Li-Fi, fiber & alternatives

Personal Testimony and Call for Research and Protection for People Reporting Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) Public Comment — HHS-OASH-2026-0397 To the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I live in Israel and have practiced complementary and integrative healthcare for approximately 28 years. I write both as a practitioner and as someone whose life was profoundly changed by a severe health crisis that I attribute to prolonged, cumulative exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). For years, my symptoms were mild and seemed insignificant. Then, within a few months, my health deteriorated rapidly. I experienced weakness, a choking sensation, elevated blood glucose, and other unexplained symptoms. As my condition worsened, I began noticing a recurring association between EMF exposure and my symptoms. I describe this through the “bucket theory”: drops accumulate unnoticed for years until the bucket overflows. For me, symptoms then appeared in an unbearable cascade, like a house of cards collapsing. During this crisis, I also developed severe multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). About five years ago, the crisis affected multiple body systems. Alongside severe symptoms, I experienced measurable physiological changes: increased blood glucose, hemoglobin (Hb), blood pressure, and heart rate. My recovery continues today. My quality of life, daily functioning, and freedom of movement remain severely restricted. Ordinary activities require planning, environmental adjustments, and major sacrifices. From my own experience, the exposure–symptom connection is clear to me. I recognize that a causal relationship is not established scientific consensus. This gap between patients’ experiences and established knowledge makes rigorous, independent research open to new findings essential. People reporting EHS often describe similar experiences despite diverse symptoms. Reported responses may differ by frequency, exposure type, and over time. These patterns deserve investigation. I urge HHS to take the following steps: 1. Expand existing research: Support independent genetic, physiological, clinical, and epidemiological studies, collaborating with EHS researchers in Europe and elsewhere. 2. Investigate biomarkers: Examine and replicate findings concerning the nervous system, inflammation, and possible myelin damage, alongside blood markers, heart rate, blood pressure, and autonomic function. Identify reliable indicators and potential patient subgroups. 3. Study individual susceptibility: Investigate genetic and physiological differences that might explain reported reactions at exposures below current limits. 4. Reassess exposure standards: Study possible non-thermal effects and prolonged, combined exposure from multiple sources. 5. Review mobile-phone emissions and inform the public: In independent measurements I conducted about five years ago, I recorded 50–70 mW/m² near my phone. Today, during calls on that same phone, I measure pulses of 150–300 mW/m², peaks exceeding 1,800 mW/m², and readings above 2,000 mW/m² near newer smartphones, under broadly similar conditions. The 2012 BioInitiative Report discusses reported biological effects at 0.03 mW/m². These observations warrant investigating changes in exposure over time, reviewing standards, transparently informing the public, and developing safer communication technologies. Reference: BioInitiative Report (2012), Conclusions: https://bioinitiative.org/conclusions/ 6. Reduce environmental exposure and protect basic rights: Reconsider antenna deployment, including relocating transmitters away from residential areas, reducing small-cell and 5G installations, and promoting wired communication. Evaluate public warnings about mobile phones and other wireless technologies. Establish dedicated recovery spaces with electromagnetic exposure as close to zero as technically possible, minimizing both radiofrequency and power-frequency fields for people in severe health crises. Protect freedom of movement, health, and access to essential services, including for those who may develop sensitivity in the future. 7. Train healthcare professionals: Ensure respectful care, thorough medical evaluation, and support without dismissing patients’ symptoms. 8. Include people reporting EHS in research: Involve them in study design and research priorities. Lack of scientific consensus about causation does not justify disregarding symptoms, physical findings, or the need for appropriate medical care and research. I hope this initiative advances recognition, meaningful research, and practical solutions for people reporting EHS worldwide. I am willing to share my experience, provide relevant medical information confidentially with my consent, and participate in suitable studies. Thank you for considering my testimony.

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

I am responding as an individual consumer. I have experienced trigeminal nerve pain and eye pain from 5G EMF exposure, most notably as emitted from cellphones when held close to my head by others to show me something on their cell screen. For this reason, I have limited my exposure to such devices, now keeping my head several feet away whenever possible. For this reason, I also had the titanium posts taken out of my jaws that had anchored my implanted teeth. The titanium was replaced with oxidized zirconium. Since then I've had less pain with EMF exposure, but it is still there to some extent. The titanium posts had been picking up the EMFs like an antenna-- and strengthening the pain signal as it traveled up my trigeminal nerve. I noticed this became a huge problem soon after the advent of 5G transmission, which we know is multitudes stronger than 4G. 5G radiation, while non-ionizing, is composed of much shorter wave lengths that cannot travel as far--but more readily penetrate buildings and people's bodies. I continue to try to limit my exposure to EMF radiation, using wired computer connections and my cell phone sparingly in preference of a wired landline connection. Before getting the titanium posts extracted from my jaw bone, I even experienced picking up of a few seconds of a local emergency services communication! Whatever we can do to limit or curtail 5G or 6G exposure to the general public should be done. I understand that the military might need it for modern weaponry systems. In my view, the rest of us would be healthier without it. Thank you.

Thank you for looking into what many know is causing harm to the human body. We the People never agreed to this. It affects the human body at the cellular level and causes human suffering. To my knowledge, there have not been peer reviewed blinded studies, and there is not a way for doctors to diagnosis and treat the harm caused to me from electromagnetic fields, radio-frequency radiation, and/or wireless radiation exposure. I only use my cell phone when absolutely necessary and keep it far away from me otherwise, have hardwired internet, and haven’t had a microwave oven for about 8 years in order to lessen my exposure. I did not want a smart meter installed at my house, but around 2015 my electric company sent information of possibly installing a smart meter at some point in the future, and if they were going to move forward, another letter would follow. My intent was to address the situation then, but the second letter never came, and soon after, I discovered a smart meter attached to my house without my knowledge or permission. I let it go, thinking there was nothing I could do. Around 2022, after having increased headaches, fatigue, insomnia, brain fog and feeling unwell over this period of time, I called my electric company and they advised me to contact the PA Utility Commission. I even offered to pay to reinstall my analog meter and pay a monthly fee, but the answer was no. I filed a complaint with the PA UC, and they did absolutely nothing. I continue to live with the negative health effects from EMF/rf radiation and/or wireless radiation exposure to this day. I ask you to move forward with more studies, as they are detrimental to healthy human life.

Public Comment Regarding Electromagnetic Fields, Radiofrequency Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure 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 write as a healthcare professional, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, and a patient who experienced a severe, debilitating illness that I attribute to wireless radiation exposure. In 2020, I developed extreme fatigue, significant hair loss that occurred in clumps, skin rashes, joint pain, profound difficulty sleeping, and severe upper respiratory and breathing problems. These symptoms were unlike anything I had previously experienced. The illness disrupted nearly every aspect of my life and became so disabling that I was forced to withdraw from the second doctoral program I was pursuing. Although I was not hospitalized, laboratory testing revealed a markedly elevated D-dimer level. My physician subsequently told me that the result warranted evaluation in an emergency department. I believe the seriousness of my condition was not adequately recognized at the time. I did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine. I have photographs and laboratory records documenting the symptoms and medical findings associated with this period. Recovery took nearly a year. During that time, I purchased a shielding-fabric enclosure for my bed to reduce exposure while sleeping and arranged for wired connections in my home to minimize reliance on wireless technology. I also substantially reduced my cell phone use and other sources of exposure. In my experience, these changes were an important part of my recovery and have helped me avoid another similarly debilitating episode. Even after recovering from the acute illness, I continued to experience sensations of heat and burning when using a cell phone for approximately another year. I still occasionally experience burning and buzzing sensations in my skin, particularly near large 5G installations. The consequences were profound: loss of health, interruption of my education, significant changes to my home and daily activities, and fear of recurrence. I believe my illness placed my life at risk. I have also encountered patients who report similar symptoms and experiences. Their accounts, and mine, deserve serious investigation, careful documentation, and a meaningful response. I strongly support HHS taking an active and accountable role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions affecting human health must be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health. The experiences of individuals and families who report being affected must be considered alongside the scientific evidence and treated as a meaningful source of information for further investigation. I urge HHS to rigorously evaluate these experiences and the available scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, and examine whether existing exposure standards adequately address present-day conditions. This review should specifically consider cumulative exposure, multiple simultaneous sources, prolonged exposure in homes and schools, and the experiences of individuals reporting heightened sensitivity. Children and other potentially vulnerable populations require particular attention. Potential effects on animals and the environment also warrant investigation. HHS should establish clear federal research priorities, support independent studies, and publicly communicate its findings and remaining uncertainties. In my view, continued expansion of wireless infrastructure should be paused where adequate safety evidence is lacking, pending a thorough, independent assessment. Individuals should not have to experience disabling illness before their concerns receive meaningful federal attention. I ask HHS to respond with the urgency, transparency, and diligence this issue demands. Please investigate these reports, address deficiencies in research and oversight, and take appropriate action to protect public health. Thank you for providing individuals, families, healthcare providers, researchers, and scientists an opportunity to be heard on this critical public health issue. Kristen Graham, DDS

In 2010, we moved from Wichita, KS to Naperville, IL. Our son was 10 and our daughter was 6. We immediately noticed in Naperville that they were much more technologically advanced than Wichita. In Naperville, just about every kid had a cell phone, laptop, and iPad. Within a few years, the school district rolled out high-powered WiFi and distributed Chromebooks to all the students. At the same time, we were remodeling our home. Everything we did on the house was smart -- TVS, thermostats, printers, commuters, etc. We kept adding more and more WiFi powered devices within our home. During this time, our daughter started getting headaches and severe nose bleeds. There were times I had to pick her up from school because of headaches and nose bleeds. My husband was exhausted all the time and would have to lie down on his floor at work throughout the day and take naps at home. I was having trouble focusing and staying on task. Our son was having behavioral changes. We never imagined that all these symptoms could be related. Then, when our daughter was 12/13, shortly after the Smart Meter was installed on our home, she had a Grand Mal Seizure. Follow up tests with a Neurologist could find nothing significant so they told us it was puberty and labeled it Benign Rolandic Epilepsy. I dove into research and learned that EMFs/WiFi could cause all of our symptoms. We brought a Home Biologist into our home and cleaned it up -- turned off the WiFi, wired home with Ethernet, covered the Smart Meter to block the WiFi from coming into home, installed Stetzer Filters. We immediately all felt better. Our daughters headaches and nose bleeds completely ended and she never had another seizure. If she is exposed for weeks without a break from WiFi, she will start to have headaches and nose bleeds again. As long as we keep it off at home and she gets that break every night for her body to recover, she is fine. She is 22 now and has gone 5 years or more without headaches and nose bleeds. It only happens if we have WiFi on 24/7 and she is exposed without a break for weeks. There clearly are affects from EMF exposure. Our family is a clear example!

My Personal Experience and Research into the Harmful Health Effects of Ongoing Exposure to Electromagnetic and RF Radiation In September of 2000, my wife and I set up a joint home office in a small room that we packed with 2 computer towers and monitors, 2 printers, 2 cordless phone bases, and multiple electrical cords associated with all of this technology. While most all of these electronics surrounded my wife’s chair at her computer workstation, my workstation was off to one side giving me somewhat less exposure to the total amount of radiation generated. Spending about 4-5 hours a day at my computer (for at least 5 days a week) for next 15 months, I felt increasingly fatigued and frequently felt a burning pressure in my chest (around my heart). By the end of 2001, I experienced total exhaustion and persistent brain fog, leaving me barely able to function. This forced me to take a several-month break to rest and receive the healthcare I needed to recover and feel somewhat functional again. While I was finally able to return to my computer-related work, I still struggled through periodic bouts of severe fatigue and burning chest pressure for the next 9 years. From late 2000 to late 2010, my wife spent about 2-3 hours a day at her computer workstation. During that time frame, she experienced different recurring health issues, most notably severe stomach and intestinal issues, painful bloating, and depression. Her health steadily declined in 2010 until she finally passed away at the end of the year. Prior to that, the doctors had found a grapefruit-size tumor in her lower abdomen. When I then learned about the possible negative health effects of ongoing exposure to different forms of man-made radiation, I wondered if that might have been a significant cause of our ongoing health issues and what led to my wife’s ultimate demise. Aside from the fact that her computer desk chair was surrounded by various radiating electronic devices, there was a metal desk off to her right side and some rectangular metal legs supporting a plywood work surface behind her. When I later consulted a professional building biologist about our office environment, he pointed out that all of the metal surrounding my wife’s computer desk chair would have conducted and amplified the radiation from the electronic devices surrounding her. He also informed me of several fairly simple steps I could take to greatly reduce my radiation exposure in my home office and throughout my home. These steps included: • Removing the metal desk from my home office • Replacing the metal support legs on the plywood work surface with wooden supports • Replacing the cordless phone base near my desk with a corded phone (to eliminate the RF radiation I had been exposed to with my previous phone • Removing all household cordless phones • Replacing florescent lights with daylight/incandescent lighting • Keeping my nearby printer turned off when it wasn’t needed • Maintaining more distance between myself and any electronic devices when I was working in my office. In the year after I had taken all of these steps, my chronic fatigue melted away, my recurring bouts of burning chest pressure vanished, my brain fog cleared, and I became more vibrant and energetic than I had felt in over a decade. In the years since then, I’ve found that I will still experience a milder version of my previous stress symptoms when I spend a moderate length of time in environments that have a fairly high level of electromagnetic and RF radiation. While the experience I just described may not fit the rigors of scientific research, it does mirror that kind of research in some key ways. For starters, I was in good health before this whole episode began. Since my late wife was a well-educated holistic health practitioner and certified nutritionist, she made sure that we both ate a healthy whole-foods diets, used water filters to purify our drinking and bathing water, used air filters to purify the air in our home, and used personal care products free from toxins and harmful chemicals—eliminating several potential contributors to our health issues. Obviously, the one harmful household environmental factor that we didn’t fully understand or address was our electromagnetic environment. When I finally took extensive steps to slash the levels of EMF/RF radiation in my home and then experienced the disappearance of debilitating health issues that had plagued me for over a decade, I was convinced that ongoing exposure to man-made radiation was the culprit.

Dear HHS Representatives, Thank you for inviting public participation in this important conversation! I am a New York City resident, artist, and founder of **1-800-EARTH**, an emerging initiative dedicated to humane innovation, environmental responsibility, and making technology more inclusive of people with different sensitivities and accessibility needs. I am writing to share my personal experiences, explain how they inspired my passion for more human-centered technology, and express my hope for a future in which technological innovation and human well-being advance together. **My Personal Experience** I experience brain fog and tingling sensations in my hands, particularly during computer and cellphone use. I have noticed that these symptoms improve when I spend time away from my screen and keyboard. I recognize that these symptoms can have multiple possible causes, and I do not wish to assume that electromagnetic exposure is responsible. However, these experiences have made me deeply interested in understanding how technology affects different people and how we can better accommodate individuals reporting environmental or electromagnetic sensitivities. My experiences have also helped inspire my work toward developing and supporting technologies that prioritize accessibility, comfort, human well-being, and environmental responsibility. I believe that people reporting these sensitivities deserve to be heard respectfully, supported with practical options, and included in rigorous, independent scientific research. **Learning From History and Preventing Unnecessary Harm** History reminds us that our understanding of the health and environmental impacts of widely adopted technologies and chemicals can evolve over time. DDT, for example, was once used extensively before its serious environmental consequences became more widely understood. I am not suggesting that cellphone radiation has been demonstrated to cause the same harms as DDT. Rather, I believe this history illustrates the importance of remaining open to new evidence, continuing independent research, and taking reasonable steps to prevent avoidable harm. My hope is that we can identify potential risks early, evaluate them scientifically, and develop thoughtful solutions before unnecessary harm occurs. **A Collaborative Vision for Technology** I deeply appreciate the extraordinary possibilities that modern technology has created. My intention is not to oppose telecommunications companies, wireless innovation, or technological progress. Rather, I believe researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and individuals with different sensitivities can collaborate to develop technologies that accommodate a wider range of human needs. I would welcome greater attention to: - Affordable and accessible wired internet connections alongside wireless options. - Devices that can function offline or with wireless transmissions disabled. - Clear, accessible consumer information about electronic devices and electromagnetic exposure. - Continued independent research into potential health and environmental effects of radiofrequency radiation and other electromagnetic fields. - Inclusive product design that considers people with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, and different accessibility needs. - Opportunities for constructive collaboration between technology developers, public health researchers, and the communities they serve. **Innovation Through Inclusion** I believe that making technology more inclusive can create opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and responsible economic development. Supporting sensitive individuals does not have to come at the expense of technological advancement. It can inspire new products, services, and design approaches that benefit a broader population. I am particularly interested in a future where people have meaningful choices about how they connect, communicate, work, and interact with electronic devices. My hope is that technological progress will increasingly be measured not only by speed, convenience, and connectivity, but also by accessibility, human well-being, environmental stewardship, and quality of life. **An Invitation to Collaborate** I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this discussion and hope HHS will continue encouraging thoughtful scientific inquiry and collaboration across communities and industries. As the founder of 1-800-EARTH, I would welcome opportunities to contribute ideas and participate in collaborative efforts toward more humane, accessible, and environmentally responsible technology. I want to work **WITH** researchers, policymakers, and the technology industry, not against them. After all, isn't the true purpose of phones and communication technology to bring people together? :-) Thank you for your time and consideration!

We recently converted our internet service to underground cable because I was forced to use a by-pass mechanism on my laptop to minimize radiation...that risk has now been minimized yet we still live within 1/2 mile of 3 5G towers which I can essentially do nothing about! In addition, one of the towers recently added more cells which is also frustrating. Please tell me when "enough 5G or radiation" is enough? We are burning the brains of our youth for what...and for whom?! These are our future leaders - or trying to be!

Dear HHS, I worked at Intel on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters. I know firsthand that I can't think as clearly when I'm around large concentrations of wireless devices. No, that's not because I'm looking at a screen; just being in their presence makes me foggy. There have been studies where they measure intelligence with and without a Bluetooth headset, and every time the headset is in, their intelligence drops; remove the cause, and intelligence resumes. That's a short-term effect. The long-term effect is headaches, reduced productivity, and various cancers around the location of exposure. Wireless solutions have no place in our public schools. There's no reason computers, tablets, and cell phones can't be plugged in. In fact, you should require that all cell phones and tablets sold after 2028 include a coupon for a free wired Ethernet dongle and are capable of receiving calls and texts over a wired connection. Every product the size of a wallet and larger needs to be required to have an Ethernet port; that way, everyone has options. Not only that, but we have too much technology in our airways. Older technologies like AM/FM, broadcast television, 2G and 3G cellular need to be discontinued. This will help clean up our airspace a bit. In addition, smart meters were never a good solution, and anyone who requests a replacement should be offered an Ethernet-capable replacement. If a residence doesn't have wired Ethernet, the meter can also connect to Wi-Fi. There's no reason to still have a different radio frequency broadcasting one that gets little use, but is transmitting all the time in any case. Would you please help us minimize our exposure? Sincerely, Christian Blackburn