As people retire and move to Florida, communities like Pensacola have seen the populations swell. Elderly residents moving there for their health have expressed concerns that an influx of 5G antennas may short circuit their pacemakers, reports WEAR-TV.
Radio frequencies emitted from cell towers are likely to increase with the rollout of 5G.
While the wave has not yet swept through Pensacola, there are 19 permit applications pending for new 5G antennas in the market.
“I have a pacemaker and I know that I am not supposed to be anywhere close to high radio frequency equipment of any kind,” Pensacola resident Jeff Morris told WEAR-TV. Continued improvements in cell phone technology suggest that Morris’ fears are groundless. Dr. Natalia Hernandez, Cardiac Electrophysiologist with Baptist Health, reassured worriers that research does not support the notion that pacemakers are at risk from 5G or any cell phone tower frequencies.
“When they come to the zone of potential interference from a signal which could be high voltage lines or any other high voltage equipment, they could feel dizzy if the pacemaker is unable to deliver the heart beat,” Hernandez said, acknowledging that those with pacemakers should be careful in dangerous environments. However, she added that, “At this point, we don’t have enough data to suggest that there is a negative impact [from cell towers on pacemakers], as with any new technology, we’ll just have to keep an eye on it and see how it evolves in the future.”
September 30, 2019
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