By B.N. Frank

On February 9, 2018, Dr. Oz included a segment on his program about Americans who are concerned about 5G small cell towers being installed in front of their homes and throughout their communities.  The segment was called “The Rise of 5G Cell Towers.”

The introduction includes that Internet Service Providers (ISP) and telecom companies are installing these new 5G small cell towers so Americans can

1. Binge watch


2. Post (online)


3. Surf (the Internet)

without experiencing dropped calls, slower speeds or screens freezing up.

This is similar to how humans spent all their time in the 2008 futuristic movie, WALL-E.

His introduction also explained how smart phones and other electronic devices use a very specific frequency on the “Radio Frequency Spectrum.”

This specific frequency is also referred to as:

1. Cell Phone Radiation


2. Microwave Frequency


3. Microwave Radiation


4. Non-ionizing Radiation


5. Radio Frequency (RF)


6. Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR)


7. Wireless Frequency (WiFi)


8. Wireless Radiation

Dr. Oz explained that 5G small cell towers are being installed throughout communities – including in front of homes –

1. “due to the rise of smart technology”


2. “the ever growing number of devices in each household”


3. to meet our increasing desire for higher Internet speed

Even when municipal governments and citizens oppose these new 5G towers, many of our elected officials have already created and passed laws so that ISPs and telcom companies can install them anyway pretty much everywhere.

Members from The Center for Safer Wireless were given a chance to speak about their health concerns from 24/7 exposure to 5G towers and infrastructure.  Many American municipal governments share the same concerns.  Some have filed lawsuits against their state 5G laws.  Organizations are also fighting federal 5G bills that are still being discussed.

Dr. Oz also interviewed Nicole Saphier, M.D. whose website states that she is a

• Dedicated physician, author, fierce legislative advocate and frequent media contributor


• Frequently reports on breaking medical and health policy news for FOX News, FOX Business and MSNBC

Her Twitter page includes that she is a “Mom of 3 boys” and has a dog.

She seemed prepared and confident when discussing this topic.  I lost confidence in her early on though when she stated that non-ionizing radiation doesn’t cause DNA damage.  According to the $25M National Toxicology Program Cell Phone (Non-ionizing) Radiation Study, it does cause DNA damage in mammals.  People are mammals.  Many of us have pets in our homes that are also mammals.

She fluctuated from seeming very concerned about the potential for health issues from 5G cell towers being installed all over America to seeming very “Que Sera Sera.”

She seemed concerned when she made the following comments.

1. In regard to non-ionizing radiation: “…we do know with certainty it causes heat and thermal damage…”


2. “Most of the research (on 5G) has to do with high doses. We don’t have anything thus far on the long-term chronic effects of this low dose (5G) radiation and that is what I’m concerned with.”


3. “So could (5G cell towers) cause cancer, long-term effects, we don’t know.”


4. “We know that chronic heat can increase metabolism and that may make some changes.”

Dr. Oz asked her:

“So – bottom line this for us.  These towers are going up in neighborhoods all over America.  This is where technology is headed.  We need the wireless bandwidth in order to do all the things we’ve gotten comfortable doing.  Should we be worried?”

Dr. Saphier:  “It depends on who you ask.”

Unfortunately she was the only medical “expert” who Dr. Oz asked.

“Safety testing” and guidelines for wireless technology were established 20+ years ago when most of us didn’t use technology at all or nearly as often.

“Safety testing” for wireless devices and products isn’t performed on mammals.  It is performed on plastic mannequin heads and bodies.

During the interview, Dr. Oz also referenced the fact that the World Health Organization classified Non-ionizing Radiation as a Grpup 2B Possible Carcinogen in 2011.

Dr. Saphier did not seem impressed with the WHO classification.  Her response:  “Whenever something’s classified as ‘possibly carcinogenic’ that just means the jury’s still out, we don’t know.”

Well – if we don’t know – maybe our elected officials shouldn’t be allowing telecom companies to be putting more cell towers everywhere – especially in front of homes.  It’s called “erring on the side of caution.”

Then again…  “Que Sera Sera.  Whatever will be will be.  The future’s not ours to see.  Que Sera Sera.”

Many Americans are not comfortable with this “Que Sera Sera” approach to 5G cell towers.  Some, like Dr. Saphier, are also medical professionals.  Many scientists also already believe there is enough research already that proves Non-ionizing Radiation should be classified as a Group A Carcinogen.

Dr. Oz encouraged viewers to go to his website and read a statement that was provided by the CTIA in regard to concerns about 5G cell towers.  Keep in mind that the CTIA feels no obligation in ever mentioning that current federal regulations and safety guidelines are 20+ years old and don’t apply to how technology is used day. 

Maybe Dr. Saphier, her 3 boys, and their dog will be fine if they get a 5G cell tower in front of their home or in their neighborhood.  Maybe her neighborhood is filled with scientists and other residents who are also “Que Sera Sera” about cell phone and wireless (WiFi) radiation.

However health issues have already been documented from past and present sources of wireless (WiFi) radiation and electrical pollution.

Even if this isn’t doesn’t seem to be affecting her family right now, radiation exposure is cumulative.

As a doctor, she may want to be more concerned about this at least in regard to her patients and the rest of the public.  Dr. Oz seems to be.  The vulnerable are usually affected first –children, the disabled, pets, nature.

Other noteworthy statements from Dr. Saphier:

“Everything to date shows us that (5G) millimeter waves are not going to cause cancer.  However we don’t have long-term studies.”

No long-term studies seems like a good enough reason to “err on the side of caution” on 5G.  You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand this.

“We know that cancer incidence is on the rise – mainly from self-inflicted behaviors”

Dr. Saphier didn’t mention what kind of “self-inflicted behaviors” that children are guilty of doing during their short lives when they get cancer.

Dr. Saphier:  “Is 5G the next one?  I don’t think so.”

Dr. Saphier seems to have just offered a medical opinion and then  immediately follows with

“However we won’t know that for decades to come.”

That, my friends, is commonly referred to as CYA.  Dr. Saphier has gracefully and successfully incorporated it throughout this entire interview with Dr. Oz. This is not an uncommon approach for doctors to take.  Most of us have experienced this firsthand.

It is important now to address that earlier in the interview, Dr. Saphier offered other medical opinions that are worth re-visiting again: 

1. In regard to non-ionizing radiation: “…we do know with certainty it causes heat and thermal damage…”


2. We know that chronic heat can increase metabolism and that may make some changes.”

What kind of changes?  Shouldn’t we be “erring on the side of caution” before allowing more cell towers to be installed?

Dr. Saphier’s website also claims that she is a “fierce legislative advocate.”

Because of recently passed legislation, many American municipal governments have no right to stop these 5G cell towers from being installed within their communities.  There is no mention in this interview that she is fighting this legislation.

Security experts are fighting this legislation also.  They cannot say enough bad things about 5G technology and “The Internet of Things” (IoT) which already has a 75% failure rate.

And let’s not forget what all this 5G business is about:

“Binge Watching” is not healthy.  There are even tech inventors and investors who are ticked off about digital addiction– especially among children.

“Que Sera Sera.  Whatever will be will be ” in regard to 5G cell towers may be a okay for some folks.  But this doesn’t jive for many Americans who prefer “erring on the side of caution” with new technology instead of embracing Telecom Industry promises that it will enable us to

1. Binge watch


2. Post (online)


3. Surf (the internet)

without experiencing dropped calls, slower speeds or screens freezing up.