FCC Safety Guidelines Were Exceeded in Chicago Tribune Cell Phone Tests
The Chicago Tribune recently investigated cell phone safety by testing 11 models of popular cell phones, both according to the manufacturers recommended distance from the head (5 to15 mm), as well as in a manner consistent with how they are used, i.e. close to the head. The accredited lab found that with some of the phones the levels exceeded the FCC guidelines both at recommended positions and in close proximity to the body. A class action lawsuit was filed against Apple and Samsung by a group of lawyers in California, Illinois and Iowa who state the manufacturers “intentionally misrepresented” the safety of these phones. The attorneys argue that numerous scientific publications show that radiofrequency radiation exposure affects living organisms at levels well below international guidelines. These RF guidelines are based only on heating of tissues, not demonstrated complex biological effects. Dr. Lennart Hardell points out in his research that increased usage of both cell phones and cordless phones, which emit fairly similar radiation levels, is associated with brain tumors. If the lawsuit is found valid will this be the Phonegate of the United States?
French Phonegate: 2017
Dr. Marc Arazi pushed for information on studies done by the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) of France in 2015 looking at RF radiation levels tested in contact with the body, not at the separation levels set by manufacturers (5-15mm away) that are within the safety guidelines. The French health agency tested a variety of common cell phones including Apple, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia, at typical user distances which is on the body. Their report revealed that 89% of cell phones tested exceeded the safety standards by 3 fold. Dr. Azari urged cell phones to be tested in the way in which people commonly use them, adjacent to the body. He also implored agencies to perform more research taking into account children’s smaller size and increased absorption of radiation. The term “Phonegate” was used to describe the scandal with similarities to the “Dieselgate” scandal of Volkswagen, where industry tests showed emissions were within regulation in the lab, however in actual driving tests they exceeded regulatory limits.
4 Fold Increase in Brain Tumors in France in 30 years
Dr. Arazi notes that data by the French public health agency show a 4 fold increase in glioblastoma. His website Phonegate Alert is in French with articles translated into English.
French Government in 2019 Requests That Cell Phones be Tested next to the Body
On Oct 25, 2019 The French Government issued a press release to ask citizens to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation, and also ask manufactures to develop phones with lower RF emissions.
PRESS RELEASE
FINANCES
Paris, October 25, 2019
Government acts to limit exposure to certain mobile phones and better inform the public
The National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor (ANSES) published on 21 October 2019 its opinion on the health effects related to waves emitted by mobile phones when used close to the body. The opinion does not reveal a serious and immediate danger but underlines that the results of the scientific studies published to date do not make it possible to exclude the appearance of biological effects in the man beyond certain thresholds.
In a precautionary approach, the Ministers of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, Solidarities and Health and Economy and Finance have decided to undertake the following actions, which will meet the recommendations made by ANSES. They will be conducted with the support of the National Frequency Agency (ANFR):
1 ) France will ask the European Commission to reinforce the requirements for new mobile phones put on the market. As recommended by ANSES, the Government will request that the approval tests be carried out in contact with the apparatus, and not 5 mm as is currently the case, so that they are more representative of the actual exposure. users ;…
NTP Study Confirms DNA Damage and Carcinogenicity of Cell Phone Radiation
More news from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on cell phones and cancer. They have published their final results on one of the most well designed and carefully performed group of U.S. studies on cancer and radiofrequency radiation that is emitted from cell phones. After 10 years of research and over $30 million dollars the results confirm DNA damage and carcinogenicity. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has updated their website with links to their research. The National Toxicology Program plans to research 5G technologies next.
Link to NTP page- Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation. NTP. Nov 25, 2019. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/cellphones/index.html
See also
News Articles
- We Tested Popular Cell Phones for Radiofrequency Radiation. Now the FCC is Investigating. Sam Roe. August 21, 2019. https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-cell-phone-radiation-testing-20190821-72qgu4nzlfda5kyuhteiieh4da-story.html
- Lawsuit filed against Apple, Samsung after Chicago Tribune tests cellphones for radiofrequency radiation. Joe Mahr. Aug 29, 2019. https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-cell-phone-radiation-lawsuit-apple-samsung-met-20190829-ye5h7fw6yvauxpo367vqeg7pju-story.html
- Brain cancers : 4 times more new cases of glioblastoma in 2018 according to Public Health France. Nov 18, 2019. https://www.phonegatealert.org/en/press-release-brain-cancers-4-times-more-new-cases-of-glioblastoma-in-2018-according-to-public-health-france
- Newspaper claims many cell phones emit illegal levels of radiation. The Chicago Tribune says it tested 11 models from four manufacturers. Mark Huffman. Aug 23, 2019. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/newspaper-claims-many-cellphones-emit-illegal-levels-of-radiation-082319.html
- iPhone Investigation Spurs Federal Testing Into Cellphone Radiation. KQED Science. Kevin Stark. Sept 3, 2019. https://www.kqed.org/science/1946969/iphone-investigation-spurs-federal-testing-into-cellphone-radiation
- “PhoneGate:” French Study Finds 9 of 10 Cell Phones Exceed Safe Radiation Limits. Project Censored. January 23, 2018. https://www.projectcensored.org/phonegate-french-study-finds-9-10-cell-phones-exceed-safe-radiation-limits/
- Cell Phone Radiation Scandal: French Government Data indicates Cell Phones Expose Consumers to Radiation Levels Higher Than Manufacturers Claim. Dr. Marc Arazi. June 3, 2017. http://arazi.fr/wp2/2017/06/press-releasecell-phone-radiation-scandal-french-government-data/
- “Phonegate: French Government Data Indicates Cell Phones Expose Consumers to Radiation Levels Higher Than Manufacturers Claim,” Environmental Health Trust, July 2017, https://ehtrust.org/cell-phone-radiation-scandal-french-government-data-indicates-cell-phones-exposeconsumers-radiation-levels-higher-manufacturers-claim.
- France Cell Phone Radiation Tests: Make, Model And SAR Radiation Measurements Of 379 Phones
https://ehtrust.org/france-cell-phone-radiation-tests-make-model-sar-radiation-measurements-379-phones/ - NTP Publishes Final Report on Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation. Nov 25, 2019. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/cellphones/index.html
- Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. (2019) Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW et al. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2019 Oct 21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31633839
Related NTP Publications
- Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW, Hobbs CA, Shepard KG, Green AS, Kissling GE, Shockley KR, Tice RR, Bucher JR, Witt KL. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22343 [epub ahead of print]
- Wyde ME, Horn TL, Capstick MH, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, Wilson PF, Kissling GE, Stout MD, Kuster N, Melnick RL, Gauger J, Bucher JR, McCormick DL. Effect of cell phone radiofrequency radiation on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of the National Toxicology Program’s reverberation chamber exposure system. Bioelectromagnetics. 2018; 39:190-199 https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.22116
- Capstick MH, Kuehn S, Berdinas-Torres V, Gong Y, Wilson PF, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, McCormick DL, Gauger J, Melnick RL, Kuster N. A radio frequency radiation exposure system for rodents based on reverberation chambers. IEEE Trans Electromagn Compat. 2017; 59(4):1041-1052 https://doi.org/10.1109/TEMC.2017.2649885
- Gong Y, Capstick MH, Kuehn S, Wilson PF, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, McCormick DL, Melnick R, Kuster N. Life-time dosimetric assessment for mice and rats exposed in reverberation chambers for the two-year NTP cancer bioassay study on cell phone radiation. IEEE Trans Electromagn Compat. 2017; 59(6):1798-1808 https://doi.org/10.1109/TEMC.2017.2665039
- Wyde M, Cesta M, Blystone C, Elmore S, Foster P, Hooth M, Kissling G, Malarkey D, Sills R, Stout M, Walker N, Witt K, Wolfe M, Bucher J. Report of partial findings from the National Toxicology Program carcinogenesis studies of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in Hsd: Sprage Dawley SD rats (whole body exposure). BioRxiv 055699 [Preprint] May 26, 2016 (modified Feb 01, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1101/055699
