The massive deployment of advanced wireless networks is
essential to support broadband connectivity, low-latency
communication, and Internet of Things applications.
Nevertheless, in the time of coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
there is a massive amount of misinformation and uncertainty
about the impact of the fifth-generation (5G) cellular network
on human health. Fake news and misconceptions about 5G in
Malaysia may spread fear and undermine public trust, potentially
causing delays in 5G deployment. Understanding Malaysian public
perceptions of 5G EMF health effects is crucial for network
infrastructure and devices. We conducted a research study on
Public Perception on Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Emissions from
5G Radio Communication Infrastructure and Consumer Premise
Equipment (CPE) in Malaysia with the project acronym EMFERCICE.
The project aims to investigate the level of Malaysian public
perception of 5G radiation emissions in Malaysia. The study
looked into public understanding factors, including information
source characteristics (media exposure) and health-risk
characteristics, taking into account their perceptions of EMF
emission from network infrastructure and consumer premise
equipment. The study found that over half of the respondents
(56.6 per cent) out of 410 total respondents were concerned
about 5G, with the biggest concern being the potential health
effects of 5G radiation (69.4 per cent). The majority of the
respondents perceived low to moderate levels of 5G radiation
exposure, which may be due to their trust in policies protecting
them from 5G EMF radiation. Most respondents (77.1 per cent)
believed that public policies provide protection from EMF
exposure. However, respondents who perceived high 5G radiation
exposure were likely to have health concerns about 5G. The study
suggests several recommendations to strengthen public trust in
5G emissions which include clear communication of safety
standards, independent research and studies, independent safety
audits, continuous monitoring of emissions, and independent
safety audit, aiming to build a positive narrative around 5G
technology and maximise the benefits.
Keywords: Electromagnetic Field (EMF), COVID-19, Consumer
Premise Equipment (CPE) and 5G
02 introduction
The recent development of the fifth-generation (5G) network has
led to widespread expectations that it will revolutionise mobile
communications. With applications such as industrial automation,
extended reality, and autonomous vehicles, 5G is expected to
lead to substantial benefits globally, including an estimated
contribution of up to USD 588 billion in global tax revenue from
2020 to 2034 (GSMA, 2018).
Among the pioneer
countries of 5G, Korean mobile carriers began distributing the
service in April 2019 (France Presse, 2019), and in less than
three (3) months, more than a million users have joined the
network (Chamberlain, 2019). Since then, other countries have
also witnessed steady increases in the number of subscribers,
leading experts to project that the 5G network would cover 55 to
65 per cent of the world’s population by 2025 (Reichert,
2019).
As such, demand for the 5G network has been
high; Malaysia has also begun to strategise for 5G deployment
via the National Digital Network (JENDELA) plan. JENDELA has
targeted reaching 100 Mbps speed through 5G service by 2025,
which means Malaysia will be charted as part of the 55 to 65 per
cent 5G coverage of the worldwide projection by 2025.
In
contrast to its apparent popularity, however, the new technology
may not be welcomed by everyone. Some people appear to embrace
this novel technology, whereas others dissent, as members of the
public have perceived that exposure to electromagnetic (EM)
waves from 5G network base stations poses potential health
risks. The current deployment of 5G in many countries around the
world has triggered heated debates and unsettledness in the
general public (Broad, 2019b; Foster, 2019). Protests in Korea
have delayed the construction of base stations (Jun, 2019), and
anti-5G demonstrations have filled the streets in the United
Kingdom (Hern, 2019) and Switzerland (Jones, 2020).
problem statement
Some portion of the population is concerned about potential
health impacts from being exposed to 5G radiofrequency radiation
(RFR) (Nyberg and Hardel, 2017), which may impact the deployment
of 5G in this country, as experienced previously by some 5G
pioneer countries. This project foresees two (2) major problems
associated with the perceived health risk among the Malaysian
public due to 5G radiation:
1. Assumptions are being made that “many” Malaysians
are against 5G and perceive the 5G radiation as harmful.
There is no structured study that provides answers to how many
is “many” for Malaysians. There are discussions, statements, and
claims that have been circulated online by Malaysians,
especially in mainstream social media, but how much these have
impacted the public’s perception of 5G radiation is simply
unknown.
3. Sources of information that spread fake news and
misconceptions about 5G to the public.
Authorities such as the World Health Organization (2020) made
statements that EM waves from 5G network base stations would not
cause substantial adverse health effects as their levels were
well within the exposure limits; however, the public perception
may not diminish much since the sources of misinformation about
5G are still circulating. Social media has been one (1) of the
sources of 5G information, reliable or not. Malaysian public
perception may be shaped by the existence of these sources,
influencing the thinking and behaviour of readers.
objectives
To gauge the public’s perception in Malaysia of the health
effects of 5G EMF emissions.
To identify the sources of 5G EMF information referenced by
the public and examine their contributions to the public’s
perception.
To measure the level of public understanding of the
implications of the 5G network base stations (BS) and
consumer premise equipment (CPE) in their vicinity.
To provide recommendations for building public trust in the
safety of 5G network BS and CPE.
03 literature review
5G Radio Frequency Radiation from Network Infrastructure and
Consumer Premise Equipment
RFR is non-ionising radiation that involves waves with smaller
energy that cannot ionise the cells, thus preventing severe
impacts on the exposed cells. Nevertheless, the electromagnetic
field (EMF) can cause the molecules to vibrate, leading to a
possible heating effect on the exposed tissues, i.e., a thermal
effect (Foster et. al., 2017). In this regard, regulatory
authorities such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) quantify the maximum allowable radio frequency
(RF) exposure to limit the temperature rise of the exposed
tissues (ICNIRP, 2020). Regarding the non-thermal long-term
exposure to 5G, there is a debate in the community about whether
it has adverse health impacts. However, no adverse effects have
been proven for exposure that is consistent with the regulatory
limits. The 5G cellular network promised to deliver
high-data-rate communications for an increasing number of users.
This can be done through network densification, which means
installing a massive number of base stations and small cells, as
well as adopting millimetre-wave (mm-wave) frequency. This has
led to concerns among the population about the potential health
impacts of being exposed to 5G radiofrequency radiation (RFR)
(Nyberg and Hardel, 2017). The impact is worrying because the
arising doubts about 5G can delay the deployment of 5G in some
countries, leading to unfavourable economic impacts, as reported
by Jones (2020).
Additionally, network densification
causes the space between users and the closest cell to close,
increasing the perceived negative effects on health. EMF
emissions result from both the expansion of customer premises
equipment and network infrastructure (CPE). Nearly any end-user
device nowadays qualifies as CPE. Telephone handsets, channel
service units or data service units, routers or wireless access
point devices, broadband, Ethernet, or DSL modems, cable set-top
boxes, adapters for network services, local area network (LAN),
or wide area network (WAN) devices, are just a few examples of
the various types of equipment that qualify as CPE. Mobile
phones and routers are common CPEs that emit EMF that are
included in this equipment. The deployment of CPE close to
consumers may lead to perceived health problems among them.
The Use of 5G Beamforming Antennas to Minimise Exposure to
RF-EMF
In order to increase network capacity and efficiency while
lowering electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, beamforming
antennas are a crucial piece of technology utilised in 5G base
stations (Larsson et. al., 2014; Ojaroudi et. al., 2020; and
Betta et. al., 2022). It is a method for concentrating and
directing electromagnetic signals in a particular direction that
is utilised in wireless communication systems, including 5G.
Beamforming directs signal energy toward the target receiver
rather than dispersing it evenly in all directions, increasing
signal intensity, coverage, and capacity. Instead of
broadcasting their wireless signals in all directions, 5G base
stations can focus them on the targeted users by employing
beamforming. This makes it possible to utilise the energy
transmitted more effectively, which lowers the total power
needed for communication. Reduced power also reduces the amount
of EMF exposure in the vicinity. To focus on certain user
devices, beamforming antennas can dynamically change the beam’s
shape and direction. By precisely directing the signal to a
specific device, the base station can ensure the highest
possible signal quality while using less unnecessary
transmission power. Additionally, 5G base stations have the
capacity to create numerous beams at once, improving the spatial
reuse of the available spectrum. This increases network
efficiency and lowers overall power consumption by allowing
several customers to be served concurrently in the same
frequency range. Depending on the user’s position, movement, and
communication needs, beamforming antennas can change the
direction of their beams. By allowing for configurable coverage
and capacity distribution, this flexibility makes it possible to
retain the essential signal quality while minimising extraneous
radiation in places where it is not required.
Although
the need for communication systems with extremely dependable
links and good coverage is undeniable, one (1) of the worries
people have about the adoption of 5G technology is related to
the potential biological impacts and health implications caused
by electromagnetic exposure (Betta et. al., 2020). According to
research, the general public is adamant that 5G densification
causes an unchecked and undesirable rise in human exposure
levels (Chiaraviglio et. al., 2022). A correct evaluation of EMF
exposure is crucial for these reasons.
Misinformation on 5G
Fake theories and hoaxes that are not supported by any
scientific data may be the cause of the uncertainty surrounding
5G. It’s possible that the telecommunications sector has
experienced a misunderstanding of 5G operational principles
before, as it did with earlier generations of communications,
such as 4G. As always, misunderstandings about emerging
technology could lead people to overestimate the dangers of 5G
exposure to their health. There are various false beliefs about
5G that relate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic to exposure to
5G’s EMFs. The World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term
“infodemic” to describe the widespread spread of false
information about COVID-19, which can have detrimental effects
on the population due to the enormous number of hoaxes (WHO,
2020). In several nations, there have reportedly been a number
of 5G tower sabotage incidents (BBC, 2020; Liverpool Echo,
2020). Numerous individuals have pushed for a vote to limit the
radiation from mobile communications technology on the other
side of the globe, where it was claimed that thousands of people
protested against 5G in Switzerland (Keystone, 2019a, 2019b).
Given the alarmist assertions that frequently surface in the
media, such as the one (1) that 5G “could kill you,” this
outrage may not be unexpected (Broad, 2019). Even though they
are frequently broadcast on networks that are known for
encouraging fake news and “selectively reporting the most
sensational claims and giving a few marginal opponents of
wireless technology a conspicuous new forum,” such statements
may cause fear and damage public trust (Broad, 2019). (Broad,
2019).
From the literature survey, to date, there
have been some discussions and statements on the potential
health risk of 5G; however, there has been no specific
structured study on the perceptions among Malaysians regarding
the matter at hand. The proposed project aims to look into the
level of Malaysian public perception of 5G radiation emissions
in selected pioneer regions in Malaysia with 5G infrastructure.
The study will look into the public understanding factor, which
includes information source characteristics (media exposure) as
well as health-risk characteristics that take into account their
perceptions of EMF emission from network infrastructure and
consumer-premises equipment that they possess.
Health-related Risk of 5G EMF Emission
A nationwide study in Korea, reported in 2020, on factors
affecting risk perception of electromagnetic waves from 5G
network base stations (Koh et. al., 2020), found that EM waves
from 5G network base stations were perceived as moderate health
risks; the magnitude of the perceived risk was similar to that
of EM waves from mobile phones, greater than that of household
chemical products, but less than that of cigarette smoking. Some
aspects of the study could be replicated in Malaysia.
There
have been several studies conducted to investigate the public’s
perception of 5G radiation. One (1) such study was conducted by
the Pew Research Center in the United States in February 2020,
which surveyed over 10,000 Americans to gauge their views on 5G
technology. The study found that while a majority of Americans
(64 per cent) had heard about 5G technology, only 24 per cent
understood it well, and 34 per cent had no opinion about the
potential health effects of 5G technology. Another study was
conducted in the UK by the research consultancy firm Ipsos MORI
in December 2019, which surveyed over 2,200 UK adults to assess
their attitudes towards 5G technology. The study found that 44
per cent of respondents were concerned about the potential
health risks of 5G radiation, while 36 per cent were worried
about the impact on the environment.
In France, a
study conducted by the Harris Interactive research firm in
November 2019 surveyed over 1,000 French people to assess their
attitudes towards 5G technology. The aim of the study was to
assess public attitudes towards 5G technology and the potential
risks associated with its deployment. The study found that over
half of the respondents (52 per cent) were concerned about the
potential health effects of 5G radiation, while 58 per cent were
worried about the environmental impact of 5G technology.
Interestingly, the study also found that younger people were
more likely to be concerned about 5G radiation than older
people, with 59 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 expressing
concern compared to 46 per cent of those aged 55 and over. The
studies also suggest that while many French are aware of 5G
technology and its potential benefits, there are concerns about
the potential health and environmental risks associated with its
deployment.
Overall, these studies suggest that while
a significant portion of the public is aware of 5G technology,
many people have concerns about its potential health and
environmental impacts.
04 methodology
research design
The approach used as methodology was a cross-sectional design,
with participants completing a self-report survey to measure
Malaysian public perception of EMF emissions from 5G network
base stations and consumer equipment. The research instrument
consisted of demographic questions, objective knowledge of 5G
emissions and public policies, risk perception, and media
exposure.
research instrument
Research instruments consist of segments on demographic
questions, objective knowledge of 5G emissions and public
policies, risk perception, and media exposure. The respondents
will complete the survey by accessing an online form.
Demographic questions include gender, age group, marital status,
level of education, monthly household income, and occupation,
and these are relevant for our analysis. A section on
information resource characteristics measures the public’s media
exposure to the concept and implications of 5G EMF radiation.
The questions were developed to identify the sources of EMF
information referenced by the public and get related
information.
Health-related variables comprise
knowledge, trust, and attitude questions, which include the
level of perceived EMF emission exposures through common
sources: mobile phones, microwave ovens, and smartwatches.
Questions on how the subjects are handling mobile phone charging
represent their attitude towards radiating equipment. The
subject’s objective knowledge of EMF emission, the implication
of EMF radiation from base stations and on-premise equipment, as
well as the level of knowledge of public policies on protection
from EMF emission, are measured. Subjects were also asked to
self-report their health status (healthy or unhealthy).
sampling
The population consisted of Malaysians with an age spectrum from
below 18 to above 60 years old, settled in all states of
Malaysia. The survey was open to all states in Malaysia,
providing a better sampling from the Malaysian perspective. Data
collection involved self-administered questionnaires distributed
online through Google Forms. This project used four (4) selected
areas KL, Putrajaya, and Selangor as pioneer cities to enjoy 5G
coverage for population sampling calculation. Multi-stage
cluster sampling involving two-stage cluster sampling and
disproportionate stratified random sampling are practised. At
the first stage, four (4) areas are identified, and at the
second stage of sampling, each of the selected areas is
represented by 100 respondents (100 respondents x 4 areas = 400
respondents). The number of respondents involved in the study is
adequate, drawing on a sampling calculation in Raosoft based on
a 95 per cent confidence level and five (5) per cent margin
error. Even though the sampling calculation was initially based
on the four (4) areas, the survey was made open to all states in
Malaysia. This will provide a better sampling from a Malaysian
perspective. The total number of respondents, N of 410, exceeded
the sampling target of 400 respondents.
data collection
The questionnaires were built based on the objectives of the
study. The self- administer method has been employed, and the
questionnaires have been distributed to the selected respondents
based on the identified areas using online distribution through
Google Forms (https://forms.gle/8qgVwFG6Gv9YosbD7). The research team has monitored the data collection process
to ensure that the required data can be gathered, and a total of
410 respondents were obtained from all over Malaysia.
data analysis
To achieve objectives 1, 2, and 3, descriptive analyses such as
frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation have been
performed. To achieve objective number 4, interpretation of the
research findings has been performed.
05 findings and analysis
demographic information
All of the study subjects were Malaysians from below the age of
18 to over the age of 60; 57.8 per cent (n = 237) were male, and
42.2 per cent (n = 173) were female. For age group, 2.4 per cent
(n = 10) were below 18 years of age, 35.9 per cent (n = 147)
were between 18 and 30, 23.4 per cent (n = 96) between 31 and
40, 25.1 per cent (n = 103) between 41 and 50, 9.8 per cent (n =
40) between 51 and 60, and 3.4 per cent (n = 14) were above 60.
For level of education, 9.2 per cent (n = 38) were secondary
school graduates or less, 17.1 per cent (n = 70) have a diploma,
53.7 per cent (n = 220) are bachelor’s degree holders, 11 per
cent (n = 45) are master’s degree holders, and 7.3 per cent (n =
30) are doctorates. The respondents’ residential state covers 15
areas, with the majority of respondents, 46.1 per cent (n =
189), residing in Selangor. For the employment sector, 44.6 per
cent (n = 183) were from the private sector. The distribution of
monthly household income was unimodal, with 44.6 per cent (n =
203) earning below RM5000.
Research Objective 1: Public Perception in Malaysia on the
Health Effects of 5G EMF Emissions
Concerns on 5G
Respondents were asked if they have concerns generally about 5G,
and the findings show that 56.6 per cent (n = 232) agree that
they have concerns about 5G, and 43.4 per cent (n = 178) of the
respondents do not have any concerns about 5G. The results may
suggest mixed reactions to 5G, as more than half of the
respondents are comfortable with the new generation of
communications networks. However, 43.4 per cent of the
respondents may be significant to show that there are concerns
around 5G among the Malaysian public.
The
distribution of concerns regarding 5G is tabulated in Table 2.
Table 1 shows the highest concerns about 5G were the health
concerns about 5G radiation (69.4 per cent), followed by the
cost that will be too expensive (41.5 per cent), the effect on
the environment (37.5 per cent), and the stability of the
connections (31.0 per cent). The findings were similar to the
research conducted in France by the Harris Interactive research
firm in November 2019, where it was reported that over half of
the French respondents (52 per cent) were concerned about the
potential health effects of 5G radiation, while 58 per cent were
worried about the environmental impact of 5G technology. This is
also found in the UK; in a study conducted by the research
consultancy firm Ipsos MORI in December 2019, 44 per cent of
respondents were concerned about the potential health risks of
5G radiation, while 36 per cent were worried about the impact on
the environment. Our findings exhibit that Malaysians’ concern
is much higher for health risks, and interestingly, cost has
become the second biggest concern other than the environment.
Table 1: Distribution of Concerns on 5G (N = 410)
Perceived Level of 5G Radiation Exposure
The results revealed that the majority of the respondents (32.4
per cent, n = 133) perceived that the level of 5G radiation
exposure is low, 29.5 per cent (n = 121) perceived that they
were exposed to moderate 5G radiation, and 21.7 per cent (n =
89) perceived that they were exposed to a high level of 5G
radiation. 16.3 per cent (n = 16.3) of the respondents perceived
that they were not exposed to 5G radiation. However, relating
the perceived radiation exposure to the 172 respondents who have
health concerns about 5G radiation, the majority of them (41.3
per cent) (n = 71) perceived a high level of 5G radiation
exposure, 39.5 per cent (n = 68) moderate exposure, 16.3 per
cent (n = 28) low exposure, and only 2.9 per cent (n = 5)
perceived no exposure to radiation. These findings show that
respondents who perceived high 5G radiation exposure are likely
to have health concerns around 5G.
Attitude Related to EMF
The survey results show that 100 per cent of our respondents are
mobile phone users, and the majority of them (72.4 per cent, n =
297) are microwave oven users. Meanwhile, only 31.5 per cent (n
= 129) are smartwatch users. This data potentially shows that
the respondents are familiar with other sources of
electromagnetic wave radiation, such as microwave ovens and
Bluetooth (smart devices). However, almost half of the
respondents (46.3 per cent) charge their mobile phones nearby
when asleep. This indicates the attitude toward handling devices
with electromagnetic emissions in a less safe environment.
Respondents
were also asked about mobile applications that they usually used
and how much time they spent on these applications every day.
According to Figure 1, social media applications (87.6 per cent,
n = 359) are the top usual applications used on mobile phones,
followed by video streaming (75.8 per cent, n = 315), voice
calls using WhatsApp (72 per cent, n = 295), video-based social
media (46.8 per cent, n = 192), and online video games (29.3 per
cent, n = 120). The respondents mostly spend less than two (2)
hours per day on social media, video streaming, and voice calls
using WhatsApp. Video-based social media and online video games
are less used by the respondents, and hence less time is spent
on these applications. However, for each application,
respondents spent more than four (4) hours daily, especially for
video streaming applications like YouTube. Theoretically, this
may contribute to a higher level of EMF exposure for the
users.
Figure 1: Usual Applications Used on Mobile Phone and Time Spent
per Day on Mobile Phone Applications
Health-related Risk from 5G EMF Radiation
Table 2 shows a total of 18.3 per cent of respondents strongly
agreed that 5G EMF radiation can cause headaches, cancer (17.1
per cent), harm the foetus during pregnancy (15.9 per cent), and
impact fertility (14.6 per cent). On the other hand, more than
half of the respondents (54.4 per cent) strongly disagree that
vaccines contain 5G microchips. This is one (1) of the famous
fake theories about 5G during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the
table, it can be concluded that approximately 30 per cent of the
population believes (from somewhat agreeing to strongly
agreeing) that the fake theory regarding COVID-19 vaccines
contains 5G microchips, this may be worth of an issue to be
tackled to build public trust on vaccines.
Meanwhile,
Table 3 shows the analysis of perceived health risks obtained in
Table 2 in terms of the degree and severity of the perceived
risks. Table 3 demonstrates that based on the mean risk score,
the perceived health-related risk is at a moderate level
(overall mean score of 2.64 and standard deviation of 1.34).
These results provide insight into the degree of public
perception of the health-related risk of 5G EMF radiation. Our
study found that EM waves from 5G network base stations were
perceived as moderate health risks. We hypothesised that the
attitude of placing a mobile phone charger nearby while asleep
would be associated with lower health-related risk perception as
the behaviour is suggestive of indifference to exposure to EM
waves; however, no significant relationship was observed as
well.
Table 2: Distribution of Perceived Health-related Risk from 5G
EMF Radiation (N = 410)
Research Objective 2: 5G EMF Source of Information Referenced by
the Public
media platform pattern
According to Karlsen and Aalberg (2021), people go to social
media to get their daily news updates. Findings show that the
highest media used among Malaysian youths was YouTube (75.9 per
cent), followed by Facebook (67.8 per cent), websites (64.6 per
cent), and Instagram (59.8 per cent). Meanwhile, the least
popular media platform was Reddit (0.5 per cent). According to
the Digital Business Lab (2022), YouTube has the highest
penetration compared to other social media platforms in
Malaysia. Approximately half of Malaysian youths spend their
time on YouTube. The study concluded that users are comfortable
maintaining a presence across several media platforms.
Sources Used to Obtain News on 5G
Based on the findings, Table 4 shows that 60 per cent of the
respondents browsed the website to get information on 5G. It is
worth noting that the majority of the respondents stated that
they read news about 5G on websites. Additionally, 43.4 per cent
of the respondents always watched Facebook, and 35.4 per cent
often watched about 5G on television. The results also
demonstrated that respondents used friends to get information on
5G (30.2 per cent). This finding was useful enough to understand
that these users would use several channels to sustain their
knowledge of 5G. Using a variety of sources can lead to more
in-depth information. In Table 5, 58.8 per cent of the
respondents said that local and international sources are the
most trusted.
Table 4: Distribution of Sources on 5G EMF Emission (N = 410)
Table 5: Distribution of Most Trusted Sources on 5G (N = 410)
The findings reveal that a total of 26.3 per cent agreed that
the information reported in the media regarding 5G EMF emissions
is current. Furthermore, 23.2 per cent agreed that the
information reported in the media regarding 5G EMF emissions can
be trusted. However, half of the respondents (51.2 per cent)
somewhat agree that the information reported in the media
regarding 5G EMF emissions is accurate. Yet, the findings of
this study indicate that only a handful (9.8 per cent) strongly
disagree that the information reported in the media regarding 5G
EMF emissions is easy to understand. This implies that the
public understands and perceives media coverage of 5G.
Research Objective 3: Public Understanding on the
Implications of the 5G Network Base Stations (BS) and Consumer
Premise Equipment (CPE) in Their Vicinity
Objective Knowledge in 5G Emission
Respondents’ objective knowledge is measured, whether high or
low, using a set of six (6) questions covering knowledge on
emissions from the base station and mobile phone. The
classification of high- or low-level knowledge is made based on
the mean score obtained for all six (6) questions. 59.8 per cent
(n = 245) are considered to have high objective knowledge on 5G
emission based on the mean score of 2.81/6, whereas 40.2 per
cent (n = 165) are considered to have low objective knowledge
below the mean score of 2.81/6.
Figure 2: Scores for 5G Emission Objective Knowledge Test
Past studies on the association between objective knowledge and
risk perception have shown mixed results. In our study,
respondents who scored above the mean on objective knowledge
considered EM waves from 5G network base stations as risky as
those who scored below the mean. When it comes to perceived
health-related risk, it is interesting to note that there is no
difference between the respondents of high objective knowledge
and low objective knowledge on 5G emission since the mean risk
score for both groups is similar.
Trust in Public Policies in Protecting from EMF Exposure
The highest percentage of 43.9 per cent (n = 180) for perceived
knowledge regarding potential health effects due to exposure to
EMF radiation from 5G network base stations is for scale 3
(somewhat agree). From the summation of respondents on a scale
of 3-5, it can be deduced that a total of 78.3 per cent believe
that they are knowledgeable in this aspect. This may correlate
to the fact that the majority of the population (almost 60 per
cent) possess a high level of objective knowledge of 5G
emissions. Research findings show that 76.6 per cent of the
respondents agree (scale 3-5) that they know that there are
public policies or guidelines that provide protection from EMF
exposure. This demonstrates that the policymakers (i.e.,
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission MCMC)) have
made good progress in informing the general public regarding the
policies developed. This is further supported by 77.1 per cent
of the respondents agreeing (on a scale of 3-5) that public
policies provide protection from EMF exposure. Meanwhile, 79.8
per cent of the respondents agree (on a scale of 3-5) that the
EMF radiation from the 5G base station and equipment is within
the allowed range. This is a considerably high degree of public
trust towards the policies, despite the concerns the public has
about the health-related risk of 5G EMF emissions. However,
around 20 to 23 per cent of respondents did not trust the
policies developed to provide protection from EMF exposure,
making it worthwhile for the research to recommend improvements
to further build public trust in these policies and
guidelines.
It is good to see from the results that
the respondents agree that the public policies provide
protection from EMF exposure and that the EMF radiation from the
5G base station and equipment is within the allowed range.
06 recommendations
Most of the comments and suggestions left on the survey focus on
education, awareness, information, and enforcement of 5G EMF
emissions. Respondents suggested that more awareness programmes
be available to educate the public on the safety aspects of 5G
via trusted media platforms. The recommendations below are made
based on the findings reported in the last sections, which may
be useful to formulate future strategies and policies regarding
5G emissions to strengthen public trust in the technology.
Recommendation 1: Clear Communication of Safety Standards
Ensuring clear communication of safety standards and regulations
related to 5G emissions is crucial. Our studies reported that
the majority of the respondents agreed that they knew that there
were public policies or guidelines that provided protection from
EMF exposure and believed that the public policies did provide
protection for them. Even though 79.8 per cent of Malaysians
believe that the EMF radiation from 5G base stations and
equipment is within the allowed range (79.8 per cent), there are
around 23 per cent of respondents who strongly disagree with the
majority and do not trust the policies developed to provide
protection from EMF exposure. This data should not go unnoticed.
For continuous quality improvement, regulatory bodies such as
MCMC can provide accessible and easy-to-understand information
about the established safety standards and how they are
enforced. This can help alleviate any concerns by assuring the
public that 5G networks operate within safe limits.
Recommendation 2: Independent Research and Studies
Supporting and conducting independent research and studies on
the health and safety aspects of 5G emissions can help address
concerns and provide scientific evidence. Governments such as
the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health,
together with other relevant organisations, can allocate
resources to fund reputable research institutions to conduct
comprehensive studies on the potential health effects of 5G
emissions. The findings from these studies can be shared with
the public to demonstrate transparency and evidence-based
decision-making.
This has also been practised in the United States, where the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated specific funding
to support research on the potential health effects of 5G
emissions. For example, the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS), one (1) of the institutes under the
NIH, has funded studies to investigate the biological effects of
radiofrequency radiation, including those associated with 5G
technology. These studies aim to provide valuable insights into
the potential health implications of 5G and contribute to the
scientific understanding of radiofrequency radiation’s effects
on human health.
Australia has developed a dedicated national centre for
electromagnetic radiation studies. The Australian Centre for
Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR) is a collaborative
research initiative that brings together leading Australian
research institutions and government agencies. ACEBR conducts
research on the health effects of electromagnetic radiation,
including research related to 5G technology. The centre receives
funding from various sources, including the Australian
government and industry partners, to support its research
activities. Their studies focus on understanding the biological
effects of electromagnetic radiation and providing
evidence-based insights into the potential health impacts of 5G
technology.
A similar multi-institutional concerted effort can be done in
Malaysia to address the concerns from the Malaysian public. Our
research findings show that Malaysians put their trust more in
international media reporting on 5G emissions compared to local
media. The role of scientific studies done by Malaysian experts
in an organised fashion may contribute to increasing public
trust in the safety of 5G emissions.
Recommendation 3: Independent Safety Audits
Conducting independent safety audits of 5G infrastructure and
equipment can provide assurance and build trust. Governments or
regulatory bodies can establish procedures to verify compliance
with safety standards and conduct regular audits of 5G networks.
The results of these audits can be made publicly available to
demonstrate adherence to safety guidelines. There are no
publicly available audit reports available yet; this
recommendation may be explored further in terms of its impact on
network operators.
Recommendation 4: Continuous Monitoring of Emissions
The majority of the respondents in our study perceived low to
moderate levels of 5G radiation exposure. However, respondents
who perceived high 5G radiation exposure are likely to have
health concerns about 5G. EM waves from 5G network base stations
were perceived as moderate health risks. Hence, implementing
continuous monitoring of 5G emissions can provide real-time data
on radiation levels and ensure compliance with safety limits.
MCMC and network operators can establish monitoring systems and
publicly share the collected data. This transparency can help
address concerns and show a commitment to maintaining safe
radiation levels.
Recommendation 5: Health and Safety Awareness Campaigns
Launching targeted public awareness campaigns can help educate
the public about the safety measures in place and address any
misconceptions. These campaigns can provide accurate information
about 5G emissions, debunk myths, and highlight the rigorous
safety protocols followed during the deployment of 5G networks.
Collaborating with health professionals, experts, and community
leaders can enhance the credibility and reach of these
campaigns.
As an example, the 5GRIT programme in the
UK aims to address the connectivity challenges faced by rural
communities and demonstrate the benefits of 5G technology in
these areas. The programme involves testing and trials of 5G
solutions in rural locations, engaging with local communities,
and providing accurate information about the technology. By
showcasing the positive impact of 5G in rural areas, the
programme helps to address concerns and build public trust.
Malaysians
would use several channels to sustain their knowledge of 5G.
Using a variety of sources can lead to more in-depth
information. Our research findings show that the Malaysian
public prefers YouTube, which is at the top of the list of
most-used media. Meanwhile, websites and Facebook are the top
sources for information on 5G, while YouTube is at the bottom of
the list. To improve the dissemination strategy, it is
recommended that MCMC and other agencies like the Ministry of
Health leverage YouTube as a platform for multimedia content to
educate and create awareness on safety measures and thus provide
reliable local information on 5G emissions.
Recommendation 6: Public Demonstrations and Showcases
Organising public demonstrations and showcases is another
effective way to manage perception. These events allow people to
experience the benefits and potential applications of 5G
technology first hand. Demonstrations may include showcasing
high-speed downloads, augmented reality, virtual reality, and
IoT applications. By providing interactive experiences, these
events help alleviate concerns and generate positive interest in
5G. MCMC has organised use case demonstrations at several places
in the country and published “5G MALAYSIA DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
FACTSHEET’ in 2019. This effort is commendable. The
demonstrations should be supported more with the involvement of
various parties and are recommended to be continuously done and
open to the public at large. This recommendation may act to
balance benefits over concerns about the health risk of 5G EMF
emissions.
It is hoped that these recommendations
will help to build a positive narrative around 5G technology,
promote responsible deployment, and maximise the benefits of
this technology while minimising any potential risks.
07 conclusions
Our study concluded that the degree of perceived health-related
risk is “moderate” among the Malaysian public, with many
variables being studied as contributing factors. All the
objectives are achieved with recommendations for relevant
agencies, particularly MCMC, the Ministry of Health, higher
education institutions, and telecommunication providers, to
strengthen public trust towards 5G EMF emission and 5G
technology in general. It is hoped that the results of our study
will be reflected in the construction of an appropriate risk
communication strategy in order to allow for a good spread of 5G
technologies. It is also hoped that this pioneering research
will spur more research on 5G EMF emissions, particularly
technical research on the health effects and level of exposure
that the Malaysian public is experiencing.
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