The California Medical Association (CMA) adopted
a resolution that calls for re-evaluation of the safety standards for wireless
communications in the U.S.
The Federal safety standards for wireless
communications were designed to protect humans from the heating, or thermal,
risks caused by exposure to microwave radiation. However, thousands of
peer-reviewed studies have found bio-effects from exposure to low intensity,
non-thermal levels of microwave radiation. Moreover, three independent,
case-control studies have found a two-fold increased risk of brain cancer among
adults who have used cell phones for ten or more years. And one study found a
three-fold risk of brain cancer after 25 years of cell phone and cordless phone
use.
In 2011, the World Health Organization’s
International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that radio frequency
energy is "possibly carcinogenic to humans", largely based upon the cell
phone research.
The CMA’s “Wireless
Communications Public Safety Standards Reevaluation” resolution “supports efforts to reevaluate microwave safety
exposure levels associated with wireless communication devices, including
consideration of adverse non-thermal biologic and health effects from
non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation used in wireless communications.” In
addition, the CMA “supports efforts to implement new safety exposure limits for
wireless devices to levels that do not cause human or environmental harm based
on scientific research.”
Wireless Communications Public Safety Standards Reevaluation
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES 2014
California Medical Association (CMA) Resolution 107-14, Adopted December 7, 2014
Resolved 1: That CMA supports efforts to reevaluate microwave safety exposure levels associated with wireless communication devices, including consideration of adverse non-thermal biologic and health effects from non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation used in wireless communications; and be it further
Resolved 2: That CMA supports efforts to implement new safety exposure limits for wireless devices to levels that do not cause human or environmental harm based on scientific research.
Cindy
Lee Russell, M.D. introduced the resolution which she co-authored along
with Ken Yew, M.D.
According to Dr. Russell:
"Physicians and scientists have recognized for years the dangers of ionizing radiation from x rays and nuclear weapons. Tissue is directly damaged causing cancer and a wide range of other health effects. The non ionizing microwave radiation from wi fi routers, ipads, cell phones and cell towers has been thought to be harmless until the last few decades as a rapidly growing body of peer reviewed research has shown very troubling biological and health effects from even low levels of exposure. The studies have shown negative effects on cell structures, brain function, animals, and plants. Many experts feel this is a looming public health problem as the use of wireless technology swiftly rises in our homes, offices and schools. EMF standards need to be reevalauted and designed for safety based on the biologic effects on living structures not on heat as is now currently being done."
In August, 2013, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, a professional organization representing 60,000 physicians, sent a
letter to the FCC and the FDA urging the FCC to adopt radiation standards
that:
- "Protect
children’s health and well-being ... Current FCC standards
do not account for the unique vulnerability and use patterns specific
to pregnant women and children. It is essential that any new standard
for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting
the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are
safeguarded throughout their lifetimes.
- Reflect
current use patterns. The FCC has not assessed the
standard for cell phone radiation since 1996 ... Many children,
adolescents and young adults, now use cell phones as their only phone
line and they begin using wireless phones at much younger ages. Pregnant
women may carry their phones for many hours per day in a pocket that
keeps the phone close to their uterus. Children born today will
experience a longer period of exposure to radio-frequency fields from
cellular phone use than will adults, because they start using cellular
phones at earlier ages and will have longer lifetime exposures.
FCC regulations should reflect how people are using their phones
today.
- Provide
meaningful consumer disclosure. The FCC has noted that it does not
provide consumers with sufficient information about the RF exposure
profile of individual phones to allow consumers to make informed
purchasing decisions. The current metric of RF exposure available to
consumers, the Specific Absorption Rate, is not an accurate predictor of
actual exposure. AAP is supportive of FCC developing standards that
provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices
in selecting mobile phone purchases, and to help parents to better
understand any potential risks for their children. To that end, we support
the use of metrics that are specific to the exposure children will
experience." (http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7520941318 )
Four resolutions signed by scientific experts
who have published research on wireless radiation and health in scientific
journals were submitted to the FCC. The resolutions call on governments to
issue stronger regulations on wireless radiation, especially cell phone
radiation. The declarations were signed by 98 scientists. For more
information, see “Why We Need Stronger Cell Phone Radiation Regulations--98
Scientific Experts Who Signed Resolutions at http://www.saferemr.com/2014/08/why-we-need-stronger-cell-phone_4.html .”
Since 1997, twenty-two declarations have been
signed by scientists and health professionals calling for stronger cell phone
radiation regulations. For more information on these declarations, see http://www.magdahavas.com/international-experts-perspective-on-the-health-effects-of-electromagnetic-fields-emf-and-electromagnetic-radiation-emr/.
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The CMA resolution (including 62 references) can
be found on the Parents
for Safe Technology web site.
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Wi Fi in Schools: Are we Playing it Safe with our Kids?
Cindy Russell, MD, The Bulletin (Santa Clara County/Monterey County Medical Association), March/April 2015, pp. 16-21.
Cindy Russell, MD, The Bulletin (Santa Clara County/Monterey County Medical Association), March/April 2015, pp. 16-21.
Dr. Russell discusses the research which led to the adoption by the California Medical Association of the resolution calling for stronger wireless communication standards.
