I very much support HHS's involvement in studying (including reviewing published independent non-conflict of interest studies) the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF), radiofrequency (RF) radiation, and wireless radiation on human health (particularly children and other vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women) and the environment (animals, plants, etc), given that it has the expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health that the FCC does not. These studies should also include long-term consequences and cumulative exposure, and should not include any conflict of interest industry input. Also, I believe that whatever studies the HHS does, should be transparent so that independent, non-conflict of interest scientists can replicate them. And once HHS has completed their studies, analysis, etc., the necessary protections to public health and the environment should be implemented. Herein, I will refer to the 3 areas the HHS will be studying as electromagnetic radiation, although I am aware that the more correct phrase would be non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. I am responding from the perspective of a concerned member of the public. The FCC has been negligent in this area – 1) touting its 1996 guidelines used to determine the safety limits of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, even though there have been massive increases in the levels of electromagnetic radiation since then, due to advances in the technology; 2) relying on studies done in the 1980's (on animals) which focused only on the thermal factors affecting health, and not on the effects on cells, DNA, and possibly other factors, that could affect human and animal health; 3) ignoring for 5 years, a court order to update their 1996 guidelines to the current date; 4) ignoring the voluminous independent, non-conflict of interest studies that clearly show a DNA, etc. harm to human health and the environment. Based on just these 4 listings of negligence, it is clear to me that the FCC is more concerned about the interests of the industry than the health of the public and the environment, and therefore we need the HHS to take the lead on this. I do not have a story of the health…
Read the full comment →