New Review Paper: Scientists Publish That Mobile Phone Wireless Radiation Can Cause Cancer Based On Updated Accumulation Of Research Evidence
“Cancer Epidemiology Update, following the 2011 IARC Evaluation of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (Monograph 102)”
Authors: Anthony B. Miller, L. Lloyd Morgan, Iris Udasin and Devra Lee Davis
Journal: Environmental Research
(9/6/2018) A review paper to be published in Environmental Research concludes that the current scientific evidence supports the conclusion that mobile phone and wireless radiofrequency radiation (RFR) is cancer-causing. This paper is a review and summary of animal experimental evidence and human epidemiology studies (case-control, cohort, time trend and case studies) published after the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emissions from mobile phones and other wireless devices as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) in 2011. The authors conclude that the current scientific evidence strengthens and supports an upgraded classification that RFR should now be categorized as carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1).
“With the epidemiological studies of humans over many years and the recent findings of the US National Toxicology Program and Ramazzini Institute animal studies, we now have enough evidence to classify Radiofrequency Radiation as carcinogenic to humans. Thus it is critical that governments take action to reduce human exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation, and halt the introduction of 5G networks,” stated author Anthony B. Miller MD of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and Senior Advisor to Environmental Health Trust.
Examples of the scientific evidence included in the paper:
Thirteen studies published since 2011 associate mobile phone use with increased tumors. Specifically nine studies report increased risk of brain cancer from mobile phone use, and four case-control studies report increased risk of vestibular nerve tumors from mobile phone use.
The US National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation rats which found increases in glioma and schwannoma of the heart of male rats.
Gliomas and acoustic neuromas are the specific focus of the paper as similar tumors are found in both human and animal studies of mobile phone radiofrequency radiation. Case-control studies were considered to be superior to the cohort studies or other methods in evaluating potential risks for brain cancer as case control studies allow more detailed consideration with a focus on highly exposed persons. Studies that only consider cancer rate increases in the general population will not necessarily pick up an increase in tumors as cancer from an environmental exposure can take four decades to be evident in the general population and widespread exposure to mobile phone RFR has been only about two decades.
The authors conclude that “current evidence is strong enough to go from precaution concerning possible risk to prevention of known risks” with a “concerted program of public and health professional education” to promote safer technology “while every attempt should be made to reduce exposure to RFR in schools, as well as homes.”
“Researchers are pointing to microwave radio-frequency radiation as causing illness in US Embassy staff,“ stated Dr. Devra Davis, co-author of the paper and President of the Environmental Health Trust referring to the New York Times coverage of a new paper by University of California San Diego medical researcher Dr. Beatrice Golomb and research on microwave hearing by scientist Allen Frey. “Cell phones and wireless expose us to microwave radiation every day. If targeted microwave radiation can damage diplomats then what will daily exposure to wireless radiation do to our children and us? Before we blanket our nation with 5G, yet another layer of microwave radiation, we must critically examine its impact on our health and environment.”
“The CDC just released new research that found increases in brain, liver and thyroid cancer among those under 20 years old in the United States. The time for meaningful policy change is now. We must raise this issue at every level of government and reduce radiofrequency exposure in our communities -especially for our children,” stated Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust. “Outdated government regulations need to catch up with current science.”
Environmental Research publishes original reports describing studies of the adverse effects of environmental agents on humans and animals. The principal aim of the journal is to assess the impact of chemicals and microbiological pollutants on human health. Both in vivo and in vitro studies, focused on defining the etiology of environmentally induced illness and to increase understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental agents cause disease, are especially welcome. Investigations on the effects of global warming/climate change on the environment and public health, as well as those focused on the effects of anthropogenic activities on climate change are also of particular interest.
About Environmental Health Trust
Environmental Health Trust (EHT) is a scientific think tank that educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. The foundation’s website is the go-to place for clear, science-based information to prevent disease. Please visit the EHT website at https://www.ehtrust.org. Find EHT on Facebook
This Letter from Montgomery County Public Schools states that the County REFUSES to Support legislation that would develop Safety Guidelines for Digital Devices in Schools! Please share this far and wide and contact your Board of Education members and tell them this is unacceptable.
HB1110: "Public Schools - Health and Safety Guidelines and Procedures - Digital Devices"directs the Maryland State Department of Education, consulting with the Maryland Department of Health to convene a group of medical experts and stakeholders to develop health and safety guidelines for the schools' technology equipment. Montgomery County School takes a "no position" position??? TAKE ACTION NOW Contact the Montgomery County BOE and the press and demand children's safety be put first! before the needs of the devices. There is no reason we cannot integrate digital devices into schools in a safe way. This statement by the county is outrageous.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Letter in Support of Medical Health and Safety Guidelines for Screens in Schools. Download image HERE. Download PDF HERE
However Montgomery County Schools does not ?
Sponsored by Delegate Steven Arentz (R-District 36, Eastern Shore) and 32 co-sponsors - representing statewide bipartisan support - the legislation is in response to the mounting scientific data that underscores the need to protect children from visual, physical and mental health risks posed by the unsafe use of classroom devices.
Delegate Arentz reports, "The research just continues to mount - our kids need to be protected, while they learn how to compete in the world today."
The University of Southern California's Roski Eye Institute has identified the use of screens as a factor contributing to the epidemic myopia now seen among children in the United States. Says lead researcher, Dr. Rohit Varma, "the use of mobile devices and screens on a daily basis, combined with a lack of proper lighting or sunlight, may be the real culprit behind these dramatic increases." Extreme myopia can lead to serious complications later in life, including glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment and macular degeneration -- all potentially blinding conditions.
Clinicians are also concerned about dry eye disease, since children do not blink often enough when using screens, in addition to "eye discomfort, fatigue, blurred vision and headaches." Making matters worse, the research shows that because children don't realize anything's wrong, they don't report or mitigate their own discomfort.
Researchers are also concerned about the effects of sleeplessness caused by the use of digital devices, including computers used for homework at night. The HEV blue light emitted from digital devices suppresses an important hormone called melatonin, which tells the brain it's time to rest.
The World Health Organization reports that obesity, diabetes and heart diseasein children are also being associated with the increased sedentary behaviors that coincide with unsafe digital device use, noting "the increasingly urbanized and digitalized world offers fewer opportunities for physical activity through healthy play."
Addiction to technology, anxiety and suicide are also grave concerns for clinicians, and the focus of numerous studies. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the number 2 cause of death among teenagers today. And while much of those studies concentrate on personal use of computers, schools are increasingly using digital devices as their primary platform for communication, even within the classroom.
As a result of the increasing research, the American Academy of Pediatrics' Maryland Chapter and the Mental Health Association of Maryland as well as the Maryland State Medical Society, (MedChi) representing all of the state's physicians, have all endorsed the legislation, hoping that the General Assembly will heed the medical warnings.
National child advocacy groups are also endorsing HB1110, including Parents Across America and Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood (CCFC), which has more than 800 members in Maryland.
"Maryland lawmakers are leading the nation by protecting children from overuse of digital devices in the classroom. We applaud this initiative and wholeheartedly support this bill," said Josh Golin, CCFC Executive Director, whose organization has just launched the Children’s Screen Time Action Network. The Network will host the first national conference on children’s screen time issues in Boston on April 20-21.
Concerned parents across the state are hopeful that legislators will pass the bill and ensure that their children are using the schools' equipment safely. The legislation has the support of Advocates for Baltimore County Schools and the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County.
Queen Anne's County parent Cindy Eckard, who has spearheaded this effort, has compiled scientific studies and safety warnings from digital device manufacturers on her website, www.screensandkids.us and @screensandkids Twitter account to help educate policy makers, legislators and the public.
"While the debate over the personal use of screens will likely continue as a parenting issue, it is the legal responsibility of the schools and the individual teachers to avoid known hazards and provide a safe classroom. Educational applications pose the same risk to our children's developing eyes and growing bodies as any other content," she says.
"The medical evidence cannot be ignored: our children will be damaged without protections in the classroom."
Maryland lawmakers are considering groundbreaking legislation to protect children from the known health risks of digital devices used in schools. Please sign our petition in support of this bill.
House Bill 1110 would require the Maryland Department of Education to develop health and safety guidelines and procedures for the use of digital devices in public school classrooms, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health and an advisory panel of groups including CCFC, the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Maryland State Medical Society, Parents Across America, the Maryland PTA, and other education and health advocacy groups.
A growing body of research demonstrates that excessive screen time is linked to negative outcomes for children, including attention and hyperactivity disorders and social-emotional problems; sleep disturbances and irregular sleep patterns in children under 12; and vision problems, including myopia and dry eye syndrome. And pediatricians and mental health professionals are increasingly concerned about digital addiction among children. But a rush to bring digital devices into classrooms has not been accompanied by protections which take into account the impact of excessive screen time on children’s health and well-being.
A hearing is scheduled for March 2, so children need your help now. Please sign our petition today, and ask Maryland lawmakers to develop guidelines for device use in schools that will protect children’s health.
Many thanks,
David Monahan Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
For more information, tips and updates, and to sign up for a screening in your community please go to: www.generationzapped.com.
"In less than a generation, cell phones and the Internet have revolutionized virtually every aspect of our lives, transforming how we work, socialize and communicate. But what are the health consequences of this invisible convenience?
As a mother of teenagers I am concerned with the shadow side of wireless technology on our children. I am troubled by the increased health risks and how it is sociologically impacting children’s development and behavior. As a citizen and consumer, I am disturbed by the business ethics behind the wireless revolution and its ubiquitous use in schools, at work, and at home.
I love technology and the many conveniences it has offered us, yet I believe that increased transparency is vital, including pre-market testing, post-market monitoring, and revised policies and regulations.
Finally, I invite audiences to consider the case for honoring the precautionary principle when it comes to the adoption of wireless technology – to simply slow down, turn it off at night and “plug it in” until more extensive research is validated and complete."
-- Sabine El Gemayel (Director of Generation Zapped)
For more information, tips and updates, and to sign up for a screening in your community please go to: www.generationzapped.com.
Why so? The levels of manmade radiofrequency radiation in our environment, including right here in Maryland, are increasing. This increase is caused by the introduction of more and more wireless devices, without an understanding of the health consequences. These consequences can manifest differently in different individuals. Examples include sleep disruption; stress, anxiety, or irritability; headaches; ringing in the ears; concentration, memory, or learning problems; fatigue; loss of balance; eye problems; heart palpitations or arrhythmia; nerve pain; cancer; and many more.
These problems arise because all living things are bioelectrical in nature, including human beings. That is why electroencephalograms and electrocardiograms work; they measure the tiny electrical voltages that operate the brain and the heart. Unfortunately, the radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices is strong enough to disrupt many natural biological processes. That disruption can cause, or exacerbate, a host of chronic illnesses, leading even to death.”
Dr. Ronald Powell’s qualifications:
“I am a retired U.S. Government scientist (Ph.D., Applied Physics, Harvard University, 1975). During my Government career, I worked for the Executive Office of the President, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. For those organizations, respectively, I addressed Federal research and development program evaluation, energy policy research, and measurement development in support of the electronics and electrical-equipment industries and the biomedical research community. I currently interact with other scientists and with physicians around the world on the impact of the environment – including the radiofrequency/microwave environment – on human health.”
This document is available for download at this EHT link. This document is on the Whatis5G.infowebsite, a website that details the myriad of ways that 5G will impact humans, humanity, wildlife and the earth.
Message for Marylanders
You can find the email addresses for all current State Delegates and State Senators on this web site, by clicking on the “Legislators” tab at the top of the web page: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frm1st.aspx?tab=home
You can find out which candidates have so far signed up with the Maryland State Board of Elections by referring to the web site below. Just click on your district number.
Montgomery County Schools MEMO to Staff and Teachers: Digital Safety and School and Home
This is a nationwide first!
Information and updates from the office of the Chief Technology Officer
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018
Digital Safety at School and at Home
The MCCPTA Safe Technology Subcommittee would like to share the following recommendations for using technology at school and at home.
For Students at School:
Consider placing Chromebooks/laptops on desks and tables rather than in laps;
Don’t forget to shut down and log off of Chromebooks/laptops when moving from classroom to classroom;
Consider turning off cell phones and keeping them in backpacks or lockers off when not in use;
If necessary, take eye breaks, 1-to 2 minutes in length, approximately every 15 minutes;
Attend to task! Avoid distractions such as reading email, playing games, or browsing the Internet;
Engage in face-to-face socialization, especially at free time, lunch, and recess;
Always use the Internet and devices for educational purposes in accordance with MCPS’s responsible use policies;
Use resources that do not infringe on another’s copyright or trademark rights.
For Students at Home:
“Disconnect” at least one hour before bedtime. This includes all forms of media and requires online-based homework to be done well in advance of bedtime;
Keep electronic devices out of bedrooms for a sounder sleep.
For Teachers:
Encourage students, when appropriate, to customize their device screens using tools such as ScreenShader designed to reduce potential eye strain and fatigue
Consider providing students with options for good behavior that include physical activity and social interaction rather than “device time”;
When requested, provide paper alternatives for take-home class work.
Additional Resources:
Maryland Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council (CEHPAC):
