Urges federal protections and tower setbacks near schools, citing concerns about children's exposure and …

I thank the HHS for inviting public comment on the health effects of wireless radiation. As federal legislation has not been enacted to govern cell tower placement near schools, I urge HHS to consider the science indicating our children are at risk. This is an unfortunate gap exposing our young citizens to long-term health complications. One finding is that children’s brains are more deeply affected by wireless radiation due to the width of their skulls than those of adults exposed to the same amount of radiation. Concerning a simple phone exposure, “the average exposure from use of the same mobile phone is higher by a factor of 2 in a child’s brain and higher by a factor of 10 in the bone marrow of the skull” (https://ehsciences.org/science-on-children-cell-phone-radiation-and-health-risk/). Then multiply this exponentially concerning a cell tower located in the vicinity of a neighborhood or a school.

As municipalities in CA, NY, TN, and MA have enacted set distances between schools and electromagnetic fields generated by cell towers, there is hope for growing awareness and local progress. However, with the small cell market now operating in midband 5G, the potential hazard is invisible to the general public. It requires greater scrutiny than local municipalities can provide to make a difference. Let’s join the scrutiny underway in our international community and set US boundaries aimed at protecting citizens, young and old, but especially our young. With gratitude.