https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05945-y
Regular Article
Protection of population and workers with cardiac implantable stimulators from 5G exposure. Part I: mobile terminal exposure
1
Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
2
Tor Vergata, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ingegneria Informatica (DICII), University of Rome, Rome, Italy
3
Department of Rome, ARPA Lazio, 00100, Rome, Italy
4
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy
Received:
3
October
2024
Accepted:
26
December
2024
Published online:
28
January
2025
The study investigates the potential risks of electromagnetic interference (EMI) from 5G signals on cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Given the increasing prevalence of these devices and the widespread adoption of 5G technology, it is crucial to ensure the radiation protection of both workers and general population based on scientific evidence. The research introduces a novel measurement setup able to reproduce the actual signals adopted by 5G providers, focusing on the uplink scenario where the CIED is in proximity to a mobile terminal. The study tested the pacing, sensing, and high-voltage therapy delivery of five implantable defibrillators from major manufacturers under controlled and worst-case conditions, at signal power levels beyond those generated by commercial 5G devices (8 W at 700 MHz and 2 W at 3600 MHz). Results showed that the interfering signal generated according to the actual 5G protocol, adhering to the timing and frequency constraints adopted by 5G service providers, did not cause any EMI events in any of the 60 tests conducted. This research demonstrates that 5G mobile terminals do not pose significant risks to PM/ICD wearers and provides important data, enhancing the current understanding of the EMI impact of 5G technology on critical medical devices.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
