The CLUE-H scientists disseminated 41 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for in vitro and in vivo experiments designed to assess the biological effects of 5G signals in both the FR1 and FR2 frequency bands.
The quality of experimental methods impact the outcome of biological responses, therefore, it is essential that experimental studies are designed in compliance with quality criteria, on both biological and electromagnetic sides.
The definition of SOPs is highly recommended for a general improvement of the experimental approaches for obtaining reliable data for health risk assessment.
NextGEM continues to develop the Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH) as a central platform designed to share scientific results, practical guidelines, and policy recommendations with relevant stakeholders, while also raising awareness among citizens. NIKH serves as a repository for global scientific literature and results from CLUE-H projects, with a primary focus on supporting policymakers and researchers. It compiles validated tools, integrated data, guidelines, and insights generated by NextGEM, with ongoing efforts to enh
NIKH is designed to provide comprehensive access to scientific knowledge on radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and its potential impacts on health. It serves as a trusted environment for European regulatory authorities, the scientific community, industry stakeholders, and citizens, offering a standardized way to store, manage, and assess project outcomes, while ensuring compliance with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.
NIKH provides a user-centric interface Public Dashboard providing tailored access to guidelines, campaigns, FAQs and scientific catalogue, categorized as follows:
Stakeholders– The NIKH platform supports EMF stakeholders by enabling evidence-based decision making, fostering collaboration in policy development, and providing access to the latest scientific knowledge in the field.
Awareness Hub – The Awareness Hub provides a central, easy-to-access source of current information on EMF exposure, health research, and regulatory updates. It delivers resources designed for the public, supporting informed choices through scientific guidelines, insights, and educational material.
Scientists– The NIKH platform acts as a collaborative environment for researchers studying EMF exposure, offering access to a wide range of scientific findings and fostering interdisciplinary exchange to advance knowledge in the field.
A study from #ProjectGOLIAT shows that environmental exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in Europe remains below international safety limits but varies by urbanicity, network quality and how the phone is used
A new study led by researchers from the Swiss TPH under the umbrella of Project GOLIAT provides the most comprehensive assessment up to date of environmental and personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from 5G networks across ten European countries. The results have been published in Environment International.
The study assessed exposure levels in over 800 different microenvironments — including schools, transport hubs, and residential areas — in both urban and rural settings across Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
Using backpack-mounted RF exposimeters and mobile phones configured for different usage scenarios (non-use, maximum download, and maximum upload), researchers measured exposure across 35 frequency bands, including key 5G frequencies like 3.5 GHz. Measurements were taken between 2023 and 2024 under real-world conditions.
Environmental levels well below the limits
The first of the scenarios assessed was the non-user mode, in which the researchers’ phones were set in flight mode. With this method, the team assessed environmental exposure to RF-EMF, which in line with previous research, was found to be generally low and remained well below international guidelines.
“We observed that in the non-use scenario exposure was lower in rural areas and tended to increase with urbanisation, something that can be attributed to a higher density of base stations in urban areas”, says Adriana Fernandes Veludo, first author of the study.
The lowest environmental levels of exposure were registered in those countries with more stringent precautionary levels of RF-EMF, such as Switzerland, Belgium or Italy.
Higher levels when mobile phones are actively used
The data revealed that exposure to RF-EMF increased substantially when mobile phones were actively used. In the scenario where mobile phones were set to download large files, exposure was -depending on the country- from 2 to to 20 times higher than in the non-use scenario, due to emissions from the phone interacting with the base station. Interestingly, the new 5G bands have been used only in some countries, reflecting country differences in the state of 5G implementation.
Lastly, the highest levels of exposure were registered in the maximum uplink scenario, where phones were set to upload large amounts of data and emitted about 30 cm away from the measurement device. Compared to the non-use scenario, exposure levels were between 9 and 53 times higher, depending on the country. Those with the highest mean levels of exposure were the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
“Unlike in the non-use scenario, in the maximum data upload scenario the highest exposure levels were measured in rural areas, where the network signal quality is poorer and the phones need to emit at higher power to send the data”, says Martin Röösli, researcher at the Swiss TPH and last author of the study.
It is important to note that in the Netherlands and in Poland 5G services in the 3.5 GHz frequency band were not yet in use at the time of the measurements, in 2023, and have only been launched in 2024. In 2025, the teams are busy collecting new data and it will be possible to evaluate the evolution of 5G exposure levels in Europe, with particular interest in these two countries that now have 5G services available.
Reference Adriana Fernandes Veludo, Bram Stroobandt, Han Van Bladel, Nekane Sandoval-Diez, Kenneth Deprez, Sam Aerts, Wassim Ben Chikha, Joe Wiart, Zsuzsanna Vecsei, Péter Pál Necz, György Thuróczy, Martina Benini, Marta Bonato, Silvia Gallucci, Gabriella Tognola, Marta Parazzini, Lea Beláčková, Nina Vaupotič, Pawel Mamrot, Magda Marianska, Piotr Politanski, Kinga Polanska, Matthew Stamets, Patricia de Llobet, Gemma Castaño-Vinyals, Mònica Guxens, Paige M. Hulls, Frank de Vocht, Wout Joseph, Martin Röösli, Assessing radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in multiple microenvironments across ten European countries with a focus on 5G, Environment International, Volume 200, 2025, 109540, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109540.
Proudly representing CLUE-H at the 4th Annual Meeting at BioEM 2025
CLUE-H 4th Annual Meeting at BioEM 2025
The 4th Annual Meeting of the European Cluster of EMF and Health (CLUE-H) took place on 25 June 2025 during BioEM 2025 in Rennes, France, at the historic Couvent des Jacobins. This annual event brought together key stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy to review progress, address challenges, and plan future directions in EMF and health research. Remote access enabled broader participation, ensuring that researchers from across Europe could join the discussions.
Like last year, the meeting featured updates from the cluster projects—NextGEM, SEAWave, GOLIAT, and ETAIN—which together aim to fill knowledge gaps regarding the impact of wireless technologies on health and the environment. The agenda included dedicated sessions on communication, data management, experimental studies, exposure assessment, and policy development, with project coordinators and working group leaders presenting the latest findings.
At the special CLUE-H cluster session, Anke Huss, ETAIN project coordinator from Utrecht University, shared the latest project developments. The session offered a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, align methodologies, and deepen collaboration, particularly on experimental studies and exposure assessment. Over 40 participants attended, reflecting the shared commitment across projects to advancing EMF and health research.
For readers interested in more detailed information, updates about the BioEM meeting can also be found on the ETAIN website and the NextGEM website.
Next steps and follow-up:
Continued dissemination of policy briefs and scientific findings.
Further harmonisation of experimental protocols and data management practices across projects.
