San Francisco Needs to Open the Gate on Cell Phone Safety Say Renowned Medical Experts

San Francisco Needs to Open the Gate on Cell Phone Safety Say Renowned Medical Experts

Source: Environmental Health Trust

May 6, 2013

Letter Comes On the Eve of Permanent Injunction against “Right to Know” Ordinance on Cell Phone Radiation

San Francisco, CA - May 6, 2013 -- Renowned medical and public health experts, released a letter urging San Francisco Board of Supervisors to defend their unanimously passed 2010 Cell Phone Right to Know Ordinance. Signatories to the letter include distinguished breast surgeon Dr. John West, Director of the Breast Care and Imaging Center of Orange County who is one of America’s Top Doctors and Prof. Stanton Glantz, the award-winning public health pioneer from the University of California San Francisco, winner of the James Madison Freedom of Information Award, from the Society of Professional Journalists for ferreting out information on the dangers of tobacco and championing media efforts to prevent disease.

Last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee voted unanimously to approve a watered-down settlement with the wireless industry over legislation that required cell phone retailers to distribute radiation-warning materials. As currently written, the settlement calls for San Francisco to agree to a permanent injunction against the 'Right to Know' ordinance and promise that it will refrain from further litigation. In return, the CTIA, the wireless industry's trade association, will waive any claims to attorney's fees. The proposed settlement now advances to the full board for consideration at its May 7 meeting. If approved by the 11-member body and signed by Mayor Edwin Lee, the agreement will go into effect immediately.

Deeply concerned about the ways that cell phones are being used, Dr. West advises his patients to take simple precautions to use a speakerphone or headset and always keep the phone off the body.  “The science on the risks of cell phones is getting stronger since the City passed its important law. People have a basic right to know the advice to keep phones off the body that appears in fine print warnings in pamphlets or within the phone settings directly.'

Reviewing new experimental and public health studies on the damaging impact of cell phone radiation on male reproduction, in his textbook Biostatistics in Medicine, 7^th edition, Prof. Glantz concludes: “Taking all the information we have discussed on cellphones and sperm allows us to confidently conclude that exposure to cell phones adversely affects sperm.” The letter notes that new scientific information released by the World Health Organization strengthens the case for giving people the right to know about cell phones prior to purchasing them.

“Just one week ago, on April 24th the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization issued its Monograph1 that addresses whether cellular telephone RF EMF radiation presents a risk of cancer to the cell phone users. The IARC re-affirmed its official classification that cellular telephone radiation is a Group 2B carcinogen (possible human carcinogen) along with lead, automobile exhaust and other toxic substancesincluding DDT, heptachlor, styrene and hexachlorobenzene and they now released their 480 page Monograph that provides the details of the basis on the classification is the most significant government health report on mobile phone radiation ever published.”

The scientists included with their letter a copy of a new scientific study by Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, chief of neuro-oncology University of California, San Diego, and Anthony B. Miller, MD. former Dean of Public Health, University of Toronto, and expert advisor to the IARC, andDevra Davis PhD, MPH, President of Environmental Health Trust that concludes that evidence produced after the IARC review leads them to conclude that cell phone and other wireless radiation should be classified as a 2A carcinogen—probable human carcinogen.

Professor Emeritus, Dr. Miller comments, “The scientific grounds for taking simple precautions in using cell phones and other wireless devices have become stronger since the City passed this ordinance. The City has a duty to protect public health in this instance just as it does by promoting pedestrian safety and no idling of cars.  Your ordinance has stood the test of time.” The letter concludes: “We urge that the Board continue to ensure the public right to know about cell phone safety and assist in promoting broad public understanding of basic precautions that can be taken to reduce radiation exposure from cell phones. People have a right to know about ways to use phones more safely that are currently embedded within phones or in printed in small type in pamphlets they receive after purchasing these devices. We applaud your efforts to promote this basic right.”

The open letter by the medical experts can be viewed on the Environmental Health Trust’s site: Medical Letter
The open letter by public Health experts can be viewed on the Environmental Health Trust's site: Public Health Letter.

About Environmental Health Trust (EHT)

EHT educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. EHT was created with the goal of promoting health and preventing disease one person, one community and one nation at a time. For more information about getting involved in the numerous special projects spearheaded by the EHT, please log on to http://www.ehtrust.org.

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