What Does the EPA State About the Safety of Cell Phones and Wireless Technology?
Previous to 1996 the EPA conducted robust research on electromagnetic radiation (EPA Letter) and was in development of safety limits for wireless radiation (EPA Briefing) but just as they were poised to issue these recommendations, the EPA lost all of their research funding and have done nothing since. In July 2020, the Director of the Radiation Protection Division of the EPA Lee Ann B. Veal wrote Theodora Scarato Executive Director of EHT that the EPA had no funded mandate to regarding wireless radiofrequency matters and that they are not aware of any developed safety limits or research reviews related to impacts of wireless on birds bees and the environment. Read the letter where the EPA stated their last research review was documented in their 1984 Report.
A 2002 letter from the EPA confirms that limits were not based on long term exposure “I believe that it is correct to say that there is uncertainty about whether or not current guidelines adequately treat nonthermal, prolonged exposures (exposures that may continue on an intermittent basis for many years)…Federal health and safety agencies have not yet developed policies concerning possible risk from long-term, nonthermal exposures. When developing exposure standards for other physical agents such as toxic substances, health risk uncertainties, with emphasis given to sensitive populations, are often considered. Incorporating information on exposure scenarios involving repeated short duration/nonthermal exposures that may continue over very long periods of time (years), with an exposed population that includes children, the elderly, and people with various debilitating physical and medical conditions, could be beneficial in delineating appropriate protective exposure guidelines.”
The FCC confirmed in a USTTI webinar October 15, 2020 that their limits were for humans only.
EPA Analysis and Reports on Cell Phones, Radiofrequency and Electromagnetic Fields
This page contains a list of recommendations, reports and letters by the EPA on electromagnetic radiation.
Executive Summary:
- On July 8, 2020, Lee Ann B. Veal Director, Radiation Protection Division Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America confirmed in a letter to EHT Director Theodora Scarato that they have no funded mandate regarding wireless radiofrequency matters and that they are not aware of any developed safety limits or research reviews related to impacts of wireless on birds bees and the environment.
- The EPA repeatedly has stated that FCC limits are not protective of non-thermal effects, nor effects of long term exposure. Read EPA Letters from 1996 and 2002 that state this.
- The EPA has repeatedly outlined safety concerns with current outdated limits and called for more protective limits.
- The EPA has was drafting safety limits for the public that considered long term exposure and non thermal effects. The safety limits never saw the light of day.
- The EPA had a well funded division researching the human health risks from EMFs. The work was defunded and research was all but halted.
- The defunding of the EPA meant that the USA has never developed safety standards for human exposure. Read a 2005 news story about the decreased funding to the EPA.
- A 1990 EPA report was drafted in which the EPA expert team recommended that power-frequency EMFs should be classified as “probable human carcinogens” and that RF/MW radiation be considered a “possible human carcinogen. This report was shelved and never released as a final.
- Instead of developing safety standards based on carefully planned independent scientific research, the US adopted radiation limits prepared by industry lead groups. For example, the Chair of the IEEE group was Chief Motorola Scientist. Documents pre 1996 clearly show that the EPA was in the process of developing science based safety standards when funding was abruptly removed.
- The EPA public website text on Wireless was changed in 2014 (the same date that the CDC webpage was changed) minimizing safety issues and likely leading the public to believe that health concerns were minimal.
In 2014 a parent in Texas wrote the EPA about chronic exposure to cell tower radiation and got the following response;
“The standards ….are not intended to address low-intensity (non-thermal), long-term (chronic) exposures. Investigation as to whether there may be effects from exposures too low to cause heating is continuing.”
and “telecommunication service providers and device manufacturers having little more to tell people except “don’t worry.”
–Read the Letter from George P. Brozowski | Regional Health Physicist | US EPA HERE.
The USA EPA Public Website Changed in 2014 Minimizing Health Concerns
Prior to 2014, the EPA was informing the public that the question of safety was not resolved and an open question. Then in 2014, this text was deleted and the new webpage text uses the word “low” and seems to imply that safety questions are not a concern.
Up until August 2014 the EPA website stated the following
“Wireless technology is still relatively new, and world-wide, researchers continue to study the effects of long-term exposure. To date, the scientific evidence linking long-term use of cell phones to cancer or other health effects is not conclusive. More research is needed to clarify the question of safety. “ -Read A PDF of the pre 2014 EPA webpage HERE.
Then the EPA Webpage was changed in August 2014 to say…
“Scientists continue to study the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of RF. If you are concerned, you can take these simple steps to reduce exposure to RF radiation:
- Limit use – Reduce the number and length of your calls or time spent on a wireless device.
- Use hands-free devices – Using hands-free devices keeps mobile phones away from your head.Increase distance between the wireless device and your body.’
-The Current EPA Webpage as of 8/20/14, The Full Text of the EPA Website in PDF form Here
2003: The United States Radio Frequency Interagency Workgroup’s (RFIWG) Letter to CK Chou on Additional Concerns about US RF Exposure Guidelines.
EPA’s Norbert Hankin penned the federal RFIWG’s second letter on concerns about RF human exposure guidelines with three additional issues.; the sensitivity of different tissues to temperature; that a relaxation of standards will allow for higher exposures; and that the pinna- or ear- is being considered an extremity and will be allowed far higher RF limits without considerations of different body sizes.
To our knowledge neither the 2003 or 1999 letter were ever responded to. Read the 2003 Interagency Radio Frequency Workgroup’s Letter to CK Chou on RF Exposures.
2002 EPA Letter about the Inadequacy of the FCC guidelines.
“Federal health and safety agencies have not yet developed policies concerning possible risk from long term, non thermal exposures.”
“The generalization by many that the guidelines protect human beings from harm by any or all mechanisms is not justified.”
-Norbert Hankin, lead scientist of the EPA Center for Science and Risk Assessment Radiation Protection Division, states in this letter that the current FCC human exposure limits, “are thermally based, and do not apply to chronic, nonthermal exposure situations” and that an understanding of the impact on sensitive populations such as children, pregnant women and the elderly still needs to be done.
Read the EPA July 6, 2002 Letter on RF Exposure Limits.
1999: US Radio Frequency Interagency Workgroup (RFIW) Letter to Richard Tell Chair, IEEE SCC28 (SC4) Risk Assessment Work Group on Critical Concerns About RF guidelines.
In this letter, members of the RFIW identity several critical issues with the RF exposure guidelines. Their concerns include the need for a biological basis for SAR limit and they point out that the limits for brain and bone marrow should be lower than those from muscles and fat as tissues are not equally sensitive. They question the selection criteria for the adverse effect and state there is extensive data on acute effects but that the lower-level non-thermal chronic exposure effects may be very different and chronic effects need to be accounted for. They state the uncertainties in the data should be addressed. “These studies have resulted in concern that exposure guidelines based on thermal effects, and using information and concepts (time-averaged dosimetry, uncertainty factors) that mask any differences between intensity-modulated RF radiation exposure and CW exposure, do not directly address public exposures, and therefore may not adequately protect the public.” Read the 1999 Federal Radio -Frequency Interagency Workgroup (RFIW) Letter to Richard Tell
1996 Letter from Norbert Hankin of the EPA
“It is clear that the advarse effect threshold of 4 W/kg is basad on acute exposures (measured in minutes or a few hours) that elevate temperature in laboratory animals including nonhuman. primates, and not on long-term, .low-level (non-thermal) exposure.”
“The thesis that the 1992 ANSI/IEEE recommendations are protective of all mechanisms of interaction is unwarranted because the adverse effects level in the 1992 ANSI/IEEE standard is based on a thermal effect.”
“As I have previously noted, while there ia sufficient information on thermal exposure/affects on which to base a standard, the data on low level, long-term exposure is insufficient to provide a basis for standards do protect the public against adverse human health effect that may result from long-term, nonthermal exposures. Both the NCRP and ANSI/IEEE standards are thermally based, and do not apply to chronic, nonthermal exposure situations. The statement refa1:ing to “adequate protection” pertains to thermally related effects.” Read the 1996 Letter from Norbert Hankin of the EPA
EPA Research and Limit Setting Activities De-Funded
The EPA Radiation Division that was engaged in research and developing safety standards to protect the public from thermal and non-thermal biological effects. These activities were defunded.
As Microwave News reports (September October 1995)
“The Senate Committee on Appropriations has cut $350,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) EMF budget, because, “The committee believes EPA should not engage in EMF activities.” In a September 13 report (No.104-140), the committee also stated: “Section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 established a federal program to investigate and report on human health effects from [EMFs]. Congress mandated that this program of research and public communication be managed jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the [DOE]. No programmatic role was assigned to EPA, yet EPA has pursued a number of unintegrated activities on EMFs that are of questionable value.” The House committee has already announced plans to cut EPA’s low-priority radiation programs, which would include its work on EMFs (see MWN, J/A95).”
Bioelectromagnetic Society Statement on the EPA defunding
The Congressional Record: Calendar No. 185 – Congress.gov
- “$350,000 from activities related to electromagnetic fields. Sec tion 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 established a Federal program to investigate and report on human health effects from electromagnetic fields [EMF]. Congress mandated that this program of research and public communication be man- aged jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Energy. No programmatic role was as- signed to EPA, yet EPA has pursued a number of unintegrated activities on EMF that are of questionable value. Therefore, the Committee believes EPA should not engage in EMF activities.”
These actions resulted in halting the EPA development of safety standards. Thus, the US does NOT have safety standards in place. Instead the US adopted guidelines created by industry tied groups of the IEEE, and NCPRP. For example, the Co-Chair of the IEEE subcommittee was CK Chou, Chief Motorola Scientist.
1995 EPA Briefing To the FCC and NTIA on EPA “Development of RF/MW Radiation Guidelines”
In this powerpoint presentation, the EPA briefs the FCC and NTIA about their progress in developing human exposure guidelines- that consider thermal AND nonthermal effects for microwave radiation. The EPA was in a two phase process. First they were setting “interim RF radiation guidelines” which “did not account for modulation, chronic exposure or non thermal effects.” Then they were going to focus on “modulated and nonthermal exposures” in Phase 2 by convening national experts. A year later, the EPA was defunded from RF work and standards were never set. EPA Briefing To the FCC and NTIA on EPA “Development of RF/MW Radiation Guidelines”
1995 NCRP Draft Recommendations NEVER FINALIZED! on EMF Exposure Guidelines Reprinted below is Section 8 of the June 13, 1995, draft of the report of NCRP Scientific Committee 89-3 on Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields, which contains its conclusions and recommendations. Released by Microwave News
“The draft NCRP report says numerous epidemiological studies in the United States and Europe “indicate a positive association between childhood cancers and exposure to magnetic fields” stronger than about 2 mG. Strong EMFs have also been statistically linked to increased rates of adult leukemia and brain cancer among workers in certain industries, the report says. Though biological studies have not yet revealed an “unequivocal link” between EMFs and cancer, the committee says, animal and tissue models “are consistent with an initiation-promotion (epigenetic) model of tumor formation.” In light of such findings, the committee concludes, EMF exposure should be drastically reduced.” Environmental Health Perspectives
See also New Scientist, Leak links power lines to cancer, 1995
1995 EPA Letter to the FCC on Near Completion of EMF Guidelines: The EPA updated the FCC on their progress in developing safety standards to cover thermal and non-thermal effects in this letter.
1993 EPA Comments to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC’s) proposed RF/MW radiation limits 93-142 Guidelines For Evaluating the Non Thermal Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation:
The EPA states that certain subgroups are more at risk (pregnant women, children and the elderly) and calls for an updated, comprehensive review that considers the biological effects of RF, specifically pointing to the need to update the NCRP Report 86 (Note: NCRP 86 is still the basis for US regulations according to the FCC and has not been updated to include biological effects).
“The FCC should not adopt the 1992 ANSI IEEE standard there are serious flaws in the standard that call into question whether the proposed use the 1992 ANSI IEEE is sufficiently protective.” The report also states that “the claim of protection for all persons from all interactive mechanisms” has “not been supported”. Read the letter and comments here.
1990 EPA Evaluation of the Potential Carcinogenicity of Electromagnetic Fields (Draft Report)
When this report was first drafted, the team recommended that power-frequency EMFs should be classified as “probable human carcinogens” and that RF/MW radiation be considered a “possible human carcinogen.” However, this review remains a “Draft only” as it was never finalized. The Report was prepared to review and evaluate the available literature on the potential carcinogenicity of electromagnetic fields. With respect to human epidemiologic studies, the EPA found of the strongest link between exposure to 60 HZ magnetic field and human cancer. Consistent modest elevations of cancer risk for leukemia, cancer of the central nervous system and lymphoma were found in children whose exposure to magnetic fields was estimated at two MG or higher. These studies estimate a potential 1.5 to 3 increase in cancer risk from elevated magnetic field exposure as defined by wiring codes.
1983 The EPA publishes Biological Effects Of RadioFrequency Radiation.
1983 EPA Report Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields
“The objective of this report was to summarize and evaluate the existing database for use in developing RF radiation exposure guidance for the general public. The frequency range covered in this document is .5 MHz to 100 GHz. The existing database provides sufficient evidence about the relation between RF radiation exposure and biological effects to commit development of exposure limits to protect the health of the general public. It has been concluded from this review that biological effects occur at SAR up to about 1 W/kg some of them may be significant under certain environmental conditions.”
Read the Biological Effects Of RadioFrequency Radiation.
Read the 1983 Project summary of the EPA Bioeffects research here.
1986: EPA Report: The Radiofrequency Radiation Environment: Environmental Exposure Levels and RF Radiation Emitting Sources by Hankin, Norbert N., Office of Radiation Programs, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, July 1986.
“This document summarizes the radio frequency radiation environment, discusses the sources and levels of radiofrequency radiation to which the public is exposed, and provides information pertinent to the development of radiofrequency radiation exposure guidelines.”
1985 EPA Report Biological influences of low-frequency sinusoidal electromagnetic signals alone and superimposed on RF carrier waves by Carl Blackman, F. Research Triangle Park, N.C., Health Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1984: US Science Advisory Board (SAB) Recommendation to the EPA To Develop RF Guidelines:
Page 30 of Science Advisory Letter lists Biological Effects and has the EPA Proposed Guidance level at .04 W/kg
In this letter, the SAB Board recommends that the EPA develop radiation protection guidance to protect the public. The report contains a 1983 letter from FCC Chairman Mark Fowler to the EPA Administrator Kathleen Bennett which states, “We believe that a definitive federal standard is imperative. Therefore we would like to make clear our support for your guidance development. We encourage the EPA to complete this process as expeditiously as possible so that her uniform federal standard will be available for use by the FCC and other affected agencies.”
Page 14 has a list of “Significant events in EPA RF Radiation Guidance Program”
Page 30 lists Biological Effects and has the EPA Proposed Guidance level at .04 W/kg
Read the US Science Advisory Board (SAB) Recommendation to the EPA To Develop RF Guidelines:
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