A new study by the Department of Health and Human Services aims to investigate potential health risks associated with cellphone radiation and electromagnetic exposure.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated a study to explore whether radiation emitted from cellphones and cell towers poses health risks to Americans. This investigation comes amid growing concerns about electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and its effects on human health.
According to HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, the study is part of a broader strategy outlined in a report released last year by President Donald Trump’s MAHA Commission. The report emphasizes the need to address EMR exposure resulting from the widespread use of cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, cell towers, and wearable technology such as smartwatches.
In 2018, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that found “clear evidence” linking high exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) with cancer in male rats. Senior scientist John Bucher noted that while the study involved exposing rats and mice to RFR across their entire bodies, human exposure typically occurs in localized areas, particularly near the device being used. Bucher also pointed out that the levels and durations of exposure in their study were greater than what humans typically experience.
It is important to note that the NIH study did not examine the RFR associated with Wi-Fi or 5G networks. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his concerns about electromagnetic radiation, stating, “Electromagnetic radiation is a major health concern,” and he is “very concerned about it.”
In contrast, a spokesperson for the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), which represents mobile carriers, asserted that there is no credible evidence linking wireless devices to health issues. The spokesperson emphasized that the consensus among the international scientific community and independent expert organizations is that radiofrequency energy from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices, mobile phones, and wireless infrastructure has not been shown to cause health problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also stated on its website that research has not established a causal link between exposure to wireless technologies and adverse health effects.
In the United States, cellphones are required to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations regarding radiofrequency (RF) exposure. The FCC employs a metric known as specific absorption rate (SAR) to measure how much RF energy the body absorbs. To be sold in the U.S., mobile phones and similar wireless devices must be tested and certified to ensure they do not exceed a limit of 1.6 W/kg (watts per kilogram), averaged over 1 gram of tissue.
The FCC maintains on its website that there is currently no scientific evidence establishing a definitive link between the use of wireless devices and cancer or other illnesses. However, the agency does provide recommendations for reducing exposure, such as limiting the time spent on wireless devices, using speakerphone or earpieces to minimize proximity to the head, and increasing the distance between devices and the body. Texting instead of talking is also encouraged when possible.
Fox News Digital reached out to HHS and NIH for further comments, as well as several major cellphone carriers, but did not receive immediate responses.
As this study progresses, it will be crucial to monitor its findings and implications for public health, especially as technology continues to evolve and the use of wireless devices becomes even more prevalent.
According to Fox News Digital, the ongoing research aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding the safety and efficacy of emerging technologies.