Over the past 20 years there has been strong evidence of two types of brain tumors correlated to cell phone radiation exposure—glioblastomas, a malignant brain tumor that was once very rare, and acoustic neuromas, which are benign tumors of the auditory nerves.

Decades of research has connected cell phone radiation to nine types of cancer, oxidative stress, DNA damage, sperm damage and infertility, blood brain barrier leakage, effects on hormones, neurological and neuropsychiatric effects, and development of electrical hypersensitivity. The Federal Communications Committee (FCC) set radio frequency (RF) limits based on thermal effects in 1996. These regulatory limits have not been updated since then and have not taken in to account the non-thermal biological effects that have been presented in thousands of peer reviewed studies. Published data has shown growing effects on wildlife.

In response to the cumulative research findings and concerns from scientists worldwide, in August 2021, the U.S. Appeals Court ruled for the FCC to provide a reason for its determination that its guidelines adequately protect against harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation related to cancer and to justify its testing procedures. Until such time that these results are available, it is advisable to reduce exposure to RF radiation and mitigate such exposures.

Children, especially the unborn, are more vulnerable to everything on the RF spectrum because of the increased susceptibility of their developing nervous system and more conductive brain tissue. They will have a longer lifetime of exposure than adults. Although the legal exposure limits have not been changed for more than 25 years, five generations of radiofrequency technologies have developed and create a cumulative effect in that time.

A combination of human and animal studies have shown environmental exposure may be linked to leukemia and congenital heart disease in infants, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, memory reduction, autism, hyperactivity and asthma. Some adults with RF exposure may complain of insomnia, ringing in the ears, burning of the skin, headaches, nausea, dizziness, difficulty focusing and concentrating, short-term memory loss, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, heart palpitations, anxiety and depression, and difficulty with blood pressure.

The American Pediatric Association has recommended to reduce wireless cell phone exposure, and guidelines can be found on the Environmental Health Trust website ehtrust.org. These guidelines include:

1. Keep the phone and wireless devices away from the body and keep the phone on airplane mode when not in use.

2. Reduce the use of cell phones to stream audio video or download files.

3. Keep the phone away from the bedroom at night or keep the phone in airplane mode.

4. Turn off wireless routers at night.

5. Avoid use of wireless devices near the head.

6. Hardwire cell phones and computers with Ethernet cords.

7. Keep laptops and computers away from the abdomen, especially pregnant women.

8. Use corded landline phones when possible and avoid use in spaces surrounded by metal like a car, elevator, bus, train, or airplane.

9. Keep computer screens and phones on night shift mode to avoid excess blue light exposure which affects melatonin production.

For more information on 5G, visit AmericansForResponsibleTech.org.

Stephanie McCarter, M.D., practices at the Environmental Health Center, in Dallas.