Safe Tech for Santa Rosa
This site is dedicated to raising awareness about the hazards of pulsed data-modulated radiofrequency radiation in the environment, with relevant information about Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, California
We post relevant information about current and planned wireless transmission facilities and “small” cell sites in Santa Rosa, California. We also include information on related topics from other cities in Sonoma County. We do our best to supply up to date and accurate scientific and political information from credible sources on this issue. This site has no financial interest. We provide legitimate resources on the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) that are held by many experts in this scientific field of study.
DID YOU KNOW?
Peer-reviewed research shows risks from wireless exposure:
- Disrupts DNA leading to increased risk of certain types of cancers
- Interferes with reproduction and fetal development
- Neurological impairment and electro sensitivity,… children are at higher risk
- Can be fatal for birds and pollinators
- 4G towers can be upgraded to 5G later with no warning
- 5G involves higher frequencies that have not been tested for safety, but studies have been done for military applications as to what intensities can affect human beings.
“The National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded there is clear evidence that male rats exposed to high levels of radio frequency radiation (RFR) like that used in 2G and 3G cell phones developed cancerous heart tumors, according to final reports released today. There was also some evidence of tumors in the brain and adrenal gland of exposed male rats.”
Dr. Paul Heroux: Comments on the National Toxicology Program Study on Cell Phone Radiation. National Institutes of Environmental Health Services- March 2018
OUR PHILOSOPHY
- We believe in the value of independent, peer-reviewed and published science and in public policies that evolve with that science.
- We believe that we have a moral obligation to protect the citizens in our communities from the negative effects of radiofrequency radiation as a result of the deployment of wireless technology.
- We believe we have a moral obligation to protect schools and children from the harmful effects of wireless radiation.
- We believe in local control over the deployment of technology in our communities.
- We adhere to the Precautionary Principle: “When human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harm.”
- We support the use of wired technology (fiber to the premises) and the use of public funds and/or public property to facilitate the deployment of expanded fiber optic or copper networks which are more secure and safer than wireless technology.
VERIZON CELL TOWER UPDATE: Appeal filed. Hearing date TUES., MARCH 26th at 5:00pm Santa Rosa City Council Chambers- 100 Santa Rosa Ave.
NO VERIZON CELL TOWER BEHIND COSTCO
APPEAL HEARING! March 26th, 2024 @ 5:00 at City Hall:
100 SANTA ROSA AVE.
Tell Santa Rosa City Council: NO CELL TOWER BEHIND COSTCO at
244 Colgan Ave. across from MANY residential apartments and homes!
Contact: THE CITY COUNCIL at citycouncil@srcity.org. Call 707-543-4299. Come to the SR CITY COUNCIL hearing on TUESDAY, MARCH 26TH @ 5:00PM
To stop this installation we need many voices in opposition! Verizon will be there!
Meeting agenda: https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx (Scroll down to CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 26TH, 2024 on agenda to view application attachments)
The City will say “Our hands are tied” but they are not! Verizon must prove gap in service coverage and prove their proposed tower is the least intrusive means of remedying that gap. They must also prove sufficient fall zones as well as electrical and fire safety. Local governments can DENY tower placements based on the fact that they lower property values and create a visual blight!
Plus, here’s a big problem: Santa Rosa does not engage in ongoing cell tower monitoring of the RF radiation! How will we know if telecom is out of compliance?
And worst of all- once a tower goes up it can be collocated, which means other carriers can add their antennas onto the tower. This will increase the already intense RF radiation levels.
Members of our group have measured radiofrequency radiation levels near similar towers using well calibrated RFR meters. Due to the pluming effect of radiation, we have found that RFR levels can actually increase with distance. RFR levels over 600,000 UW/m2 max were measured at
200 feet from a 12 antenna facility. See more info below. SafeTech4SantaRosa.org
Write an email to citycouncil@srcity.org
Attend the meeting on March 26th @ 5:00pm Location: City Hall Council Chambers:
100 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
WE MUST STOP THIS PROPOSED FACILITY. PLEASE COME!
AT&T Cell Tower on 2400 Bluebell Drive, Santa Rosa April 2022
To install this cell tower, AT&T must legally prove four things:
- Significant gap in coverage.
- Least intrusive means of remedying a significant gap.
- FCC radiofrequency compliance.
- CEQA compliance
(a) Proof of significant gap in coverage.
It appears there is no significant gap in AT&T coverage for the Santa Rosa area. Dark blue areas show max coverage (example at right). This coverage map does not coordinate with the map that AT&T provided to the city for their determination: https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html
(b) Proof that the proposed facility is the least intrusive means to remedy that gap.
This 60 ft., twelve antenna tower at the intensity and power specified is not the least intrusive means to remedy a perceived coverage gap (although coverage maps show that a gap does not exist).
Important! Unless unchecked wireless tower expansion is questioned and impeded, telecom companies won’t spend money on safer alternatives that already exist. We need to expand technology that doesn’t harm humans or the environment. Has AT&T been asked about expanding their low cost “fiber to the premises” networks? This is certainly the least intrusive means to provide connectivity for home service. AT&T is already developing low cost broadband availability. https://www.att.com/internet/access/
The County of Sonoma is exploring broadband alternatives using fiber optic wired connections: https://sonomaedb.org/current-initiatives/broadband
“Santa Rosa, CA – June 8, 2021 – The County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors approved the Access Sonoma Broadband Action Plan to explore the creation of a publicly governed entity that would deploy, own, and manage broadband infrastructure for underserved or unserved regions of Sonoma County.”
(c) Proof of FCC compliance.
The EME (Electro Magnetic Energy) report states that this site will be FCC compliant and that emissions will be within “safe” levels. However, there was no determination of the aggregate RFR radiation levels of the combined twelve antennas. Accurate measurements need to be required covering distances from the base of antennas to 100 feet, 200 feet, 300 feet, 400 feet, etc., in all directions.
Require routine compliance testing of site. If levels cause harm to nearby residents or businesses, will this Bluebell tower be turned off once installed? Who will police this? Who will enforce compliance? ICNIRP guidelines (which the FCC uses) have 19 pages about health effects only associated with thermal heating and that’s for a half hour period. There are over 1,000 peer reviewed studies showing adverse biological effects that occur without the FCC “safety” threshold of a one degree temperature rise for thirty minutes of exposure. Once the tower is up, the FCC has no idea where the tower is, and what the exposure levels are. The FCC never tests the radiation levels coming off these towers!
What is the requirement that periodic testing be done to ensure these FCC safety guidelines? Simply being told that these antennas will be within FCC guidelines is not enough. Are other cell towers being tested? An independent electrician (not authorized by AT&T) needs to take accurate meter readings at varying distances to verify safety and compliance. These readings need to be available to the public.
d) CEQA Compliance (California Environmental Quality Act).
Why is this facility CEQA Exempt? Environmental impacts need to be considered. While most of the CEQA criteria are not applicable, some do apply. Even though RFR has no smell and can’t be seen, many adverse biological effects have been studied and measured in peer reviewed literature. 11,000 pages of adverse biological effects were submitted in the Environmental Health Trust court case against the FCC (Aug. 13, 2021). Therefore, the following CEQA provisions apply:
III.(c &d) Air Quality. Would the project expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? YES! These pollutant concentrations are in the form of radiofrequency radiation.
Would the project result in other emissions adversely affecting a substantial number of people? YES! Radiofrequency radiation is not an odor, a gas, or particulate, but a form of electromagnetic energy that is emitted (therefore a type of emission) that has been proven to have harmful biological effects on living organisms.
XXI.(c) Mandatory Findings of Significance. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? YES! RFR certainly affects the environment and humans:
August 2021- Children's Health Defense and Environmental Health Trust Win Case Against FCC on Safety Guidelines for 5G and Wireless!
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit court ruled the Federal Communications Commission failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its determination that its current guidelines adequately protect against harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation.
Children’s Health Defense (CHD) and Environmental Health Trust (EHTrust) won its historic case today against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a case challenging the agency’s decision not to review its 1996 health and safety guidelines regarding wireless-based technologies including 5G. CHD- READ MORE HERE
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in the historic case EHT et al. v. the FCC that the December 2019 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to retain its 1996 safety limits for human exposure to wireless radiation was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The court held that the FCC failed to respond to “record evidence that exposure to RF radiation at levels below the Commission’s current limits may cause negative health effects unrelated to cancer.” Further, the agency demonstrated “a complete failure to respond to comments concerning environmental harm caused by RF radiation.” EHTrust READ MORE.
Local Governments DO have the Power!
"In the 5G rollout, site developers are more aggressive than ever to put these things wherever they want. They're in this business to make money. They don't look to build wireless facilities in the least obtrusive location. On the contrary, they look to build them in the cheapest location... They can say or do most anything. And when they appear before local zoning boards, local zoning boards are completely ill equipped to deal with that!" -Attorney Andrew Campanelli
KEEPING TRACK OF SANTA ROSA-
To view the small cell facilities in Santa Rosa, click HERE (Facilities on private property are not shown). Note: AT&T diamonds are blue, Verizon is purple. Mouse over and click on the diamond to see status.
For questions or comments about the Small Cell Ordinance and the placement of facilities, you can contact individual City Council members via email by clicking HERE.
To email the full Council: citycouncil@srcity.org
To email the Planning Commission: https://www.srcity.org/1339/Planning-Commission
IMPORTANT! Small cells can be as dangerous as cell towers when they are in close proximity to homes and businesses!
***********************************************Some Background About Cell Towers and how they are different from Small Cells
https://www.ubersignal.com
Cell sites are required to register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) only if the antenna height is over 200 feet, or if they are within a designated flight path near an airport. Less than 50% of towers are registered as such.
Mobile carriers do not willingly disclose their tower locations for safety and security reasons.
A cell tower can have anywhere from 1-5 carriers providing service from it. Towers can have from 1-7 different categories of cell service (e.g., 2G, 3G, and 4G) available from them.
FCC Registered towers show only the owner and coordinates, not which carriers are using it to provide service.
It is estimated by industry experts that 35-40% of all cell sites are not registered. This does not include any small cell sites, of which almost all are exempt from registration. A small cell is merely a compact, low-power version of a tower-based transmitter system. These are usually mounted on buildings or utility poles or light poles and serve a much smaller and specific area than a tower-based transmitter.
Check out Attorney Andrew Campanelli’s three short videos on how to control placement of small cells and towers: HERE!
“Threats of Litigation are Hollow.“
” Subparagraph A of the Telecommunications Act [of 1996] preserves for local governments the power to control the placement of wireless facilities.”
“You need to have your local zoning ordinance drafted in a way that invests your board with the maximum power to control the placement of wireless facilities.”
“The FCC never tests the radiation coming from these facilities… We’ve had private testing done and found many facilities exceeding the FCC limits.”
“Knowing that, local governments are the first and only line of defense against their constituents being exposed to excessive levels of radiation.”
“90% of the applicants submit false or misleading information. And it’s not by mistake.”
“The truth is, these facilities are actually completely unregulated. Even if they are FCC compliant at the time they’re built, what about all times after that?” -Andrew Campanelli
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For more info on the Santa Rosa ordinance/policy efforts, go to our Telecom page at: http://safetech4santarosa.org/telecom-ordinance-2/
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Cell Towers in Santa Rosa
It isn’t easy to find a comprehensive list of all the cell towers (macro towers) within the city limits of Santa Rosa. So far we’ve found two useful sites that provide at least some information:
- https://www.city-data.com/towers/cell-Santa-Rosa-California.html
- https://www.antennasearch.com/
Type in an address and it will find most of the cell towers , small cells, and antennas within a thee mile radius.
KPIX interviews Assembly Member Bill Quirk about why firehouses were exempted from antenna installations.
Source: Sarah Aminoff, Patricia Burke, Stop 5G International
https://www.naturalblaze.com/2021/04/5g-and-earth-day-corporate-takeover-of-light-poles-and-brain-function-in-ca-and-near-you.html
Schools Required to Provide Safe Learning Environment- Legal implications
Parents, teachers and administrators, have a fiduciary duty to ensure that learning environments are as safe as possible. For more info and the legal implications, go to: TeachSafeSchools.org
A growing body of scientific studies and clinical medical evidence demonstrates that radiofrequency (RF) radiation is biologically harmful, and children are especially at risk.
The information presented at TechSafeSchools.org is intended to inform school administrators about these foreseeable harms, and to encourage them to pivot under a fiduciary duty of heightened vigilance and care to prevent them.
Taken together, federal, state, and local laws and practices impose significant responsibilities upon school administrators to protect children, teachers, and staff from RF radiation.
The TechSafeSchool project grew out of a concern by parents of children with increased sensitivity to radiofrequency microwave radiation, exacerbated by the increasing proliferation of wireless devices in classrooms.
Technology companies are now pressuring schools to adopt Wi-Fi 6, WiGig, and 5G systems, all of which emit more powerful radiation than the systems they will replace.
At the same time, an increased and urgent concern is being voiced among medical and public health professionals regarding the potential long term health impacts of these exposures.
A typical modern school classroom is a “hot” environment, with dozens of laptops or tablets, smart speakers, smart boards, Wi-Fi routers and often multiple cell phones all active and all within close range of students. It’s a very different environment than a single device being tested in a single lab.
This is a very difficult predicament for schools that have invested heavily in wireless technology, and who have been repeatedly assured by the purveyors of wireless systems that their equipment meets or exceeds all government safety guidelines.
Recent U.S. government studies have confirmed what many other studies have shown: the decades-old theory that non-ionizing radiation is not harmful is false. Exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below government standards, is increasingly recognized as a public health problem, and the developing bodies of children are particularly vulnerable.
To learn more, please download the TechSafeSchools Legal Memorandum.
The question for school administrators is, how can we create a safe learning environment for our students without impacting our technology-based curriculum?
The TechSafe Schools project relies on the premise that school administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students are natural allies. Together they share an opportunity to collaborate creatively in innovating the “21st Century Resilient Classroom.”
Mitigation Measures:
Note: Reducing the levels of RF radiation through these measures is an important temporary step in mitigating exposure, but should not be considered sufficient to alleviate the problem or extinguish potential liability. TechSafe strongly advocates for the replacement of all wireless technology with hardwired systems. Read more.
Hardwiring is best.
Hardwired classrooms are the safest and most secure learning environments for children. Wired systems are faster, more reliable, easily adaptable to new technologies and have none of the potential health issues that are becoming apparent with wireless technology. Read more.
Time & Distance:
Reducing Wi-Fi Availability
Classroom exposure to RF radiation can be reduced significantly by using Wi-Fi only on demand, and only for a specific pedagogical curriculum where connectivity to the internet is required and hard-wiring is not available. Read more.
Increasing Distance
The amount of radiation exposure a student receives from routers or WAPs decreases with distance. Every time the distance from a source to a child is doubled, exposure is reduced by 4X, or 400%. Read more.
Reducing Power and Beacon Frequency
By default, most routers and wireless access points are set at the factory for full power to ensure maximum performance and coverage, far exceeding the amount of power needed for a typical classroom situation. Fortunately, adjusting the power for most systems is a simple software adjustment. Read more.
Measuring RF Radiation
It is a good first step is to hire a professional who is trained in measuring RF exposures. Typical cost for this professional service is $1200 to $2,000. Asking vendors to perform this testing is not recommended due to obvious conflicts of interest and lack of professional training.
As an alternative, school IT personnel can purchase or rent a professional grade RF meter to test exposures. Read more.
FCC rule to allow private homes to transmit RF radiation- effective March 29, 2021
Children’s Health Defense is working to stop the FCC OTARD ruling!
The most insidious aspect of OTARD is that it eliminates all state and local zoning authority over these arrangements. No permit is required, deed and homeowners’ association restrictions or any other state laws are preempted. No notice to neighboring property owners is required. Therefore, people adversely affected will have no right to object or prevent these antennas’ installation, even though they will be involuntarily exposed to harmful radiation.
(Source: Children’s Health Defense)- CHD has filed a new case against the FCC as of February 26, 2021 to stop OTARD (Over The Air Reception Devices). The amended rule was adopted by the FCC on 1/7/2021 and will go into effect on 3/29/2021.
OTARD will create a “Wireless Wild West” by allowing the installation of wireless transmitting antennas on private homes without requiring any notice to neighboring property owners and by removing any ability to object to their installation.
OTARD will permit private property owners to place fixed point-to-point antennas supporting wireless service on their property and, for the first time, to provide wireless data/voice services, including 5G, to users on neighboring properties by installing “hubs” or “relay” antennas to propagate the signals.
OTARD will likely lead to the most significant and rapid proliferation of 5G, the 1,000,000 SpaceX satellites’ antennas and Wi-Fi mesh networks, both in urban and rural areas, by using homes and private properties for the deployment. READ MORE.
Environmental Health Trust and Children's Health Defense vs the FCC
Live-streamed oral arguments were presented on January 25, 2021.
Listen HERE: Environmental Health Trust et al. v. the FCC
Environmental Health Trust (EHT), the scientific think tank headed by Devra Davis PhD, MPH, has filed the principal brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in a landmark case against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Children’s Health Defense: the children’s health advocacy group headed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is challenging the agency’s refusal to review its 25-year-old obsolete wireless “health guidelines” requiring the adoption of scientific, biologically based radio frequency emissions rules that adequately protect public health. Dafna Tachover, director of 5G and WirelessHarms Project at Children’s Health Defense states: “Those who have been injured and died because of the FCC’s abuse of power, have been invisible to the FCC like the wireless radiation that harms them.” Read more Children’s Health Defense vs. the FCC HERE: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/seeking-justice/legal/chd-v-federal-communication-commission-fcc/
View Dafna’s site: wearetheevidence.org HERE
After consolidation of the cases by the Courts, the historic case was filed jointly with Children’s Health Defense, Consumers for Safer Phones and numerous other petitioners including Elizabeth Barris, Theodora Scarato MSW, Michelle Hertz, Petra Broken, Dr. David Carpenter, Dr. Toril Jelter, Dr. Paul Dart, Dr. Ann Lee, Virginia Farver, Jennifer Baran and Paul Stanley M.Ed.
The appeal is aimed at getting the FCC to reconsider, revise, and update its 25-year old exposure limits for radio-frequency radiation (RFR) from cellphones, cell towers, Wi-FI networks, smart meters, and other wireless communication devices and facilities.
The Petitioners contend that the FCC can no longer ignore the science and the people injured by wireless radiation.
The FCC Violated the Law
The Petitioners contend the FCC ignored the extensive evidence submitted to the agency showing that non-thermal levels of pulsed and modulated RFR emitted by wireless technology are harmful to humans, wildlife and the environment, and its order failed to provide a record of a reasoned decision making. Therefore, the Petitioners claim the FCC has violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and its decision is capricious, arbitrary and not evidence-based.
The FCC ignored numerous submissions detailing injuries and rapidly growing illnesses such as Radiation Sickness from radiofrequency radiation and ignored calls such as those from the cities of Boston and Philadelphia to address the sickness. Petitioners argued that the inadequate FCC guidelines are used to deny accommodation in violation of the Americans with Disability Act. The Petitioners filed 11,000 pages of scientific evidence and comments ignored by the FCC in support of their claims.
11,000 Pages of Evidence Filed in Landmark 5G Case Against the FCC
“The FCC cannot rely on last century thinking to evaluate this century technology.”
For decades, the public has been told by the FCC that there is no evidence that wireless technology is harmful. Claims of 5G harms have been dismissed as “conspiracy theory.”
In December 2019, the FCC closed an inquiry it initiated in 2013 in which the commission asked the public to submit comments to the inquiry’s docket as to whether or not the FCC should review its 1996 health guidelines for Radio Frequency (RF) radiation emitted by wireless devices and infrastructure.
About 2,000 comments — an exceptionally large number — were filed with the FCC. These comments were filed by scientists and science organizations, such as the BioInitiative and EMF Scientist, by doctors and medical organizations, by cities, such as Boston and Philadelphia, and by hundreds of individuals including parents of children who were injured by this technology. The comments referenced thousands of studies showing clear and profound evidence of harm.
Nevertheless, the FCC order, published on Dec. 4, 2019, concluded there is no evidence that wireless technology causes harm, and no need to review the guidelines. The FCC decision didn’t provide an analysis of the science, disregarded the evidence of sickness and didn’t defend its decision with evidence.
A landmark case against the FCC contests these statements and asserts that the harms are proven and that an epidemic of sickness exists.
The leading environmental and health advocacy organizations that filed the case submitted 11,000 pages of evidence in support of their claims. (Links to the evidence are provided below).
Link to Joint Appendix 27 volumes:
Volume 1; Volume 2; Volume 3; Volume 4
Volume 5; Volume 6; Volume 7; Volume 8
Volume 9; Volume 10; Volume 11; Volume 12
Volume 13; Volume 14; Volume 15 ; Volume 16
Volume 17; Volume 18; Volume 19; Volume 20
Volume 21; Volume 22; Volume 23; Volume 24
Volume 25; Volume 26; Volume 27
How to access the oral arguments online and listen to the Press Conference following the arguments:
The oral arguments presented on Jan. 25, 2021 can accessed HERE: https://ehtrust.org/the-massive-scientific-evidence-ignored-by-the-fcc/
You can also listen to the Press Conference with Dr. Devra Davis and Theodora Scarato of ehtrust.org and Attorney Edward Myers with the above link. For more info, visit the Environmental Heath Trust: ehtrust.org
On 7/29/20, Children’s Health Defense filed its Principal (or Evidentiary) Brief in its landmark case. The illuminating press conference regarding the submission of this action was held the day after CHD filed its evidentiary brief. See the video HERE. Read the Full Press Release.
Neighborhood Residents are Upset at Verizon Wireless
Source: The Press Democrat January 12, 2018. Judith Monroy poses for a portrait in her front yard, looking up at a Verizon Wireless cell signal booster, on a utility pole at right, and its in-ground utility box, lower left, that were installed in front of her home on Link Lane in Santa Rosa, California, on Friday, January 12, 2018. Neighborhood residents are upset at Verizon Wireless because only one resident, Monroy’s next door neighbor, was notified in writing prior to the installation, as well as the size and proximity of the transmitters to their homes. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Videos from our Facebook page
Suggestions on Buying and Using Meters
While we don’t endorse or promote any particular EMF or dedicated RF meter, we believe a meter is the best way to determine what sort of EMF levels are in your environment and living space.
“Why spend the money on a meter? Do I really need one?”
This is a question many people ask. Some of us have had Building Biologists come to our homes to take readings to assess the EMF and RF levels to determine our exposure. However, EMF/RF levels can change without our awareness. For instance a neighbor might add a new Xfinity hot spot or a security system. Perhaps a family member gets a new iphone and forgets to turn it off or put it on airplane mode. Even computers, laptops, and printers can suddenly turn on their wireless defaults and emit high RF fields. How would we know these things to avoid exposure if we didn’t have a meter?
Some of us have our own biological meters, for instance, we might start feeling agitated, have difficulty concentrating, develop tingling, eye burning or headache. If you’re diabetic, you can have elevated blood sugar readings. Everyone seems to have a unique set of symptoms when he or she is RF sensitive. See the EMF sensitivity page: http://safetech4santarosa.org/emf-sensitivity/
Seeing is believing!
If you own a meter, in addition to taking readings in your own home, perhaps you can take it to homes of friends to help them understand the high pulsed RF levels from a smart meter that’s right next to their bedroom!
If you see a multiple array cell tower, monopine macrotower, or small cell, you can take readings of those, too. It’s interesting to take meter readings in various parts of town to see or hear large spikes. Sometimes it’s hard to spot the source!
Shielding
If you discover problem spots that can’t be easily remedied, you might want to look into shielding. Two good sources for shielding are:
https://safelivingtechnologies.com/
Meter Values
At the bottom is a chart showing values and the levels of concern. Source: 2015 Building Biology Precautionary Guidelines for Sleeping Areas.
You may find these Unit Conversion Charts useful.
“What sort of EMF frequencies are being measured?”
This site is primarily concerned with the proliferation of Radiofrequencies (RF) in our environment and homes, i.e. cell phones, cell towers, small cells, wi-fi, smart meters, and all sort of smart devices that emit RF. But these are not the only things people can react to. There’s also magnetic and electric fields from wired electrical systems as well as dirty electricity from wiring systems in homes. For more info about RF and other forms of EMF radiation go to:
https://createhealthyhomes.com
Many dedicated RF meters such as the Safe and Sound Pro II or the Acoustimeter have lights, showing high, medium or low values as well as sound options. If you’re a numbers person, you will want a meter that shows the actual numerical values in a display. A handy tri-mode meter that measures RF, magnetic and electrical fields is the Cornet ED88T Plus. For more on meter types, prices and order info, check out the resources below.
Meters resources: https://stopsmartmeters.org/store/
https://safelivingtechnologies.com
Lloyd Burrell’s website has a good comparison between the Cornet meter and the Trifield TF2 meter. https://www.electricsense.com/best-emf-meter-my-review/
Unit Conversion Charts for RF Meters
Environmental Health Trust (EHT) is a think tank that promotes a healthier environment through research, education, and policy. They are the only nonprofit organization in the world that carries out cutting edge research on environmental health hazards and also works directly with communities, health and education professionals, and policymakers to understand and mitigate these hazards. Learn more at: ehtrust.org
1) Distance is Important
One basic, very important concept is “Distance Is Your Friend.” The amount of wireless radiation absorbed into people decreases very rapidly when you increase the distance from wireless devices.
Decrease your exposure by increasing your distance from wireless emitting sources. For example, always keep cell phones and wireless laptops away from your body.
2) Identify Sources in Your Home
Take a look around your home. How many wireless things do you have? Become aware of the various emitting sources in your surroundings first so you can address each one step by step.
Keeping a distance from devices is just the first step in reducing your risk. The next step is identifying safer ways to get the connections you need but without the wireless radiation.
Here is a list of things that emit wireless commonly found in homes: computers, smart speakers, Wi-Fi router, gaming consoles, cordless phones, cordless mouse, cell phones, and wireless security systems.
3) Get to Know Airplane Mode
“Airplane mode”, also known as “flight mode,” is a setting on your wireless device that stops the microwave radiation emissions. It turns antennas to OFF. Learning how to use airplane mode is one of our most important tips. On some devices airplane mode only turns cellular antennas, so you also need to check and turn off other antennas that could be on such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- On every computer, laptop, tablet, or WTD, there is a function key that turns OFF the Wi-Fi transmitter. There is also a function key that turns OFF the Bluetooth transmissions.
- Whenever you hand a child a technology device such as cell phone, tablet, or laptop, please set the Airplane mode to ON, and Wi-Fi to OFF, and Bluetooth to OFF.
- NOTE: Devices should be used on a table and never on a lap.
4) Get a Corded Landline
Home cordless phones emit radiation like cell phones. Most cordless phone base stations constantly emit high levels of microwave radiation regardless of whether or not any connected handset is in use. Corded landlines have no wireless radiation emissions. So every home should have a corded landline (with a curly cord to the handset) if possible. Then you can forward cell phones to your home line while you are at home. Prefer the landline corded phone for most voice conversations.
If you cannot get a copper landline you can use a Voice over Internet Protocol system or purchase a telephone line connection from your Internet provider.
5) Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure
First, try to minimize your overall cell phone use to decrease the time you are exposed. For adults who must use a mobile phone:
- Use speaker phone or a plug-in earpiece to keep the phone away from your brain and body, and when you are not using the phone be sure to power off or set the phone on Airplane/Flight mode and the Wi-Fi to OFF and the Bluetooth to OFF.
- Prefer texting instead of voice calls and hold the phone out, away from your body when you press “send,” and do not rest your phone against your abdomen as you text.
- Do not carry a powered ON cell phone in your pocket or bra.
- Turn automatic updates off. Reduce active Apps. Cell phones emit radiation constantly, even when you are not actively using them. Even if you turn wireless antennas off, they are still emitting magnetic fields so power them 100% off before you carry them near your body.
- Children should not use mobile phones except for emergencies.
Note: The safest way to use a cell phone is to turn it off and use a corded landline. Environmental Health Trust has a detailed step by step on reducing cell phone radiation. Go to: https://ehtrust.org/educate-yourself/10-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-the-cancer-risk-from-cell-phones/Reducing Cell Phone Radiation.
6) Turn It Off When Not In Use
We want to be clear that turning things “off when not in use” still results in significant wireless exposure. EHT recommends you swap out wireless devices with safe wired connections. However, for many people, they feel overwhelmed or are unable to do this immediately. That is why turning things off when not in use is often the first step people take. Then we highly recommend you move to the next step which is swapping out wireless devices with safe corded connections.
Wireless enabled devices are always transmitting radiation even when you are not surfing the internet or using the device to talk or message. The only way to stop these emissions is to set the wireless antennas to OFF.
Why? Wi-Fi devices continuously check in with their main network (cell tower or Wi-Fi router) to be sure a connection exists. This radiation activity is called a digital handshake. For example, a Wi-Fi router emits a beacon signal at regular intervals to signal the available network (whether or not any person or machine is using the network). Similarly, a Wi-Fi enabled tablet or other personal use devices will also signal at regular intervals hunting for a network (whether or not a person is using that connection). Those signals are all radiation emissions.
- You can easily decrease your family’s firsthand and secondhand radiation exposure by turning off wireless networks and devices whenever you are not actively using them, such as at night while you sleep.
- Unplugging wireless devices (and their related gear)—for example, gaming, entertainment, and computer systems—when not in use also saves significant energy and makes all-around good sense.
Note: Turning Wi-Fi off when not in use only eliminates wireless exposures while the WiFi is OFF. However, you will still be exposed when the Wi-Fi is ON. Therefore, be aware you are still getting significant exposure when the Wi-Fi is ON.
7) Prefer Corded Technology Connections
For home phones (landline), internet, printer, speakers, and entertainment gear, connect by cord or cable with all wireless features off.
- Wi-Fi Internet Connections at Home: As an easy first step, power off the Wi-Fi router at bedtime. Then ask your internet provider how to connect with plug-in cords and turn off the antennae feature of the modem or router. Many companies allow you to manage the wireless settings online and you can simply turn it off via the internet. Sometimes a swap to a non-wireless modem is necessary.
- Wire Up Game Stations and Controllers: Choose gaming devices that have the option to connect the hand controllers with a cord.
- Hardwire Accessories (Printer, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, etc.): Wi-Fi printers, your cordless mouse, and your virtual assistant speaker are a hidden source of constant Wi-Fi emissions, just like a Wi-Fi router or cordless phone base.
- Remember: If a user or tracking device is wireless, it has wireless radiation emissions.
8) Power Off Wireless Devices When Driving
Power off cell phones and wireless connectivity in vehicles. Mobile devices distract drivers even if hands-free. Cell phones and streaming tablets and laptops also emit higher power radiation during travel because the metal surroundings create radiation hotspots inside the driver and passenger areas of your vehicle.
- Use an old fashioned GPS without wireless.
- Plan ahead so that you do not need to use any cell phones or wirelessly enabled devices in the car.
- Going on a road trip and your children want to watch movies? Before you leave, download the movies onto the device so that during the trip wireless access is not necessary.
- Call your car manufacturer to learn how to turn the wireless antennas ( Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) to OFF in the car.
9) Protect Children and Pregnant Women
Rethink how you use cell phones when you are near children. Children’s skulls are thinner than adults’ and their brains are still developing. Hence, radiation from cell phones penetrates more deeply into their brains and is likely to cause more damage. For example, do not use a cell phone while an infant is on your lap, and do not carry your cell phone in your baby carrier. Keep a transmitting cell phone or wireless device away from a child’s brain and body.
10) Safeguard Your Sleep
Pew Research reported that 75% of children sleep every night with their cell phone beneath their pillow. Wireless radiation and blue light impacts sleep. So be sure to power off all screens and electronics well before bedtime.
- Need an alarm on your phone? You can set the phone to Airplane/Flight Mode ON and the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to OFF and still use the alarm feature.
- Many newer TVs, gaming systems, and computers plugged into electricity or on battery power will have radiation emissions even if in power off mode, so it is best to remove them from the bedroom or completely disconnect them from their power source.
- Be sure to charge cell phones and tech devices outside the bedroom, because charger gear generates other types of electromagnetic fields that are also linked to health issues.
- Locate screens in family areas—not in bedrooms.
11) Decrease Overall Time of Wireless Use and Exposure
The longer you connect wirelessly, the more radiation you absorb into your body. So keep your wireless phone calls and Wi-Fi use short—whenever possible. We all need internet access and good long phone calls, so be sure you have a landline corded phone and wired home computer to use for safe internet connections.
No wireless radiation is emitted from ethernet cables. Be sure all the accessories for your tech are corded not wireless. Minimize your time spent in Wi-Fi hotspots. Minimize time overall on wireless devices and teach your friends about this issue so you (and they) can be less exposed when you hang out with them.
12) Read the Fine Print: Keep Devices Off Your Lap
All device manufacturers advise that each wireless device should be at some distance away from human bodies and brains. Cell phone instructions state that the device is radiation tested at a distance from your body- sometimes around half an inch. Printers, computers, and wireless routers instruct that the distance between the device and a human body must be at least 20 cm (that’s about 8 inches).
- Keeping these devices closer than the manufacturer’s designated distance can result in a violation of the federal government’s official radiation exposure limit. Learn more about fine print instructions for cell phones and tech devices here.
- Before a phone, tablet, MP3 player, etc. is placed into a pocket or bra or tucked into clothing, power the phone to OFF. If you set Airplane mode to ON and Wi-Fi to OFF and Bluetooth to OFF you will stop the wireless radiation. However, you will not stop the ELF-EMF/magnetic fields so always power phones off before placing them against your body. Always also use those settings to turn off wireless before devices are near a pregnant abdomen.
Keeping these distances will not protect you from biological effects because research has found impacts at levels well below federal safety limits. However, keeping devices off your body will reduce your overall exposure.
13) Replace Your Smartmeter with an Analogue Electric Meter
Ensure you and your neighbors’ utility meters are analog, not digital, and not wireless. Companies are replacing electric, water, and gas utility meters with digital “smart” meters that emit radiation. The pulses of radiation from smart meters are not safe. Industry states it is a “low” amount of radiation exposure. In reality, the pulses of radiation can be very high- even though they just last a millisecond- but they pulse continuously thousands of times a day.
14) Decrease the Power of the Signal
Educate yourself on the situations where your cell phone or wireless device has higher wireless radiation emissions so you can eliminate and reduce your use in these situations.
For example, your device will emit more radiation when you are traveling in a moving car, bus, or train, when you are streaming audio or video or downloading large files and in areas of low reception, and when several applications are open or running in the background on your device.
- Do not stream video inside vehicles. Passengers can use electronics with pre-loaded movies and applications (instead of streaming).
- Prefer to video chat when you are at a computer with a corded internet connection.
- If you want to listen to music or watch a video, first download the files (preferably by using a corded connection) onto your device (instead of streaming) so that you can watch and listen without continuous RF.
- Prefer to use social media (with photos and video) when you have a corded internet connection rather than on a cell phone.
- Turn the phone and device off or on airplane mode in low reception areas.
- Prefer texting over voice in low reception areas.
15) Reduce Magnetic Fields
Scientists have also long investigated another type of electromagnetic radiation called magnetic fields. Magnetic fields are found where-ever electricity flows, from electronics to appliances to powerlines. Replicated research has linked ELF-EMF to childhood leukemia, miscarriage, ADHD, obesity, and asthma. Some quick tips on reducing exposure include:
- Do not charge phones and devices by your bedside or working space.
- Use a battery-powered alarm clock
- Use laptops and tablets on a table- not lap.
- Unplug heating blankets and waterbed heaters before getting into bed.
- Do not stare into the microwave watching food cook.
- Sleep away from all electronics, utility meters, and large appliances.
- Take magnetic field measurements, especially if you live near a powerline.
EHT has a webpage dedicated to educating you on more ways to reduce your exposure to magnetic and electric fields HERE.
Meaningful Policy Change is Critical to Full Protection
Yes-wireless radiation is everywhere and yes, we can reduce our exposure with personal changes like these above but the reality is that we are exposed every day to more and more radiation from cell antennas that we cannot control. We need meaningful policy change to assure everyone can take these steps.
Some people cannot afford to hardwire their house and some people do not even have access to ethernet connections because they live in an apartment with wireless access only. We ask that you get involved in the movement for safe technology today.
Now with 5G and 4G densification, industry is pushing for hundreds and thousands of new antenna installations near our homes. We cannot reduce this exposure with personal changes. We need meaningful long-lasting policy change. This means talking to your elected officials. This means organizing awareness and action in your community.
A Few Rather Important Things to Add:
Laptops: Use a grounded 3 prong plug for the power supply. Yes, you may have to buy this separate when you buy your laptop. (MACs come with a two-prong adapter as well as a two-prong).
Lighting: Opt-out of fluorescents. They emit harmful blue light, create electromagnetic interference and they have mercury in them. Some halogens can create electromagnetic interference. Incandescent bulbs seem to be the safest from an electromagnetic perspective, however, they are not energy efficient.
Radio Frequency Radiation Health Risks: Implication for 5G- Dr. Joel Moskowitz
September 24, 2020 Grand Rounds, UC San Francisco
Dr. Moskowitz has directed the Center for Family and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley since 1993. He has published research on disease prevention programs and policies for almost 40 years. In 2009 he served as the senior author on a hallmark paper reviewing research on mobile phone use and tumor risk. Since then he has translated and disseminated research on the biologic and health effects of wireless radiation. His Electromagnetic Radiation Safety website, saferemr.com, has served as a resource for scientists, journalists, policy makers, and the public since 2013. The saferemr.com website has had more than 2.5 million page views.
He is an advisor to the International EMF Scientist Appeal, emfscientist.org, signed by over 240 scientists who have published more than 2,000 papers and letters in professional journals on electromagnetic fields and biology or health. In 2017 he won a lawsuit against the California Department of Public Health for suppressing its own scientists’ cell phone safety guidance for eight years. This resulted in the largest state public health department publishing cell phone health warnings.
In the past year, Dr. Moskowitz published two articles in popular venues: “We Have No Reason to Believe 5G Is Safe” on the Scientific American website, and “Regulators Steamroll Health Concerns as the Global Economy Embraces 5G” in The Washington Spectator.
Statement by Ronald Melnick PhD on the National Toxicology Program Final Reports on Cell Phone Radiation
Ronald L Melnick, PhD, was a senior scientist for 28 years with National Institutes of Health leading studies on numerous industrial chemicals. He lead the design of the National Toxicology Program/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Studies.
Ronald L. Melnick was Director of Special Programs in the Environmental Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, USA and is now retired and Senior Advisor to Environmental Health Trust.
An important lesson that should be learned from the NTP studies on cell phone radiofrequency radiation is that we cannot assume any current or future wireless technology is safe without adequate testing. In the interest of public health, government agencies must utilize results from these well-conducted health effects studies and issue clear recommendations to the public on how to reduce exposures to agents that are hazardous to our health. The NTP studies clearly show that non-ionizing radiation can cause cancers and other adverse health effects.