{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6454","number":"6454","name":"Monique Maisenhalter, SWORT Group","organization":"","posted":"2026-10-28T04:00Z","received":"2026-10-21T04:00Z","body":"Thank you for requesting public comments about RF wireless radiation, as well as other forms of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF), including extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields from power lines, electrical grid equipment, appliances, and other sources.  \n\nThe U.S. government’s safety limits have not kept up with Americans' use and exposure to technology.    The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) RF wireless radiation exposure guidelines have not been updated since 1996 and in 2019, the agency declined to change them.\nhttps://www.fcc.gov/general/radio-frequency-safety-0\n\nMeanwhile EMF emissions are increasing as new 765 kV high-voltage transmission lines have been proposed for AI data centers and wireless infrastructure continues to be deployed.\n\nI am the Ohio Point Person for Children’s Health Defense (CHD) EMR + Wireless Coalition and a board member of SWORT (Southwest Ohio for Responsible Technology).  SWORT is a non-partisan grassroots group with members throughout Ohio.  We receive no funding.  We hear from Ohioans who have been injured from EMF exposure and/or they have loved ones who have been injured. There is only so much we can do to help them.  We advise that they eliminate all wireless sources in their homes but this is not always possible as not all utility providers allow consumers to “opt out” of their wireless “smart” meters.  Having a wireless-free home isn’t always enough either, for example in situations when wireless emitting infrastructure (cell towers, etc.) has been installed near their homes.  Not everyone can afford to shield their homes or move to a safer location.  \n\nWe also regularly refer Ohioans to national organizations for advice on how to address these issues.  There is only so much these organizations can do to help them as well.  \n\nCurrently there are Americans of all ages whose health is being compromised by EMF exposure.  Some are truly suffering and they have no way to protect themselves from it.  This will only get worse if U.S. government agencies do not immediately take action to resolve this.  So I ask that HHS do everything in its power to immediately address all of this now. See below for a list of links for review.  Thank you for your consideration.  \n\nStudies of radiofrequency (RF) radiation have reported:\nIncreased cancer risk  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935122011781\n\nNeurological effects https://ejournal.lucp.net/index.php/mjn/article/view/4348\n\nGenetic damage https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-60822-1\n\nBiochemical changes https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935122011781\n\nCognitive effects https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1557988318816914\n\nImpacts to sleep  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935121000281\n\nMore research:\n\nU.S. Policy on Wireless Technologies and Public Health Protection: Regulatory Gaps and Proposed Reforms https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1677583/full\n\nICBE-EMF Policymaker Factsheet Cell Tower,  Wireless Radiation and Policy Recommendations  \nhttps://icbe-emf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ICBE-EMF-Policymaker-Factsheet- \n\nSafeguarding Children’s Health in the Digital Age: Addressing Screen Time, Wireless Radiation, and Extremely Low Frequency Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposures \nhttps://icbe-emf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ICBE-EMF-Child-Health-Cell-Phone-Cell-Tower-EMF-Position-Statement-PDF-982026-1.pdf\n\nExposure limits to radiofrequency EMF do not account for cancer risk or reproductive toxicity assessed from data in experimental animals https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12940-026-01288-6\n\nMcCredden, J. E., Cook, N., Weller, S., & Leach, V. (2022). Wireless technology is an environmental stressor requiring new understanding and approaches in health care. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 894447. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.894447\n\nMiller, A. B., Sears, M. E., Morgan, L. L., Davis, D. L., Hardell, L., Oremus, M., & Soskolne, C. L. (2019). Risks to health and well-being from radio-frequency radiation emitted by cell phones and other wireless devices. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, Article 223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00223\n\nEvidence for a health risk by RF on humans living around mobile phone base stations: From radiofrequency sickness to cancer https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935122011781\n\nLinks from national organizations: \n\nhttps://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/\n\nhttps://www.ehn.org/cancer-wireless-radiation-limits\n\nhttps://www.saferemr.com/2018/02/effects-of-exposure-to-electromagnetic.html\n\nhttps://ehtrust.org/send-science-to-the-fcc-govt-is-asking-for-evidence-you-can-help-now/\n\nhttps://www.ehn.org/effects-emf-power-lines\n\nhttps://childrenshealthdefense.org/electromagnetic-radiation-wireless/\n","attachments":[],"attachment_inventory":true,"withheld":false,"source":"https://www.regulations.gov/comment/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6454","tags":["cancer-tumors","child-development","health-experiences","sleep-cognition","biology-metabolism","exposure-places","policy-standards","research-evidence"],"source_hash":"2535c7427e5a12cd4db2068a6b10075013cb4e4c69b2941946c3485ba85b8862","slug":"cancer-tumors-comment-6454","classification":{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6454","body_sha256":"0dbc6199d542debeeb830124cdc329b6068099bb03991ecade9db2756a392494","status":"ai_reviewed","primary_topic":"standards","topics":[{"id":"standards","evidence":" and other sources.  \n\nThe U.S. government’s safety limits have not kept up with Americans' use and exposure to technology."},{"id":"smart-meters","evidence":"ow consumers to “opt out” of their wireless “smart” meters.  Having a wireless-free home isn’t always enough either"},{"id":"electricity","evidence":"e EMF emissions are increasing as new 765 kV high-voltage transmission lines have been proposed for AI data centers and wireless infrastructu"},{"id":"access","evidence":" etc.) has been installed near their homes.  Not everyone can afford to shield their homes or move to a safer location.  \n\nWe also re"},{"id":"research","evidence":"eview.  Thank you for your consideration.  \n\nStudies of radiofrequency (RF) radiation have reported:\nIncreased cancer risk  https://www"}],"summary":"An Ohio advocate describes reported health effects and limited options for affected residents, requests urgent federal action on exposure standards, and supplies research references spanning wireless and power-line concerns.","reviewed_at":"2026-10-28T23:54:32Z","review_method":"Full comment-text review with exact source evidence; attachments not reviewed","review_source_sha256":"946379100630fa6bace93baef50f5c4df60e3e20655d6217a77eebc76ebdb760","source_url":"https://rfsafe.net/hhs-comments/data/catalog.json","scope":"Original comment body; attachments excluded"},"forum_topics":["standards","smart-meters","electricity","access","research"],"primary_topic":"standards","forum_title":"An Ohio advocate describes reported health effects and limited options for affected residents, requests u…"}