Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
2. I have experienced health problems as an individual worker and consumer.
3. Headaches
In the 1990s until 2001 when I was laid off, I inspected consumer electronic equipment. There were two equipment setups and one type of product that caused headaches.
The headaches reminded me of lightning: sharp, intense pain for a very short period of time. They frequently occurred in groups of three. The groups might be repeated a couple of times during the hour. Then there might be nothing until hours later. As far as I remember, they occurred at work, starting the second day that I inspected the same type of product as the previous day. It was a delayed reaction: I never got these headaches on the first day.
Equipment Setups (the products had been inspected using other equipment or arrangement of equipment that did not cause a problem):
- Computer monitors inside a Helmholtz coil: the inspector was on one side, the electronics on the opposite side of the coil, and the monitor in between. A large number of monitors were inspected in this manner for a year. Everyone who did the work got headaches although they were different types of headaches.
- Stereo receivers: equipment used to check the inputs and outputs was placed on carts within arm’s reach, resulting in amplifiers and speakers being very close.
Products: telephones, usually cordless but a few cellphones also.
__________
Later, long after I left the job, I needed a cellphone. I got a flip phone and had no problems. Then technology changed to smart phones. I got a weaker version of my previous headaches: a delayed reaction of 1.5 to 2 days, less pain that lasted longer, and all pain was gone within three months from one phone call. Now, I do not use any kind of mobile phone.
__________
a. Mobile phones, cordless phones; electronic equipment with higher than normal magnetic fields, or possibly dirty electricity
b. Work environment: exposure to Helmholtz coil was frequent for a year; others infrequent. In other words, we spent more time inspecting computer monitors than cordless phones or stereo receivers.
c. Headaches
d. The headaches appeared the second day of working in a Helmholtz coil and continued until I had a break from inspecting monitors (I do not remember how the weekends affected the headaches).
e. Treatment is to stop working, which eventually happened.
f. Our boss did not believe us and said that the coil should provide a healthier environment by providing a uniform magnetic field.
____________________
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Dizziness
I live in an apartment building in an urban area. Across from my apartment is the community room with free Wi-Fi, which I can use in my apartment. One of my symptoms is a balance problem: sometimes, I would feel like I am walking at an angle, occasionally even needing to hold onto something.
Many months after I got my own internet service (Wi-Fi), I noticed that I was getting dizzy more often and had to stop walking or reach out for support. The only thing that had changed in my life was the new internet service.
I eventually returned to using only the free Wi-Fi from the community room. The dizziness and balance problems decreased, eventually going back to a normal level. Since I am now aware of the problem, I would estimate that it would take about six weeks to know that I am getting too much exposure to WiFi. The change happens very slowly.
I will need to shield my apartment and have all components of my computer system wired, including wired modems and routers that do not emit Wi-Fi.
__________
a. Wi-Fi
b. Whenever I am at home, which is most of the time – 24/7.
c. The identified health effect is dizziness. The potential adverse health effects include fatigue, poor memory, poor sleep, tinnitus, irritability, weakness, and
pain.
d. Several months. Now that I know there is a problem and am looking for a change, and usage of the second Wi-Fi connection is almost eliminated (or excessive), I can identify it in about six weeks.
e. Treatment is to stop using and being exposed to Wi-Fi: that should decrease or eliminate dizziness and balance problems.
f. I need to shield the apartment (only a little has been done), buy modems and routers that do not emit RF/Wi-Fi, and run shielded cables where needed. To do this, I need money, energy, and feeling comfortable standing on a ladder. Very little has been done. I have not noticed any effect.
In as much as the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a request for input from the public on the health impacts of radiofrequency radiation, I am submitting my request that the RF limits be revisited and lowered in view of thousands of papers and studies indicating the adverse effects of RF on human, animal and plant health. (See the BioInitiative Report https://bioinitiative.org/)
I am responding both as the spouse of an individual with electromagnetic radiation syndrome (EMR Syndrome) and as a medical professional. I am a family and emergency medicine physician, MD, with more than 40 years of experience.
I have watched my wife suffer for years when exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Just going to church and being exposed to the Wi-Fi there and and cell phones of other church members will cause my wife to have a headache and brain fog for several days that does not respond to any analgesics. We keep our house level of electromagnetic radiation below 100 micro watts per meter squared, as measured by our Safe and Sound Pro II meter. We did this by hardwiring our home and keeping our cell phones on airplane mode with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off. in addition, we keep our cell phones under a Swiss shield protective cloth which reduces any radiation that the phones might emit. We have no “Smart” appliances, In this environment, she does not have headache or brain fog.
Every time my wife leaves home she is harmed to some degree. When she leaves the house to go to church or store or anywhere else, she wears a shawl that is 50% silver fibers to try to minimize her exposure. This it helps to some extent, but she still has to be careful and not spend any significant amount of time near cell phone towers or individuals who are on their cell phones. We have opted out from a smart meter to keep the radiation level low in our home. If we were to be forced to have a smart meter on our home, we would almost assuredly have to move because the radiation level would be harmful to my wife.
My wife has been evaluated by neurology, ENT, and primary care physicians. she has had an MRI of her head as well as other diagnostic studies. The only treatment that has been helpful is avoidance of electromagnetic radiation.
There is considerable scientific literature on EMR syndrome. An excellent review article is “Wireless technology is an environmental stressor requiring understanding and approaches in health care” McCredden, et al., Front. Public Health, 19 Dec 2022, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.986315/full
EMR syndrome is now recognized as a disability and has an ICD 10 billing code W90.0 for exposure to radiofrequency radiation.
As an MD, I have watched patients with chronic medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, endocrine diseases etc, fail to respond to appropriate treatment until they reduce radiation level by turning off their Wi-Fi and cell phone antennas. Once they do this, their body can begin to heal. I also have a daughter who has ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. My research in peer review literature shows that this condition is associated with exposure to multiple toxins including electromagnetic radiation. By hardwiring her house and keeping cell phones out of her room, as well as addressing mold toxicity, heavy metal toxicity, glyphosate and other toxicities, her loss of function has now stopped for over a year.
Health effects on children is extremely important. Numerous studies have shown that higher exposure to RF impairs learning. This is one review article that sites multiple studies that show adverse effects from radiation on children “Health effects of electromagnetic fields on children” Jin-Hwa Moon, Nov 2020 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics 62 (11):422-428. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341653064_Health_effects_of_electromagnetic_fields_on_children Studies also show a relationship with emotional and behavioral problems in children who are exposed to radiation. An example study is “Prospective cohort analysis of cellphone usage and emotional and behavioral difficulties” Sudan, et al, J Epidemiology Community Health. 2016 Dec;70(12):1207-1213. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27217533/
WiFi and cell phones must be prohibited in schools to maximize learning and minimize behavioral problems.
In view of the extensive scientific evidence, I strongly urge the Commission to find that the current RF limits are insufficient to protect human, animal, and plant health. The limits should be lowered to reflect the overwhelming evidence that exists of RF harms.
Sincerely,
David K Calderwood, MD
1313 Shadow Ridge Dr. SE
Huntsville, AL 35803
256-883-8022
I am against the widespread use of excessive Wireless radiation exposure. Everywhere we go there are towers and too much exposure that is unhealthy to our children and to all of us. I personally know individuals who have been exposed be in the schools that used excessive WiFi connections or in all public places. We are not paying attention to the health hazards of brain fog, headaches. Unexplained weakness and pain and many other health problems . Please be concerned . I believe there will be an epidemic of issues associated with prolonged excessive exposure to EMF and RF and wireless exposure
They put a new cell tower up by my office. I’ve noticed I’ve started getting headaches and brain fog more and more. Something I use to never get. I’ve also noticed arthritis in my hands, especially when I use my cell phone. Unfortunately my office does have a WiFi box right under my desk so that does not help matters. Everyday I can’t wait to clock out just so I can go home turn all the lights out and lay down. I know it’s the insane amount of emf I’m exploded to while working because on weekends and when I’m on vacation I do not experience this.
I have the worst digestive issues and I have exponential exposure to emf through the phone, hotspot, and through the electric towers on the powerline that I'm only 100 ft from. I generally don't have stomach issues when I'm out and about so much unless it's something really bad, but when I'm anywhere with high emf, my digestive symptoms are increased. I also had a infectious step bacteria in a building that had ungrounded/faulty outlets I could feel something funky in the building like it was buzzing. The strep became resistant to all antibiotics. Also was right next to several businesses and police precinct that most likely was using radio waves and advanced wifi. I can note that my symptoms are much less when I am away from everything out in the woods or away from a bunch of electronics, and when I leave my phone in the other room I do seem to have better stomach and digestive ability. I would like to know more about the possibility of the emf contribu to my quite disabling digestive disease, and what could actually block or limit the exposure if it is contributing to destroying my biota and enhancing bad bacteria?!
We turn our WiFi off at night because it impacts my husbands sleep. If we sit in the couch that is near the WiFi router when it is on we both get head aches and just feel off . We choose to keep it off unless we really need to use it because it impacts how we feel immediately if we are too close to.
I'm an individual and commenting on my experience with wireless and 5G. I have fiber optic wireless in my home and shut the router off at night. I cannot sleep at night with it on because my chest constricts, my breathing becomes labored, I toss and turn, I'm tired, but wired, I feel like I'm having an anxiety attack. I found that out the hard way staying over night at my Mom's and after telling her I didn't sleep at all she said my closet is where the wifi router is located. My thinking is more aggitated and less clear in a 5G environment which is hard not to be in these days - even in nature!! Some things I've used to cope is Biogeometry L90 penant. Extremely useful. I tested it at a house that had 5G and didn't get any of the anxiety type symptoms. I recommend looking into Dr. Ibrahim Karim who developed Biogeometry and used it successfully in a Swiss town that was having mental and physical health issues including the animals: https://www.biogeometry.ca/electrosmog-the-miracle-of-hemberg. He could retrofit all cell towers, smart homes, electric cars, and so forth with his technology to not only harmonize it but make it beneficial to all forms of life. The other thing I use is called a Rest Shield developed by Ken Rohla. His technology works and would be an excellent resource to enlist for help. He may be hesitant because his life gets threatened every time he brings technology forward that is healing to life.
Question 2: Perspective
My response represents the perspective of a family member and individual consumer.
Question 3: Personal Experiences and Reported Potential Adverse Health Effects
a. Types of wireless technology involved:
Our family’s symptoms appear linked to mobile phones, Wi-Fi networks, and cellular service infrastructure.
b. Nature, duration, frequency, and timing:
Symptoms occur consistently in environments with active wireless radiation or during direct use of cellular devices. The effects are more pronounced with prolonged exposure (e.g., using a cellphone for more than two hours per day) or when in close proximity to high densities of devices.
c. Potential adverse health effects:
Child (Son): Frequently suffers from nosebleeds when exposed to Wi-Fi and cellular service for extended periods. This is especially severe during prolonged cellphone use.
Adult (Wife): Experiences increased heart rate and cardiac irregularities (heart skipping a beat) when wireless radiation pulses (such as 5G) seem directed toward her device, or when multiple devices are active simultaneously.
Adult (Self): Experiences tingling sensations in fingers when working on a cellphone using cellular data.
d. Onset of symptoms:
Symptoms typically appear after consistent exposure over time.
e. Medical evaluation:
We have observed these patterns firsthand within our household.
f. Steps taken to reduce exposure:
To manage these symptoms, we have implemented significant mitigations. I have stopped using cellular data for work, instead using only a LAN-connected cellphone. We have eliminated WiFi from our home, even though we work from home and run a business as well as hold down a corporate leadership job working from home. We have observed that minimizing exposure in this way helps reduce the frequency and severity of these reported symptoms.
g. Supporting documentation and scientific context:
We urge the Department to consider that these reported experiences align with concerns regarding non-thermal biological effects. We draw the Department’s attention to the extensive body of peer-reviewed and published studies on the biological effects of wireless radiation available via
bioinitiative.org
. Additionally, we emphasize the findings of the
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/research/topics/cellphones
, which provide critical evidence regarding non-thermal risks that should be incorporated into federal health evaluations.
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 person who has experienced and continues to experience problems with EMFs, RF Radiation, and WI-FI. I discovered these as the source of my headaches about eighteen years ago and I have had to take numerous steps in my life to avoid these things.
When I lived in a city surrounded by towers, I lived with headaches every day and night. So I had to move to a place in a tiny village where I had no cell phone service in the house. When I moved here, there was only one cell tower within half a mile of my house, now there are three. I have hard cabled computer and Internet, not WI-FI, and I have hard wired phones, no walk-around phones. I also have no microwave. I do own a cell phone but I only use it when I am away from home, and then I use it with a shield covering it.
I had to pay thousands of dollars to remove the smart meter from the side of my home (the utility company refused my request to replace it with an analog meter), have it mounted on a power pole away from the house and bury the lines from the meter to the house, because whenever I was in the room where the smart meter was mounted on the outside, I could not stay more than several minutes before I got a headache and had to leave the room.
When driving across the country, I can point out the location of cell towers and commercial broadcast towers because of the location of the pain drilling into my head (left side, right side, front or back). When I am somewhere that has WI-FI, I get a headache (and almost everyplace has WI-FI!). When traveling, I have to request a motel room as far away from the WI-FI router as possible, and even then I have sometimes had to leave in the middle of the night because of a severe headache. I’ve even had to leave some stores because of the headache I get from their WI-FI.
When these things are strong, I sometimes also get nauseous. When I get away from the sources of EMFs and RFs, I feel fine.
I am not the only person I know who is affected in this way. One of my cousins has now taken to wearing a hat lined with EMF/RF-blocking material because of the severe headaches he experiences. He even has to wear this in the office where he works.
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.