Advocacy groups call on the FDA to address radiation exposures from electronic products

Advocacy groups call on the FDA to address radiation exposures from electronic products
By Ketura Persellin (EWG), Olga Naidenko, Ph.D. (EWG), ewg.org, 6 June 2023

The Food and Drug Administration is failing its duty to protect the public from unnecessary exposure to harmful radiation from smartphones and other electronic products, says an advocacy group coalition in a petition filed with the FDA urging it to finally act.

Under the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968, the FDA must ensure that public health and safety is protected from the dangers of electronic product radiation. The law is broad, encompassing all types of radiation, including radiofrequency radiation emitted by cell phones and other wireless devices used every day by millions of Americans.

In their petition, the groups claim the FDA has not accurately and truthfully informed the public about the potential health risks of electronic products. They say the FDA is failing to advise parents about how to reduce exposures for small children. And they charge the agency with failing to advise employers about how to reduce workplace exposures for all types of electronic devices, including medical devices and wireless transmitters.

The call for action aligns with extensive research showing that radiofrequency radiation emitted by wireless devices is associated with harm to heart health, reproductive health and the developing fetus, the nervous system, and elevated risks of various types of cancers.

In late May, the coalition filed a petition asking the FDA to study radiation emissions from electronic products and to evaluate the best ways to minimize exposure. The agency responded by opening a docket for public comments related to the petition.
Decades-old standards

In addition to the FDA, the other federal government agency responsible for regulating electronic products is the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC.

The FCC set current U.S. standards for wireless radiation exposure in 1996, before Wi-Fi and smartphones existed, and well before 24-hour daily exposure to radiofrequency radiation became a reality for today’s younger generations.

The standards have not changed in the decades since. The need to update the FCC standards has been the focus of numerous scientists and advocacy organizations, including EWG.

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https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/06/advocacy-groups-call-fda-address-radiation-exposures-electronic-products