By B.N. Frank

On Dec. 19th, 2017, Popular Science published an article about recent cell phone radiation warnings announced by the California Department of Health, “Cell phones aren’t a public health risk, no matter what California says.” 

NPR Radio followed up with an interview on Dec. 31^st with Popular Science Editor, Sophia Bushwick.  Her comments included:

…I think the scientific consensus right now is they haven’t found a strong connection between exposure to cell phone radiation and brain cancer or other health problems…

The guidelines are a little misguided. Because it’s creating a lot of fear around an issue that we’re not sure people actually need to be afraid of.

Source

Apparently Ms. Bushwick and Popular Science have been living in an alternate reality.  Warnings about cell phone radiation aren’t new or exclusive to the recent California Department of Health. 

There has actually been credible U.S. military research that has proven harm since the 1970s.  Other researchers – some funded by Motorola– also found evidence of harm in the 1990s.  This 2010 GQ Magazine article provides more details here.

On November 9, 2009, America’s favorite doctor, Dr. Oz, sounded the alarm on Good Morning America.

On May 31, 2011, many media sources published stories on the World Health Organization announcement that research had determined cell phone and wireless radiation to be Class 2B Possible Carcinogen and in the same category as chloroform, engine exhaust, and lead.  Here is the link to a CNN story.

Producers of The Colbert Report used the announcement and warnings to produce an amusing albeit disturbing skit on June 1, 2011.

Between 2011 and 2017, more announcements, research, and warnings have been released by experts and the media in regard to cell phone and wireless radiation whether Ms. Bushwick or anyone else at Popular Science wants to acknowledge this or not.  Manufacturers have been including safety warnings in manuals of wireless devices for many years also – although they may be difficult to locate or understand.

So why is there still so much controversy?

Current laws and regulations regarding new technology are over 20 years old and based on outdated research.  They do not apply to how most technology is being used today.  http://ethics.harvard.edu/files/center-for-ethics/files/capturedagency_alster.pdf

Or to be perfectly blunt:

1. Current laws and regulations protect the Wireless Industry, not the public.


2. The Wireless Industry has plenty of money to pay lawyers to protect their interests.

We’ve all seen this type of thing before.  Anyone else remember being on an airplane in the late 1990s?  There were still smoking sections – even on international flights.  Blech.

We have been and continue to be made aware about cell phone and wireless radiation.

Research has determined that cell phone and wireless radiation exposure harms pets, plants and wildlife.

Research has determined that it harms children:  https://www.activistpost.com/2017/12/beyond-digital-addiction-kids-may-affected-wi-fi-electronic-devices-even-arent.html

Symptoms vary and misdiagnosis is common.  And like with other toxins, cell phone and wireless radiation exposure may not be the primary cause of some health conditions, however, it may still make them worse.  The same could be said about asthmatics that are exposed to 2^nd hand smoke.

I’m not going to accuse Ms. Bushwick of trying to promote “popular” science rather than actual science.  Instead, I’d rather believe that she is part of the 1/3 of the population who is “sensitive” to some degree to cell phone radiation and other sources of “Electrosmog” and this is affecting her judgment: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34509513/ns/health-cancer/t/electrosmog-harming-our-health/#.WjhcmmeWywQ

New technology has proven to be beneficial in many ways.  But it’s up to all of us as individuals to determine how much we want to use it considering all the research that’s out there.

Despite everything we know about the harmful effects of tobacco use, 20% of Americans still smoke.  Some choose to smoke around their children and pets which is harmful but not illegal as long as they do this within their homes or vehicles.

Ms. Bushwick and Popular Science Magazine may find themselves alone in their alternate reality.  That’s ultimately their choice too.

For more information, refer to the following links:

Organizations:

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