Dr.

Cindy Russell
SCCMA V.P. Community Health

I
t would greatly extend FCCs current policy of the mandatory irradiation of the public without adequate prior study
of the potential health impact and assurance of safety. It would irradiate everyone, including the most vulnerable to
harm from radiofrequency radiation: pregnant women, unborn children, young children, teenagers, men of
reproductive age, the elderly, the disabled, and the chronically ill. Ronald Powell, PhD, Letter to FCC on 5G
expansion (7)

BRAVE NEW WORLD OF COMMUNICATION

The use of mobile wireless technologies continues to increase worldwide. A new faster 5th generation (5G)-telecommunication
system has recently been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with new antennas already being installed
and tested in Palo Alto and Mountain View. While it may give us uber automation and instantaneous immersive entertainment a
lot of questions remain with regards to public health and safety of wireless devices. Will the adoption of this new 5G technology
harm directly or indirectly the consumers and businesses it hopes to attract?
5G is the new Promised Land for wireless technology. It could connect us in our homes, workplaces and city streets to over a
trillion objects around the world. (96) The Internet of Things (IoT) is primed to give us self-driving cars, appliances that can order
their own laundry soap, automation hubs that pay your bills, not to mention fast movie downloads and virtual reality streaming
from anywhere when you are on the go. Companies are already asking local cities and counties to move forward to create Smart
Cities which have comprehensive digital connectivity by installing a massive wireless sensor network of almost invisible small cell
antennae on light posts, utility poles, homes and businesses throughout neighborhoods and towns in order to integrate IoT with IT.
They state it will improve services, the economy and quality of life. This communication network will form an expanded
electromagnetic microwave blanket above each city and county, permeating the airspace and providing seamless connectivity
where people and things will exchange data.
Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Tom Wheeler called this a National Priority and thus ushered in
approval for the addition of this new pervasive network of high frequency short wave millimeter broadband for commercial use first
planned in urban areas.

DEVELOPING A SMART WORLD?

Engineers and physicists are busy working out the details of carrier frequencies and the architecture of the new network.
Manufacturing industries are already developing commonly used products that feature wireless integration that will connect to the
densely clustered antennas. Marketing companies are now pushing ads for smart devices for smart people in smart cities. Even
the healthcare industry is anticipating using some of these wearable devices for patients with cardiac conditions or to do remote
surgery in other parts of the world. Opening up 5G Spectrum access hopes to drive an explosion of new products. The economic
opportunities are obvious and business will be booming in the tech industry.
Concerns continue to rise however about the basic safety of our current use of wireless technologies not to mention adding
layers of newer microwave frequencies that have not been tested for short term or long term safety. Important questions have not
been addressed while industry and government policy have already moved forward.
Why is the FCC streamlining permitting of 5G high frequency when they have not completed their investigation on health effects
nor updated safety limits for low-intensity radio frequency radiation?
Is the widespread deployment of this pervasive higher frequency small cell distributed antennae system in our cities and on
our homes safe for humans and the environment?
Will it add to the burden of chronic disease that costs our nation over a trillion dollars annually? (105)
Are we already digitally over connected, outsourcing our grey matter and becoming a dysfunctional addicted nation because of
it? (136,137,138)
How will this affect our privacy, cyber security and the security of medical records?
Will we, as physicians be able to recognize the emerging adverse health effects of new millimeter technology and wearable
technology let alone that of current wireless devices?

A GOOD READ: FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 5G LETTERS

Letters to the FCC in 2016 responding to the 5G roll out with the addition of new high frequencies were mixed. Industry
generally applauded the FCC for its efforts and discussed the growing demand for this technology along with a need for flexible
regulation to implement it. Some expressed concerns about interference with other satellite systems. Some felt there should be
maximum spectrum usage opening up even higher frequencies that are only experimental now in order to help the underserved.
Others argued about opening this up to licensed versus unlicensed uses. Industry did not mention any potential public or
environmental health hazards regarding the use of these new frequencies.

RAISING A RED FLAG TO PUSH THE PAUSE BUTTON ON 5G

Private citizens and PhDs however did raise a red flag at the FCC, recommending a halt to infrastructure plans and more testing
for health and environmental reasons. They questioned the current FCC standards, which are outdated and not protective of human
health. They asked, How will it affect children, pregnant women and the elderly who are the most vulnerable in our population?
While scientists gave ample evidence that precaution should prevail, I found the most compelling letters were from those who
describe their fear as electro-sensitive people in an already dangerously high electromagnetic environment for them.

GIMME SHELTER: NO ESCAPE FOR ELECTRO-SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

Linda K., a Michigan resident, explained how she became increasingly sensitive to EMF after a cell tower was placed within
1000 feet of her house.
She experienced insomnia at first and did not know there was a cell tower until several years later when she then associated the
timing of its placement with her symptoms. After smart meters were installed in her area (but not on her house) she became
sensitive to her laptop on wireless and her cell phone. Comcast then placed a Wi-Fi hotspot within 400 feet of her house and she
stated her symptoms increased to the point that if she was outside in her yard more than 20 minutes she developed increasing
fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations and high pitched ringing in her ears. These are all reported effects in those sensitive to EMF
from wireless devices. She wrote about her concerns and that the new frequencies may add to her symptoms and inability to leave
her house. (54)
In another letter Veronica Z. noted, This is a notice of survival. What many of us deal with currently is trying to survive in an
environment that is hostile to us biologically. We have lost all of our rights, our finances, our homes, and our ability to earn a living
due to this ubiquitous exposure. We are being tortured every second of every day and have been reduced to simply trying to survive
the moments we are alive. Others have been unable to do so and have opted to not stay living on this planet of torture...There is no
escape for people with severe sensitivities to this deadly radiation. (55)

ASK NASA: IS ELECTRO-SENSITIVITY REAL OR IMAGINED?

Are these people telling the truth? Is this just psychological? You may wonder, however, more and more people from all ages,
professions and walks of life are relating similar symptoms in the presence of wireless devices. Some children reported these
symptoms when their school adopted Wi-Fi.
Dr. Scott Eberle, a well-respected Petaluma hospice physician, eloquently described his development of electro-sensitivity in the
November 2016 issue of the SCCMA Bulletin. He goes to great lengths to continue his profession, interact with his colleagues and
maintain a healthy existence. (67)
We are exposed to increasing levels of microwave EMF in our daily lives. More scientific evidence links biologic effects with
increased reports of health related effects including electrosensitivity. In 1971 Russian scientists Gordon and Sadchikova from the
Institute of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases described a comprehensive series of symptoms which they called microwave
sickness and presented this at an international WHO meeting. (109)
In a 1981 NASA report, Electromagnetic Field Interactions: Observed Effects and Theories microwave sickness was also
described. The symptoms recorded were headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, dizziness, disturbed sleep at night, sleepiness in daytime,
moodiness, irritability, unsociability, hypochondriac reactions, feelings of fear, nervous tension, mental depression, memory
impairment, pulling sensation in the scalp and brow, loss of hair, pain in muscles and heart region, breathing difficulties, increased
perspiration of extremities. (63)

THE SCIENCE OF ELECTRO-SENSITIVITY

Belpomme, in 2015, completed the most comprehensive study of electrosensitivity, investigating 1216 people: 71.6% with EHS,
7.2% with CS, and 21.2% with both. They found an elevation in several reliable disease biomarkerseach occurring within a range
of 23% to 40% of all caseswhich prompted their conclusion that these sensitivities can be objectively characterized and diagnosed
and appear to involve inflammation-related hyper-histaminemia, oxidative stress, autoimmune response, capsulothalamic
hypoperfusion and pathologic leakage of the blood-brain barrier, and a deficit in melatonin metabolic availability (68)

THE SCIENCE OF EMF BIOLOGICAL HARM

The scientific literature abounds with evidence of non-thermal cellular damage from non-ionizing wireless radiation for several
decades. There are likely several mechanisms both direct and indirect. Oxidative damage is one that has been well studied. Effects
have been demonstrated on cell membranes causing a shift in the voltage gated calcium channels. Sperm studies have consistently
found genotoxic, morphologic and motility abnormalities in the presence of cell phone radiation. DNA damage, blood brain barrier
effects, melatonin reduction, nerve cell damage, mitochondrial disruption and memory disturbances have been revealed. The
Bioinitiative Report (139) has chronicled these effects and a growing wave of PEER reviewed studies is building on that base daily.
In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radiofrequency as 2B carcinogen and possibly carcinogenic to
humans, the same category as DDT, lead and other pesticides

THE LATEST SCIENCE: NATIONAL TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM STUDY ON CELL PHONES AND
CANCER
The most recent and compelling evidence has come from the 2016 National Institutes of Health, National Toxicology Program.
Called the NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenicity Cell Phone Radiation Study, the 10-year $25 million research revealed conclusively
that there was a harmful effect from cell phone microwave radiation. (124,125) The frequencies are similar to other wireless
devices we commonly use. The studies were robust, collaborative, well controlled and with double the number of rats required to
reveal a significant effect, if present. The preliminary results of the study showed that RFR caused a statistically significant increase
in two types of brain tumors, gliomas and schwannomas. These were the same two types of tumors shown to increase in human
epidemiological studies on long-term use of cell phones. Dr. Lennart Hardell and others have demonstrated a consistent pattern of
increased incidence of ipsilateral (same side) acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) and gliomas with each 100 hours of cell
phone use. (112-118) Another telling finding was that the control rats had much lower than expected cancer rates. It is believed due
to the fact the control rats were in a controlled faraday cage and not exposed to normal ambient EMF that could contribute to
cancer.
Ron Melnik, PhD, Senior Toxicologist and Director of Special Programs in the Environmental Toxicology Program at the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and designer of the study states, The NTP tested the hypothesis that
cell phone radiation could not cause health effects and that hypothesis has now been disproved. The experiment has been done and,
after extensive reviews, the consensus is that there was a carcinogenic effect. (124,125,126,127)

HEALTH EFFECTS OF MILLIMETER 5G WAVELENGTHS

The term "millimeter waves" (MMW) refers to extremely high-frequency (30-300 GHz) electromagnetic radiation. Millimeter
Waves (MMW) used in the next-generation of high-speed wireless technologies have shallow penetration thus effect the skin
surface, the surface of the eye or on bacteria, plants and small life forms. Surface effects, however, can be quite substantial on an
organism as stimulation of skin receptors can affect nerve signaling causing a whole body response with physiological effects on
heart rate, heart rhythm, and the immune system.
In a 1998 review article, Pakhomov (123) looked at the bio-effects of millimeter waves. He reviewed dozens of studies and cites
research demonstrating profound effects of MMW on all biological systems including cells, bacteria, yeast, animals and humans.
Some effects were clearly thermal as millimeter microwaves are rapidly absorbed by water, which is abundant in living organisms.
When microwaves are absorbed the energy can cause tissue heating. Many of the millimeter frequency studies however showed
effects without heating of tissues and at low intensities. Research was variable and showed both regenerative effects and also
adverse effects depending on frequency, power and exposure time.

ARRYTHMIAS
Chernyakov induced heart rate changes in anesthetized frogs by microwave irradiation of remote skin areas. Complete
denervation of the heart did not prevent the reaction. This suggested a reflex mechanism of the MMW action involving certain
peripheral receptors. (28)

HEART RATE VARIABILITY

Potekhina found certain frequencies from 53-78 GHz band (CW) changed the natural heart rate variability in anesthetized rats.
He showed that some frequencies had no effect (61 or 75 GHZ) while other frequencies (55 and 73 GHz) caused pronounced
arrhythmia. There was no change in skin or whole body temperature. (69)

TERATOGENIC EFFECTS
One study of MMW teratogenic effects was performed in Drosophila flies by Belyaev. Embryos were exposed to 3 different GHz
frequencies for 4-4.5 hours at 0.1 mW/cm2. He found that irradiation at 46.35 GHz, but not at 46.42 or 46.50 GHz, caused marked
effects including an increase in morphological abnormalities and decreased survival. It was felt the MMW disturbed DNA-protein
interactions at that particular frequency. (65)

BACTERIAL AFFECTS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Bulgakova in over 1,000 studies with 14 different antibiotics showed how MMW exposure of S. aureus affects its sensitivity to
antibiotics with different mechanisms of action. The MMW increased or decreased antibiotic sensitivity depending on the antibiotic
concentration. (134)
Pakhomov warns, Regardless of the primary mechanism, the possibility of significant bio-effects of a short-term MMW
irradiation at intensities at or below current safety standards deserves consideration and further study. The possibility of induction
of adverse health effects by a local, low-intensity MMW irradiation is of potential significance for setting health and safety standards
and requires special attention. He called for replication of studies especially long-term effects of MMW.
His conclusions
Individuals or groups in a population, which would usually be regarded as uniform, may react to MMW in rather different or
even opposite ways
There seem to exist unknown and uncontrolled factors that determine the MMW sensitivity of a specimen or a population.
Irradiation could increase antibiotic resistivity in one experiment and decrease it in the next one
Increased sensitivity and even hypersensitivity of individuals to MMW may be real. Depending on the exposure characteristics,
especially wavelength, a low-intensity MMW radiation was perceived by 30 to 80% of healthy examinees (123)

CATARACTS
Prost in 1994 studied millimeter microwave radiation on the eye. He noted that microwaves of different wavelengths could
induce the development of cataracts. (13) His research found that low power millimeter waves produced lens opacity in rats
exposed to 10mW/cm2, a predisposing indicator of cataracts. (74)

IMMUNE SYSTEM
Kolomytseva, in 2002, looked at the dynamics of leukocyte number and functional activity of peripheral blood neutrophils
under whole-body exposure of healthy mice to low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation (EHF EMR, 42.0
GHz, 0.15 mW/cm2, 20 min daily). The study showed that the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils was suppressed by
about 50% in 2-3 h after a single exposure to EHF EMR. (131)

CHROMATIN EFFECTS
Gapeve in 2003 showed for the first time that low-intensity extremely high-frequency MMH electromagnetic radiation in vivo
causes effects on spatial organization of chromatin in cells of lymphoid organs. Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins that
forms chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. He exposed mice to a single whole-body exposure for 20 min at 42.0 GHz
and 0.15 mW/cm2. (132)

GENE EXPRESSION
Habauzit in 2013 looked at gene expression in keratinocytes with 60GHz exposure at upper limit of current guidelines and
concluded In our experimental design, the high number of modified genes (665) shows that the ICNIRP current limit is probably
too permissive to prevent biological response. (73)

GAPS IN DATA FOR LAUNCHING 5G MILLIMETER DEVICES

Commercial production often precedes research on consumer protection and health effects. We have too many toxins that have
escaped premarket safety protocols for too long- lead, asbestos, smoking and our modern unregulated nanoparticles to mention just
a few. These affect our long term and short-term health in ways we do not even know. If we become ill, we do not question or
identify the daily or weekly chemical exposures that could have contributed to that cancer or arthritis or lung disease or
Alzheimers. We have too many toxins to sort it all out.
Research shows that wireless microwave radiation ads yet another dose of toxic exposure to our daily lives. We cannot hear it
or smell it or feel it. Yet it affects our biology and our wellbeing with perhaps subtle affects. If we are electro-sensitive then we are
more likely to avoid exposure. Trees are even susceptible to EMF harm and they cannot move away. (128) What about birds and
bees and us?

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: GOOGLE GLASS, VIRTUAL REALITY AND WEARABLE WIRELESS

DEVICES
If we are concerned about putting a cell phone to our ears for long periods of time after reading about the NTP study then why
arent we concerned about other wearable devices? While very cool to use Google Glass and Virtual Reality may have dangerous
consequences to our eyes, brain function or immune systems with long term use, especially to children. What are the frequencies in
these devices? 3G, 4G, 5G or a combination of zapping frequencies giving us immersive connection and entertainment but at a
potentially steep price.

5G RESEARCH AND POLICY

Safety testing for 5G is the same as other wireless devices. It is based on heat. This is an obsolete standard and not considering
current science showing cellular and organism harm from non-thermal effects. There is a large gap in safety data for 5G biological
effects that has been demonstrated in older studies including military.

NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

Do not proceed to roll out 5G technologies pending pre-market studies on health effects
Reevaluate safety standards based on long term as well as short-term studies on biological effects
Rescind a portion of Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which preempts state and local government regulation
for the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental
effects so that health and environmental issues can be addressed
Rescind portions of The Spectrum Act which was passed in 2012 as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act,
which strips the ability city officials and local governments to regulate cellular communications equipment, provides no
public notification or opportunity for public input and may potentially result in environmental impacts
Create an independent multidisciplinary scientific agency tasked with developing appropriate safety regulations, premarket
testing and research needs in a transparent environment with public input
Label pertinent EMF information on devices along with appropriate precautionary warnings.