Study: Wireless radiation exposure for children is too high

WASHINGTON – A peer-reviewed study from the Environmental Task Force recommends stringent health-based exposure standards for children and adults for radiofrequency radiation emitted by wireless devices. EWG’s Children Directive is the first of its kind and fills a gap left by federal regulators.

The study, published in the journal Environmental health, is based on the methodology developed by the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the risks to human health resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals. EWG scientists applied the same methods to radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices, including cell phones and tablets.

EWG recommends that the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, adjust its woefully outdated health standards for wireless radiation, last revised a quarter of a century ago, long before wireless devices became devices. ubiquitous and heavily used synonymous with modern life. The recommendation is based on data from a landmark 2018 study from the National Toxicology Program, or NTP, one of the largest long-term studies of the health effects of RF exposure.

The new EWG guidelines, the first developed in the United States to focus on children’s health, recommend that children’s overall exposure be 200 to 400 below the whole body exposure limit set by the FCC in 1996.

The EWG’s recommended limit for what’s called the whole body specific absorption rate, or SAR, for children is 0.2 to 0.4 milliwatts per kilogram, or mW / kg. For adults, EWG recommends a whole body SAR limit of 2-4 mW / kg, which is 20 to 40 times lower than the federal limit.

The FCC has not established a separate standard for children. Its standards for radio frequency radiation set a maximum SAR of 0.08 watts per kilogram, or W / kg, for whole-body exposure and a SAR for a localized spatial peak – the highest level of exposure for a part specific to the body, such as the brain – 1.6 W / kg for the general population.

NTP studies looked at the health effects of 2G and 3G wireless radiation and found that there is “clear evidence” for a link between RF radiation exposure and heart tumors in laboratory animals. . Similar results have been reported by a team of Italian scientists from the Ramazzini Institute.

Radiation from cell phones was classified as “possible carcinogenic” in 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, a conclusion based on human epidemiological studies which revealed an increased risk. glioma, a malignant cancer of the brain associated with cell phones. use.

EWG scientists say more research is needed on the health impacts of the latest generation of communication technologies, such as 5G. In the meantime, the EWG’s recommendation for strict and lower exposure limits for all sources of radio frequencies, especially for children.

When the FCC established its radio frequency radiation limits, following the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, relatively few Americans, and probably no children, owned and used cell phones.

Much has changed since federal limits were set, including the technology and how these devices are used. A survey carried out by the nonprofit Common Sense Media in March 2020, just before the start of the spread of Covid-19 in the United States, found that 46% of children aged 2 to 4 and 67% of 5 to 8 years old, had their own mobile devices, such as a tablet or smartphone.

With distance learning, a necessity during the Covid-19 pandemic, phones, tablets and other wireless devices have become a part of the lives of young children, tweens and teens nationwide.

“The FCC must consider the latest scientific research, which shows that radiation from these devices can affect health, especially for children,” said Uloma Uche, Ph.D., environmental health science researcher at the ‘EWG and lead author of the study.

“It’s been 25 years since the FCC set its limits on radio frequency radiation. With multiple sources of RF radiation in the everyday environment, including Wi-Fi, wireless devices, and cell towers, protecting children’s health from wireless radiation exposures should be a priority for the FCC. ” , she added.

“We are very concerned about the outdated approach the federal government has relied on to study the health effects of cell phone radiation and set its current safe limit and consumer advice,” said the president of EWG, Ken Cook. “Government guidelines date back a quarter of a century and were established at a time when wireless devices were not a constant feature of the lives of almost all Americans, including children.”

Examining 5G and other aspects of wireless technology should be the focus of public health agencies, noted Cook. “It is high time the federal government made exposure to 5G wireless devices safe. We firmly believe that these exposures deserve much more investigation and scientific rigor than has been applied to date.”

“Evidence shows that children absorb more radio frequency radiation than adults and that a child’s developing body is more vulnerable to such effects,” said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., vice president of scientific investigations of EWG and co-author of the study. .

“Further research into the security and sustainability of wireless technology is essential,” Naidenko added. “In the meantime, there are simple steps anyone can take to protect their health, such as keeping wireless devices away from their body.”

There are a number of simple precautionary steps consumers can take until the government does the rigorous scientific assessment the problem deserves, which should have happened years ago.

“Based on our review of the health risks and the inadequacy of current standards to protect children, as science evolves, it is perfectly reasonable for parents to consider minimizing or eliminating sources of radio frequency radiation. at home by relying more on wired internet access, and urging schools to take comparable steps to reduce exposure to classrooms and campuses, ”Cook said.

Other health protection tips for consumers who want to reduce radio frequency radiation from wireless devices include using a headset or speaker, texting instead of talking, and limiting of the time children spend on smartphones.

Find all of EWG’s tips for reducing exposure to wireless radiation here.

The EWG’s recommendation on radiofrequency radiation exposure limits is its latest effort to advance public dialogue on scientific standards that protect public health.

###

The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique educational tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.