What's the problem with wireless radiation?

We're a group of Hartford residents who are concerned with the high levels of wireless radiation in our communities. We hope you'll join us in both learning  about the health risks of that radiation and working to reduce it in our local community. 

Wireless radiation is emitted when data (information) is transmitted from one entity to another by sending a signal through open-space (without a cable connecting the two entities). These wireless signals are transmitted by cell phone towers, cell phones, wifi routers, computers, devices equipped with bluetooth, microwave ovens, and so on. The new 5G technology is one recent version of some of these wireless technologies. 

When information (signals) are transmitted across open space (rather than contained within a cable), we get to avoid messy, unsightly wires. But the often-ignored result is that as those signals are then transmitted across open space, our bodies are often caught in between the transmitter and receiver. This means these signals are constantly bombarding our bodies (this is what we call "radiation"). 

Our bodies are fundamentally electromagnetic systems that operate based on the transmission and reception of electric signals (or messages). What happens when the signals meant to flow from a cell tower to a phone or from a computer to a printer "bump" into our bodies? Current research suggests that those signals communicate very dangerous messages to our body: messages that can result in: DNA damage, cell death, cancer, dementia, anxiety, decreased fertility, hormonal disturbances, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and more. 

In recent years, declarations about the risks of 5G have become associated with "conspiracy" stories.  This is largely because the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) and the telecommunications companies that it's meant to regulate have spent billions crafting an intoxicating (albeit deceiving) narrative. They claim that 5G and other forms of wireless technology (microwaves, bluetooth devices, wifi routers, cell phones, smart meters, etc.) are perfectly "safe."  In reality, they deployed 5G before they had even tested its safety, and  there is a robust body of scientific literature--and an even more extensive archive of personal testimonies--that suggest its very harmful to humans and other life forms. 

The problem is, the FCC's definition of "safe" does NOT account for some of the most troubling risks of exposure to wireless radiation. The FCC focuses on whether or not wireless radiation causes heat damage, but some of the most significant impacts of wireless radiation are entirely  non-thermal. 

Of the recent peer-reviewed studies that were NOT funded by telecommunications companies, the  majority show indications that even relatively low levels of WIRELESS RADIATION ARE HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND OTHER SPECIES. 

Wireless radiation has been shown to pose increased risks of the following:

• cancer & DNA damage [iii]
• neurological, cognitive, & behavioral difficulties, including learning, memory & attention issues [iv] 
• fetal maldevelopment & reproductive challenges like infertility [v] 
• cardiovascular problems & more [vi]

Children are particularly vulnerable to these risks. In the informational packets included when you buy a new cell phone, you'll note that cell phone manufacturers have to disclose the health risks of holding a transmitting cell phone close to the body for any length of time. These "safety" standards are established by testing  adult males of approximately 200 lbs. The risks for younger and smaller bodies is significantly more dire. 

Across the world, thousands of physicians and researchers  have been calling on government officials to take the public health risks of wireless radiation more seriously [viii]. Some countries (like France, Germany, Sweden, and Italy) have banned wifi in schools or prohibited cell towers from being placed in close proximity to schools or residential areas [i]. But in the United States, state and local governments have very little jurisdiction over where cell towers are placed. In many cases, telecommunications companies don't even have to notify government officials before they install new 5G towers or other wireless radiation-emitting devices. The Federal Communication Commision (FCC) has been more concerned with safeguarding the profits of telecommunications companies than with protecting our public health. A recent report from Harvard called the FCC a "captured agency.' meaning it had so many conflicts of interest it was no longer bound to the citizens (but instead, "captured" by corporate interest) [ii] 

Many experts suggest that this is the "public health crisis" of our day.  And yet, there is still a significant amount of research (funded by the companies who stand to profit) that claim that wireless radiation is "safe." Just like prior public health issues (e.g. smoking/nicotine), the public is being force fed a narrative that protects corporate profits at the expense of our health. Framing critiques of 5G and other sources of wireless radiation as "conspiracy stories" is one of many ways that these corporations protect the status quo. We believe it's well past time for change. 

Our coalition was formed out of the belief that our health is more important than telecommunications' profit margins. We hope you'll agree.

-- Drafted in June '23 by Rachael Stephens, Member of Greater Hartford Coalition for Safe Technology

References listed below (for full citations please click on the Resources page) 

For full references, see "Current Science" tab. 

[i] Stam 2018; Connexion 2017; Silva 2013

[ii] Alster 2015

[iii] NTP 2018ab; Smith-Roe et al. 2020; Falcioni et al. 2018

[iv] Pikov et al. 2010; Pakhom et al 1997; Jiang et al. 2024; Zwamborn et al. 2003; Wang et al. 2023; Aldad et al. 2012; Ntzouni et al. 2012

[v] Kesari and Behari 2010; Rago et al. 2013; Baste et al. 2012; Møllerløkken & Moen 2008; Türedi Et al 2014; Aldad et al. 2012

[vi] Saili et al. 2015

[viii] https://phiremedical.org/2020-nir-consensus-statement-signatories/ https://emfscientist.org/index.php/emf-scientist-appeal