5G mobile phone expansion and new electricity networks - radiation exposure is a concern for many citizens despite existing limit values. With a new competence center, the federal government wants to educate and promote understanding.
Berlin / Cottbus (dpa) - The federal government wants to provide better information about exposure to radiation. Environment Minister Svenja Schulze presented the new "Competence Center for Electromagnetic Fields" in Berlin on Wednesday, which is to be built in Cottbus.
In view of reservations among the population, such as the expansion of the 5G network, the planned center should answer questions from citizens and provide information about radiation exposure.
The energy transition and sustainable digitalization could only be managed with the citizens, said Schulze. The population is now exposed to radiation protection issues every day. With the competence center, citizens should now be informed early and reliably. "Both the energy transition and digitization are crucial projects for Germany's future viability," said Schulze. But health always comes first. "We have to take public concerns seriously."
At its digital retreat in November, the federal government announced that it would seek more understanding from citizens about new radio masts. If the existing limit values are observed, according to the current state of knowledge, no health-damaging effects from electrical, magnetic and electromagnetic fields have been scientifically proven, the Ministry and the Federal Office said.
The President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Inge Paulini, said a survey from last year had clearly shown that there was a great need for information on the subject among the population. "In the future, we want to provide even more targeted and broader information about the health effects of electromagnetic fields." From the BfS point of view, people in Germany do not have to worry about health damage caused by radiation exposure as long as the limit values are met.
Schulze said that she was particularly committed to the Cottbus location. "It is very important that we do not leave regions alone in structural change, but that we help to build new ones". Lusatia is an energy region and should remain so. When the center opened was initially unclear. The BfS experts would answer questions on the topic online as of Wednesday, said Schulze.
