The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin

Abstract Current regulations concerning the allowed levels of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation emanating from wireless technologies are governed by the Specific Absorption Rate standard (SAR). This allows the absorption by tissue of up to 2 W/kg averaged for 6 minutes in a 10 g cube of ho...

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Main Authors: Noa Betzalel, Yuri Feldman, Paul Ben Ishai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13777-8
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author Noa Betzalel
Yuri Feldman
Paul Ben Ishai
author_facet Noa Betzalel
Yuri Feldman
Paul Ben Ishai
author_sort Noa Betzalel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Current regulations concerning the allowed levels of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation emanating from wireless technologies are governed by the Specific Absorption Rate standard (SAR). This allows the absorption by tissue of up to 2 W/kg averaged for 6 minutes in a 10 g cube of homogenized tissue. Much criticized, the SAR standard relates only to thermal effects. However, with the advent of 5G and 6G technologies, exploiting frequencies above 4 GHz, the traditional methods of SAR measurement are proving to be inadequate. This is made more poignant as carrier wavelengths approach the dimensions of tissue structures. We present a detailed electromagnetic simulation of human skin that not only accounts for the multi-layered structure of skin, but also sweat ducts, capillaric and arterial blood vessels. The results show an inhomogeneous absorption pattern that reflects the vessels and sweat glands involved. As human skin hosts an array of sensing structures, from nociceptors to thermoreceptors, as well as millions of innervated sweat glands, we point out that the current methods for gauging the SAR rating of devices are wholly inadequate and may lead to a gross underestimation skin electromagnetic absorption, and that nerve excitation should be accounted for in risk assessment.
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spelling doaj-art-374bb3d0ffb443c4bdde9cfd5004716e2025-08-20T03:43:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115112010.1038/s41598-025-13777-8The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skinNoa Betzalel0Yuri Feldman1Paul Ben Ishai2Institute of Applied Physics, The Hebrew University of JerusalemInstitute of Applied Physics, The Hebrew University of JerusalemDepartment of Physics, Ariel UniversityAbstract Current regulations concerning the allowed levels of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation emanating from wireless technologies are governed by the Specific Absorption Rate standard (SAR). This allows the absorption by tissue of up to 2 W/kg averaged for 6 minutes in a 10 g cube of homogenized tissue. Much criticized, the SAR standard relates only to thermal effects. However, with the advent of 5G and 6G technologies, exploiting frequencies above 4 GHz, the traditional methods of SAR measurement are proving to be inadequate. This is made more poignant as carrier wavelengths approach the dimensions of tissue structures. We present a detailed electromagnetic simulation of human skin that not only accounts for the multi-layered structure of skin, but also sweat ducts, capillaric and arterial blood vessels. The results show an inhomogeneous absorption pattern that reflects the vessels and sweat glands involved. As human skin hosts an array of sensing structures, from nociceptors to thermoreceptors, as well as millions of innervated sweat glands, we point out that the current methods for gauging the SAR rating of devices are wholly inadequate and may lead to a gross underestimation skin electromagnetic absorption, and that nerve excitation should be accounted for in risk assessment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13777-8
spellingShingle Noa Betzalel
Yuri Feldman
Paul Ben Ishai
The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
Scientific Reports
title The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
title_full The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
title_fullStr The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
title_full_unstemmed The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
title_short The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin
title_sort modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5g 6g signals and the fine structure of human skin
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13777-8
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