Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public health policy has focused on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and its effects on human health while environmental factors have been largely ignored. In considering the epidemiological triad (agent-host-environment) applicable to all disease, we investigated a possible environmental factor in the COVID-19 pandemic: ambient radiofrequency radiation from wireless communication systems including microwaves and millimeter waves. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, surfaced in Wuhan, China shortly after the implementation of city-wide (fifth generation [5G] of wireless communications radiation [WCR]), and rapidly spread globally, initially demonstrating a statistical correlation to international communities with recently established 5G networks. In this study, we examined the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the detrimental bioeffects of WCR and identified several mechanisms by which WCR may have contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a toxic environmental cofactor. By crossing boundaries between the disciplines of biophysics and pathophysiology, we present evidence that WCR may: (1) cause morphologic changes in erythrocytes including echinocyte and rouleaux formation that can contribute to hypercoagulation; (2) impair microcirculation and reduce erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels exacerbating hypoxia; (3) amplify immune system dysfunction, including immunosuppression, autoimmunity, and hyperinflammation; (4) increase cellular oxidative stress and the production of free radicals resulting in vascular injury and organ damage; (5) increase intracellular Ca 2+ essential for viral entry, replication, and release, in addition to promoting pro-inflammatory pathways; and (6) worsen heart arrhythmias and cardiac disorders. Relevance for Patients: In short, WCR has become a ubiquitous environmental stressor that we propose may have contributed to adverse health outcomes of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and increased the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we recommend that all people, particularly those suffering from SARS-CoV-2 infection, reduce their exposure to WCR as much as reasonably achievable until further research better clarifies the systemic health effects associated with chronic WCR exposure.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, public health, coronavirus, pandemic, coronavirus 2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Coronavirus disease-19, Radio Frequency, electromagnetic stress, electromagnetic fields, environmental factor, microwave, millimeter wave, radiofrequency, wireless, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Autoimmunity, SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pandemic, severity, Immunosuppression, oxidative stress, outcome, virus, viral entry, arrhythmia, Replication, Spread, Health, pathophysiology, International, implementation, Research, Patient, Community, epidemiological, hemoglobin, correlation, disease, mechanism, cellular, Evidence, detrimental, cofactor, free radical, Immune system dysfunction, Radiation, Vascular injury, acute respiratory syndrome, organ, erythrocyte, pro-inflammatory, ambient, cardiac disorders, Effect, statistical, Wuhan, China, resulting, examined, caused, addition, investigated, amplify, changes in, contribute, contributed, reduce, impair, peer-reviewed, exacerbating, infected with SARS-CoV-2, Relevance, 【제목키워드】 Radiation, connection,