- HHS Secretary RFK Jr. raised new concerns about 5G and electromagnetic radiation
- CTIA said there’s no credible evidence linking wireless devices to cancer or other health problems
- More litigation and siting challenges could happen, but one analyst said he expects courts and regulators to largely side with the wireless industry
The wireless industry is yet again hearing concerns about the safety of cell phones, but it’s not about their impact on mental health or the dangers of texting while driving. This time it’s about cell phones’ impact on the human body as conveyed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Sound familiar? Concerns about cell phones and cancer go back decades, but they’re not going away.
Kennedy told USA Today in an interview Friday that he’s “very concerned” about electromagnetic radiation from 5G cell phone towers and that generally speaking, “electromagnetic radiation is a major health concern.”
These statements came a day after The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quietly removed language from webpages that said cell phones aren’t dangerous – at the same time HHS is launching a new study about the impact of cell phones.
“The FDA removed webpages with old conclusions about cell phone radiation while HHS undertakes a study on electromagnetic radiation and health research to identify gaps in knowledge, including on new technologies, to ensure safety and efficacy,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement to media. “The study was directed by President Trump’s MAHA Commission in its strategy report.”
CTIA’s response
Fierce reached out to CTIA, the big U.S.-based association that represents the wireless industry, for its reaction to the HHS’s new study and the deleted FDA webpages.
“Radiofrequency energy from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, mobile phones and wireless infrastructure has not been shown to cause health problems, according to the consensus of the international scientific community and independent expert organizations around the world,” CTIA said in a statement, pointing to this site for more information.
Long-time Fierce readers will recall countless studies and court cases over the years around the potential link between cell phones and cancer or other health effects. To some, Kennedy’s comments will sound like déjà vu.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), no scientific evidence currently establishes a definitive link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses. All wireless devices sold in the U.S. go through a formal FCC approval process to make sure they don’t exceed Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits.
But for those still skeptical of the impact of cell phones, the FCC suggests using a speakerphone, earpiece or headset and consider texting rather than talking – but don’t text while driving.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Kennedy has talked about the effects of cell phone usage. The WSJ noted that Kennedy, who worked as an environmental attorney, has represented plaintiffs who sued telecom companies and alleged that their brain tumors were caused by cell phones.
Kennedy, who has no medical background, talked about his views on a Joe Rogan podcast in 2023 – and it’s not just about cellular technology. “The Wi-Fi radiation is a lot worse than people think it is,” he said. “There are tens of thousands of studies that show horrendous danger from Wi-Fi radiation.”
Analyst: Evidence favors industry
In a note for investors, New Street Research analyst Blair Levin said the scientific evidence to date is “overwhelmingly” on the side of the wireless industry.
However, Kennedy can hire scientists of questionable credentials to run studies that purport to prove his view and there’s a chance his statements will lead to a new round of litigation seeking damages from cell phone companies. And public perception about alleged cell phone dangers could make it harder to get local micro and macro cell sites approved, Levin noted.
Still, there’s considerable support for the wireless industry at the FCC, on the Hill and at the White House, meaning this could all boil down to an ongoing “cold war” between HHS and the industry, with HHS’s actions ultimately not being upheld by the courts, he said.
“The Kennedy attack on cell phones is likely to continue, creating ongoing public relations problems but are unlikely to create more material problems,” Levin concluded.