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🇨🇭 Swiss 5G Rollout Did Not Increase Ambient RF-EMF Levels Despite 18-Fold Rise in Data Traffic
Microwave News highlights a University of Basel study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology that measured ambient RF-EMF across 300 outdoor areas, 244 public spaces, and 332 public transport rides in Switzerland between 2021 and 2024. Despite an 18-fold increase in data traffic, overall ambient RF-EMF levels from mobile phone technology have not increased following the introduction of 5G.
Note: A companion study by the same research group measured personal RF-EMF exposure in 143 Swiss adolescents (2023–2025) and found overall exposure similar to pre-5G levels, with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth as the primary contributor (35%). See our coverage
"No significant changes in RF-EMF levels, despite an 18-fold increase in data traffic."
— Microwave News
"Total RF-EMF median levels (RMS signals) remained constant or slightly increased between 2021/22 and 2023/24 in 150 outdoor areas (0.16 V/m to 0.17 V/m), 91 public spaces (0.24 V/m to 0.25 V/m), and in 101 public transport rides (0.20 V/m to 0.24 V/m)."
— Loizeau et al. (study authors)
"The deployment of 5G has not drastically changed the exposure to ambient RF-EMF from mobile phone communication technology between 2021/22 and 2023/24."
— Loizeau et al. (study authors)
"The extensive RF-EMF exposure measurements conducted by the same person during the rollout of 5G makes our study one of the most comprehensive time trend exposure analyses to date, which is highly valuable for future epidemiological research and public communication."
— Loizeau et al. (study authors)
📄 Underlying Research
Spatiotemporal Trends of Ambient RF-EMF During the 5G Rollout in Switzerland
Loizeau et al.
(2026)
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
Journal Level 2ⓘ
