Wireless Radiation Safety in 2014: The Year in Review
A news report on the Swedish study by Reuters Health stimulated global media coverage—over 260 news articles published in 18 languages in 50 countries— demonstrating worldwide concern about the carcinogenicity of cell phone radiation.
Key developments in the past year
The U.S. Department of the Interior accused the Federal Government of employing outdated standards : “the electromagnetic radiation standards used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to be based on thermal heating, a criterion now nearly 30 years out of date and inapplicable today.” The standards violate federal law as they endanger federally-protected wildlife species which suffer adverse effects from cell tower radiation exposure.
Four resolutions signed by 98 scientific experts were submitted to the FCC which resolutions call on government to issue stronger regulations on wireless radiation, especially cell phone radiation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that one in ten cell phone towers in the U.S., numbering about 30,000 in all, emit levels of microwave radiation that exceed the legal limit thus endangering the health of workers, noting that the FCC has issued only two citations for noncompliance since 1996.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) became the first Federal health agency to issue precautionary health warnings about cell phone use; however, CDC later removed the warnings from its web site after the media reported about this key policy change.
Fifty-four scientists from 18 nations who study the effects of radio frequency radiation submitted a declaration to Health Canada calling on government to minimize public exposure to the microwave radiation emitted by wireless devices including cell phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors.
The City Council of Berkeley , California directed the City Attorney to draft a cell phone “right to know” ordinance that would require retailers to provide consumers with a fact sheet regarding the cell phone’s minimum separation distance from the body. Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig has offered to defend this ground-breaking ordinance should the CTIA—The Wireless Association sue the City.
In a lawsuit filed by 29 individuals who are suing the wireless industry for their brain tumors, the D.C. Superior Court admitted the testimony of expert witnesses for the plaintiffs. This ruling enables the case to move to the discovery phase of the trial, and the industry will be required to release relevant documents.
The Los Angeles Unified School District officially accommodated a teacher who suffers from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) by approving her request to have the Wi-Fi turned off in her classroom and her request to be reassigned in the future to another school where Wi-Fi has not been installed. This is the first accommodation for EHS by a public school system in the U.S.
Although two wireless products launched in 2014 received extraordinary media coverage, the news media failed to mention the potential health risks from using these products:
The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), a measure of the maximum amount of microwave radiation absorbed, is much higher for the Google Glass than for most cell phones. This is of particular concern for the Glass as unlike cell phones it is worn on the user’s head.
The iPhone 6 , like most smart phones, has several transmitters that simultaneously emit microwave radiation. When these transmitters are turned on the radiation emitted by this phone is close to the SAR legal limit; thus, one should turn off any transmitters not in use (e.g. Wi-Fi) to reduce exposure. According to Apple, the iPhone 6 should be kept at least 5 millimeters or two-tenths of an inch from the body whenever it is turned on (i.e., the device’s minimum body separation distance is 5 mm).
Listed below in order of popularity are the ten most popular wireless radiation news releases distributed this year through PRLog , a press release distribution website, and the ten most popular articles postedbon the Electromagnetic Radiation Safety website . In 2014, the news releases received over 65,000 page views, and the website received 130,000 page views from visitors in more than 100 countries.
Ten Most Popular Electromagnetic Radiation Safety Press Releases of the Year
CDC Issues Precautionary Health Warnings about Cell Phone Radiation
Hybrid and Electric Automobiles Should Be Re-Designed to Reduce Electromagnetic Radiation Risks
Scientists Call on Government to Protect Public from Wireless Radiation Exposure
Google Glass Alert: Potential health risks from wireless radiation
FCC: 98 Scientific Experts Demand Stronger Regulation of Cellphone Radiation
iPhone 6 SAR: Radiation Levels and Separation Distance
Cell Phone Use and Prenatal Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation May Cause Headaches in Children
U.S. Department of Interior attacks FCC regarding Adverse Impact of Cell Tower Radiation on Wildlife
CDC Retracts its Precautionary Health Warning about Cell Phone Radiation
The Top Cell Phone Radiation Safety Stories of 2013 Ten Most Popular Articles of the Year on the SaferEMR Website
iPhone 6 SAR: Radiation Levels and Separation Distance
MOBI-KIDS: Childhood Brain Tumor Risk & Mobile Phone Use Study
Dept. of Interior Attacks FCC regarding Adverse Impact of Cell Tower Radiation on Wildlife
Everything You Wanted to Know about Cell Phone Radiation
Hybrid and Electric Automobiles Should Be Re-Designed to Reduce Electromagnetic Radiation Risks
Major breakthrough in cellphone industry product liability lawsuit in USA
Berkeley Cell Phone “Right to Know” Ordinance
Share on X (Opens in new window) X
Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest