Environmental Health News

09/27/2026

A historic moment! The U.S Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and have both issued requests for input on the health impacts of wireless RF radiation. RF exposures are growing with the increasing use of cell phones, Wi-Fi, cell towers and small cells, smart meters, Bluetooth AirPods, 5G, and emerging 6G technologies. Children are especially vulnerable and they absorb higher rates of RF radiation from both cell phones and cell towers into their brains and bodies.

HHS is also asking about wireless radiation, as well as other forms of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF), in addition to RF including extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields from power lines, electrical grid equipment, appliances, and other sources. Environmental EMF exposures are also increasing as new 765 kV high-voltage transmission lines are proposed to meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of AI data centers.

This is an unprecedented and important opportunity to submit scientific evidence, share personal experiences, and call for strong public health protections. This post provides step-by-step guidance on how to submit comments.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
FCC Comments are due October 22, 2026.

The FCC is opening a docket for public comment on issues the D.C. Circuit Court (2021) found the agency had failed to adequately address—including children’s vulnerability, long-term exposure, environmental and wildlife impacts, and potential health effects involving reproduction, the immune system, and DNA damage. The FCC Notice was released on September 17 and published in the Federal Register.

Health and Human Services
HHS Comments are due October 21, 2026.

HHS issued a Request for Information calling on the American public, scientists, physicians, educators, industry, and public health professionals to provide input on EMF and health, including impacts on children, personal experiences, whether current exposure limits adequately protect health, the highest-priority research gaps, and what regulatory changes may be needed.

We have put together step-by-step details on how to submit to these agencies. https://ehsciences.org/how-to-file-public-comments-to-the-fcc-and-hhs-on-wireless-rf-and-emf/

09/18/2026

Breaking News: The U.S. Health and Human Services Seeks Public Input on Wireless Radiation and EMF Health Effects

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) calling on the American public, scientists, physicians, educators, industry, and public health professionals to provide evidence and experiences on the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), particularly from wireless radiation from technologies such as cell phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, and cell towers.

HHS is specifically asking for input on reported health effects, impacts on children, whether current exposure limits adequately protect health, how EMF exposures should be measured, the highest-priority research gaps, what information should be disclosed to the public, and what regulatory changes are needed.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for the public, scientists and health professionals to tell HHS what they know about wireless radiation and EMF exposure—and what the federal government needs to investigate and address.”

HHS is asking for input on reported health effects of cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi, smart meters, and power line EMF, including children's vulnerability, whether current exposure limits adequately protect health, how EMF exposures should be measured, the highest-priority research gaps, what infor...

08/28/2026

Depression, poor sleep quality linked to worker exposure to EMF radiation
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found an association between electric power plant workers’ exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and negative impacts to mental health and sleep quality.

ELF-EMF, commonly referred to simply as EMF, is an exposure people experience from close proximity to electrical grid infrastructure, including high-voltage power lines and substations.

More at https://www.ehn.org/depression-poor-sleep-emf-radiation

04/21/2026

A 2022 review published by Alfonso Balmori examined studies on people living near cell towers and cell antenna sites and found that the majority reported health effects, such as cancer.

Read more about the key findings - and why this study matters - on EHN: https://www.ehn.org/cell-tower-radiation-health-effects

04/20/2026

A recent study by Dr. Anna Young et al. found that chemical contamination impacted the success of egg retrieval, potentially impairing fertility and IVF success.

Read more about the key findings - and why this study matters - on EHN: https://www.ehn.org/chemical-mixtures-impact-ivf

In a recent study published in Environment International, researchers tested the ovarian follicular fluid (which surrounds egg cells in the o***y) of 82 people undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and found that chemical contamination impacted the success of egg retrieval, a critical part of the....

04/11/2026

A study of over 3.5 million adults in Switzerland published by Nekane Sandoval-Diez et al. found an association between residential exposure to the magnetic field EMF emitted by power lines and an increased risk of death from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Read more about the key findings - and why this study matters - on EHN: https://www.ehn.org/alzheimers-power-line-emf-radiation

04/11/2026

A new pilot study published by Jenna Hua et al. suggests that people may be able to reduce the levels of toxic plastic chemicals in their body via lifestyle changes, describing the interventions performed on couples struggling with infertility as a part of the new Netflix documentary, The Plastic Detox.

Read more about the key findings - and why this study matters - on EHN: https://www.ehn.org/plastic-chemical-lifestyle-interventions

A new proof-of-concept pilot study published in Toxics suggests that people may be able to reduce the levels of toxic plastic chemicals in their body via lifestyle changes supported by counseling and access to cleaner product options. This study describes the interventions performed on five couples....