Factors Affecting Risk Perception of Electromagnetic Waves From 5G Network Base Stations

Abstract

Factors Affecting Risk Perception of Electromagnetic Waves From 5G Network Base Stations Tae Hwan Koh, Jae Wook Choi, Myungsoon Seo, Hyung-Do Choi, KyungHee Kim. Factors Affecting Risk Perception of Electromagnetic Waves From 5G Network Base Stations. Bioelectromagnetics. 31 August 2020. doi.org. Grant sponsor: ICT R&D program of MSIT/IITP (A Study on Public Health and Safety in a Complex EMF Environment); grant number: 2019-0-00102. Abstract The coverage of the fifth-generation network has increased steadily since the network was introduced in 2019. However, public protests around the globe against the construction of 5G network base stations have continued to occur for fear that electromagnetic (EM) waves emitted from the stations would cause adverse health effects. To identify factors that have contributed to such increased risk perception, we conducted a cross-sectional study using data obtained from a survey that assessed Korean adults' risk perception of EM wave-related objects. We found that female gender, high level of perceived exposure to EM waves, evaluation of public policies as ineffective, and high level of objective knowledge on EM waves were associated with increased risk perception. Furthermore, we found that higher ratings on a few risk characteristics such as "personal knowledge," "seriousness of the risk to future generations," "dreadfulness," and "severity of consequences" were also associated with increased risk perception as well. Open access paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In a survey-based cross-sectional study of Korean adults, increased risk perception regarding EM waves from 5G base stations was associated with female gender, higher perceived exposure to EM waves, evaluating public policies as ineffective, and higher objective knowledge on EM waves. Higher ratings on risk characteristics (e.g., personal knowledge, seriousness to future generations, dreadfulness, severity of consequences) were also associated with increased risk perception.

Outcomes measured

• Risk perception of electromagnetic waves from 5G network base stations
• Factors associated with increased risk perception (demographics, perceived exposure, policy evaluation, objective knowledge, risk characteristics)

Limitations

• Cross-sectional design (associations only; cannot infer causality)
• Survey-based measures (risk perception and perceived exposure)
• Sample size not reported in provided abstract

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0.9)
  Study focuses on public risk perception and policy evaluation related to 5G base stations.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "5G base station",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Korean adults",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Risk perception of electromagnetic waves from 5G network base stations",
        "Factors associated with increased risk perception (demographics, perceived exposure, policy evaluation, objective knowledge, risk characteristics)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a survey-based cross-sectional study of Korean adults, increased risk perception regarding EM waves from 5G base stations was associated with female gender, higher perceived exposure to EM waves, evaluating public policies as ineffective, and higher objective knowledge on EM waves. Higher ratings on risk characteristics (e.g., personal knowledge, seriousness to future generations, dreadfulness, severity of consequences) were also associated with increased risk perception.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (associations only; cannot infer causality)",
        "Survey-based measures (risk perception and perceived exposure)",
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "5G",
        "base stations",
        "risk perception",
        "electromagnetic waves",
        "survey",
        "Korea",
        "public policy",
        "perceived exposure",
        "objective knowledge"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "5g-policy",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study focuses on public risk perception and policy evaluation related to 5G base stations."
        }
    ]
}

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