Switzerland: Mobile phone ban at schools: a first step towards protection - but the basic problem remains unattended

Mobile phone ban at schools: a first step towards protection - but the basic problem remains unattended
Sources: Wiler newspaper; ajour.ch and pomona.ch, posted by Verein Schutz vor Strahlung, 1st June 2025 - translation

Nidwalden intervenes: As the first German-Swiss canton, it passes a uniform ban on private digital devices in schools. Meanwhile, other cantons continue to rely on self-responsibility - ignoring a central question: What role does the influence of radiation play in school?

Starting from the new school year, children and young people will no longer be allowed to use private phones, tablets and laptops in Nidwalden on the school premises. Exceptions are for educational purposes or emergencies only. The Directorate of Education justifies this decision with the increasing use of such devices and the desire to promote conscious use. The new regulation applies to both primary and secondary schools.

MAHA Report ‘Falls Short’ on Linking Wireless Radiation to Chronic Disease, Experts Say

“There is no excuse that the biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields in our ever-increasing wireless world were not featured front and center in the MAHA report as a driver of children’s deteriorating health.”

MAHA Report ‘Falls Short’ on Linking Wireless Radiation to Chronic Disease, Experts Say

“The MAHA Report” only briefly mentioned electromagnetic radiation and failed to accurately convey the scientific literature showing harm. “Nonetheless, it has broken ground as the first formal acknowledgement by the executive branch that there is a problem,” said Odette Wilkens, a technology attorney.
by Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D., childrenshealthdefense.org, June 3, 2025

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report briefly mentioned electromagnetic radiation (EMR), but failed to accurately convey the scientific literature revealing how it harms human health, according to EMR experts and safe technology advocates who spoke with The Defender.

“The MAHA Report,” released May 22, identified four “key drivers” behind the childhood chronic disease epidemic. EMR, which wasn’t included as a main driver, was mentioned only briefly in the report’s section on environmental chemicals.

Miriam Eckenfels, director of Children’s Health Defense’s (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) & Wireless Program, said EMR should have been listed as a fifth main driver.

“The report’s discussion of EMR serves as a conversation-starter,” Eckenfels said. “But it misses the mark in terms of acknowledging the impact of wireless radiation on the childhood chronic disease epidemic.”

‘Something Is Terribly Wrong’: How a Startup 5G Wireless Company Changed Our Family’s Life

‘Something Is Terribly Wrong’: How a Startup 5G Wireless Company Changed Our Family’s Life

When Santa Monica, California, resident Lenka Kabilka noticed construction noise on the roof of her apartment complex, she investigated. Kabilka learned that a cell site/base station was being installed right above her apartment by Starry Inc., a new startup wireless company deploying its new millimeter wave 5G technology.

By Lenka Kabilka, chidrenshealthdefense.org, 28 May 2025

Back in late November of 2020, my life changed, my health was taken away and my fight began.

It all started when I noticed construction noise on the roof of our apartment complex directly above my apartment. I have enjoyed living in my rental apartment for the past 30 years with my two sons.

I generally do not pay much attention when construction within our apartment complex is going on. However, this time, since we were in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdowns and my job restricted me to working from home, the loud construction work was something I could not ignore.

I found out that a cell site/base station was being installed right above my apartment by Starry Inc. I had never heard of this company, so I looked them up on the web and learned it was a new startup wireless company deploying its new millimeter wave 5G technology.

Increase in brain tumors among young people – yet Switzerland is not monitoring the mobile communications market for financial reasons

Increase in brain tumors among young people

A study shows that the number of brain tumors among young people in France has risen significantly in recent years. Experts suspect that the increasing levels of mobile phone radiation are the cause.

by Andreas Gossweiler, gesundheitstipp.ch/, 13 May 2025, Updated 26 May 2025

(posted by Verein Schutz vor Strahlung on its Facebook page, 29 May  2025 - DeepL translation)

(Photo): Young people on their cell phones: Mobile phone radiation is a risk factor for cancer (Image: iStock)

Since the year 2000, the number of malignant brain tumors in young people between the ages of 15 and 39 has more than doubled in France. This is shown by a recent study by the French health authority. While other types of cancer, such as leukemia and breast cancer, have remained constant, the increase in brain tumors is striking. The researchers explicitly cite non-ionizing radiation—i.e., mobile phone radiation—as a possible risk factor. For many experts, it is clear that the increasing use of cell phones and constant exposure to radio sources such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth could have a significant impact on health.

Cell phone radiation impacts hormone levels and ovary development in rats

Cell phone radiation impacts hormone levels and ovary development in rats
Environmental Health Sciences Staff, May 28, 2025

According to a recent study published in Reproductive Sciences, rats exposed to cell phone radiation while in the womb experienced significant impacts to key elements of their reproductive health.

In short:

• Prenatal exposure to cell phone radiation caused a decrease in rats’ estrogen and progesterone hormone levels.
• Exposure also affected the size of the rats’ ovaries and reduced the number of developing follicles (which are critical in the development of eggs).
• Impacts to the ovaries were higher in rats exposed for longer periods of time.

Key quote:

“These findings highlight the potential risks of exposure to mobile phone radiation during pregnancy and emphasize the importance of further research to understand the long-term effects on neonatal health.”

Why this matters:

This research expands on the body of scientific evidence linking cell phone and wireless radiation exposure to reproductive impacts. Multiple studies have reported similar fertility outcomes in rats, including decreased estrogen and progesterone levels, a reduction in ovarian follicles, and follicular degeneration. While these studies point to the potential for impacts to ovarian development in humans from prenatal exposure, U.S. regulations remain outdated and many experts caution that federal safety limits, which are not designed to address long-term exposures, are not sufficient to protect public health, particularly during pregnancy and childhood.

New Phoenix Center Study Finds No Evidence that 5G Deployment has Delivered Promised Economic Benefits

NEW PHOENIX CENTER STUDY FINDS NO EVIDENCE THAT 5G DEPLOYMENT HAS DELIVERED PROMISED ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Analysis of Federal Data Shows Industry Claims of Trillion-Dollar GDP Impact and Millions of Jobs Lack Empirical Support

Press Release, Phoenix Center, May 28, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The mobile wireless industry has spent the past decade promoting 5G as a transformative technology that will boost the U.S. economy by over $1 trillion and create millions of jobs. Industry groups claimed 5G represented a “technological paradigm shift, akin to the shift from typewriter to computer” that will fundamentally transform American life—from healthcare and transportation to manufacturing and education.

In a new study released today entitled The 5G Promise Falls Short of Reality: Examining Economic Impact Claims, Phoenix Center Chief Economist Dr. George S. Ford analyzes federal data on 5G availability and key economic indicators across U.S. counties to test whether these sweeping promises have materialized. His findings are clear: there is no evidence that 5G deployment has improved employment, wages, business growth, personal income, or GDP.

United States: MAHA Commission Report Addresses Chemical Toxins But Falls Short on EMFs

MAHA Commission Report Addresses Chemical Toxins But Falls Short on EMFs
ehtrust.org/, May 29, 2025

The initial report of the president’s MAHA Commission (Make America Healthy Again) was released last week, offering an assessment of the scope of the childhood chronic disease crisis, along with potential contributing factors and strategy recommendations. The MAHA Committee, chaired by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., includes the heads of departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and the NIH, among others. The 14-member panel of presidential advisors offered this 70-page report “supporting gold-standard scientific research.”

The commission’s report addresses many important issues, including biochemical toxins and toxicants in the food supply and environment; electromagnetic pollution, however, did not get any significant attention. We at EHT were hoping to see emphasis given to research into the health impact of electropollution from wireless devices and networks on children, but unfortunately this initial report offers only a single bullet point on the topic.

“And in that short bullet, there is a glaring error,” says EHT Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Dr. Robert Brown. “Specifically, the statement says that ‘some studies have linked EMR exposure to reduced sperm counts and motility but not quality.’ Certainly, by affecting sperm counts and motility, sperm quality is affected. Indeed, the authors of the paper cited specify in their abstract that sperm quality data includes sperm density, motility, viability, morphology, and DNA fragmentation. I wonder who added this erroneous phrase and find it interesting that it was added in the same document in which a separate section discusses corporate capture and the revolving door.”

European Commission: A process locked in for the benefit of the telephony industry

European Commission: A process locked in for the benefit of the telephony industry
By : Phonegate Team • 28 May 2025

At midnight on May 27, 2025, the European Commission closed its call for contributions on the activation of rules for reconfigurable radioelectric equipment, which aims to ensure that software updates do not compromise the safety and compliance of devices throughout their lifecycle. This consultation is part of the RED Directive (2014/53/EU), which regulates the marketing of radioelectric equipment in Europe.

A major issue for 450 million Europeans

With the proliferation of software capable of remotely modifying radio parameters (transmit power, frequencies used), a device that is compliant when first placed on the market can become non-compliant, or even dangerous, after a manufacturer’s update. This can lead, for example, to increased exposure to radiofrequency radiation (measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)), or to interference with other essential services.

The aim of the consultation is therefore to propose the activation of different levels of legal provisions (from 0 to 4) to provide a more or less strict framework for these updates, in order to guarantee consumer health and safety.

76% of contributions come from industry stakeholders vs. 24% from civil society

Of the 34 contributions received, the vast majority come from industry stakeholders, who are in favor of the status quo (option 0) or simple self-regulation (option 1), citing economic arguments and the need to preserve innovation.

On the other hand, consumer associations, national authorities and NGOs, including Phonegate Alert, are calling for tighter regulation (options 2 to 4) to prevent the abuses observed, notably the practice of bypassing SAR tests via embedded software.

Continue reading:
https://phonegatealert.org/en/european-commission-a-process-locked-in-for-benefit-telephony-industry/

Switzerland: Radiation free school? – Why the call for cell phone bans is getting louder

Radiation free school? – Why the call for cell phone bans is getting louder
Sources: Central Plus and Blick.ch, posted by Verein Schutz vor Strahlung, 23 May 2025 - DeepL translation

The debate about cell phones in schools is currently more topical than ever - and shines a bright light on a blind spot in the education and health system: the lack of awareness of the potential health effects of constant digital exposure and social overstimulation. While politicians, psychologists and educators discuss psychological stress and media education strategies, one thing remains largely unaddressed - the issue of electrosmog.

In Zug, parliamentarians of all parties called for legal clarity for mobile phone-free school zones. The reason: the mental health of young people is deteriorating rapidly. Cyberbullying, constant pressure to present themselves and constant digital distraction not only endanger learning success, but also mental stability. But the government waves the issue away: existing rules are sufficient, schools should decide for themselves in individual cases. However, school psychologist Stephan Kälin warns against mere coercion - and relies on dialog, role models and intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation means that the drive to carry out an activity comes from within).

Switzerland: Radiation criticism: New microcells in Zermatt without clear precautions

Radiation criticism: New microcells in Zermatt without clear precautions
Source: pomona.ch, posted by Verein Schutz vor Strahlung, 19 May 2025 - Deep translation

Sunrise is planning two new mobile radio microcells in the center of the village of Zermatt to absorb the growing volume of data locally. These small cells will operate with a low transmission power of less than six watts and, according to Sunrise, are considered harmless - comparable to a Wi-Fi router. Nevertheless, they are legally exempt from the strict installation limit of 6 V/m that otherwise applies in playgrounds, for example. Instead, the significantly higher emission limit of 61 V/m applies here - a circumstance that the umbrella organization for electrosmog in Switzerland and Liechtenstein criticizes as inconsistent and questionable in terms of health policy.

From the point of view of radiation protection initiatives, the legal gray area in the construction of such facilities is also particularly problematic: municipalities decide individually whether a planning application is necessary at all. This means that microcells can be installed without the knowledge or involvement of the population. In the case of Zermatt, the application is publicly available, but the location in a flood zone is regulated by an exceptional permit.

In the view of the Verein Schutz vor Strahlung, the expansion with microcells represents a further step towards a dense radiation environment - without sufficient transparency or health precautions. The fact that radiation-intensive technology can be installed in residential areas without public debate contradicts the precautionary principle and undermines public confidence. We demand clear, uniform rules for all transmitters throughout Switzerland - regardless of their power - as well as the right to have a say and the protection of sensitive locations such as residential areas, playgrounds and recreational zones.

Source: pomona.ch