{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-5132","number":"5132","name":"Anonymous Anonymous","organization":"","posted":"2026-10-27T04:00Z","received":"2026-10-21T04:00Z","body":"Comment on: \nRequest for Information on \nElectromagnetic Fields (EMFs), \nRadiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and \nWireless Radiation Exposure (HHS–OASH–2026–0397)\n\nIntro: \nThe purpose of this comment is to both share my experiences and suggest new RF/EMF research priorities.\n\nPersonal experiences: \nI have experienced several health effects that may be tied to mobile phone usage.  While using a 4g phone to connect to the Internet I have experienced the following: numbness in the fingers of each hand, digestive disturbances after holding the phone near my abdominal area for extended periods of time, a sensation of warm-tingling in my thigh and groin area when the phone was set on automatic update and carried in my front pocket, and irritability at times following using the device.  I have also noticed irritability in others such as family members or coworkers after device use.  \n\nI believe the effects I have experienced personally or noticed in others have a biological basis and aren't just psychosomatic.\n\nFuture research:\nI have an advanced biology degree and have been interested in following the RF/EMF debate for years.  \n\nI am aware that some research suggests no RF/EMF health effects. However, other research has concluded there are enough measurable health effects to warrant additional studies (1,2,3).\n\nI would like to suggest a research area that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may not have considered.  I believe HHS funding of the research area below would greatly advance our understanding of RF/EMF health effects.\n\n\nResearch Priority 1: \nEffects of RF/EMF on the Human Microbiome. \n\nBackground: \nThe human Microbiome is a mixture of body inhabiting microorganisms.  These microorganisms outnumber human cells by a factor of 10 and a factor of 150 when comparing the number of bacterial genes to human genes (4). The Microbiome has and still is being researched to understand its influence on disease states, mental health, intelligence, and other behaviors (5,6,7). Research has shown RF/EMF fields can also exert influence on bacterial growth characteristics, gene expression and gut metabolite formation (8,9). Thus, RF/EMF interactions with the human Microbiome may influence human health, intelligence, mental illness, and other behaviors.\n\nAreas for study:\n\nIt would be helpful to:\n\nI. Systematically research and catalog changes in gene expression when the human Microbiome is exposed to RF/EMF fields.  \n(Especially gene expression of gut microbes.)\n\nIi. Systematically research and catalog any epigenetic changes that occur when the human Microbiome is exposed to RF/EMF fields. \n(Studying the epigenetic changes may also allow a way to determine past exposures to RF/EMF fields.)\n\nIii. Systematically research and catalog metabolite alterations when the human Microbiome is exposed to RF/EMF fields. \n(Especially any metabolites that would influence mental or physical health.)\n\n\nReferences:\n\n1 Non-ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. -\nIARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 102. https://publications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Non-ionizing-Radiation-Part-2-Radiofrequency-Electromagnetic-Fields-2013\n\n2. More from Lai-Singh on ELF EMFs and DNA Breaks.\nhttps://microwavenews.com/news-center/more-lai-singh-elf-emfs-and-dna-breaks\n\n3. ACS Responds to New Study Linking Cell Phone Radiation to Cancer.\nhttps://pressroom.cancer.org/NTP2016\n\n4. Taxonomy in the age of genomics.\nhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/human-microbiome\n\n5. Gut Bacteria Might Guide The Workings Of Our Minds.\nhttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds\n\n6 The secret to human intelligence? It might be in our gut.\nhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260105165806.htm\n\n7. The gut–brain connection: microbes’ influence on mental health and psychological disorders.\nhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiomes/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2025.1701608/full\n\n8. The response of human bacteria to static magnetic field and radiofrequency electromagnetic field. \nhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12275-017-7208-7\n\n9. Effects of radiofrequency field from 5G communication on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in mice. \nhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-53842-2.pdf\n\n\n","attachments":[],"attachment_inventory":true,"withheld":false,"source":"https://www.regulations.gov/comment/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-5132","tags":["cancer-tumors","biology-metabolism","exposure-places","research-evidence"],"source_hash":"f410929e0d6646119c44e6de90864d374ae60bd57d60c49169dd81223e1a1cab","slug":"cancer-tumors-comment-5132","classification":{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-5132","body_sha256":"347264f3081065986f02525c5945775f32466a96dd06935bf9e0143921e7c531","status":"ai_reviewed","primary_topic":"neurological","topics":[{"id":"neurological","evidence":"e Internet I have experienced the following: numbness in the fingers of each hand, digestive disturbances after holding the phone nea"},{"id":"research","evidence":"/EMF health effects.\n\n\nResearch Priority 1: \nEffects of RF/EMF on the Human Microbiome. \n\nBackground: \nThe human Microbiome is a mixture of body inhabi"},{"id":"mechanisms","evidence":" to:\n\nI. Systematically research and catalog changes in gene expression when the human Microbiome is exposed to RF/EMF fields.  \n(Especi"}],"summary":"Reports possible phone-related sensory and digestive symptoms and proposes systematic studies of RF effects on microbial gene expression, epigenetics and metabolites.","reviewed_at":"2026-10-27T19:20:49Z","review_method":"Full comment-text review with exact source evidence; attachments not reviewed","review_source_sha256":"978ef4fb955bb05951e561603716dc24a5bc3f433201c5422ba9d68507a6a146","source_url":"https://rfsafe.net/hhs-comments/data/catalog.json","scope":"Original comment body; attachments excluded"},"forum_topics":["neurological","research","mechanisms"],"primary_topic":"neurological","forum_title":"Reports possible phone-related sensory and digestive symptoms and proposes systematic studies of RF effec…"}