Cell Phone EMF Regulations are Very Out of Date – 8 Tips for Staying Safe
EMF (electromagnetic fields) describe how charged particles affect each other from a distance; it is present in 100% of electronic or electrical devices. EMF can best be thought of as three things: low frequency electric fields, low frequency magnetic fields, and high frequency electromagnetic radiation or “radio frequency” (RF) waves. All types of EMF have been clinically shown to have biological effects. Reported effects of electromagnetic fields include harm to fetal growth and development, changes in heart rate variability, cardiomyopathy, changes in brain activity, altered release of neurotransmitters and hormones and an elevated risk of several cancers. (1,2) Learn more about the The Dangers of EMFs
With growing evidence of the harmful effects of EMFs, there has been an urgent call from scientists to government regulatory agencies to enact appropriate safety guidelines limiting public exposure to these harmful fields. (2) The current Federal Communications Commission guidelines for safety limits for human exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) were established in 1996. (3) Cell phones have evolved considerably, and our daily habits and use of cellphones is very different from what it was in 1996. Our understanding of the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation has deepened over this time, but the FCC guidelines have yet to be updated.
In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified RFR as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” due to the increased risk of glioma (a type of brain tumor) linked to cell phone use. (1,4) A large-scale long term study published in 2018 linked the effects of cellphone radiation to both heart and brain tumors. (5) A peer-reviewed study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) published in July 2021 calls for significantly lower tolerances for exposure to RFR, particularly for children. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is urging the FCC to consider these findings and make significant updates. (3)
Current FCC guidelines define the safe limits in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) which is the relative amount of energy absorbed by biological tissues. The FCC’s limit for whole body SAR is 0.08 watts per kilogram (W/kg). Recommendations for new SAR limits put forth by EWG are based on data modeling developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess human health risks from toxic chemical exposures. The proposed recommendations for whole body SAR are 20-40 times lower than the FCC’s current SAR standards for adults and an astounding 200-400x lower for children. (2-4 mW/kg for adults and 0.2-0.4 mW/kg for children) (1,3)
Lead author of the NTP study, Uloma Uche, Ph.D. stated “It has been 25 years since the FCC set its limits for radiofrequency radiation. With multiple sources of radiofrequency 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.” (3)
Furthermore, the FCC guidelines do not make any distinctions between adults and children. The NTP study applies an additional ten-fold safety factor for young children “to account for the greater sensitivity of the developing organism.” (1) A census survey published in March of 2020 by Common Sense Media found that children 8 and younger use an average of 2 hours 24 minutes of screen time per day. The survey found that 46 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds, and 67 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds, had their own mobile devices, such as a tablet or smartphone. (3,6) A 2020 Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) survey conducted by Ipsos suggests that electronic device usage nearly doubled among kinds in the US during the pandemic. (7)
These FCC regulations set forth in the 1990s are based on research done in the 1970s and 1980s. (1) Today we are surrounded by RFR from cell phones, cell towers, WiFi routers, and bluetooth. Many people spend the majority of their lives in the presence of RFR from multiple sources at any given time. The FCC limits are not only antiquated, but they are limited in only assessing one source at a time, they do not account for the scope of RF sources we experience and the cumulative effect on our bodies. Nor do these guidelines account for the potentially greater impact RFR has on children.
We are taking some big leaps of faith in our understanding of the matter and assessing the risks. Regulations devised for a 1988 brick phone and implemented in 1996 when flip phones were popular are hardly relevant to today’s ubiquitous use of smartphones and tablets.
Practical Tips to Limit EMF Exposure from Cell Phones and Other Devices
Reducing your exposure to EMFs from cell phones and wireless devices doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple but effective strategies:
- Use Speaker Mode or Headphones: When on a call, keep your phone away from your head by using speaker mode or wired headphones.
- Limit Prolonged Contact: Avoid keeping your phone directly on your body. Use a bag or carry it in your hand when possible.
- Reduce Screen Time: Limit screen time, especially for children, who are more vulnerable to EMF exposure. Consider setting boundaries around phone and tablet usage to reduce overall exposure.
- Turn Off Wireless Features When Not in Use: Switch off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular data when not actively using them. Even when idle, these features emit radiation.
- Use Airplane Mode: When sleeping, consider setting your phone to airplane mode or, better yet, keep it out of the bedroom entirely to reduce nighttime exposure.
- Limit Use in Low-Signal Areas: Phones emit higher levels of radiation when they struggle to connect to a signal, so avoid making calls in elevators, cars, or rural areas with low connectivity.
- Text More!
- Skip the ‘radiation shields’: Antenna caps, keypad covers, and other shields can reduce the connection quality and force your phone to transmit with greater energy, generating even more radiation. (8)
By following these steps, you can minimize EMF exposure from everyday devices and create a safer environment for you and your family.
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Choosing a low-EMF sauna means you’re prioritizing not only the quality of your sauna experience but also the long-term health benefits. With High Tech Health, you’re investing in a product scientifically designed to be as safe as it is effective, offering peace of mind for you and your family.
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References
1. Uche, U. I., & Naidenko, O. V. (2021). Development of health-based exposure limits for radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices using a benchmark dose approach. Environmental Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-021-00768-1
2. Greenfield, J. (2019, October 1). The dangers of emf: The importance of a low emf infrared sauna. hightechhealth.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.hightechhealth.com/dangers-of-emf-and-importance-of-a-low-emf-infrared-sauna/.
3. Environmental Working Group. (2021, July 22). Study: Wireless radiation exposure for children should be hundreds of times lower than current federal limits. Environmental Working Group. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from
4. World Health Organization. (2011, May 31). IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from https://www.iarc.who.int/.
5. Falcioni, L., Bua, L., Tibaldi, E., Lauriola, M., De Angelis, L., Gnudi, F., Mandrioli, D., Manservigi, M., Manservisi, F., Manzoli, I., Menghetti, I., Montella, R., Panzacchi, S., Sgargi, D., Strollo, V., Vornoli, A., & Belpoggi, F. (2018). Report of final results regarding brain and Heart tumors IN Sprague-Dawley rats exposed from PRENATAL life until natural death to mobile PHONE RADIOFREQUENCY field representative of a 1.8 Ghz GSM base Station ENVIRONMENTAL emission. Environmental Research, 165, 496–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.037
6. Rideout, V., Robb, M. B., & Saphir, M. (2020). The Common Sense census: Media use by kids age zero to eight, 2020. Common Sense Media. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/2020_zero_to_eight_census_final_web.pdf.
7. Newall, M., & Machi, S. (2020, July 8). Parents try to limit children’s screen time as it increases during pandemic. Ipsos. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/parents-try-limit-childrens-screen-time-it-increases-during-pandemic.
8. Environmental Working Group. (2020, December). EWG’s guide to safer cell phone use. Environmental Working Group. https://static.ewg.org/ewg-tip-sheets/EWG-CellPhoneGuide.pdf
