Raise awareness of environmental health issues in order to better protect our children and future generations.

29 February 2016

LISD Student to Represent District at International Science Fair with Project Focusing on Electromagnetic Radiation from Cell Phones

Jazmine Cardenas, Nixon High School
sophomore, will represent LISD in the
INTEL International Engineering and
Science Fair in Phoenix, Arizona.  She
was also names Grand Champion of the
LISD Secondary Science Fair.
Courtesy photo/LSID
LISD student to represent district at international science fair
lmtonline.com, 28 February 2016

Special to the Times

Jazmine Cardenas’ mother has always believed that sleeping with your cellphone is bad for you.

Jazmine wasn’t convinced, so she conducted a thorough experiment for this year’s LISD Secondary Science Fair.

For her efforts, Cardenas won first place in the Biological, Medical, and Health Science Division and was named Grand Champion of the LISD Secondary Science Fair held recently at the Civic Center.

Cardenas, a sophomore at Nixon High School, will represent Nixon High School and Laredo ISD at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona from May 8-13.

She will join more than 1,700 high school students from around the world who will display their independent research.

She will be accompanied by her teacher, Itzel Hinojosa.

While in Phoenix, Cardenas will showcase her individual science project entitled, “The Repercussions of Electromagnetic Fields on the Reproductive Capacity of Drosophila Melanogaster.”

Jazmine’s project focused on the electromagnetic radiation from cellphones that cause detrimental effects on whole organisms.

27 February 2016

Electrosensitivity: Testimony of GP Dr. Elizabeth Evans

"One reason why conventional doctors generally overlook the possibility of electrosensitivity when diagnosing their patients' complaints is that they usually confine their questions to their patients' symptoms, not their environment. They are not trained to ask about the presence of baby monitors, Wi-Fi and cordless phones, and the use of mobiles, and they never visit their patients' homes.  Without this line of questioning, it's virtually impossible to identify whether a patient is electrosensitive." 

Electrosensitivity
wddty.com, April 2014 (Vol. 25 Issue 1)

GP Dr Elizabeth Evans turned her health around after discovering she was sensitive to electrosmog

GP Dr Elizabeth Evans turned her health around after discovering she was sensitive to electrosmog. Here's her story, as told to Guy Hudson, and what you can do to prevent or treat electrosensitivity

I had just had my fourth child, and already had three other children aged under six, when I started to notice that I couldn't sleep, felt 'wired', and was becoming more and more anxious.

After 12 weeks, when the baby started sleeping through the night, I continued to have problems sleeping.We then moved to rented accommodation and my symptoms got worse. That first night I could not get to sleep. Eventually I slept for about two hours and, when I awoke, I had a racing heart. It felt like an anxiety attack but in my body, not my head.

22 February 2016

16 Seriously Damaging Side Effects Of Your Smartphone Addiction

16 Seriously Damaging Side Effects Of Your Smartphone Addiction
by Jayne Leonard, naturallivingideas.com,
1st December 2015

Nearly two thirds of American adults now own a smartphone – up from 58% in early 2014. In fact, 61% of you reading this page right now are probably doing so on a smartphone.

Their popularity is not surprising! Smartphones are incredible little devices – they allow us to stay connected, organized and entertained. They can track what we eat, our exercise goals and our sleep patterns. They log our shopping lists, our travel details and our spending habits.

These mini computers have eliminated our need for alarm clocks, address books, notepads and cameras.

But do their perks come with a downside?

It would seem they come with several disadvantages. Read on to find out exactly what those are.

A Serious Addiction

Petition: Urgently Recognize Electro-hypersensitivity as a Disability

Please sign the petition (French text).  Persons outside France may sign.

PETITION - Urgently recognize electro-hypersensitivity as a disability

Link to the petition:
Letter to French Ministry of Health, Secretary of State for Disability (auto-translation with tweaks)

Petition started by Michèle RIVASI, Member of the European Parliament, representing South East France for Europe Écologie–The Greens, Brussels, Belgium

For the first time, environmentalist MP and MEP Laurence Abeille and Michèle Rivasi held a symposium in the National Assembly on February 11th for the recognition of electro hypersensitivity as a disability.

There is urgency to act now, because with the current deployment of connected objects, the experimentation of 5G mobile telephony, and ever more wifi in public places, we are more than ever surrounded by "electrosmog" harmful to everyone's health.

19 February 2016

"Brain Cancer Kills more Australian Children and Women Under 35 Than Any Other Cancer" (2012 Article by Dr. Charlie Teo, Neurosurgeon)


Brain tumor in young girl
(white arrow)
Dr. Charlie Teo, author of the article, “What if your mobile phone is giving you brain cancer?”, published on The Punch, Australia, 7 May 2012, is a specialist in pediatric neurosurgery.  The link to the article is no longer available.

The article begins:  “There are three undisputed facts about the link between mobile phones and brain tumours. Firstly, the jury is still out. Secondly, the number of mobile phone users is increasing rapidly and currently stands at over five billion worldwide. Thirdly, IF there is a causal link between exposure to non-ionising radiation and brain tumours, then the social and financial consequences would be devastating and on a scale never before witnessed in history.”
“With over twenty one million mobile phones in use in Australia, why are we not spending the resources on finding the answer? Perhaps the answer is one that all of us would rather not imagine. Could those with a vested interest be misguiding us?”
Teo writes that as an expert on brain cancer, he witnesses every day the devastating effects that brain tumors have on families and society:  “I see 10 to 20 new patients each week and at least one third of those patients’ tumours are in the area of the brain around the ear. As a neurosurgeon I cannot ignore this fact and while I may personally believe there is a link between brain tumours and EMR exposure…

18 February 2016

Dr. Charlie Teo's Response to ABC Catalyst's Wi-Fi Program

Dr. Charlie Teo, neurosurgeon
"Rather than the Catalyst program igniting a fight between 2 camps of devoted, passionate scientists it should unite all of us to collaborate in order to find answers to this devastating, indiscriminate and universally deadly disease."

Dr Charlie Teo's response to ABC Catalyst's Wi-Fi program
Twitter, 17 February 2016

As a neurosurgeon on the front lines of treating children with brain cancer, I am saddened that we are still not close to finding a cure, or even effective treatments. The most common form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), carries a dismal prognosis with only 2% of patients surviving more than 5 years. This disease kills more children in Australia than any other disease! In actuality, until we know what causes brain cancer we can’t even make appropriate recommendations for its prevention. However, inferring from the basic and clinical sciences and our best judgement from previous cancer associations, we can make educated recommendations. If formal recommendations to the public were released only AFTER many, many people have become terminally ill from cancer, we would be doing a DISSERVICE to the community.

International Appeal : Scientists call for Protection from Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposure

As of 10 February 2016, there are 220 signatories to the appeal.

View the Video Statement (3 min.) by Spokesperson Martin Blank, PhD: EMFscientist.org

International EMF Scientist Appeal
emfscientist.org, 11 May 2015

To: His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Honorable Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization
U.N. Member States

International Appeal
Scientists call for Protection from Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposure


We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based upon peer-reviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. These include–but are not limited to–radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF).

Scientific basis for our common concerns

15 February 2016

United States: FCC, DOT Establish Working Group to Assess Security of Commercial Communication Onboard Aircraft

(Choice of image by Editor of "Towards Better Health")
FCC, DOT Establish Working Group to Assess Security of Commercial Communication Onboard Aircraft
by Juliet Van Wagenen, aviationtoday.com, 
5 February 2016

[Avionics Today 02-05-2016] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have agreed to establish a Federal Interagency Working Group to more effectively collaborate on issues, including the safe and secure use of consumer communications onboard domestic commercial aviation flights. This agreement builds on the productive, collaborative interagency coordination efforts in recent years as aviation communications safety and security concerns have emerged.

The DOT’s FAA and the FCC will co-chair the working group, with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau coordinating efforts within the FCC. The working Group’s primary mission will be to harmonize policy and regulatory activities regarding safe and secure communications onboard commercial aircraft, while maintaining the independent policy-making responsibilities of each agency.

13 February 2016

Cell Phone Litigation

Message from Ellie Marks, California Brain Tumor Association:
"This is the law firm that we (and many other families) are using. They are awesome and the cases are moving along well in the DC courts. If you or a loved one has a brain tumor or acoustic neuroma and you feel it is cell phone related please give Hunter, Kristie or Rudie a call. I have known them for 6 years now (Erin Brockovich introduced us) and I cannot say enough good things about them."

Cell Phone Litigation
lundylawlp.com

Recent research shows that prolonged exposure to cell phone radiation increases the risk of developing a brain tumor.

You may be eligible to file a cell phone radiation lawsuit if you were exposed to the dangers of cell phone radiation and have been diagnosed with one of the following:

Glioblastoma
Astrocytoma
Oligodendroglioma
Ependymoma
Acoustic Neuroma

A cell phone radiation lawsuit seeks compensation for:

Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Wrongful Death
Other injuries

Wi-Fi is "Major Public Health Issue," Says French Confab

Wi-Fi is "Major Public Health Issue," Says French Confab
by Jack O'Dwyer, odwyerpr.com,
12 February 2016

A meeting of doctors and scientists on electrosensitivity at the University of Paris Feb. 11 said that "It is finally time to discuss this major public health issue."

More than 50 doctors, scientists and healthcare professionals signed a document calling for research to "better understand and recognize electro-hypersensitivity."

The meeting expressed disappointment that the disease is still not recognized by French authorities.

"This pathology is complex and multifactorial," said the declaration. "We are clueless about the victims of hypersensitivity, whose physical suffering is real. Although scientific controversy remains in some respects on the subject, such patients exist and responses must be made to alleviate their suffering."

Translating the document from the French to English was U.K. electrosensitive campaigner David Ashton. He discusses the subject in a 16-minute YouTube segment.

Symptoms in Cellphone Users

12 February 2016

Support Individuals with Electrosensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Petition to the Government of the United Kingdom

Petition to the UK Government:  Support Individuals with Electrosensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

(Please note that the petition can only be signed by UK residents, and is open until 12 August 2016)

Link to the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/121419

Message from Dave Ashton, creator of the petition:

A fairly long comment was prepared for this petition, but it turned out that there was a space restriction, and so I had to lose most of what we'd written. A link to the actual petition is given below, along with a copy of the longer original version that we couldn't use.

The petition includes links to documents recommending steps to be taken to deal with the urgent situation represented by EHS and MCS, as well as dealing with the wider health issues posed by wireless technologies.

There are a couple of extra links below, which tell the human side of the story for EHS and MCS sufferers.

Thank you for reading this, and for signing the petition (if you are a UK resident!)

Dave Ashton

Appeal of Doctors and Healthcare Professionals "To Better Understand and Recognize Electro-hypersensitivity" - 11 February 2016

PLEASE NOTE:  This is an unofficial translation of the Appeal and will be replaced if/when an official text in English is issued. 


APPEAL of DOCTORS and HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
michele-rivasi.eu, 11 February 2016

On the occasion of the symposium at the National Assembly on 11th February 2016, "To better understand and recognize electro-hypersensitivity"

We, doctors, scientists and health professionals,

Considering the Freiburg Appeal launched in 2002 by physicians, during our consultations, we have found in recent years a dramatic increase in severe and chronic diseases among our patients, such as:

Symptoms usually found in mobile phone use:

- Pain and / or heat in the ear
- Disorders of surface sensitivity, type dysesthesia (tingling, burning or itching) on the face, scalp or arm

Then gradually, and permanently:

04 February 2016

Cell Phones May Damage Male Fertility, Israeli Study Finds

Illustrative:  Browsing on a phone
(Frank Franklin II/AP)
"Talking on a cellphone for over an hour a day or speaking on the device when it is being charged doubles the risk for low semen concentration, the study found."

Cellphones may damage male fertility, Israeli study finds
by Times of Israel Staff, 3 February 2016

Technion researchers see link between mobile use and drop in sperm count, recommend shorter calls and not carrying phone in pants pocket

Men using a cellular phone for more than one hour a day double the risk of their sperm count dropping to levels too low for procreation, according researchers from the Haifa Technion and the Carmel Medical Center.

A new study conducted at the two institutions, and published Tuesday in the medical journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online, brings evidence to support a long-feared link between dropping fertility rates in men and the prevalent use of cellular phones.

The quality of sperm among men in Western countries is constantly decreasing and is considered crucial in 40 percent of the cases in which couples have difficulty conceiving a child.