Children & vulnerable groups

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding from the perspective of a patient and parent. My family and I moved into an old home with old wiring in close proximity to powerlines two years ago. Upon moving in we immediately began experiencing symptoms like extreme fatigue, trouble sleeping, joint pain, brain fog, iron regulation and hormonal issues. I also developed skin cancer one year in to living there. After doing extensive research and testing, we realize that we had high levels of EMFs in our house due to the old wiring and proximity to the powerlines. It has been devastating on our health and we eventually had to move. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of EMFs, RFs and wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. More research needs to be done in this area. It’s very difficult finding experts and practitioners who know how to help people experiencing symptoms from EMFs, RFs and wireless radiation. It’s frustrating and we are still looking for answers about how to heal from this. There is no doubt these frequencies are causing harm to our biology, and most people are completely unaware of it. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding EMFs, RFs and wireless radiation and public health. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.

I first learned about EMFs after moving into an apartment building, where I shortly developed symptoms I never had before including disruption of sleep, heart palpitations and tinnitus. My daughter mentioned EMFs as a likely cause to me which opened up Pandora's box. I have since learned of the hidden dangers. I am including a link to an article published in the medical literature (PubMed) written by a recognized expert, Martin Pall, discussing further the hazards https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26300312/. Many are subject to these fields and the dangers that they present unknowingly, including children and adults who work in schools for example. I frequently see cell towers on school property. Public awareness and protection need to be increased

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding from the perspective of a concerned mother. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding wireless radiation and public health. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. My family has been living an ultra healthy life for decades. We grow our own food & were enjoying ultimate health. Highly active, we have a rural property we loved working. The entire family made an activity out of growing & preserving our own healthy foods. We have lived near a tiny cell tower since around 1990. On a hill, it was below us. We had little effect noticed. The family was full of energy and activity. After upgrades started about 12 years ago or so, we began to notice headaches, stiffness, sleeplessness, and tension that would not go away. Our animals began to die suddenly with tumors. One by one we were losing our healthy pets. After struggling to walk, I began to try to increase my exercise time to keep fit. Not much was available on how to counteract the effects we were feeling, but nothing that always worked for symptoms were touching this. We found a form of remediation and suddenly I was able to walk again without a cane. I felt strong. The kids were having less headaches. My husband was not as stiff. Literally a month later the hell began. I am unsure of the exact year, but flatbeds showed up. They built the tower up to a hellish monstrosity. Now the tower was even with our doorway in our home up the hill about a half mile away. Due to the incline it was closer to our house. Within several months I completely lost the ability to walk without canes. Exercise makes it worse. Blinding headaches, vision impairment, severe excruciating pain, and inability to sleep or even rest without severe agitation began. It affected me most because I was home the most. Everyone else was waking up in a fetal position, having debilitating headaches/issues. Within 7 months our neighbor who never had neurological issues was dead of neurological issues. Every so many months as we tried to counteract to stay comfortable, upgrades continued. A woman next to the tower has to get spinal injections the pain is so severe. Her husband had cancer several times since staying home after lockdowns as have other neighbors. You can not imagine the excruciating torture from these towers. The health we worked so hard to maintain is in jeopardy from this nightmare. One note- lightning struck around the tower and it went off at one point for most of a night and morning. All of the symptoms completely stopped. I slept, no pain, the relaxing feeling I had enjoyed in my life was back. It was wonderful to feel normal again. As soon as the tower went back on, the pain shot through me so severely I screamed. Our remaining few pets have also been tortured by this. We lost many birds, butterflies, & bees as well. We have had to put out all of our savings to try to counteract this as much as possible, but nothing stops the overall effects from progression. Not only has this affected our family, but I lost two close friends with towers like this one near their homes directly due to towers (I won't go into how I know but it is definite) as their bodies began collapsing and they died when their bodies gave out. That hurt me too. Once they added smart meters in our area (which are data chains with wireless signals that go through property) a year ago, more pets & people we know within miles of our home are having complete neurological collapses. I am talking about blacking out & waking up unable to use arms or legs. Interestingly, it often happens to multiple people at the exact same moments. All of our respite areas within 100 mi are now as bad or worse than our home area due to excessive towers & wind farms (which are worse due to signals used penetrating rock & water as per Dr Lee Merritt). Area Mennonites are now starting to have problems & very few of them have more than occasional cell phone hidden in the barn or on shelf. We have worked hard to stay alive. What is happening to us is horrific. You have no idea what this torture is like. We are doing what we can but need this to be reformatted into SAFE ways of setting up the networks above not directly affecting us. Exercise makes it worse- imagine exercising during being tasered and that gives you an idea of what it is like. Someone - a close relative- with no health problems was thrown from her chair & temporary quadriplegic for a short period of time. I am hearing this from more and more people. If we did not have remediation in place, we would probably be dead. I have lost over 5 years of my life able to do very little. My husband is overwhelmed, and now is struggling to function. He has his own business and can not afford to not work. Day after day we pray for help because we want to live & walk & move again!!! I cry constantly because I envy people who can walk & I can't because of selfish tech. Thank you for listening.

Docket ID: HHS-OASH-2026-0397 Notice Publication Number: 2026-19252 Title: Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Technology Exposure Subject: Public Comment Requesting Federal Proximity Setbacks and Infrastructure Relocation Near School Populations (Ann Arbor, MI) To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to submit a formal comment in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Request for Information regarding environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure. This comment directly addresses the agency’s inquiry into exposure levels, public health experiences, and the critical need to protect vulnerable populations like young children. Specifically, I am submitting a request for data and action regarding a localized, multi-signal wireless telecommunications tower hosting active 5G equipment and other RF broadcast arrays that is positioned at 5449 Whitmore Lake Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. This commercial broadcast infrastructure operates adjacent to and within approximately 500 feet of the main campus of Ann Arbor Christian School (located at 5500 Whitmore Lake Rd). The school’s campus serves highly vulnerable developing populations, including infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children, and elementary school students. These students spend upwards of 6 to 8 hours a day in continuous proximity to the emissions of this tower during critical windows of biological development. As the agency updates its guidelines and coordinates with other federal bodies, I urge HHS to recommend and prioritize the following regulatory actions: 1. Vulnerable Populations Priority: Because children possess thinner craniums, higher tissue fluid content, and developing nervous systems, their cumulative biological absorption rates differ dramatically from standard adult occupational baseline measures. 2. Evaluation of Multi-Signal Arrays: Local residents and parents cannot independently verify the full output, frequency variations, or mechanical expansions occurring on multi-tenant tower sites. Federal oversight must account for the mixed-use radiofrequency environments where 5G macro/small cells are combined with older legacy telecommunication hardware. 3. Strict Local Proximity Thresholds: I strongly encourage the federal government to establish definitive exposure buffers or enhanced monitoring requirements for high-output 5G arrays operating within a 500 to 1000-foot perimeter of early-childhood learning centers, school buildings, and outdoor playgrounds. 4. Mandatory Federal Zoning Setbacks and Relocation Guidance: I explicitly request that HHS recommend federal zoning frameworks that require the physical relocation of high-power broadcast towers away from educational institutions. Telecommunications infrastructure should not share such close proximity with preschools and/or elementary schools. Federal guidelines must empower local municipalities to restrict or move existing infrastructure when it operates in direct conflict with child safety environments. Thank you for accounting for the physical safety and placement of infrastructure relative to developing student populations as you evaluate the modern baseline for RF safety. Best Regards, Kristen Papke

Dear HHS Leadership, Thank you for seeking public input on the biological and health impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), including 5G, Wi-Fi, and personal wireless devices. As technology density grows in homes and schools, federal guidelines must urgently account for the heightened biological vulnerability of children. We request that HHS incorporate the following science-based protections into its safety evaluation and public guidance: Child-Specific Absorption Modeling: Current federal guidelines are based on adult male anatomical models. Research demonstrates that children—due to thinner skulls, smaller head dimensions, and higher tissue water content—absorb up to twice as much RF radiation into their brain tissue and up to ten times as much into bone marrow compared to adults. Impacts on Developing Neural and Cellular Systems: Review peer-reviewed evidence showing that non-thermal RF exposure can induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered intracellular signaling in rapidly dividing, developing tissues. Public Warnings and Device Labelling: Issue clear public health warnings regarding cell phones and wireless devices. Recommend practical limits, such as keeping devices away from the body during transmission, using speakerphone, and avoiding cell phone use directly against a child's head. School and Childcare Environment Limits: Establish guidelines for educational settings, including favoring wired ethernet over Wi-Fi in early childhood centers, turning off Wi-Fi routers when not in active use, and restricting small-cell deployment directly adjacent to school grounds. We urge HHS to align U.S. policy with international precautionary standards and provide clear, actionable guidance to protect developing children. Sincerely, Abigail Crowe

Link between childhood leukemia and a home's proximity to high voltage power lines.

All utility companies should be required to offer analog equipment option instead of forcing consumers to live with smart meters. A process should be prominently displayed on their websites. I am also concerned about the health implications of WiFi and towers situated near schools, housing, businesses, parks.

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS's Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding as a parent in Brevard County, Florida. My daughter began having severe migraines at age 9, during the COVID-19 lockdowns. When her school moved to remote instruction, she spent most of every day streaming online classes, working on a school laptop for hours at a time. During that period the migraines began and quickly became frequent and debilitating. For the past six years she has continued to struggle with these migraines, and adapting her environment to her sensitivities has become progressively more difficult. Her physician has diagnosed her with electromagnetic hypersensitivity. She cannot be near Wi-Fi routers at school, and she develops headaches in classrooms where laptops are in widespread use. This has affected her education, her ability to participate fully in ordinary school settings, and our family's daily life, as we continually work to find environments where she can learn without pain. Children today are exposed to wireless devices and networks for much of the school day, and remote and device-based instruction has made that exposure longer and more constant than in any prior generation. Families like ours have few places to turn for guidance, and schools have no federal framework for accommodating students who report these symptoms. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding wireless radiation and public health. I also ask HHS to consider guidance for schools on accommodating students who report symptoms associated with wireless exposure. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding from the perspective of a [patient, parent, family member, caregiver, healthcare professional, researcher, advocate, concerned member of the public, or other]. HHS should address this issue because it affects the health and safety of the majority of people. Just because you can see something doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. My 4 children struggle with attention, headaches, sleep problems - and most recently two of my children have been getting dizzy spells. I have two other children who go to school – and because of poor reception – the school wants to build a cell tower right on the property. It will be much healthier for the children to have limited Wi-Fi access at school rather than have a cell phone tower built right near the athletic field. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding wireless radiation and public health. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.