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Research Outline
Prepared for Dan | Delivered October 7, 2019
RF Radiation Policy US vs Global
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Goals
Provide insight into the differences between the US and the rest of the world when it comes to accepting the results of RF radiation studies, and acting on those studies to make associated policy and health recommendations.
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Early Findings
It was found that the US lags considerably behind other countries in regulating RF radiation levels, due to the US reliance on a different set of recommendations than other countries and accusations of the FCC being influenced by the Wireless Telecommunications industry.
United States
The United States maintains that they base their recommendations on RF radiation levels on "
standards developed by expert non-government organizations
such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)."
The US FCC
directly addresses
the public concern about research that potentially shows RF radiation as cancer-causing, however, they dismiss these concerns, stating that they are the result of incorrect interpretation of the studies by "interest groups."
Therefore, the FCC maintains that "
currently no scientific evidence
establishes a causal link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses" They call for more long-term studies to be done before different standards would be considered, but assure readers that they "
closely monitor
" all new study results.
Additionally, the FCC provides "
optional
" measures for concerned consumers to take, if they wish.
The only
potential risk
that the FCC acknowledges is that wireless devices may interfere with cardiac pacemakers if used "within eight inches of the pacemaker."
Some researchers have called into question the FCC's neutrality on the issue,
most
notably
Norm Alster
of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University.
Alster asserts that the FCC is a "
captured agency
", at the whim of the lobbyists it supposedly regulates. This is due to the size and
monetary power
of the wireless industry, as well as the
revolving door
between Washington, the FCC and industry bodies.
Global
32 countries have issued "
policies and health recommendations
concerning exposure to RFR."
France has some of the
most strict policies
to limit RF radiation, including removing Wi-Fi from preschools, limiting Wi-Fi in elementary schools, banning cell phones in schools for students under 16, and recalling some cells phones with high radiation emittance.
Most European countries utilize standards set by the
International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
, which differ from the US followed recommendations as noted above, however, there have been concerns that even the European guidelines are
too old
to be utilized.
The International EMF Scientist Appeal
, which included the signatures of 244 scientists from 41 countries that have published research on the topic of RF radiation, have called upon the WHO and the UN to reduce limits, based on more recent studies.
Russian and East European countries rely on their own research into RF radiation, which differs from Western research in that it relies on
less quantifiable results
and more general concepts that are generally understood in those countries. Using their own research, Russia and other Eastern European countries have opted for more strict standards around RF radiation than the US, and even than some EU countries.
Harmonizing
Calls have been made to develop a set of global standards for RF radiation, however, researchers note that doing this would involve more than simply agreeing upon scientific results. It would take understanding different
medical traditions
and different standards of proof.
Experts suggest that more strict regulations may come only from
political and economic pressures
, and not from the results of scientific research.
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