The Power of Information

You have the right to know about cell phone radiation

EWG Action Fund thinks that you have the right to know the radiation level of your cell phone. When you buy it. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will soon vote on an ordinance that would make sure that you have this information at the point-of-sale.

Please use the form below to tell the Board of Supervisors to vote "Yes."

Subject:

Your Letter:

I am standing with Environmental Working Group Action Fund in strong support of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposed Cell Phone Right-to-Know Ordinance, which would require retailers of cell phones to make the level of radiation emitted by a phone known to potential purchasers of that phone. This is a simple and sensible consumer "right-to-know" measure that will help consumers make informed choices when buying a new cell phone.

While the scientific evidence is not conclusive and more research is needed, questions around potential long-term health effects related to cell phone radiation are now significant enough to warrant basic precautionary measures. There are a growing number of studies linking prolonged exposure to increased risk of brain and salivary gland tumors, childhood behavioral problems, migraines, and vertigo. These scientific concerns are great enough to have prompted health agencies in six nations, including the United Kingdom and Germany, to issue warnings to limit cell phone use, particularly by children. The brains and bodies of children are likely to be more susceptible than adults to effects from cell phone radiation because their brains and skulls are still developing and absorb a greater portion of incoming radiation compared to adults.

Another reason that the disclosure of cell phone radiation levels is warranted is that  the current government standards are outdated and provide only a slim margin of safety. The federal limit for localized cell phone radiation (SAR value of 1.6 W/kg) was set 14 years ago, has never been updated, and was based on potential acute rather than long-term health effects. Oddly, the standard allows 20 times more radiation to penetrate any individual body part (such as the brain) compared to the whole body exposure. Moreover, the latest research shows that the brain of a 5-8 year old child absorbs twice the amount of radiation compared to an adult brain, yet this was not accounted for by the when the standards were set.

It is important to note that the proposed Cell Phone Right-to-Know Ordinance does not require any kind of warning label on cell phones. Rather, it would simply require retailers to disclose cell phone radiation levels at the point-of-sale. Consumers can then decide for themselves whether they want to factor this information into making their purchasing decisions. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends that people who are concerned about cell phone radiation buy "a wireless device with lower SAR," but then notes that the FCC "does not require manufacturers to disclose the RF exposure from their devices." (www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/mobilephone.pdf)

Ultimately, the Cell Phone Right-to-Know Ordinance is about giving consumers the power to make informed decisions. I, and EWG Action Fund, urge you to support this measure.

Michela Alioto-Pier

John Avalos

David Campos

David Chiu

Carmen Chu

Chris Daly

Bevan Dufty

Sean Elsbernd

Eric Mar

Sophie Maxwell

Ross Mirkarimi

EWG Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that is a separate sister organization of the Environmental Working Group. The mission of EWG Action Fund is to protect health and the environment by educating the public and lobbying on a wide range of environmental issues. Donations to EWG Action Fund are not tax-deductible.

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