CDC Retracts its Precautionary Health Warning about Cell Phone Radiation

BERKELEY, Calif. - Aug. 21, 2014 - PRLog -- On June 9^th of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised the three-year old “Frequently Asked Questions about Cell Phones and Your Health,” on its web site.

A week ago we issued a press release commending CDC for advising the public about the need for caution regarding cell phone radiation exposure, especially among children (“CDC Issues Precautionary Health Warnings about Cell Phone Radiation”; 8/13/2014; http://www.prlog.org/12359483).

CDC’s new precautionary warning policy was consistent with the policies of more than a dozen national health and radiation safety agencies in developed nations around the world.

Following our press release, Microwave News published a report about this important new policy development in the U.S. (“CDC Calls for Caution on Cell Phones”; 8/16/2014; http://microwavenews.com/news-center/cdc-endorses-precaution).

Today, the CDC updated the FAQs and removed the precautionary advice it published ten weeks earlier.

Approximately 100 experts on electromagnetic radiation and health have signed declarations that were submitted to the FCC calling for precaution. It’s likely these experts would unanimously support CDC’s precautionary warning (“FCC: 98 Scientific Experts Demand Stronger Regulation of Cellphone Radiation; 8/4/2014; http://www.prlog.org/12355167 (../12355167))?

Knowing how much administrative oversight CDC typically provides its media relations unit, we doubt that the CDC’s new policy statements were simply a mistake. What influenced CDC to retract its June 9^th policy statements on cell phone use?

Following are the responses that CDC altered to three of the questions in its cell phone FAQs (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/cell_phones._FAQ.html ).

(1)  “Can using a cell phone cause cancer?”

June 9: “There is no scientific evidence that provides a definite answer to that question. Along with many organizations worldwide, we recommend caution in cell phone use. More research is needed before we know for sure if using cell phones causes cancer.”

August 20: “There is no scientific evidence that provides a definite answer to that question. Some organizations recommend caution in cell phone use. More research is needed before we know if using cell phones causes health effects.”

(2) Should people stop using cell phones?

June 9: “Scientific studies are ongoing. Someday cellphones may be found to cause health problems we are not aware of at this time. However it is also important to consider the benefits of cell phones. They can be valuable in an urgent or emergency situation – and even save lives.”

August 20: “At this time we do not have the science to link health problems to cell phone use. Scientific studies are underway to determine whether cell phone use may cause health effects. It is also important to consider the benefits of cell phones. Their use can be valuable in an urgent or emergency situation – and even save lives.”

(3) Do cell phones cause health problems in children?

June 9: "It’s too soon to know for sure. Children who use cell phones – and continue to use them as they get older – are likely to be around RF for many years. If RF does cause health problems, kids who use cell phones may have a higher chance of developing these problems in the future."

August 20: “It’s not known if cell phone use by children can cause health problems.”


Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley

Electromagnetic Radiation Safety
http://www.saferemr.com/