NIH BURIES EVIDENCE: 2,500 pages of cell phone radiation research REDACTED amid public health concerns
By willowt // 2025-03-10
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  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has fully redacted 2,500 pages of documents related to the sudden cessation of its decade-long, $30 million study on the carcinogenic effects of cell phone radiation, leaving the public uninformed about the reasons behind this decision.
  • The NIH's National Toxicology Program (NTP) completed a study in 2018 that found "clear evidence" of cancer and DNA damage in rats exposed to 2G and 3G cell phone radiation, highlighting alarming health risks associated with widespread cell phone use.
  • The NIH's claim that the research was halted due to being "technically challenging and resource-intensive" has been met with skepticism by health advocates and scientists, who argue that the findings warranted further investigation rather than abandonment.
  • Concerns about cell phone radiation have been historically downplayed, with industry-funded studies influencing safety guidelines that focus on thermal effects while ignoring non-thermal effects like DNA damage. The NTP's 2018 findings, being independent of industry influence, were a rare exception.
  • The NIH's actions raise concerns about public health and government accountability, especially with the global rollout of 5G technology. Advocates demand the release of redacted documents and the resumption of research to ensure that public health is prioritized over potential industry interests.
In a move that has left health advocates and scientists alike scratching their heads, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has fully redacted 2,500 pages of documents related to its decision to abruptly halt research into the carcinogenic effects of cell phone radiation. The revelation comes after a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sought to uncover why the NIH’s National Toxicology Program (NTP) ended its decade-long, $30 million study on wireless radiation. The findings of that study, completed in 2018, had already revealed “clear evidence” of cancer and DNA damage linked to cell phone radiation. Yet, the NIH has chosen to bury the details, leaving the public in the dark.

A decade of research, a sudden silence

The NTP’s 2018 study was groundbreaking. After exposing rats to 2G and 3G cell phone radiation, researchers found “clear evidence” of malignant heart tumors, “some evidence” of brain tumors, and additional evidence of adrenal gland tumors. These findings were alarming, especially given the ubiquity of cell phones in modern life. Yet, in January 2024, the NTP announced it would no longer pursue further research into the health effects of wireless radiation, citing the studies as “technically challenging and more resource-intensive than expected.” This explanation has been met with skepticism. Miriam Eckenfels, director of CHD’s Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) & Wireless Program, expressed her frustration: “If you find a smoking gun—as NTP did when it found clear evidence that wireless radiation was linked to cancer and DNA damage—you don’t just walk away. You find out why the gun was smoking. So the basic fact that the research was stopped is deeply disturbing.” The NIH’s decision to redact nearly 2,500 pages of documents has only deepened the mystery. In response to CHD’s FOIA request, the NIH released only 389 pages, leaving the rest fully redacted. The agency justified its actions by citing exemptions under the FOIA, including protections for “trade secrets,” “internal government records,” and “personal privacy.” But as Eckenfels pointed out, “The people deserve to know how our government agencies make decisions, particularly as it impacts their health.”

A history of industry influence

This isn’t the first time concerns about cell phone radiation have been swept under the rug. For decades, the wireless industry has downplayed the risks, often citing studies funded by the industry itself. In the 1990s, as cell phones became mainstream, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established safety guidelines based on research that critics argue was heavily influenced by industry lobbyists. These guidelines, which remain largely unchanged, focus on thermal effects (the heating of tissue) while ignoring non-thermal effects, such as DNA damage and oxidative stress, which have been documented in numerous independent studies. The NTP’s 2018 findings were a rare exception, as they were government-funded and independent of industry influence. Yet, instead of building on this research, the NIH has chosen to shut it down. Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., who directed the NTP from 2009 to 2019, expressed her disappointment: “The original studies clearly indicated that there were some problems going on, and trying to get a better understanding was actually important.”

What’s hidden in the redacted pages?

The 389 pages released by the NIH provide some insight into what the agency was hiding. These documents, primarily presentation slides, reveal that the NTP had ambitious plans for follow-up studies. Researchers intended to investigate the impact of wireless radiation on behavior, stress hormones and DNA damage. They also planned to develop a new exposure system to better simulate real-world conditions. One slide even outlined a vision for collaboration with the FCC and other agencies to measure real-life exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in schools, hospitals and homes. Yet, none of these plans came to fruition. As Devra Davis, Ph.D., MPH, a toxicologist and epidemiologist who reviewed the FOIA results, noted, “There were well-thought-out research plans that recognized the compelling need for this research. The question is who made the decision to pull the plug on this, because the rationale for doing that was pretty flimsy.” The redacted pages likely contain answers to these questions. Were industry pressures involved? Did political or financial considerations play a role? Without transparency, we can only speculate. But as Davis warned, “The worst thing that happens in times like these is that people start to censor themselves and stop doing work that might prove controversial and affect powerful interests.”

A call for transparency and accountability

The NIH’s actions raise serious concerns about public health and government accountability. With 5G technology rolling out globally and wireless devices becoming more integrated into our daily lives, understanding the long-term health effects of RFR is more critical than ever. Yet, the NIH’s decision to halt research and redact key documents suggests that powerful interests may be prioritizing profit over public health. As Eckenfels aptly put it, “The American public deserves better.” The NIH must release the redacted documents and resume its research into the health effects of wireless radiation. Until then, the public is left to wonder: What are they hiding, and why? In an era where health freedom and scientific integrity are under threat, these questions demand answers. The stakes are too high to remain silent. Sources include: Substack.com ChildrensHealthDefense.org TheDailyBell.com
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