Today we are going to look at the towers themselves and what the risks are. This includes the wireless routers in your home and office. Are you right next to them? Again the following is from interestingengineering.com and written by Christopher McFadden:

"Are cellphone towers dangerous?

Cell phone towers, often referred to as base stations, have been installed throughout communities in increasingly large numbers as a result of the pervasive usage of cell phones in recent years. Radiofrequency (RF) waves are used by the electronic hardware and antennas on these towers to receive and send cell phone signals.

Since cell phone towers are still in their relative infancy, it makes sense that many people are worried about any potential health impacts that the RF waves they emit may have.

However, there is currently little solid proof that being exposed to RF waves from cell phone towers has adverse consequences on one's health. This does not imply that the RF emissions from cell phone towers are completely risk-free, though. The majority of professional organizations concur that additional research is required to assist clarify this, particularly for any potential long-term impacts. There is also some question about 5G, which requires far more cell towers to operate.

But how are individuals exposed to RF waves from cell phone towers?

Well, cell phone base stations can be free-standing towers or fixed to pre-existing objects like tall buildings, trees, or water tanks. To effectively cover a specific area, the antennas need to be placed high enough. Base stations typically range in height from 50 feet (15 meters) to 200 feet (61 meters).

Most of the time, RF waves (a type of energy found in the electromagnetic spectrum between FM radio waves and microwaves) are used by cell phones to communicate with neighboring cell towers. They are types of non-ionizing radiation, just like FM radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and heat. This indicates that they do not directly harm the DNA within cells, as is assumed to be the case with ionizing kinds of radiation such as x-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet (UV) rays, as we previously discussed.

However, RF waves do have the capacity to heat bodily tissues to very high levels. However, cell phones and towers consume significantly less energy than would be required to do this.

A signal is delivered from the phone's antenna to the closest base station antenna whenever a cell phone call is placed. This signal causes the base station to reply by allocating an open RF channel to it. The voice data is transmitted to the base station via RF waves. A switching center then routes the call to its intended recipient after receiving the voice signals. Following that, voice signals are passed back and forth throughout the call.

During calls, RF waves produced at the base station are released into the environment where individuals may be exposed to them. These RF waves are then transferred back and forth to the base station.

All is well and good, but what evidence is there that RF is dangerous?

The specific cancer-causing potential of RF waves from cell phone towers has not yet been classified by the IARC or the NTP. However, some other agencies have commented on cell tower safety.

Regarding cell phone masts near residences or educational institutions, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated the following:

“[R]adiofrequency emissions from antennas used for cellular and PCS [personal communications service] transmissions result in exposure levels on the ground that are typically thousands of times below safety limits. Based on the recommendations of professional organizations and with the support of federal government agencies in charge of health and safety, the FCC set these safety limitations. Therefore, there is no justification for thinking that these towers could pose a risk to the health of adjacent inhabitants or pupils."

Regarding RF in general, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified RF radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" based on a review of studies published up until 2011 and insufficient evidence for other types of cancer.

This classification is based on limited evidence of a potential increase in risk for brain tumors among cell phone users.

A technical report was recently released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on data from research studies that were published between 2008 and 2018, as well as general trends in cancer incidence. The committee's conclusion was that "there is insufficient evidence to indicate a causal relationship between radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure and [tumor growth]" based on the research that was "detailed in this report."

In its "Report on Carcinogens," which covers exposures that are known to be or reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has not yet listed RF radiation.

Can Wi-Fi cause cancer?

There isn't a conclusive answer to this question as of yet. That’s because there’s no solid evidence suggesting that Wi-Fi, or EMFs in general, directly cause cancer.

EMFs are "possibly carcinogenic to humans," according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization. Thirty scientists reviewed data on the relationship between EMFs and cancer in order to create the label.

Studies on EMFs and cancer have shown inconsistent results. For instance, a 2017 assessment of the literature found that EMFs from wireless devices can raise the risk of glioma, a particular type of brain tumor. However, a 2018 study found no conclusive link between EMFs and brain tumors.

So, six of one and half a dozen of another.

But where do international safety organizations stand on the issue?

Well, mobile phones are listed as a "possible carcinogen" by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This implies that not enough data is available to determine whether or not they are carcinogens.

A mouse study conducted in 2018 also revealed that prolonged exposure to cell phone radiation raised the incidence of several brain and heart cancers in rats. Increasing amounts of Wi-Fi and cell exposure have been linked to hormonal changes and oxidative stress in rodents, changes that could induce cancer or brain illnesses.

However, it is important to note that the design and quality of many of these animal experiments have been criticized as not being applicable to our species.

For example, several of the most alarming tests used mice that had been exposed to radiation doses many times higher than those that people experience when using wireless networks or mobile phones.

That being said, other experts on the subject claim that the level of radio wave radiation to which people (and children in particular) are exposed now is different, and this gives rise to new worries. We also have scant studies that look at long-term, cumulative exposure and at data for a comprehensive number of wireless networks and devices.

So, if you are worried about the potential risks from Wi-Fi, wireless networks can be turned off when not in use, and wireless gadgets can be kept away from your body. Even if any potential health hazards are still hypothetical, disconnecting yourself from the internet every now and again is probably a good idea for your mental health anyway.

How do I block Wi-Fi radiation?

If you are still concerned, despite our attempts to belay any worries you may have around Wi-Fi radiation, there are some things you can do to limit your exposure to it.

The first, and most obvious one, is to either not use it or turn it off when not really needed. This will solve the problem instantly, but you will have to deal with not being connected to the internet 24/7.

In addition, that only blocks Wi-Fi sources under your direct control. For other potential sources, here are some options you could explore.

1. Try to avoid living near cell phone towers
While we've covered cell phone masts/towers above, and you are still concerned about them, one option for you is to choose a home far from a cellphone tower. You don't want to live near a hidden tower like the one above.

Over time, especially with the increasing use of 5G, it will probably become an ever-increasing challenge to move away from them; you can consider moving into the country rather than living in a city. This will significantly, though not completely, reduce your exposure to EM radiation from such structures.

2. Hardwire ethernet in your home
Next, you can consider hardwiring your home with internet lines to reach every room. You can connect smart devices via internet cables instead of wirelessly. If your Wi-Fi router or baby monitor are turned off, they no longer transmit RF or Wi-Fi radiation. This is the most effective approach to removing radiation from household electronics. However, this procedure can be costly and requires devices to be physically connected.

3. Protect your smart meters (if you have any)
Several years ago, there was much publicity concerning smart meter dangers. This is because smart meters transmit Wi-Fi radiation too. These meters can emit up to 60,000 micro-watts per meter squared, which is roughly 60 times the US safety limit.

The US safety guideline of up to 1,000 mW/m2 is also 250 times too high, according to many. You should, according to some sources, aim for 3 to 6 micro-watts per square meter.

However, remember that the inverse-square law applies to all Wi-Fi-emitting devices, irrespective of design and use.

And that brings us to the end of this brief discussion on Wi-Fi and its health impacts.

The main takeaways should be: -

Wi-Fi is a form of radiation
Wi-Fi signals are non-ionizing
Wi-Fi signals are mostly incredibly low strength and weaken over distance
While there do appear to be risks from high exposure to even non-ionizing radiation, safety levels for Wi-Fi routers are far below the minimum safe threshold
So, if you do have some reservations about the safety of Wi-Fi, we hope we have at least dampened them a little.

While, admittedly, science is not yet completely settled on this topic, the vast majority of evidence does swing more on the side of it being completely safe. Wi-Fi is so weak and non-constant that any exposure you do receive pales in comparison to more serious threats from EM radiation in your life.

So, if you are truly worried about exposure to radiation in your daily life, you'd do better routinely applying sunscreen than ditching your Wi-Fi router. That being said, turning off your router and getting outside for a few hours a day will do you, quite literally, a world of good! "

So as you can see being right next to a cell tower or your home wireless router can raise your risks for illnesses such as cancer. So do what I did hard wire your PC's, Put the wireless router away from as far as possible. If you are near a Cell Tower try to limit your exposure. And finally put that device down and enjoy life around you. That little screen is not reality and there is a new world to be discovered!

Reference: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/is-wi-fi-bad-for-our-health