RF Exposure of Infants, Toddlers, Raises Health Concerns, Environmental Health Trust Says
The Environmental Health Trust raised concerns about potential health implications of the growing use of wireless devices with and by infants and toddlers. The FCC is “relying on outdated assumptions and outdated models to test phones,” the trust said in…
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a meeting with commission staff, including an aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler. “There is growing scientific recognition that the current test systems are fundamentally flawed and do not reflect the current growth in use by infants and toddlers. We urged the FCC to issue a general call for precautions for children consistent with the advice of over a dozen other governments, as experts are recognizing the growing application of wireless transmitting devices to infants and toddlers.” The trust cited the growing popularity of such devices as the iPotty, the iBouncy chair and the iRocking chair as well as the Wi-Fi-connected Barbie. “Currently used smartphones in cardboard virtual reality devices have not been tested for exposure into the young child's brain and eyes and are being used in many school districts around this country despite the lack of safety testing,” the group said. The trust said other countries require that cordless phones and baby monitors be voice activated. In the U.S.. the devices are always on, “sending and receiving microwave radiation 24/7, exposing people unnecessarily to wireless radiation,” the trust said in docket 13-84. Americans' health is of "paramount" importance to CTIA and the wireless industry, emailed a CTIA spokeswoman in response. "Since we are not scientific researchers, we follow the guidance of the experts when it comes to cellphones and health effects. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, American Cancer Society and numerous other international and U.S. organizations and health experts, the scientific evidence shows no known health risk due to the RF energy emitted by cellphones. As the FDA states on its website, 'The weight of scientific evidence has not linked cellphones with any health problems.'" The FCC has determined that all mobile phones legally sold in the U.S. are safe, the spokeswoman said. "The FCC monitors scientific research on a regular basis, and its standard for RF exposure is based on recommended guidelines adopted by U.S. and international standard-setting bodies.”