After a warning from the National Frequency Agency regarding the iPhone 12 and what were perceived as excessive waves, Apple agreed to comply with European regulations. “The company has developed a software update,” Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for Digital, confirmed to France Infos. This was “validated by the National Frequency Agency, the market surveillance authority for radio devices and therefore smartphones”. This update has been effective since October 10th.
But does that mean that there is no risk to health? In fact, the development of new technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, new generations of mobile telephony or other connected objects increasingly increases our exposure.
What waves are we exposed to?
In fact, we are exposed to different types of waves. Let’s mainly quote:
- Static and low frequency electromagnetic fields (from 0 to approximately 10 kHz) generated by electrical cables for power distribution, including at home or even all household appliances when they are in operation.
- Radio frequencies (from approximately 10 kHz to 300 GHz). These are those used for mobile telephony, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.
Health effects?
“Exposure to high-intensity low-frequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by certain industrial machines, can lead to stimulation of the nervous tissue of the human body, but also the retina,” explains the National Health Security Agency (ANSES). .
In the case of radio frequencies, exposure to high levels “can lead to heating of biological tissues (the skin, but also the internal tissues of the body); This is what we call the thermal effect.” However, the exposure limits currently in force in France guarantee that such levels of radio waves will never be reached in public spaces and under normal conditions of use of transmitting equipment. »
5G, risks?
With the introduction of 5G, the debate about the safety of electromagnetic waves has come to the fore again. Here too, ANSES would like to reassure and argue that, based on the current state of knowledge, the various works carried out on this subject “do not show a causal relationship between exposure to waves emitted by mobile communications and health effects”. »
However, certain publications point to a possible long-term increase in the risk of brain tumors in heavy cell phone users, which is why the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has classified radio frequencies as “possibly carcinogenic.” .
What about WiFi?
In fact, various studies over time have suggested that WiFi radiation can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, sperm damage, etc.
However, all official sources, be it the World Health Organization, the British Health Protection Agency or the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, point in the same direction: “There is no health risk associated with radio frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by Wi.” – Fi devices used in homes, schools and certain public places, provided they meet safety standards. »
Is there a cocktail effect?
Electromagnetic waves therefore appear to be harmless as long as their exposure remains within the officially prescribed limits. But can multiple exposures increase the risks? Unfortunately, scientists are having difficulty answering this question.
Given this complexity, ANSES recently created a working group composed of “biologists, epidemiologists, physicists and researchers specialized in the field of interactions between electromagnetic fields and the human body…”.