Examples of Published Science on the Health Effects of Cell Phones and Wireless Radiation
Cancer
- A Yale study funded by the American Cancer Society found elevated thyroid cancer risk in heavy cell phone users with specific genetic susceptibilities (Luo et al. 2020).
- A 2020 met-analysis found that cell phone users cumulative cell phone use over 1000 hours statistically significantly increased tumor risk (Choi et al 2020).
- Several publications assert that the current body of evidence has significantly increased and cel phone radiation is proven Group 1 human carcinogen (Miller et al 2018, Peleg et al 2018 Carlberg and Hardell 2017, Belpomme et al 2018,) The Environmental Working Group published a landmark study analyzing the findings of tumor and heart damage in the National Toxicology Program study and concluded that FCC limits should be strengthened by 200 to 400 times to protect children according to current risk assessment guidelines (Uche 2021).
- Research has found women who carry cellphones in the bra have elevated breast cancer risk (West et al 2013, Shih et al 2020).
Reproduction
- Systematic reviews associate RF-EMF with impacts to sperm ( Kim et al., 2021, Yu et al., 2021) and decreased testosterone (Maluin et al., 2021) leading many researchers to conclude “it is recommended to keep the cell phone away from the pelvis as much as possible (Hassanzadeh-Taheri et al, 2021).
Nervous System Impacts
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended that U.S. wireless radiation regulations be updated to protect children and pregnant women as U.S, regulations are based on an adult male (a 220-pound man’s head, not a child’s smaller head). (Ghandi 2012, AAP 2012 & 2013).
- Children absorb proportionately higher doses in the eyes and critical brain regions than adults due to their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher water content (Ferreira and de Salles 2015, Fernandez et al. 2018).
- Children have more active stem cells and stem cells have been found to be more sensitive to exposure (Markova et al, 2010, Williams et al. 2006).
- Research on pregnant women has linked prenatal cell phone radiation exposure to emotional/behavioral problems (Divan et al 2012, Sudan et al 2016) and hyperactivity (Birks et al., 2017) in their children.
- Wireless exposure is linked to brain damage (Tan et al., 2017), memory problems (Shahin et al., 2018), hyperactivity (Aldad et al., 2012), cellular impacts (Fragopoulou et al., 2018) and impacts in brain regions critical to memory and learning (Dasdag et al 2015, Shahin et al, 2018, Obajuluwa et al 2017, Tan et al., 2021, Hasan et al., 2021).
- Cell phone radiation has been found to alter brain activity (Volkow et al 2011, Bin et al 2014), impact neurotransmitters and alter neuron development (Kaplan et al, 2015, Li et al 2021, Chen et al 2021).
- A replication study on teenagers found memory damage to the area of the brain most exposed to cell phone radiation when the phone is held close to the head (Foerster et al 2018).
Environment
- Research has found that cell antenna radiation can injure trees (Waldmann-Selsam, C., et al. 2016).
- A 2021 research review on effects to wildlife published in Reviews on Environmental Health references more than 1,200 scientific references which found impacts to wildlife from even very low intensities of non ionizing EMFs including impacts to orientation and migration, reproduction, mating, nest, den building and survivorship (Levitt et al., 2021a, Levitt et al., 2021b, Levitt et al., 2021c). The authors state that the current body of science should trigger urgent protective regulatory action. US and international safety limits for RF-EMF are not designed to protect wildlife despite the fact that birds perch on cell tower antennas and many species’ habitat is in the air close to cell antennas.
Examples of International Consumer Safety Initiatives Numerous countries have more protective cell tower radiation emission limits compared to the USA- Italy, China, Russia, India and several European countries. Around the word, governments have policies and regulations in place to inform the public on how and why to reduce exposure. A growing number of countries are passing laws to reduce exposure especially for children. Over a dozen countries including have more stringent limits and policies for magnetic field ELF-EMF focused on “sensitive areas” defined as homes, schools and kindergartens. As an example, in the Netherlands, the government bought out homes allocated under high voltage power lines and puts lines underground as much as possible to decrease the exposures. France has several policies in place to reduce exposure and promote transparency.
- Ban on Wi-Fi in nursery schools and limited exposure in elementary classrooms
- The public has access to cell tower exposure levels.
- Cell phones are labeled with radiation measurements.
- At buyers request, equipment to reduce RF to the head for children less than 14 years is provided.
- Ban on cell phones designed for kids under 6 years old
- Ban on advertisements aimed at children under 14 years old.
- Testing program found 30 models violate EU limits.
- A 2019 ministerial order ensures that cell phone consumers are informed with instructions to use speakerphone, limit children’s use and “keep away from the belly of pregnant women and lower abdomen of adolescents.”
Belgium: In 2013 the government has banned the sale of phones designed for young children. Cyprus: Multimedia campaign with full scale bus ads, brochures and videos for teens and parents. French Polynesia: Multimedia campaign to reduce exposure- video, posters and brochure promoted on television, radio, and social networking platforms translated into Tahitian and French. Republic of Korea: “Children are advised to avoid using cell phones whenever possible.” – Gov Webpage
Websites
School Resources
- New Jersey Education Association School Recommendations
- Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council
- Collaborative for High Performance Schools Low EMF Criteria
Downloads/Printables
Policy
