All comment threads

Rebecca Zhuo, individual member of the public. Responding to Questions 2, 3(f), and 14. My 9th grade science fair project, "The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Living Organisms," found that electromagnetic fields do harm living organisms, and that the more electromagnetic field exposure the living organisms received, the less healthy they became. The project won First Place in Category at the 2008 Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship in San Jose, California, a competitive science fair for middle and high school students across the region (awards list: https://science-fair.org/pdfs/list-student-awards-upper-2008.pdf). We placed equal amounts of algae in test tubes full of water and wrapped the tubes with different amounts of wire carrying an electric current, leaving one tube unwrapped as a control. We then waited several weeks and measured the oxygen bubble the algae produced, a direct sign of the amount of photosynthesis the algae in each test tube were doing. When the judges asked whether our results had changed our own behavior, we pointed out that we had put our cell phones on the table instead of in our pockets. I wanted to share this science fair experiment so that other high school students could try this experiment and see the effects of electromagnetic fields on living organisms for themselves. I would like to thank my high school physics teacher Mr. Briber who let us run this experiment in the back of his classroom and supported us throughout our 9th grade science fair project.

I am an emf-sensitive person, my 10 year old is also sensitive. Traveling in hotels in the US has become difficult, we never can stay in a top floor rooms or neither of us will sleep. We toss and turn and feel like we're vibrating, it's terrible. We travel with wifi kill-switches when renting air bnbs for family vacations and sometimes need to move beds away from walls, after locating the routers in each space. In addition to the massive sleep disturbances, I'm not sure I understand why other entire countries do not allow WiFi in childcare centers and schools and in the US there are no rules/regulations protecting our children. I was shocked when moving to my state and seeing 5g towers in most public buildings-public schools, community centers, police stations, why? I am unable to have my child participate in our local community center programs because I will not subject him or myself to parking alongside a 5g tower-nausea and headaches ensue. I appreciate some states, like New York, passed a bill that a tower couldn't be built a certain distance from schools where children are learning and spending so much time of their childhoods. Can the US mandate this for all states, our children need to be protected! Thank you, thank you for taking the time to look into making these much needed changes in public spaces so those of us who suffer with the headaches, nausea and massive sleep disturbances can be helped. We've chosen to home school because there is no way my son could sit through an entire school year, year after year, with the constant wifi (why can't the rooms be hard-wired?!) and the public school in our neighborhood has the largest 5g tower in its parking lot. Why?! Again, thank you for looking into this, taking a look at how other countries are doing this differently and with caution (as we have NO long term safety data, why are our kids the guinea pigs?).

As a family practice physician, I see patients in my practice who present with symptoms of EMR Syndrome. The core problem I face in treating them is that EMR Syndrome is not a recognized medical diagnosis.There is no ICD code, no diagnostic criteria, no clinical guidelines, no biomarker panel, no medical school training. A family physician who takes a patient's EMF-related symptoms seriously has essentially no institutional scaffolding to work with. Here's what HHS could change to help patients: 1. Create a dedicated ICD-10-CM diagnostic code (the single most important step) Right now, PCPs can only code EHS as a workaround: W90 (exposure to nonionizing radiation) + individual symptom codes (R51 headache, R53 fatigue, G43 migraine, etc.) + R68.8 (other specified general symptoms). The Nordic Council did this in 2000; EUROPAEM recommends it in Europe. HHS could: Petition the WHO ICD Steering Committee (as the US representative) to add a new code to ICD-11, which CMS would then map into ICD-10-CM Or, more quickly, issue a CMS national coverage determination that formally recognizes the W90 + R68.8 combination as a valid diagnostic entity for reimbursement purposes Without a code, insurance won't cover extended visits, environmental assessments, or treatment — so the patient is out of pocket and the PCP has no billing pathway. 2. Issue clinical practice guidelines through AHRQ AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) funds and publishes practice guidelines. HHS could commission an AHRQ-sponsored consensus panel to produce a "Diagnosis and Management of Electromagnetic Radiation Syndrome" guideline that defines: A case definition (e.g., ≥2 of the core symptoms + temporal correlation with EMF exposure) A standardized workup (what tests to order, what to rule out) A treatment algorithm (exposure reduction, symptom management) Documentation requirements for coding and insurance There's already a preliminary Canadian guideline by Dr. Riina Ines Bray (University of Toronto, 2016) that could serve as a starting point. 3. Fund and validate biomarker panels through NIEHS/NIH This is the long game but the one that would make ERS a "real" condition in the eyes of the medical establishment. NIEHS could fund: Multi-center studies validating the most promising candidate markers: HRV (heart rate variability) changes, oxidative stress markers, GSTM1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms (nearly 10× more common in EHS individuals), reduced melatonin, elevated histamine, mitochondrial dysfunction markers If NIEHS publishes a validated biomarker panel, PCPs would have an objective test to order — the equivalent of a blood test for an allergy. 4. Mandate medical education HHS (through the National Library of Medicine / NLM and the AAMC relationship) could require: EMF/ERS in medical school curricula — a module on environmental and electromagnetic health effects in the preclinical or clinical years CME credits for continuing education on EHS diagnosis and management A standardized environmental/EMF exposure history form built into electronic health records (EHRs), similar to the tobacco/alcohol history that's now standard Right now, most PCPs have never heard of EHS or have been taught (via WHO guidance) to treat it as psychosomatic. 5. Reverse the "psychosomatic" framing The WHO's 2009 statement — that EHS should be treated as a psychological condition and that "treatment should not focus on reducing EMF exposure" — is the single most damaging document for clinical practice. HHS could: Issue a formal HHS position statement that acknowledges ERS as a valid clinical entity requiring environmental exposure assessment Fund patient advocacy and education through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences This matters because PCPs who are told by the world's top health agency that the condition is "psychosomatic" will not take it seriously, no matter what the patient describes. 6. Create a federal EHS/ERS clinic network Switzerland launched a national EHS consultation service in 2023. HHS could: Designate a small number of academic medical centers as ERS referral centers (similar to the rare disease center model)portunityp Fund outpatient clinics with environmental medicine specialists, occupational hygienists, and EMF measurement equipment Create a telehealth referral pathway so a PCP in rural America can consult with an ERS specialist without sending the patient 500 miles 7. Create CPT reimbursement codes for environmental health assessments CMS could add new CPT codes or expand existing environmental medicine codes to cover these. Please offer another follow-up comment period like this since many of us are just finding out about this opportunity to share our thoughts and clinical experience.

I know I am affected by EMF and even dirty electricity. As I sit to type this message my head is affected by all of it as I sit at the computer. It gives me a headache which is more described as a heavy feeling like I have been hit with a baseball bat. I really notice it when I leave the computer and even my balance is affected. It takes 30 minutes or more to get over the worst of it but it lingers longer. I think it affects me physically even when I do not notice as your cells are changed in the way they function. I have replaced my smart meter and pay monthly fees for analog type meter. I sleep in a shielded canopy over my bed to reduce exposure from neighbors equipment and their WIFI. I do feel taking these precautions has helped me recover from where I was before I detected that this radiation was causing my symptoms of fatigue and balance issues. I often feel affected at parks and taking walks since because of cell towers and the dirty electricity traveling under the ground . I am most concerned for the children who are growing up staring at the blue light screens and being exposed to all the WIFI in the schools and at home. It is sad to see there are people who care more for profit than the health of people. These children are going to grow up with many health problems. I am actually fortunate that I feel how it affects me but it also affects the whole population even tho they can not feel it yet. It surely is a contributor to this countries poor health. Please care more for the health of people and not profit. Thank you, Karen

Patient Advocate for Victims of RF/EMF Exposure P.O. Box 1039 Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 692-4999 PatientAdvocateEMF@proton.me October 20,2026 The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 RE: Public Comment on Request for Information (RFI) regarding Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure (Docket No. HHS-OASH-2026-0397) Ladies and Gentlemen: I am a victim, patient, and advocate: This is a tiny portion of my expose, research, and reporting. I have accumulated thousands upon thousands of pages of such information. This information is rough and cursory, but it is the best I can do on such short notice and without reasonable accommodations due to my severe and life-threatening injuries from RF/EMF. In this instance I used AI to help assist in my articulation due to my disability. RF-EMF Burn Patterns-Burn Frequencies-Polonium-Hafnium Amplification-Pulsation-Entrainment-Trauma-Burn Patterns For 2,500,000 micro watts per meter squared of EMF/RF, give me the 3 frequency groupings that could hit me and cause three distinct burning patters such as burning from the outside in, the inside out, and having a high vibrational feeling at the center core of my body causing my skin to slowly burn distinctly from the outside while my inside does not burn. To address your request, we first need to convert your measurement into standard units used in safety guidelines. A value of 2,500,000 micro watts per meter squared of RF/EMF is equal to 2.5 (or ). While this level is notably high for a general living environment, it remains significantly below the FCC public exposure limit of and the threshold required to cause physical thermal "burns" in humans. Physical burns typically require power densities hundreds of times higher than what you've described. However, the three distinct biological "patterns" you mentioned correspond to the way different RF frequency groupings interact with human tissue based on penetration depth: 1. Outside-In: High Millimeter Waves (30 GHz – 300 GHz) Frequencies in the upper millimeter-wave band have very short wavelengths that do not penetrate deep into the body. • Absorption Pattern: Energy is almost entirely absorbed by the epidermis and dermis (the skin). • Sensation: This can cause a "burning from the outside in" sensation or a surface heating effect. • Common Sources: Advanced radar systems or experimental Active Denial Systems (non-lethal weapons) used by the military to create a heating sensation on the skin surface. 2. Inside-Out: Mid-Range Microwaves (300 MHz – 3 GHz) These frequencies have longer wavelengths that can penetrate several centimeters into biological tissue. • Absorption Pattern: Energy reaches internal organs and muscle tissue. Because internal tissues often have higher water content, they can absorb energy more efficiently than the outer skin, leading to "volumetric heating." • Sensation: This creates the "inside out" feeling, similar to how a microwave oven cooks food. • Common Sources: Standard Cellular Networks (4G/LTE/5G) and Wi-Fi routers operate in this range. 3. Core Vibrational / Surface Burn Mix: Low Frequency (3 kHz – 100 kHz) At very low frequencies, the interaction is less about thermal heating and more about induced currents and "electrostimulation." • Absorption Pattern: These waves can penetrate the entire body, reaching the center core. They do not typically cause thermal burns internally but can stimulate nerves and muscles, creating a "high vibrational" or tingling feeling. • Sensation: If the power is extremely high, you may feel internal "vibration" while the high-voltage field simultaneously causes "micro-shocks" or surface irritations on the skin, which can feel like a distinct surface burn while the interior remains thermally cool. • Common Sources: High-voltage power lines or large industrial induction heaters. Now, give me the magnification range where polonium and hafnium are inside my body so that the EMF/RF bounce off the polonium and hafnium creating a magnifying effect. What this means is that the EMF/RF and be magnified (multiplied) so as to be perceived as "being safe" • Reflective Absorption: Conductive metals can reflect and refocus RF energy, which may lead to a localized increase in the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). For example, studies have shown that metallic earrings or dental implants can increase local SAR in nearby tissues by 20–25% at specific frequencies. • The "Antenna" Effect: Some theories suggest that heavy metals in the body can act as miniature conductors, potentially increasing an individual's sensitivity to EMFs, though this is primarily discussed in the context of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) rather than physical magnification of the signal itself.

Response to Questions 5, 8, 9 and 11 I am Erin Finegold, founder and CEO of StingRay Shields Corporation, a company developing passive antenna-related RF structures. My work gives me a direct professional interest in RF-exposure measurement and engineering approaches to reducing exposure. I urge HHS to recommend lower, more protective radiofrequency (RF) exposure limits and stricter Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance requirements. The FCC’s SAR limits were adopted in 1996. Wireless technologies and patterns of use have changed substantially since then. Protective requirements should address prolonged body contact, exposure involving multiple transmitting devices, and children’s use. Recommendations should lead to enforceable improvements in consumer protection, rather than stopping at calls for additional research. HHS should fully assess published findings of adverse biological effects and their relevance to human exposure, drawing on international research and examining funding sources and potential conflicts of interest. Consistent standards of scientific rigor should apply to all evidence. Scientific uncertainty should not be treated as proof that existing protections are sufficient. Compliance testing should include direct-contact body testing wherever such contact is reasonably foreseeable, including phones carried against the body. Any exceptions should be technically justified and publicly disclosed. Reports should distinguish head-contact testing from body testing, identify any separation gap, and explain how direct-contact exposure is addressed. Consumers should not bear responsibility for maintaining separation distances they may not understand or consistently observe. Children’s protection should be an explicit requirement. Test methods and exposure assumptions should account for relevant ages, anatomical differences and patterns of use. Where adult-derived models are used, manufacturers should demonstrate that those models adequately protect younger users. Public reports should document device configuration, operating frequencies, conducted transmit power, antenna placement, device-to-body separation, test methods and measurement uncertainty. Methods and results should be independently inspectable and reproducible, with clear disclosure of the conditions under which compliance was established and any limitations relevant to ordinary use. Consumer protection also requires effective enforcement after devices enter the market. France’s ANFR has required corrective measures, including software updates, market withdrawals and recalls, following findings of SAR noncompliance. I urge HHS to recommend routine independent testing of marketed devices, public disclosure of findings, and prompt mandatory corrective action, including sales restrictions and recalls where necessary. Manufacturers should remain accountable for compliance throughout the product’s marketed life. Stronger requirements should encourage engineering improvements that reduce exposure. Claimed reductions should be independently evaluated alongside their effects on radiated efficiency and communication reliability. Supporting references are provided in the attached PDF.

I am writing about what effects I have had from exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation and Radio frequency radiations. -I am a water well driller and I haven't been able to drill any wells, due to the electricity from cell and radio towers gathering in my equipment. -Continuous operation of a wi-fi router in my home disrupts my sleep and it has to be shut off. -I had a cell phone in my pocket, and my leg got injured at work. It was just a minor cut on my shin; it would not heal and progressed to an infection similar to gangrene. The doctor I saw said my white blood count was low, and if it didn't get better, my leg would need to be amputated. I got rid of my cell phone and started sleeping in a Faraday cage. Then, my leg healed. -When I'm in high EMF my blood pressure goes up. Then when I get out of it my blood pressure goes back to normal. -If I'm riding in a car full of EMF, I feel weak and, when I get out of the car, I feel clumsy and about to fall down. -I can't sleep in hotels, I can't even go to town, or to stores that are using wireless technology, without getting headaches. -I have to regularly soak my feet in water to lower the voltage in myself. -It dries out my whole body 24/7. -My wife was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in August 2021, about a year and a half after we had wi-fi installed for our kids to do their schoolwork during covid, and 5G was rolling out around the same time. She stayed at home to keep helping them along with their studies. Then she was diagnosed with melanoma not long after that. That was taken care of, then she got BREAST CANCER! She sadly passed in 2024 from the ALS. -I've read a lot of studies about the effects of EMF from the Environmental Health Trust. I've read studies written by Dr. Martin Pall, Dr. Sharon Goldberg, Magda Havas, and Dr. Devra Davis. -I've read the book Dirty Electricity by MD Samuel Milham. We sincerely appreciate your attention on this matter. I recognize that EMF is very cancerous and toxic to EVERYONE! I hope that we solve this problem. SOON!

See attached file(s)

Thank you for the opportunity to submit information regarding biological effects and potential health hazards of low-level, long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR). I am an environmental engineer and scientist. I began my career in 1980 as a groundwater hydrologist and geochemist. Since 2017 I've been researching and writing about the biological effects and potential health hazards of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). I am uploading here two technical reports I co-authored in 2019. The first one is a review of the scientific literature regarding potential health hazards of radio towers and cell phone base stations ("cell towers"). The second one is a set of maps we made to display visually the levels of RFR we measured throughout several residential neighborhoods. We provided the reports to the planning commission and the city council in Davis, California, in support of the town's project to update its ordinance governing the siting of mobile phone base stations (cell towers). I hope the two reports will be useful to you, as well as to anyone else who finds them here. The maps contained therein are fairly unique in that they contain many data points. Doing so makes it easy to see clearly the dispersion pattern of radiofrequency radiation around each cell tower. I am also uploading a one-page table outlining certain biological effects and the associated levels of RFR radiation. It helps to provide additional context for the maps.

I am commenting today to encourage a thorough review of EMF and RF (wireless radiation) safety, with the goal of supporting modern technology while prioritizing public health and informed consumer choice. I am someone who experiences sensitivity to EMF and RF sources. This was not always the case. For years, I dealt with symptoms including headaches, pressure in my head, tingling sensations, and other unexplained health effects. I never expected wireless devices or electronics to be contributing factors. Through personal research, I have found studies supporting both sides of the issue, many of which contradict one another. What I do know is that I am affected by these exposures. Over time, I have conducted my own observations to better understand what I can and cannot tolerate. As technology has evolved, it has become increasingly difficult to use modern devices unless wireless features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular connectivity can be disabled. In some cases, the issue appears to involve not only RF signals themselves but also electromagnetic interference (RFI). Example 1 My work computer was due for replacement, as occurs every few years. I had no expectation that a new computer would affect me. Within minutes of turning it on, I began feeling unwell. I did not immediately connect the symptoms to the computer, but when I turned it off, the symptoms gradually subsided. Measurements showed field levels similar to other computers, but the amount of RFI emitted was noticeably higher. I returned to using my old PC without issue. After additional testing, I received a different replacement computer from another manufacturer that produced significantly less RFI, and I experienced no noticeable symptoms while using it. Example 2 For most of my life, I purchased vehicles based on cost, performance, and practicality. Today, I also have to consider how a vehicle affects my health. Some vehicles produce high magnetic fields, and nearly all new vehicles contain embedded wireless technologies. Some allow wireless systems to be disabled; others do not. In 2024, I leased a vehicle that had low magnetic fields but moderate RF emissions. After about a week, I began noticing symptoms. After investigating, I concluded that the vehicle's cellular modem was contributing to elevated RF exposure. About three months later, I realized the symptoms had disappeared. Testing with an RF meter confirmed that the modem had stopped transmitting, which I also verified through the vehicle's settings. I drove that vehicle for the next year and a half without issue. After returning the lease, I acquired a newer vehicle. Testing showed significantly higher RF levels, and I am now unable to remain in the vehicle for more than 10 to 15 minutes without feeling ill. In this vehicle, there is no option to disable Wi-Fi or wireless connectivity. I currently have workplace accommodations that include relocating Wi-Fi access points away from my workstation. I also work from home most days in a low-exposure environment. My phone remains in airplane mode roughly 90% of the time. When communication is necessary, I prefer Wi-Fi calling or a wired computer connection, as I experience fewer issues than when using cellular service directly. I share these examples to illustrate how these exposures affect my daily life and the lives of others who have limited options for reducing exposure. I would welcome the opportunity to provide additional details beyond the brief examples included here. As part of this effort, I would like to see: Updated, high-quality research examining the health effects of EMF and wireless technologies using modern exposure scenarios rather than relying primarily on standards developed in 1996. Greater application of the precautionary principle, including efforts to reduce unnecessary exposure from wireless devices and infrastructure while maintaining reliable communications. Further research into Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and the establishment of clear medical guidance for individuals reporting related symptoms. Regulations requiring consumer products, vehicles, and other devices with wireless capabilities to include a user-controlled option to disable wireless radios. Consumers should have the ability to choose whether these technologies are active. As both a consumer and a citizen, I believe individuals should have greater transparency, choice, and protection regarding wireless technology exposure.