Housing, work & access barriers

Re: HHS-OASH-2026-0397 Questions 2, 3, 9, 13, 15 and 18 I am submitting as an individual with firsthand experience of adverse health effects I believe are strongly and reproducibly associated with RF/EMF exposure. My background includes doctoral-level training in a health science and professional experience in telecommunications research and development. My symptoms began after I started working around RF/EMF-emitting telecommunications equipment. Previously healthy and athletic, I developed shingles, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, urinary frequency, recumbent pressure-related pain and metal sensitivity. About three years later I moved from a rural area into a newly built suburban home and my health declined dramatically. I developed chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, heat intolerance, tinnitus, profound fatigue, brain fog and severe insomnia. My resting heart rate rose from about 70 to 90, yet during exercise sometimes failed to rise appropriately, leaving me dizzy and winded. Eventually I could no longer continue school or work. Extensive medical evaluation, conflicting diagnoses and tens of thousands of dollars did not restore my health. For nine years I spent nearly every waking moment trying to regain my health and my life. RF/EMF was initially only one possible stressor I investigated among many. I obtained several RF/EMF meters, mapped sources in my home, turned off Wi-Fi and a cordless phone, and discovered exposures I had not known were present. My efforts culminated in a move to a remote property chosen partly because it had little or no cellular service. Other environmental factors changed too, so this was not a controlled experiment. Over the following years I progressively recovered and became far more tolerant of heat, foods, chemicals and ordinary stresses, although city trips could still trigger relapses. Years later the wireless environment around my rural home changed. Cellular service became detectable where previously there had been essentially none. A new cell tower went up, my fixed wireless internet provider changed equipment, and a neighbor installed Starlink. My previous syndrome returned severely. My heart rate and blood pressure increased by just under 30%. I developed rhythm disturbances, brain fog, tinnitus and profound insomnia. At one point I was unable to sleep for eleven consecutive days and was taken to the emergency room. I built an RF-shielding enclosure and confirmed with an RF meter that RF readings inside were substantially reduced. I repeatedly observed my systolic blood pressure fall from around 140 toward my baseline of about 110 under reduced-exposure/shielded conditions. These are personal observations, not a controlled study, but sufficiently repeatable that I no longer regard RF/EMF as hypothetical. To this day I sleep without heat or electricity through snowy winters because that low-exposure environment allows me to sleep. This year, after recent work on the nearby tower, I began experiencing pressure, discomfort and visual changes in the eye and surrounding region on the side of my head nearest the directional antenna serving my rural internet connection. Those symptoms abate with shielding that my meter confirms reduces RF levels. HHS should investigate long-term cumulative RF/EMF exposure, short-duration peak exposures, and factors that may alter individual susceptibility, including heavy-metal burden. Biological effects can depend on intensity, duration, repetition, recovery and repair. Policy should not assume repeated exposures are independent or that cumulative exposure is irrelevant. Long averaging periods can hide important peaks. Average the energy delivered by a bullet over thirty minutes and its average power looks trivial, while the real-world millisecond impact can be deadly. The body experiences exposure as it occurs, not as an arithmetic average. Standards must address both cumulative dose and instantaneous peak exposure. People are simultaneously exposed to cell towers, Wi-Fi, satellite systems, fixed wireless internet, smart meters, Bluetooth, smart appliances and personal devices. Who measures aggregate exposure where a person sleeps and works? Who is responsible when independently regulated sources combine? Consumers need a practical right to know. One night, seeking somewhere relatively RF-free, I stopped beneath what I only later realized was a camouflaged cell tower. Camouflaged towers should be clearly labeled wherever people pass nearby. Wireless devices should have an obvious indicator showing when transmitting at low, medium or high power. I cannot tell HHS which transmitters, or combination of transmitters, were responsible for what I experienced. That is precisely the problem. RF exposure has become ubiquitous, dynamic and largely invisible. Policy must measure and disclose cumulative exposure and give individuals the information needed to reduce avoidable exposure.

My response is in reference to wireless technology, or RF/EMF sources, that include Wi-Fi, smart meters, and wireless infrastructure. I am a residential customer of the Northern California utility provider, Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The Smart Meter rollout in my city began in November of 2010. Having read various publications detailing some alarming concerns with various aspects of Smart Meter technology, I chose to defer installation and instead take advantage of the opt-out option and retain my original analog utility meters. I paid the $75.00 opt-out fee, as well as the recurring $10.00 monthly meter reading fee, which I believe was charged for a period of one or two years. From 2010 to 2024, I continued to enjoy trouble-free service from my two analog meters, which are attached to the exterior wall of my garage. In November of 2024, and without my consent, the utility replaced one of my meters, assuring me that the unit was not a Smart Meter. I'm assuming the utility declined to classify the meter as a Smart Meter due to disabling radio transmission function. Within one day of installation, each time I was near the new meter I experienced debilitating, dizzy spells, causing me to stumble and become disoriented, followed by fatigue and "brain fog." I also experienced dizziness and brain fog inside my home, requiring bed rest for a period of 2-3 hours after exposure. Since the utility had assured me that they had not installed a Smart Meter, I spent several months trying to find some physical reason that might explain the sudden onset of my symptoms. As a last resort, I decided to do some research on the Alcara digital meter that had been installed. To my dismay, I found that the digital meter replacement was in fact a Smart Meter. Even more troubling was the fact that my meter was replaced even though I had chosen to opt out, and had paid the additional fees to keep the analog meter. After enduring several months of dizzy spells, brain fog, shortness of breath, fatigue, heart palpitations, and inability to perform activities of daily living, I contacted the utility company and requested that the meter be replaced. After some persistence, the utility company agreed to remove the Smart Meter and replace it with the analog dial unit. After the meter was replaced, I experienced immediate relief of all symptoms. In addition to Smart utility meters, I experience uncomfortable and disabling effects from various other sources, as well. I become dizzy in various locations of the grocery store, as well as in medical offices. I am unable to shop in my local department store, where they use ESLs (digital price tags), for more than 15-20 minutes before experiencing severe dizziness and disorientation. Removal from the source does not provide immediate relief of symptoms, which can continue for several hours after exposure. The effects from EMF, RF and wireless radiation exposure are severe. Symptoms include severe dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations, all of which can last for as long as 2-3 hours post exposure, during which time I am bedridden. The closest description I can think of is the sensation of an eggbeater in your head, scrambling your brains. I do what I can to protect myself. My telephone is a wired landline. I do not use a cell phone, and have no idea what communication options will be available to me when AT&T succeeds in eliminating wired landline telephone service. As far as electronic equipment, my computer and peripherals are all wired. I have, unfortunately, lost access to a wired internet connection through my phone line as ISPs in my area no longer support a wired modem option. My current modem/router emits Wi-Fi signals, requiring that I limit my computer use to no more than 2-3 hours. In an effort to mitigate exposure intensity, I have limited speed, or power level, to no more than 300 Mbps. I am unable to withstand prolonged exposure to any device that uses a wireless connection. In order to protect the health of my pet, I also declined to have a microchip inserted in her body. I have not sought medical intervention, other than mentioning the condition to my physician. The only solution to protecting my brain and my body from this "attack" is to remove the offending technology; considering today's all-consuming dependence on wireless technology, with options becoming fewer and fewer each day, this is, of course, impossible to achieve. This is radiation exposure and worse, and this fact must be recognized as a real danger to humans and animals. It is my strong belief that constraints on this technology must be implemented, the health impacts must be accepted and communicated, and for those who suffer with the condition (possibly falling under ADA protection), options must be made available.

1. & 2. I am responding as: an individual 3a. Type of wireless or RF/EMF sources involved (e.g., mobile phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters) mobile phones 3b. Nature, duration, frequency, and approximate timing (e.g., years): For almost two years, I could not be within 10 feet of a mobile phone without losing all my strength and having to lie down and pray for healing. That was after I became so ill in 2013 that I could not leave my safe home environment. 3c. Adverse health effect(s) experienced: Loss of strength and energy. Inability to think. Inability to function. Inner shaking. Body felt like it was disintegrating. 3d. Time from first exposure to first appearance of adverse health effects; and did a change in exposure coincide with the onset of adverse effects: The FM telecoil in the Church chapel caused me to feel weak and exhausted. I once sat at a desk in the Credit Union that was equipped with an FM telecoil for hearing impaired individuals. I was there only a few moments before realizing that something was seriously wrong. I got up and unsteadily, holding onto walls and furniture, walked to my car. Once seated, I felt as though my body was disintegrating and falling into my feet like sand. I prayed for help and rested until I was eventually able to return to the Credit Union where a friend offered me a ride home. 3e. Was medical evaluation or treatment sought? (Optionally:) Was there a diagnosis? There was no medical diagnosis. My family doctor believed me, but could do nothing to help other than to encourage me to continue doing whatever I found helpful. 3f. Were steps taken to reduce or eliminate exposure, and were there subsequent changes in the effects? I was unable to leave the safety of my home and yard for 22 months. I used a home protection system that made the electricity in my home safe for me, and I obtained and wore devices that changed any harmful EMF that entered my home or yard from cell towers into harmless or beneficial energies. By eliminating exposure as much as possible, I gradually regained strength and energy, After 22 months, as long as I wore my protective devices, I could be away from my refuge for a few hours, provided that I was not in high EMF areas, including areas with underground wiring. My sensitivity remained until the Lord healed me. Additional Details you would like to share about your experiences of adverse health effects you believe to be associated with exposure to wireless radiation or EMF's: Prior to being confined to my home for 22 months, I stayed in an apartment for a few days where a cordless phone handset broadcasting across my bedroom to the main phone in the living room made me extremely ill. The apartment was also surrounded by wifi that I could feel as I approached the entrance. B1a. Sources you experienced as causing you Adverse Effects: Magnets. Anything with batteries caused a precipitous drop in my energy. If I were too close to wifi or cell towers, I felt that my body was disintegrating. B1d. Sources that seem to provide benefit (i.e., electrotherapy): BEFE ( Bioelectric Field Enhancement); Ion Cleanse; Grander Living Water; Structured Water B2a. Health conditions you think may contribute to your sensitivity to EMFs including wireless: I believe that my EMF sensitivity was present from birth, and that it contributed to my history of severe allergies and extreme multiple chemical sensitivities. B2b. Health conditions you don't necessarily associate with your sensitivity to EMFs including wireless, but might be relevant: I am an empath, and have been sensitive to the energies of other people all my life. Being sensitive to essentially everything in our modern world, it took many years for me to realize that the radiation from electricity in buildings and cars was contributing to my health challenges. Once I had a home protection system in place and was isolated in my home, I gradually became stronger. That was when I realized that the electricity in my landline phone was killing me. I had to have the telephone wires completely removed. The only electricity I could tolerate was that which was modulated by my home protection system. B3. For each subquestion please list up to 5 drugs or therapies or home remedies (if any) B3a. That you recommend, as they helped you tolerate or recover from EMF exposure: Large amounts of B vitamins, magnesium, and other supplements in addition to nutrient dense organic food. Avoidance of all chemicals. Walking outside in my safe yard: Healing music. A Home Protection System was vitally important. Structured water was also essential. Faith in Heavenly Father and in my Saviour Jesus Christ is what kept me going until They healed me. B4. My age range? 65-74 B5. What year did you become aware of your sensitivity to wireless radiation or electromagnetic fields? 2012 B6. Where were you living in when you first noticed your sensitivity to wireless or electromagnetic fields? British Columbia, Canada

Smart Meters: The Federal Tariff must be struck down and eliminated: The $75 "Setup" And $34 Monthly Hit. Eliminate seniors on a fixed income, of this "opt-out" penalty immediately. The Infrastructure Modernization Fee (IMF). Millions of seniors are reporting a fixed “stealth tax" ranging from $15 to $45 per month. As noted by Electric Choice, the lack of dynamic pricing is estimated to cost the energy market $7 billion annually. The "Spy Meter" Privacy Concerns - smart meters collect every 15 minutes. This should be our constitutional right to choose if we have health problems and want to prevent more dangers to our health.

Research shows that EHS affects up to 5% or more of the population, with approximately 0.65% experiencing such severe symptoms that participation in everyday social life becomes impossible. Despite the significant impact on those affected, adequate support, healthcare, and protection remain lacking. This is partly due to ongoing uncertainty among authorities regarding the causal relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and reported health effects. However, there is sufficient scientific evidence that NIR have non-thermal biological effects Exposure Standards and Risk Assessment Current exposure limits are designed to prevent excessive heating. However, people report experiencing effects from EMFs at exposure levels well below the official limits. Current official standards consider only the frequencies and intensity of NIR. Knowledge of the effects of specific EMF characteristics, such as modulation, and of long-term exposure is limited, and these factors are not taken into account. Yet they do matter. Many scientific studies do not clearly describe the characteristics of the EMFs used. Based on many years of experience, building biologists have drawn up practical guidelines When people with EHS adhere to these guidelines by avoiding and shielding themselves from sources of EMF, their symptoms disappear or are alleviated. The European Academy of Environmental Medicine (EUROPAEM) has also developed guidelines on EMFs based on scientific findings. EUROPAEM aims to provide preventive measures and protective strategies against the potential health risks of electromagnetic fields. We also would like to refer to the contribution uploaded by Else Nordhagen PhD on this subject: ‘Quality criteria for RF/EMF Health-Risk Assessments’. As attached Measuring Human Exposure and Public Health Surveillance Technical and exposure-related information should be disclosed, including the peak values. As the official standards presume only the heating of tissue and the mean values of NIR has importance, peak values are ignored, while many studies precisely clarify the great importance of these peak values and long-term exposure. Radiation levels vary constantly, especially when beamforming techniques, as used in 5G, are applied. These variations are so wide-ranging that measurement techniques need to be adapted. Exposure information is also needed to protect vulnerable people in public spaces, such as hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, daycare centers, and schools. Existing Evidence Much research has been done to establish the effects of NIR. Many scientists found adverse effects and several scientific appeals have been done in vain to the authorities to take this into account before applying new generations of wireless technologies. Many well-conducted scientific studies show adverse health effects, while others do not. See the uploaded files including Central and Eastern Europeanstudies, showing two fundamentally different approaches. When focussing on just studies using real life exposure, the results are convincing. However, in studies using sources with undefined characteristics or model of exposure, the results vary widely. Recognising the importance of applying real-life exposure with the true characteristics in this research might resolve the difference in opinion about the risks caused by NIR. This difference may also lead to the design of EMFs limiting or even without health consequences. In 2007 the Bio Initiative Report already mentions the importance of modulation for the biological impact of EMFs. Scientific studies mention the importance for biological effects of extreme and ultra-low-frequency components of EMFs. The official institutions responsible for assessing the health risks of NIR also regularly state that, if harmful effects occur, the mechanisms by which NIR affects organisms are unknown. Yet multiple replicated studies have found that NIR causes oxidative stress, which is considered in science to be a cause of many diseases. Federal Research Priorities Additional Information ALARA principle by design. The technical system should be designed to minimise the radiation levels, not to maximise the reach. Wireless applications should be minimised and preference should be given to wired solutions. Europeans for Safe Connections was founded in 2023 in response to inadequate protection against NIR (non-ionizing radiation) and the growing number of people suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). ESC is an umbrella organisation in Europe representing national organisations and individuals aware of the health risks of EMFs

About four years ago, I lived close to a cell phone tower. It was actually line of sight but I can't reliably attest to exact distance, maybe a quarter of a mile. After a few months living there I continually experienced mobility issues that escalated to constant pain in my legs and lower back. I had not sustained a fall or other injury at the time. I was mystified about the cause. One evening, while I was in a high degree of pain, I sat at my desk and removed my earrings, necklace that had a metal chain and a ring. Within about 15 minutes all pain left my legs. I was amazed. I began to wonder if the electromagnetic waves from the tower were electrifying me to the point of pain causing the mobility issues. Perhaps the jewelry provided a circuit which amplified the invisible waves? I checked a website www.antennasearch.com and found 90 cellphone towers and hundreds of antennas within a 3 mile radius. The tower near my house was .2 miles. So I moved to a very rural area with only 9 cellphone towers within a 3 mile radius. While the pain has lessened. It is not eradicated and I continue to suffer from dehydration no matter how much water and electrolytes I consume. Do these emf waves carry electrical charges that dehydrate us? Even though our area is humid, many I have spoken with complain about chronic dehydration. In my home I have no wifi, no laptop, no television, no microwave oven. The roof of my house is shingle, not metal. The smart meter is far from living areas. When short term renters moved in on either side of my place last year and turned on wifi the same day, it sent me to bed for a couple of days with intense pain. I wondered if my earlier exposure had now led to long-term consequences, long-term sensitivity. I have never been this affected before but now must pay attention. It is debilitating. Where does it come from? The nearest cell tower is about a mile away! Is it the satellites beaming down emfs? A plethora of cell phones especially when weekenders come out to the rural areas? Neighbors wifi? My own refrigerator? I live in a very rural area and have great difficulty navigating big cities because of the uptick in pain. Mainstream doctors don't seem to have solutions. I feel left to my own ingenuity and to that of a few visionary thinkers who have looked outside the box. I also look to nature, acupuncture, homeopathy, sound healing and martial arts for relief. It is like there is an invisible problem (biologically detrimental emf waves) causing visible distress. Where do real lasting solutions lie? Are the solutions visible or invisible? Or both? Can we get to the cause of the cause and actually cure this? Or will we continue to address symptoms if we can and hope for the best? Any chance these emf waves can be modified to become biologically beneficial? Wouldn't that be a boon? I also wonder how emfs affect our pets not to mention our children and grandchildren. I have heard of success stories out of Switzerland with Biogeometry solutions and some well thought out products from Blushield in America. A French company also has a long term track record of transforming the emf waves into biologically beneficial solutions without affecting the efficacy of the communication channels. It is not an all or nothing game. We have the insights to integrate technology and public health for the benefit of both. Do we have the will? I am pleased that our government is taking this issue seriously. Becoming the country who takes the lead in solving this or at least putting us on the right track will help make America the best, once again... At least in this significant area of public health and well-being. Do we have the will? Do we have the capability? Do we have the wherewithal?

Please take immediate action to protect our population from the harmful effects of wireless radiation. The regulations and the science are grossly outdated. I personally struggle with this on a daily basis in the form of headaches, fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and depression. As soon as I remove myself from the sources I find relief but the majority of my time I have no way to reduce exposure. My parents are also affected, my father so much so that he eventually resorted to sleeping under a Faraday cage. My mother has ongoing heart palpitations in direct relation to exposure and she often has to go to the emergency room because they are so bad. I have known many others who have experienced detrimental health effects from wireless radiation including those who can no longer live in their own homes due to the installation of nearby cell towers. Please take this seriously. Just because it isn't visible, doesnt make it not real. Please protect us.

A former cybersecurity engineer for nearly 20 years, I developed electrohypersensitivity in 2019. As a result, I had to stop working, leave the city where I lived, find a home in a rural area, and live while minimizing my exposure to microwaves and electric fields as much as possible all while incurring significant expenses to install shielding and protective equipment in my home. Since these conditions are not readily recognized in France, I receive no financial assistance and must cover everything out of my own savings: housing, food, healthcare costs, training, travel, and more... As of now, I can no longer live in cities like Paris, where exposure to microwave radiation in the street is way too high for me. The symptoms I have experienced from the very beginning and continue to experience are: - If I am exposed for more than half a day to high-frequency waves such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cell phones, etc.: dizziness, cognitive impairment, short-term memory loss, significant difficulty prioritizing and organizing tasks, disorientation, muscle pain in the neck and trapezius muscles, eye pain, tinnitus, digestive issues, and palpitations - if I’m exposed to 50Hz (home electricity) for more than a day: inflammatory symptoms (rhinitis, sneezing, mucosal irritation, sinus congestion), intense fatigue in the days that follow, requiring a great deal of recovery time. - If I am exposed to “dirty electricity” (such as “Linky” smart meters in France or powerline communication) for a few hours to a day: a sensation of burning from the inside, the onset of flu-like symptoms that progress to bronchitis and rhinitis if exposure continues for too long The most serious symptoms I experienced were extrasystoles and cardiac arrhythmias, which led me to the emergency room. I resolved these specific issues by eliminating electromagnetic interference, grounding myself as often as possible, and undergoing acupuncture. The first few years were very difficult because I was deeply affected; I didn’t understand what was triggering the symptoms. Once I figured it out, I had to spend nearly six months in a 4 square-meter space, the only place in my home where I could recover, while I gradually adapted the rest of my 28-square-meter apartment. I didn’t know which disturbance caused which symptom or how long it took to manifest, or where I could or couldn’t go… No one around me understood me. Most of the time, people think I’m crazy, or they’re annoyed at having to temporarily turn off their devices. Some say they’ll turn them off but don’t, thinking I’m making things up, and after a while, I end up feeling sick and it takes me hours to recover. People have become so addicted to their smartphones that it annoys them when the topic of the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves comes up. I’ve even been told, "Who cares? We don’t feel anything you should just go live in a cave." Or, "If you weren’t an engineer, I would never have believed you.” I’ve come to realize just how much my disability “bothers” people, so I hardly ever talk about it, and I hardly see anyone anymore. I have practically no social life left, aside from my immediate family, a few understanding friends, and other people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity. I can’t stay anywhere for too long because most homes and public places have excessive electromagnetic fields. From time to time, I make the effort to go out and do some activities or go on outings, but I have to plan for the fact that I’ll pay dearly for it the next day and won’t be able to do anything. It is very difficult to find a job where one is not exposed to this pollution, whether from infrastructure or from other employees using connected devices. Since our government’s motto is "zero dead zones" and “don’t live like the Amish,” it is becoming increasingly difficult for advocacy groups representing people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity to find housing even in rural areas that offers low exposure. I trained as an electromagnetic environment consultant to try to turn my condition into something useful and raise awareness, but this topic is regularly discredited by many media outlets and a majority of misinformed people in the healthcare field who classify it as a psychiatric disorder. We’re labeled "conspiracy theorists". Most of my clients are people who are already ill and often in precarious situations, so I’m not yet able to generate enough income to cover all my expenses, and I’m still living partly off my savings. Most devices are becoming increasingly complicated to use in wired mode; you constantly have to go through a lot of steps, buy accessories, and so on. Even cars automatically turn on Bluetooth when you start them, when it’s even possible to turn it off. There are many things that seem trivial but are a nightmare in daily life they’re time-consuming and force you to always be vigilant and on your guard.

. & 2. I am responding as: an individual 3a. Type of wireless or RF/EMF sources involved (e.g., mobile phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters…)Wi-Fi (router and public nodes) and phone masts. 3b. Nature, duration, frequency, and approximate timing (e.g., years):Several hours per day for 20 years. Ca 2 - 60 GHz. 3c. Adverse health effect(s) experienced:Headache, impaired memory and concentration, skin irritation, anxiety, sleep disorder. 3d. Time from first exposure to first appearance of adverse health effects; and did a change in exposure coincide with the onset of adverse effects:5-10 minutes. 3e. Was medical evaluation or treatment sought? (Optionally:) Was there a diagnosis?No. No use. 3f. Were steps taken to reduce or eliminate exposure, and were there subsequent changes in the effects?Yes: Avoiding public transport and hot spots in the city. At home router was turned off when needed.

I am living in Australia and have not had a normal life for 20 years since experiencing electromagnetic hypersensitivity. I have lost my home and assets due to EMH and being unable to work in a normal setting. I live in surroundings that I cannot change to enable me a normal peaceful existence, which are taken for granted by others.