when the electric vehicle wireless charging system works under parameters of this paper. It provides a theoretical basis for the setting of the safe distance of the electric vehicle wireless charging system.

Assessment of Exposure to Electric Vehicle Inductive Power Transfer Systems: Experimental Measurements and Numerical Dosimetry

High-power inductive power transfer (IPT) systems for charging light and heavy electric vehicles pose safety concerns if they are installed in uncontrolled environments. Within the framework of the European Project EMPIR-16ENG08 MICEV, a wide experimental and numerical study was conducted to assess the exposure of the general public to IPT stray magnetic fields for two different exposure scenarios: (1) for an IPT model system derived from the SAE J2954 standard operating at 85 kHz for a light electric vehicle coupled with the model of a realistic car-body model; and (2) for an IPT model system with a maximum rated power of 50 kW at 27.8 kHz for a real minibus that was reproduced with some simplifications in two different 3D finite element method (FEM) simulation tools (Opera 3D and CST software). An ad hoc measurement survey was carried out at the minibus charging station to validate the simulations of the real bus station for both aligned and misaligned IPT coils. Based on this preliminary study, a safety factor was chosen to ensure a conservative dosimetric analysis with respect to the model approximations. As highlighted in this study, the vehicle-body serves as an efficient screen to reduce the magnetic field by at least three orders of magnitude close to the coils. By applying FEM, computed spatial distribution to the Sim4Life software, the exposure of three Virtual Population human anatomical phantoms (one adult, one child, and a newborn) was assessed. The three phantoms were placed in different postures and locations for both exposure scenarios. The basic restriction limits, established by the current guidelines, were never exceeded within the vehicles; however, the basic restrictions were exceeded when an adult crouched outside the minibus, i.e., near the coils, or when a newborn was placed in the same location. Borderline values were observed in the light car. In the case of the bus, limits coming from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) guidelines are never exceeded, while basic restrictions coming from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines are exceeded up to 12% for an adult and up to 38% for a newborn. This paper presents novel dosimetric data generated in an IPT system for heavy vehicles and confirms some of the literature data on light vehicles.

Active Shielding Applied to an Electrified Road in a Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) System

An active coil system is proposed to shield the magnetic field produced by a dynamic wireless power transfer (WPT) system used to power electric vehicles (EVs) in motion. The considered dynamic WPT is based on an electrified road with many short-track pads. A sophisticated mathematical procedure is developed to optimize the design of the active coils configuration and their excitation. By the proposed approach, the resulting magnetic field is compliant with the reference levels (RLs) of the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) 2010 Guidelines inside the cabin of EVs and on the side of the electrified road.

Comprehensive radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements and assessments: a city center example.

In this study, radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) measurements were carried out between 2016 and 2018 in one the largest provinces of Turkey; measurement results are compared with the limit values determined by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA). In the first stage of a three-phase evaluation, short-term RF-EMF measurements were conducted in 500 locations over a 2-year period. In the second stage, short-term RF-EMF measurement results were analyzed to determine selected locations for long-term RF-EMF measurements to be carried out, including variation of RF-EMF during the day. In the last stage, band selective measurements were taken and the main sources of RF-EMF in the environment were determined. Overall, RF-EMF values do not exceed the limits determined by ICNIRP and ICTA, and they are below levels that threaten public health. In the short-term RF-EMF measurements, RF-EMF levels doubled after fourth generation (4G) systems were introduced. In the long-term RF-EMF measurements, RF-EMF values in the day are 35.4% more than at night. The total measured RF-EMF within the city center is 99.3% base station sourced. Among the six main RF-EMF sources, the devices operating in UMTS2100 band have the most contribution to total RF-EMF of medium with 31.2%. Additionally, we found short-term average electric field strength data are best described by the "exponential distribution," while long-term RF-EMF measurement data is best described by the "Burr distribution."

Comments on the 2013 ICNIRP Laser Guidelines.

Comments on the 2013 ICNIRP Laser Guidelines.

Principles for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

In this statement, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) presents its principles for protection against adverse health effects from exposure to non-ionizing radiation. These are based upon the principles for protection against ionizing radiation of the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) in order to come to a comprehensive and consistent system of protection throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The statement further contains information about ICNIRP and the processes it uses in setting exposure guidelines.

Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Assessment Based on Call-Related Factors and Physical Condition from Selected Mobile Phones

The intensity of electromagnetic radiation around selected mobile phones is in a bid to confirm their adherence to the specified radiofrequency exposure limit on non-ionizing radiation. Measurements were taken with the use of Radiofrequency Meter (RF) TM-96, 9V DC and Spectrum Analyzer (NA-773, 144/430 MHz) at distances 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm from the mobile phone users. The level of radiations from the selected mobile phones ranges from 0.3119 to 0.5407 mW/cm2 during dialing. Out of the tested mobile phones, the radiation levels of Asus, Infinix 3 and Siccoo X100 phones which are 0.5407, 0.5009 and 0.4506 mW/cm2 respectively are above the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) reference level which is 0.45 mW/cm2. Result from measurement showed that high radiation levels from a transmitting handset occur between seeking for connection and call establishment. It was also confirmed that the physical condition of mobile phones affects its radiation level.

Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Assessment Based on Call-Related Factors and Physical Condition from Selected Mobile Phones

The intensity of electromagnetic radiation around selected mobile phones is in a bid to confirm their adherence to the specified radiofrequency exposure limit on non-ionizing radiation. Measurements were taken with the use of Radiofrequency Meter (RF) TM-96, 9V DC and Spectrum Analyzer (NA-773, 144/430 MHz) at distances 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm from the mobile phone users. The level of radiations from the selected mobile phones ranges from 0.3119 to 0.5407 mW/cm2 during dialing. Out of the tested mobile phones, the radiation levels of Asus, Infinix 3 and Siccoo X100 phones which are 0.5407, 0.5009 and 0.4506 mW/cm2 respectively are above the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) reference level which is 0.45 mW/cm2. Result from measurement showed that high radiation levels from a transmitting handset occur between seeking for connection and call establishment. It was also confirmed that the physical condition of mobile phones affects its radiation level.

Numerical estimation on the threshold of nerve excitation phenomena by the application of current with multiple frequencies based on Frankenhaeuser‐Huxley model

AbstractInternational Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines describes addition equation for electrical stimulation, relevant for frequencies up to 10 MHz, with respect to simultaneous exposure to magnetic fields with multiple frequencies. However, there is no literature which estimated the threshold of electromagnetic field exposure of multiple frequencies. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to estimate the threshold of nerve excitation caused by the application of current with multiple frequencies. In this article, combinations of two kinds of frequencies f1 and f2 were investigated for the applying current. The Frankenhaeuser‐Huxley model was employed to analyze nerve excitation effects. The ratios of the applied current value to the threshold current value were kept at the same value for each frequency f1 and f2, respectively. Consequently, the threshold did not exceed if the philosophy of the addition equation of International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) was satisfied, with any combination of f1 and f2 analyzed in this article. Especially when f1 = 2 f2 and f2 = 2 f1, the threshold became a high value. By analyzing the amount of the accumulated electric charge, which is a factor causing the action potential, it was demonstrated that it is difficult to accumulate the electric charge when f1 = 2 f2 and f2 = 2 f1.

Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area.

In the last two decades, due to the development of the information society, the massive increase in the use of information technologies, including the connection and communication of multiple electronic devices, highlighting Wi-Fi networks, as well as the emerging technological advances of 4G and 5G (new-generation mobile phones that will use 5G), have caused a significant increase in the personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF), and as a consequence, increasing discussions about the possible adverse health effects. The main objective of this study was to measure the personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from the Wi-Fi in the university area of German Jordanian University (GJU) and prepare georeferenced maps of the registered intensity levels and to compare them with the basic international restrictions. Spot measurements were made outside the university area at German Jordanian University. Measurements were made in the whole university area and around two buildings. Two Satimo EME SPY 140 (Brest, France) personal exposimeters were used, and the measurements were performed in the morning and afternoon, and on weekends and weekdays. The total average personal exposure to RF-EMF from the Wi-Fi band registered in the three study areas and in the four days measured was 28.82 μW/m2. The average total exposure from the Wi-Fi band registered in the ten measured points of the university area of GJU was 22.97 μW/m2, the one registered in the eight measured points of building H was 34.48 μW/m2, and the one registered in the eight points of building C was 29.00 μW/m2. The maximum average values registered in the campus of GJU are below the guidelines allowed by International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measurement protocol used in this work has been applied in measurements already carried out in Spain and Mexico, and it is applicable in university areas of other countries.

Investigation of factors affecting power density radiation of mobile phones

The use of mobile phones in Nigeria has greatly increased in the recent year. This has also increased the general population exposure to mobile phone radiation. In this research, the intensity of radiation around selected mobile phones base on some factors are investigated using Radiofrequency Meter (RF) TM-96, 9V DC and Spectrum Analyzer (NA-773, 144/430 MHz) in a bid to confirm how they affect the radiation level. Measurements were taken at distances of 5 cm from the mobile phones when seeking for connections, calls establishing and calls connections under different conditions such as periods of the day, when charging and when not charging, battery charged levels, single and dual SIMs and network signal levels. The radiation levels from the 5 selected mobile phones ranges from 0.3204 to 0.4824 mW/cm2 during call conversation, with the highest radiating mobile phone being Asus while the least was Infinix 3. The radiation levels of these mobile phones are above the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) reference level, 0.45 mW/cm2. Results also shows that the cell phone battery level, network signal level, the number of inserted SIM cards increases the radiation level of the mobile phones. Â

Spatial and temporal assessment of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by smart meters and smart meter banks in urban environments

This paper describes radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) measurements in the vicinity of single and banks of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meters. The measurements were performed in a meter testing and distribution facility as well as in-situ at five urban locations. The measurements consisted of gauging the RF environment at the place of assessment, evaluating the worst-case electric-field levels at various positions around the assessed AMI meter configuration (spatial assessment), which ranged from a single meter to a bank of 81 m, and calculating the duty cycle of the system, i.e. the fraction of time that the AMI meters were actually transmitting (12-h temporal assessment). Both in-situ and in the meter facility, the maximum field levels at 0.3 m from the meter configurations were 10–13 V/m for a single meter and 18–38 V/m for meter banks with 20–81 m. Furthermore, 6-min average duty cycles of 0.01% (1 m) up to 13% (81-m bank) were observed. Next, two general statistical models (one for a single meter and one for a meter bank) were constructed to predict the electric-field strength as a function of distance to any configuration of the assessed AMI meters. For all scenarios, the measured exposure levels (at a minimum distance of 0.3 m) were well below the maximum permissible exposure limits issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Indeed, the worst-case time-average exposure level at a distance of 0.3 m from an AMI installation was 5.39% of the FCC/IEEE and 9.43% of the ICNIRP reference levels.

Comment] Appeals that matter or not on a moratorium on the deployment of the fifth generation, 5G, for microwave radiation

Radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the frequency range of 30 kHz-300 GHz is classified as a ‘possible’ human carcinogen, Group 2B, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 2011. The evidence has since then been strengthened by further research; thus, RF radiation may now be classified as a human carcinogen, Group 1. In spite of this, microwave radiations are expanding with increasing personal and ambient exposure. One contributing factor is that the majority of countries rely on guidelines formulated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), a private German non-governmental organization. ICNIRP relies on the evaluation only of thermal (heating) effects from RF radiation, thereby excluding a large body of published science demonstrating the detrimental effects caused by non-thermal radiation. The fifth generation, 5G, for microwave radiation is about to be implemented worldwide in spite of no comprehensive investigations of the potential risks to human health and the environment. In an appeal sent to the EU in September, 2017 currently >260 scientists and medical doctors requested for a moratorium on the deployment of 5G until the health risks associated with this new technology have been fully investigated by industry-independent scientists. The appeal and four rebuttals to the EU over a period of >2 years, have not achieved any positive response from the EU to date. Unfortunately, decision makers seem to be uninformed or even misinformed about the risks. EU officials rely on the opinions of individuals within the ICNIRP and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), most of whom have ties to the industry. They seem to dominate evaluating bodies and refute risks. It is important that these circumstances are described. In this article, the warnings on the health risks associated with RF presented in the 5G appeal and the letters to the EU Health Commissioner since September, 2017 and the authors' rebuttals are summarized. The responses from the EU seem to have thus far prioritized industry profits to the detriment of human health and the environment.