HHS launches study on cellphone radiation risks as FDA removes safety claims
By bellecarter // 2026-01-19
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  • The HHS has initiated a new review of wireless radiation health risks, while the FDA removed outdated webpages claiming cellphones pose no danger, signaling a potential policy shift.
  • A 2018 National Toxicology Program (NTP) study found "clear evidence" linking RF radiation to cancerous tumors in animals, yet the FDA and CDC previously dismissed such findings. A 2025 WHO review also affirmed RF radiation's carcinogenic effects.
  • Some experts, like UC Berkeley's Joel Moskowitz, suspect the HHS review may delay meaningful action, while advocates argue it aligns with calls for stricter EMF safety standards.
  • The FDA relaxed regulations for wireless wearables, citing innovation, despite ongoing concerns about radiation exposure and privacy. Meanwhile, the FCC still denies proven cancer risks from wireless devices.
  • The removal of FDA safety claims and the HHS review suggest federal agencies may finally reassess wireless radiation risks, possibly leading to stricter public health regulations in the future.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated a new review of wireless radiation's potential health risks, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed longstanding webpages asserting that cellphones pose no danger. The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, signals a potential shift in federal policy on electromagnetic radiation (EMR) safety—a topic long debated among scientists, regulators and advocacy groups. "This move is signaling very strong steps in the right direction," said Miriam Eckenfels, director of Children's Health Defense's (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation & Wireless Program. She praised HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for addressing what she called a decades-long failure to acknowledge scientific evidence linking radiofrequency (RF) radiation to health risks, including cancer. The FDA, which operates under HHS, confirmed that it took down webpages containing outdated conclusions about cellphone safety as part of a broader scientific review. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the agency disabled pages with "old conclusions about cellphone radiation" while launching a study to assess research gaps—particularly concerning emerging wireless technologies.

Scientific debate intensifies over RF radiation risks

The FDA's removed webpage had previously stated that "the weight of scientific evidence has not linked exposure to radio frequency energy from cellphone use with any health problems." However, critics argue that federal agencies have relied on outdated studies—many conducted before widespread cellphone use—while dismissing newer research suggesting harm. A 2018 study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of HHS, found "clear evidence" that RF radiation caused cancerous heart tumors in male rats, along with "some evidence" of brain and adrenal gland tumors. Despite these findings, the FDA maintained its stance that cellphones were safe. BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that in April 2025, a WHO-commissioned systematic review published in Environmental International concluded there was "high certainty" that RF radiation causes cancer in animals—a finding that aligns with earlier NTP results. Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) webpage on cellphone radiation remains unchanged, stating only that "more research is needed" to determine health effects. While advocates welcome the HHS study, some scientists remain skeptical. Joel Moskowitz, a public health professor at UC Berkeley and commissioner with the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF), declined an invitation to participate in the HHS review, citing disagreements with Kennedy on vaccines and other issues. "They're just doing this to kick the can down the road," Moskowitz told the Wall Street Journal, suggesting the effort may delay meaningful regulatory action. W. Scott McCollough, lead litigator for CHD's EMR cases, countered that the HHS study aligns with ICBE-EMF's calls for expert recommendations on EMF safety. "Tribalism prevents us from making real progress against EMR risks," Eckenfels added, urging critics to recognize the shared goal of holding industry accountable.

Agency moves raise questions about future regulations

The FDA's decision to remove its safety claims coincides with another controversial move: loosening oversight of wireless wearables, allowing some devices to bypass medical review. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary framed the change as promoting innovation, but Eckenfels warned it ignores privacy and radiation concerns. Meanwhile, the FCC—which sets legal RF exposure limits—still maintains on its website that there is "no proof" wireless devices cause cancer, despite mounting scientific dissent. The HHS study marks a potential turning point in the federal government's approach to wireless radiation, though its scope and impact remain uncertain. Advocates hope it will lead to stricter safety standards, while skeptics question whether it will result in meaningful change. For now, the FDA's scrubbed webpages and HHS's new review suggest that, after years of dismissing concerns, federal agencies may finally be reassessing the risks of ubiquitous wireless technology—a shift that could reshape public health policy in the years ahead. Watch the video below that talks about wireless radiation and how to get out of the digital trap. This video is from the Kla.TV - English channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org WSJ.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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