Local campaigners in the small Devon town of Totnes have launched a petition claiming that the 5G masts pose a serious health hazard.
But whilst some scientists have argued that phone masts can lead to 5G dangers and increased cancer rates, there has never been any solid evidence to either confirm or allay health concerns, which is exactly why residents are campaigning; they want further research to be carried out before the masts are installed.
Campaigners want more research
John Kitson, the 5G campaigner who launched the petition, told the Daily Mail, "Everyone is talking about how 5G will allow driverless cars, amazing wi-fi speed and the internet of things such as fridges linked to the web. And yet proper research on this technology has never been carried out.”
Despite the fact that Telecom companies, Public Health England, and the World Health Organisation have all said that 5G has no adverse effects on human health, campaigners still insist it’s a problem.
Almost 400 Totnes residents have signed the petition for more safety research on 5G, and it’ll be interesting to see what decision the town comes to.
“No more dangerous than talcum powder"
In the midst of a local debate around 5G rollout, the Government’s digital minister, Matt Warman, decided to step in upon hearing the news about Totnes campaigners.
He explained that the superfast 5G mobile signals are "no more dangerous than talcum powder and pickled vegetables".
This is in reference to a 2011 study by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified RF radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans". However, to put this into perspective, the agency also categorised 5G alongside using talcum powder and eating pickled vegetables.
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