{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6734","number":"6734","name":"Kellie Pintos","organization":"","posted":"2026-10-28T04:00Z","received":"2026-10-20T04:00Z","body":"RE: Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure\nDocket: HHS-OASH-2026-0397\n\nPerspective (Q2): Individual with compound heterozygous MTHFR (C677T + A1298C), elevated homocysteine, atherosclerosis with plaque, osteoarthritis, chronic tinnitus, cardiac issues, hypertension of undetermined cause, and hypersensitivity to medications, chemicals, and environmental factors.\n\nI submit this comment to share personal experiences and support research on vulnerable populations.\n\nQ3: I experience chronic tinnitus, cardiac issues, hypertension of undetermined cause, elevated homocysteine, atherosclerosis with plaque, and osteoarthritis. I am highly hypersensitive to medications, chemicals, and other exposures. I also have fatigue, sleep disruption, and cognitive difficulties (brain fog, concentration/memory problems). These have not been fully explained by standard evaluations. I am concerned that cumulative or modulated RF/EMF exposures may contribute or exacerbate symptoms given my genetic background and elevated homocysteine.\n\nQ11: I am compound heterozygous for MTHFR C677T and A1298C with elevated homocysteine and atherosclerosis. This genotype substantially reduces enzyme activity (~30–50% of normal), impairing methylation, raising homocysteine risk, lowering glutathione, and increasing oxidative stress vulnerability. Elevated homocysteine is a cardiovascular risk factor and can affect NMDA receptors and calcium signaling.\n\nProposed non-thermal RF/EMF mechanisms (voltage-gated calcium channel activation, excess intracellular calcium, nitric oxide/peroxynitrite, and reactive oxygen species) may interact with these vulnerabilities. People with this genotype, elevated homocysteine, chemical hypersensitivity, or cardiovascular disease may be a sensitive subgroup not fully protected by thermal-only limits.\n\nQ11 (Children): A 2026 study (Wydaeghe et al., Phys Med Biol 71:175006) found child models had 1.5–1.9× higher whole-body SAR than adults below 6 GHz. Beamforming created local SAR hotspots exceeding limits even when external exposure met reference levels.\n\nQ12: Salford et al. (1994) reported increased blood-brain barrier permeability in rats after 915 MHz exposure. Larger studies (NTP, Ramazzini) also found effects at higher levels. Further research is needed on non-thermal effects in susceptible individuals.\n\nQ13/Q16: Wireless Body Area Networks operate close to the body in RF bands including 2.4 GHz (Zhong et al., Sensors 2022, 22:3539). Real-world multi-source exposures and 5G beamforming differ from single-source assumptions. Priorities should include genotype-stratified studies (MTHFR compound heterozygotes), people with elevated homocysteine or cardiovascular disease, chemical/electromagnetic hypersensitivity, cumulative exposure methods, and transparent disclosure of device/infrastructure metrics.\n\nI urge HHS, FDA, NIH, and CDC to take reports of unexplained tinnitus, cardiac issues, hypertension, elevated homocysteine, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and hypersensitivity seriously; fund independent research on genetic/metabolic modifiers of RF/EMF response; and evaluate whether current standards protect vulnerable groups. \n\nThank you.\n\nSupporting references:  \n\nWydaeghe et al. 2026\nhttps://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ae97ac\n  \nSalford et al. 1994\nhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8012056\n\nZhong et al. 2022\nhttps://doi.org/10.3390/s22093539\n\n\n\n","attachments":[],"attachment_inventory":true,"withheld":false,"source":"https://www.regulations.gov/comment/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6734","tags":["child-development","health-experiences","sleep-cognition","biology-metabolism","exposure-places","research-evidence"],"source_hash":"196a60c48d0250131aa80186bda0340b1255c654b7c591df4c863976bc8c7679","slug":"child-development-comment-6734","classification":{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6734","body_sha256":"24802ac07cfd5df87731d0767c81088d45aa9129b5063d01da3865b05c19cdb1","status":"ai_reviewed","primary_topic":"mechanisms","topics":[{"id":"mechanisms","evidence":"genetic/metabolic modifiers of RF/EMF response"},{"id":"cardiac","evidence":"cardiac issues, hypertension of undetermined cause"},{"id":"research","evidence":"genotype-stratified studies"},{"id":"children","evidence":"Q11 (Children)"},{"id":"standards","evidence":"evaluate whether current standards protect vulnerable groups"}],"summary":"Reports genetic, cardiovascular and neurological conditions and concerns about cumulative exposure, proposes biological susceptibility mechanisms, and requests genotype-stratified research and standards protective of vulnerable groups.","reviewed_at":"2026-10-28T23:54:32Z","review_method":"Full comment-text review with exact source evidence; attachments not reviewed","review_source_sha256":"22e1fcea0486172d26ebbd2cac319e5375fcc72e08100c687775fa370c435100","source_url":"https://rfsafe.net/hhs-comments/data/catalog.json","scope":"Original comment body; attachments excluded"},"forum_topics":["mechanisms","cardiac","research","children","standards"],"primary_topic":"mechanisms","forum_title":"Reports genetic, cardiovascular and neurological conditions and concerns about cumulative exposure, propo…"}