Wi-Fi & indoor exposure

I am writing to tell my story of how EMF has affected my life and health. I have been suffering from this for about 25 years. My symptoms are many, but the worse ones are burning skin (feeling like I'm on fire, like someone is burning me with a hot iron) and the heart palpitations. Other symptoms are: headaches, muscle and joint pain, memory loss, brain fog, nausea, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, leg & foot pain, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, itching, facial and neck flushing, swelling in my face, eyes burn, throat burns, pressure in my eyes, digestive problems, abdominal discomfort/pain, ringing in the ears, allergies, dryness of my lips and in my eyes. I have taken every measure to help me feel better by turning off the blue tooth and wi-fi on my cell phone and in my car, I've unplugged certain things in my house for example our sleep number bed has been unplugged. I try to avoid certain places where there will be many people with their cell phones/technology. I get very sick when I am at a mall shopping or at a church where there is a lot of technology. When I'm around all the EMR I get violent headaches, nausea, weakness, brain fog, etc. I have been getting laser treatments as needed, when my body can't handle anymore toxicity, which seem to help for a few months. Please help put a stop to the advancement of all this technology, which is killing us. Thank you, Jackie Remme

I am a registered nurse with more than a decade of experience in healthcare, and my experience with electromagnetic sensitivity developed in the context of a significant environmental illness. My health initially declined after living in a water-damaged, mold-contaminated home. I developed severe neurological and systemic symptoms, including vertigo, tinnitus, cognitive changes, headaches, sleep disruption, and other symptoms that dramatically affected my ability to function. After leaving that environment, my health improved significantly. I eventually moved into a different home and initially felt well there. That is when I began recognizing something I had not previously understood: electromagnetic exposures appeared to trigger some of my neurological symptoms even when I was no longer living in the mold-contaminated environment. I began noticing repeatable patterns with certain exposures. Turning on Wi-Fi could bring on unusual neurological sensations in my head. Certain electronics could trigger sharp headaches and uncomfortable sensations in my chest or heartbeat. Increasing my distance from these sources, turning wireless devices off, and hard-wiring equipment often reduced the symptoms. What made this particularly interesting to me as a nurse was that I did not react equally to every electronic environment. For example, I could work around hard-wired hospital computers without experiencing the same degree of symptoms. That made me begin paying closer attention to the type and characteristics of the exposure rather than assuming that all electronics affected me equally. I am not claiming that my experience proves that electromagnetic exposure caused these symptoms. I am reporting a pattern that became sufficiently reproducible that I could no longer dismiss it. My experience also raises a question that I believe deserves serious research: Could environmental illness or other biological stressors make some individuals more susceptible to electromagnetic exposures? In my case, the sensitivity became apparent following a period of significant illness associated with a water-damaged building. I encourage HHS to investigate people who report electromagnetic sensitivity rather than studying only healthy populations. Research should examine whether previous environmental exposures, chronic inflammation, neurological injury, or other biological factors may identify susceptible subgroups. Controlled and blinded exposure studies could help determine whether reported symptoms correspond with measurable physiological or neurological changes. There is still much we do not understand. As both a nurse and someone who has personally experienced this phenomenon, I believe patient experiences like mine should be treated as observations worthy of investigation—not as proof of causation, but as signals that can help us ask better scientific questions. I hope HHS will pursue rigorous, independent research into electromagnetic exposure, individual susceptibility, cumulative exposure, and the experiences of people reporting electromagnetic sensitivity.

Yes I'm highly sensitive to emf. When I'm in close range to any wireless, Bluetooth or 5G My skin feels like it's burning, I start sweating, hard to think straight, my eyes will flutter, I get anxious, hard to sleep, get headaches, ears hurt, etc.

I have self-diagnosed EHS (Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome). I choose to live in a rural area away from wifi hotspots, cell phone towers, and 5G antennas. And the home I live in has an analogue meter instead of an AMI (Smart meter). After 20 minutes of exposure to AMI technology (within 30-40 feet), or RF/EMF, I start to experience mood disorders, neurological problems, and pain. This includes anger, anxiety, and what feels like needles poking into my brain. After about 30-60min of exposure, my symptoms increase to include panic attacks, neck and shoulder pain, dizziness, and suicidal thoughts. Because of the prevalence of RF/EMF, I cannot be inside a mall or large grocery store for more than 30 minutes before the pain/dizziness begins. I cannot be inside smaller businesses, such as restaurants, libraries, and doctor offices, for more than an hour. I cannot hang out at the homes of friends and family unless I stay 30-40 feet away from their smart meters and RF/EMF emitting devices. I cannot use a smart phone, nor can I be around other peoples’ smart phones while in use. And when I use my flip phone to make/receive calls, I have to hold it 2 feet away from my head. And I cannot live within one mile of a cell phone tower. In the past, I’ve bought several different RF/EMF blocking materials and devices to shield myself from this radiation, but they didn’t work. I recognize that I am abnormally sensitive. I attribute that sensitivity to the 2 medical conditions I’ve been diagnosed with: The first is dysautonomia (an impaired autonomic nervous system), and second, I have myalgic encephalomyelitis, aka ME, (a chronic low-grade inflammation in my brain). Sensitive individuals like myself should probably be taken seriously. We are the canaries in the coal mine: an early indicator of potential danger. But...I’ve noticed that the vast majority of the information of EHS, on the internet, is derogatory. Some websites have suggested that suffers, like me, are mentally ill, or that we are “making it up.” This is a painful reality, but I try to remind myself that this is how it goes with new illnesses until enough public awareness is achieved. Jack Dorsy (Twitter founder) is also a sufferer – maybe he will help raise awareness someday.

Our story is vey simple. When our daughter was young we discovered that when the home wifi was on, she woke up repeatedly during the night. When the wifi was off, she slept right through the night. We are lucky that our home gets almost no external wifi signals and we’re able to create a clean environment with wired ethernet.

I am submitting this comment as an individual member of the public because I have personal concerns and experiences involving electromagnetic fields (EMF), radiofrequency (RF) radiation, wireless technology, and possible effects on health. For around five years, I have considered myself a so-called “targeted individual.” I believe I have been subjected to electromagnetic exposure that I associate with what I perceive as targeting, including exposure I believe may come from 5G infrastructure and satellites. I understand that I cannot independently prove the source of these exposures or establish that they are deliberately directed at me. I am asking HHS to investigate concerns like mine seriously rather than simply dismissing them. During this period I have experienced symptoms including skin rashes, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty sleeping, and problems with concentration. These experiences have affected my daily life. I have sought medical help and diagnosis, but I felt that the healthcare professionals I encountered were not sufficiently informed about possible electromagnetic exposure. I felt that some of the approaches taken did not address the concerns I was trying to explain. I have also used an RF meter in my home. I observed what appeared to me to be significant RF readings even when I was not aware of a nearby 5G tower and mainly knew of Wi-Fi or other wireless equipment in the area. I understand that a consumer RF meter reading alone cannot identify the exact source of a signal, determine whether an exposure is harmful, or prove that exposure caused a symptom. However, these observations made me concerned about how much wireless radiation people may actually encounter in their homes and local communities. I believe there needs to be more independent research into long-term and cumulative exposure to RF and EMF. Research should look at real-world exposure, including 5G, future 6G systems, Wi-Fi, satellites, smart meters, wireless medical devices, wearable technology, Internet of Things devices, smart homes, and other sources people encounter every day. I would like HHS and other relevant agencies to examine whether current exposure standards adequately reflect long-term, repeated, and combined exposure from many wireless sources. Exposure should also be measured in a consistent and transparent way so people can better understand what they are being exposed to in homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. I believe healthcare professionals should have access to balanced information about electromagnetic exposure. This information should clearly distinguish what is established, what remains uncertain, and how people reporting symptoms can be properly evaluated without automatically assuming that EMF exposure is either the cause or not the cause. I am also concerned about privacy and the possibility of unwanted surveillance or monitoring. I have concerns that government agencies or other organizations could potentially use technology in ways that people do not understand or consent to. I recognize that concerns about government surveillance are not the same as verified evidence that surveillance is occurring. I believe these issues should still be subject to appropriate legal safeguards, oversight, transparency, and independent investigation. I do not believe people who live peacefully and have committed no crime should be subjected to secret technological monitoring or interference. Government use of advanced technologies should have clear legal authority, meaningful oversight, accountability, and protections for individual privacy and civil rights. I also believe we should consider whether every new wireless technology is necessary and whether wired alternatives can be used where practical. People should have meaningful choices about how much wireless technology they use in their homes and workplaces. My concerns are not only about children. I believe the entire population deserves clear information about environmental exposure to RF and EMF. Research should also examine whether different groups may experience different levels of exposure or sensitivity. I would also like more research into possible environmental effects, including effects on wildlife and ecosystems, as wireless infrastructure continues to expand. Most importantly, I am asking for independent, transparent, long-term research. I am not asking HHS to accept my personal interpretation as established scientific fact. I am asking for my experience, and the experiences of other people reporting similar concerns, to be treated as information that can be investigated properly. The public deserves clear information about electromagnetic exposure, better ways to measure it, honest communication about uncertainty, stronger privacy protections, and research that is independent from commercial or other conflicts of interest. Thank you for providing members of the public with an opportunity to comment on this issue.

I experience heart palpitations from wireless modems and other wireless devices that emit strong current. They are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous heart arrhythmias that reliably happen when I am quite near a strong wireless source. For that reason, I have to avoid using wireless in my house, which is getting increasingly difficult. I would appreciate policy that requires essential systems like utilities and internet to be accessed through hard wiring as well as wireless, and requires hard wire options to be built into essential electronics like phones, printers,TVs, computers, and especially medical equipment. And allows wireless emission to be turned off on those devices that use it, rather than have it be continuous and unremitting. I would also appreciate policy that allows for local zoning of any cell transmission stations/towers and regulates placement of 5G transmissiom sources to be at reasonable distance from residences. It is especially dismaying that the FCC is allowing discontinuation of copper landlines. I have several health conditions that require occasional emergency treatment and without in-home wireless service cannot rely on my mobile phone in an emergency. In storms local cable and FIOS are not reliable and not having a landline available will seriously endanger my health. I am also dismayed to find if I want to refuse a new smart meter installation by National Grid, I have to pay an additional monthly fee of $29, a rather coercive disincentive considering the enormous profits this company enjoys. This is a hardship for a senior on fixed income as I am. Thank you.

Bonjour, Je suis devenue électro-hypersensible et chimico-sensible en 2008, à l’âge de 38 ans, à la suite du déclenchement de la maladie de Ménière. Puis, de nombreux autres problèmes de santé sont apparus : brûlures corporelles, douleurs musculaires et articulaires, problèmes de thyroïde et troubles digestifs, maux de tête et douleurs cervicales, inflammations, pertes d’équilibre, grande fatigue chronique, etc. J’ai dû quitter mon appartement à Nice, car je ne pouvais plus y vivre à cause du Wi-Fi provenant des logements voisins ainsi que d’une antenne-relais située à proximité. L’enfer est alors devenu mon quotidien. Je vis aujourd’hui dans une petite maison de village dans laquelle je me sentais enfin bien. Hélas, cela n’a pas duré longtemps. Depuis 2016, je subis quotidiennement ce que j’identifie comme les ondes radio émises par le système d’alarme Verisure de ma voisine, 24 heures sur 24. C’est devenu un véritable enfer ! Sans parler des autres voisins qui utilisent régulièrement Internet via le point d’accès Wi-Fi de leur téléphone ou d’autres appareils. Pour moi, ces situations sont extrêmement douloureuses et déclenchent des sensations de brûlure, et parfois même une sensation d’étouffement. Je n’ai jamais pu voyager ni partir en vacances. Le Wi-Fi est désormais présent partout, notamment dans les hôtels. C’est aberrant ! Voilà ma vie : une véritable prison. Je ne peux pas vivre normalement, ni me déplacer librement, ni profiter des choses les plus simples de la vie sans craindre de subir à nouveau ces symptômes. Hello, I developed electromagnetic hypersensitivity and chemical sensitivity in 2008, at the age of 38, following the onset of Ménière’s disease. Since then, many other health problems have appeared: burning sensations throughout my body, muscle and joint pain, thyroid problems and digestive disorders, headaches and neck pain, inflammation, loss of balance, severe chronic fatigue, and many other symptoms. I had to leave my apartment in Nice because I could no longer live there due to the Wi-Fi coming from neighboring apartments, as well as a mobile phone antenna located nearby. My life became a living nightmare. I now live in a small village house where I finally felt comfortable and at peace. Unfortunately, that did not last long. Since 2016, I have been exposed on a daily basis to what I identify as radiofrequency emissions from my neighbor’s Verisure alarm system, 24 hours a day. It has become a living hell! On top of that, other neighbors regularly use the Internet through their phones’ Wi-Fi hotspots or other devices. For me, these situations are extremely painful and trigger burning sensations, and sometimes even a feeling of suffocation. I have never been able to travel or go on holiday. Wi-Fi is now everywhere, particularly in hotels. It is unbelievable! This is my life: a real prison. I cannot live normally, travel freely, or enjoy the simplest things in life without constantly fearing that I will experience these symptoms again.

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding from the perspective of a patient. I have personally been affected by wireless radiation. I get extremely nauseated, itchy and buzzy all over my skin when using my iPhone or iPad connected to Wi-Fi.. I have had to disable 5G on all my devices to be able to touch them even for a short time. I get very anxious when near 5g towers or around large groups of people using phones like in a coffee shop or at my place of worship. I can not use any smart watches or even Bluetooth watch for tracking my steps. I was burned on my wrist from the red light against my skin on the Apple Watch and stop wearing it, as it didn’t matter which wrist i wear on I get burnt and buzzy feeling. I have to keep wireless router off at home as long as possible unless we need to print from our wireless printer.. We bought a house purposely with zero smart features as I am so sensitive. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding wireless radiation and public health. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.

I am most concerned about how EMF radiation affects children. There is evidence that it impacts them much more strongly than adults and can cause various problems. They are exposed many hours a day at school, then at home with all the devices that each member of their family has in addition to routers, wifi, TVs. Please test this radiation and put limits on it. Thank you.