RF Resources
The following links and quotes are from government agencies and other organizations Focused on public health and radio frequency exposure
Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer- NIH National Cancer Institute (2019)
No consistent evidence for an association between any source of non-ionizing EMF and cancer has been found.
World Cancer Report: Cancer research for cancer prevention - International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2020)
Most of the epidemiological research does not support an association between mobile phone use and tumours occurring in the head...
It has been more than 25 years since mobile phones were introduced, and they have been used by billions of people. These facts, combined with the consistent lack of increase in incidence rates in countries with high use of mobile phones, call causality into question.
Scientific Evidence for Cell Phone Safety - US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2020)
The current limit on radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission remains acceptable for protecting the public health.
Recent Research on EMF and Health Risk, (multiple SSM reports) - Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) (2003-2024)
Measurements and exposure calculations have shown that a person’s radiofrequency field exposure is dominated by personal mobile phone use. The exposure from environmental sources such as mobile phone base stations plays a minor role.
No new established causal relationships between EMF exposure and health risks have been identified.
The results of the research review give no reason to change any reference levels or recommendations in the field.
Radiation: 5G mobile networks and health - World Health Organization (WHO) (2020)
To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.
5G and other telecommunications do not affect the immune system - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) (2020)
There is no established evidence that low level radio wave exposure from 5G and other wireless telecommunications can affect the immune system or cause any other long term or short term health effects.
Mobile communications, WiFi, and the like – Evaluation of the SCHEER Opinion 2023 - Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) (2023)
The evidence for adverse health effects from chronic or acute exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields below the limits is classified as neither moderate nor severe based on the 2018 classification scheme. This means that SCHEER sees no or only unclear or weak evidence in the scientific data for adverse health effects at exposures below the limit values.
Easy to Read Summaries of Scientific Opinions - European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) (2015)
The results of current scientific research show that there are no evident adverse health effects if exposure remains below the levels set by current standards.
Mobile phone base stations: radio waves and health - UK Public Health England (2021)
...although a substantial amount of research has been conducted in this area, there is no convincing evidence that RF field exposures below guideline levels cause health effects in adults or children.
Cell Phone Towers - American Cancer Society (2020)
At this time, there’s no strong evidence that exposure to RF waves from cell phone towers causes any noticeable health effects. However, this does not mean that the RF waves from cell phone towers have been proven to be absolutely safe. Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects.
Radio Frequency Safety - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (2020)
Many consumer and industrial products make use of some form of electromagnetic energy. Because of its regulatory responsibilities in this area the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) often receives inquiries concerning the potential safety hazards of human exposure to radio-frequency (RF) energy. The information on this page provides answers and information to inquiries regarding RF Safety.
(The current FCC Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits can be found at 47CFR1.1310)
These organizations review and make recommendations on radio frequency exposure
IEEE-ICES - International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety*
...responsible for development of [the C95 series] standards for the safe use of electromagnetic energy in the range of 0 Hz to 300 GHz.
IEEE-ICES maintains a list of current Expert Reviews.
The IEEE GET Program allows free access to C95 standards.
ICNIRP - International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
As an independent organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) provides scientific advice and guidance on the health and environmental effects of non-ionizing radiation (NIR) to protect people and the environment from detrimental NIR exposure.
NCRP - National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements / Advisory Panel on Nonionizing Radiation*
The primary functions of the PAC are to analyze mechanisms of interaction of nonionizing radiation with biological systems, including humans, and to identify biological responses and potential human health effects.
COMAR - IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Committee on Man and Radiation*
COMAR's primary area of interest is biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. It examines and interprets the biological effects and presents its findings in an authoritative manner, usually in Technical Information Statements (TIS's) or Position Papers. These papers are subject to an extensive review process within the Committee and represent the consensus of the Committee.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) develops standards across a wide range of technology. In particular TC-106 prepares international standards on measurement and calculation methods to assess human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields.*
Two specific IEC products address assessing radio base stations:
IEC 62232:2022 Determination of RF field strength, power density and SAR in the vicinity of base stations for the purpose of evaluating human exposure
IEC TR 62669:2019 Case studies supporting IEC 62232 - Determination of RF field strength, power density and SAR in the vicinity of radiocommunication base stations for the purpose of evaluating human exposure
* Matt Butcher of Sublight Engineering is an active member of these organizations.
news reports on Radiofrequency Exposure
CNBC's report from March 2019 Some say 5G will cause cancer, but here’s why scientists say we do not need to worry
The Verge in 2018 published a story Cellphone radiation may never stop scaring people, no matter what
Other sources
Neil deGrasse Tyson's thoughts on Cell Phones and Cancer. This goes to how science works, measurements, and uncertainty.
The Health Physics Society - has a comprehensive Ask the Expert section with a selections of Q&A's on Cell Phones, Radiofrequency Radiation, and Powerline Fields.
Shahriar Shahramian in The Signal Path blog has a very comprehensive video, geared toward engineers, responding to the question: Is 5G Dangerous?
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has an EMF Guide which includes detailed information about EMF and has been updated to include information about 5G.
The GSMA has a comprehensive list of EMF Policy from around the world that details exposure limits for both devices and networks or base stations.
The EMF Portal of the RWTH Aachen University summarizes scientific research on the effects of electromagnetic fields.
Japan EMF Information Center aims to provide easy-to-understand scientific information on possible health effects of EMF and respond to questions asked. (English version)
KennisPlatform from the Netherlands Telecom Agency is a Knowledge platform on Electromagnetic Fields and Health (English page, most of site in Dutch)
fcc rEGULATIONS
There are several documents which comprise US regulations for RF exposure / safety.
This is the general FCC page on RF Safety
Radio Frequency Safety - Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The following are the actual FCC regulations in the United States.
47CFR2.1091 Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: mobile devices.
47CFR2.1093 Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: portable devices.
Note: Mobile means devices designed to be used greater than 20 cm from a person such as wireless access points and portable means devices designed to be used less than 20 cm from a person such as mobile phones.
The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology has two resources to provide guidance on meeting these requirements. The first is a series of OET Bulletins from 1997 (which are under review with release date TBD) and the second is a section of the Laboratory Division Knowledge Database that provides guidance on certifying devices through the Equipment Authorization process which is required for RF devices prior to being marketed or imported into the United States.
OET Bulletin No. 65 (August 1997)
Sublight Engineering specializes in evaluating compliance with FCC regulations on RF exposure.