When a cell tower is proposed near your home, your child’s school, or your neighborhood, important questions arise about health and safety.
Cell towers emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation, a form of non-ionizing radiation that hundreds of medical doctors and scientists are concerned about due to mounting scientific research reporting adverse effects. Children are considered more vulnerable to the risks of exposure as they absorb more cell tower radiation into their bodies.
Government exposure limits for cell tower radiation (such as those set by the FCC, IEEE and ICNIRP) were developed decades ago. These limits are not designed to protect against long-term, cumulative effects of exposure such as cancer or impacts to the nervous or immune systems. Similar to asbestos, tobacco, and forever chemicals, the cell tower industry is deeply involved in science and policy, lobbying policymakers and funding research on health effects, complicating the issue and stalling public health efforts to get meaningful safeguards in place.
This webpage includes links to key cell tower resources, plus links to our letter-writing campaign and a toolkit on how you can get a ban on cell towers at your child’s school.
Science has linked cell tower RF radiation to cancer, genetic effects, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption (altered thyroid and testosterone levels), immune system impacts, increased type 2 diabetes risk, headaches, sleep disturbances, memory problems, and fatigue.
Learn. Act. Protect.
People are working on this issue across the United States and internationally. There is a lot that can be done to ensure a safer technology future.
Whether you are trying to stop a cell tower in your neighborhood or at your child’s school, or you want to help educate policymakers, we have resources and action tools for you.
Key Deep Dive Website Pages on Cell Tower Health and Safety Risks:
ACTION TOOLS
There are several ways to take action. Your elected officials and decision-makers need to hear from you about this issue. Use our policy briefings to educate them. Below are letter-writing campaigns and toolkits on how to get a ban on cell tower leases at your child’s school and how to educate your policymakers about cell towers.
Take Action: Letter-Writing Campaigns
Watch: Expert Webinar On Cell Tower And Wireless Safety
Watch Now
Cell Towers & Wireless Radiation: Health Hazards
Dr. Joel Moskowitz is Director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and Commissioner of the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields
Watch: Cell Tower Health and Safety Basics Webinar
Theodora Scarato is Director of the Wireless and EMF Program at Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) and a nationally recognized expert in environmental health policy related to cell towers. She has co-authored several scientific papers on EMF, health, and our environment. Her 2025 paper, “U.S. policy on wireless technologies and public health protection: regulatory gaps and proposed reforms,” published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, is a foundational paper on how and why U.S. policy on cell towers and cell phone radiation is inadequately protective. She chronicles how the EPA lost funding on the issue, and proper safety standards were never developed.
Watch Now
Cell Tower Health and Safety 101
Theodora Scarato MSW, Director of the Wireless and EMF Program, presents on the health and safety risks of cell towers near homes and schools.