NIH National Toxicology Program Scientists State They Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure
US Federal Agency Updates Their Webpage With New Information
Summary: The National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health Environmental Health Sciences has updated their webpage on cell phone radiation to state that their scientists reduce cell phone radiation exposure.
In November 2019 the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Toxicology Program (NTP) webpage on the 30 million dollar animal study on cell phone radiation was updated with new FAQs. One of the posted questions was about whether the scientists have changed their personal use of cell phones. When the webpage was first posted in 2019, this page stated that scientists were more aware of usage but “really haven’t changed their habits.”
The lack of clarity of the 2019 NTP website statement prompted Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust, to contact the NTP for clarification on January 7, 2010. Two days later, on January 10, 2020 the NTP updated their webpage to state that in fact yes, NTP scientists were reducing exposure to cell phone radiation by reducing overall time on cell phones and using speakerphone place a distance between their body and the phone.
Note: She still has not received an answer to her emails.
This is now the current text on NIH NTP website:
Q: Have NTP scientists changed their cell phone use or what they recommend to their families?
A: NTP scientists have become more aware of their usage and follow the FDA’s tips for reducing exposure to cell phone RFR:
- Reduce the amount of time spent using your cell phone, and
- Use the speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between your head and the cell phone.
NTP’s Previous Webpage Text in 2019, before the change.
Q: Have you changed your cell phone use or what you recommend to your family?
A: NTP scientists have become more aware of my usage, but most haven’t really changed their habits. If people are concerned about their exposure, they can follow the FDA’s tips for reducing exposure to cell phone RFR:
- Reduce the amount of time spent using your cell phone, and
- Use the speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between your head and the cell phone.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics, California Department of Health, Maryland Council on Children’s Environmental Health, Connecticut Department of Health, and several international medical organizations such as the Vienna Medical Association, Athens Medical Association and the International Society of Doctors for the Environment all recommend reducing exposure to radio-frequency radiation.
Recommendations to Reduce Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation
❏ Use cell phones in speaker mode or with the use of airtube headset.
❏ Keep phone at a distance from your head and body as general rule of thumb.
❏ Avoid carrying your phone against the body like in a pocket, sock, or bra. Cell phone manufacturers can’t guarantee that the amount of radiation you’re absorbing will be at a safe level.
❏ If you plan to watch a movie on your device, have movies pre-downloaded rather than streaming. Prefer wired computers to watch movies and do social media.
❏ Keep an eye on your signal strength (i.e. how many bars you have). The weaker your cell signal, the harder your phone has to work and the more radiation it gives off.
❏ Avoid making calls in cars, elevators, trains, and buses. The cell phone works harder to get a signal through metal, so the power level increases.
❏ Children should be given toys, not cell phones to play with.
❏ Make only short or essential calls on cell phones.
❏ Stop sleeping with your phone or wireless device.
❏ Turn the phone on airplane mode if you need to use your phone as an alarm clock.
❏ Use a hardwired cabled (not wireless) mouse, speaker, printer and keyboard with your computer.
❏ Turn Wi-Fi off and unplug wireless devices at night or when not in use.
❏ Hard-wire devices in your home that connect to the internet whenever possible.
❏ Use corded phones (with a curly cord from headset to base) instead of cell phones/ home cordless phones whenever possible, especially for your long voice calls.
❏ Remove screens and electronics from the bedroom for a healthier sleep.
❏ Educate your elected officials for policy changes that inform and protect the community.
