World-first Australian research into 5G radio waves has concluded that there is no evidence they cause any adverse health effects.
The two reviews were conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and Swinburne University of Technology. They were published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology last week.
The first review examined 138 studies which included 31 epidemiological studies, and 107 experimental studies that investigated various bioeffects including genotoxicity, cell proliferation, gene expression, cell signalling, membrane function and other effects.
Dr Karipidis, the assistant director for assessment and advice at ARPANSA, said in a statement that the studies "provided no substantiated evidence" that low-level radio waves are hazardous to human health.
The second review reanalysed the experimental studies to assess any biological effects.
"This meta-analysis of the experimental studies also presented little evidence of an association between millimetre waves and adverse health effects," Dr Karipidis said.
"Studies that did report biological effects were generally not independently replicated and most of the studies reviewed employed low-quality methods of exposure assessment and control."
But despite the lack of evidence, the researchers said that further studies are needed to continue to monitor the effect of wireless communications.
The 5G rollout is a contentious topic in New Zealand with some people believing it will have dangerous impacts on our bodies, while others are simply unsure and concerned we're being used as guinea pigs to test it out.
