Written by: Ryan McCaughey, PhD 

The biggest RF exposure news of 2018 was the National Toxicology Program’s conclusion that there is “clear evidence” that cellphone radiation can cause cancer.

In a year when the rollout of 5G excited the tech world, legislators have called for caution in rushing to the expose the public to an untested technology, especially when current research shows existing cell phone standards may pose a risk.[i]

In March, The Nation investigated how the wireless industry “war-gamed” the science of the health effects of RF exposure and influenced media coverage of the topic.[ii] In one such example, Project Censored chose the news of a Kaiser Permanente study that that women who had been exposed to magnetic fields associated with cell phones had increased risk of miscarriage, as one of their Top 10 underreported news stories of the last year.[iii]

In 2018, the CTIA continued to fight the City of Berkeley in court over the city’s “Right to Know” ordinance. The city requires that cellphone retailers display the following notification:

“To assure safety, the Federal Government requires that cellphones meet radiofrequency (RF) exposure guidelines. If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is on and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation. Refer to the instructions in your phone or user manual for information about how to use your phone safely.”

Other research from the last year showed heavy cell phone use could be linked to thyroid cancer and memory impairment in teenagers.

[i] https://www.fiercewireless.com/5g/legislators-raise-worries-about-cancer-from-5g

[ii] https://www.thenation.com/article/how-big-wireless-made-us-think-that-cell-phones-are-safe-a-special-investigation/

[iii] https://www.projectcensored.org/category/the-top-25-censored-stories-of-2017-2018/page/5/