The pervasiveness and socioeconomic dependence on wireless technology has steadily increased over the last three decades. Currently, the fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) cellular system is being deployed to unlock the potential of new applications that require the connection of many more devices (Internet of Things), higher data rates and low latency (autonomous driving, 'Factory of the Future'). The new cellular system operates in two frequency bands, 5G NR FR1 and 5G NR FR2. The latter frequency band lies in the millimetre wave range. At millimetre waves, the penetration of the electromagnetic radiation is very shallow, making the skin the main organ where it is absorbed. Unfortunately, little is known about the potential health effects of this radiation to the skin. However, short wavelengths are not the only technological innovation of 5G systems. The use of antennas that change dynamically their radiation pattern to serve multiple subscribers faster poses several challenges to the established calculation and measurement techniques used to assess population exposure and electromagnetic environment monitoring.
Project SEAWave (seawave-project.eu) will
(i) quantify the differences in exposure patterns between 2G-4G and 5G for the entire population including children,
(ii) provide new tools and instruments for reliable exposure evaluation of base stations, local networks in factories, and end-user devices,
(iii) provide the means to minimise exposure,
(iv) generate important new scientific data with its complimentary in vitro, animal and human studies for assessing the health risk from exposure to the new frequency bands (FR2), especially with regard to the potential (co-)carcinogenicity of skin exposure, and
(v) assess public perception of 5G and provide the knowledge and tools for effective health risk communication and dissemination to various stakeholders.
To achieve these ambitious objectives, the interdisciplinary consortium of SEAWave consists of highly experienced partners with world leading expertise in medicine, biology, engineering, physics and psychology, ideally complementing each other to achieve maximum impact. European citizens, workers, national public health authorities, European Commission services, regulators, and standardisation bodies will all benefit from the SEAWave results as they will support science-based decisions and policies for the safe deployment and use of 5G and future wireless networks.
