The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to officially launch a research project on the impact of mobile phone electromagnetic radiation on health. The study is being led by the current HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and was initially disclosed by The Wall Street Journal.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed on Thursday, January 15th, that the research aims to systematically examine the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and health, identify knowledge gaps in existing research, and pay particular attention to the risks that new technologies may bring to ensure public safety and the effectiveness of technological applications.
Nixon pointed out that the research is based on the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) commission strategy report, spearheaded by President Donald Trump.
Previously, within the framework of this initiative, 22 states had limited the use of mobile phones by students on school campuses to improve the physical and mental health of minors. This research will focus on the scientific evidence regarding electromagnetic radiation and health, rather than immediately adjusting regulatory standards.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the auspices of HHS, recently quietly removed some old web pages that explicitly stated that mobile phones do not pose health hazards.
Nixon explained that the FDA removed content based on “old conclusions” to align with the ongoing research by HHS. Currently, the FDA website still retains relevant summaries and explanations of regulatory roles, but the specific conclusive statements are no longer directly accessible.
Despite the research being conducted by HHS, several authoritative institutions maintain their existing judgments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and some pages of the FDA still state that there is no credible evidence to suggest that mobile phone radiation causes health problems.
The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also indicates that existing evidence shows that mobile phone use does not cause human brain cancer or other types of cancer.
Both the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), responsible for setting radiofrequency emission limits, and the World Health Organization (WHO) hold similar views. However, WHO points out that the risk of brain cancer from long-term (over 15 years) mobile phone use is still worthy of continuous research.
Kennedy has long advocated for a more cautious approach to wireless radiation. He has publicly questioned the scientific basis of FCC’s wireless radiation safety standards. In 2021, in related litigation, the US federal appeals court ruled that the FCC had not adequately addressed some opinions concerning potential health risks and requested the agency to provide further explanations regarding the assessments.
Furthermore, Kennedy also suggests a possible link between mobile phone use and diseases such as brain tumors. In a podcast interview in 2023, he stated that American children are currently “soaking in a toxic environment” and believes that mobile phones and Wi-Fi radiation may be linked to the rise in chronic diseases.