Expert Recommendations
The widespread use of cell phones and wireless technologies is steadily increasing our exposure to radio-frequency radiation (RFR). In response to mounting scientific evidence, scientists and leading medical organizations around the world are calling on us to take proactive steps to reduce this exposure—safeguarding not only our health, but also the well-being of our planet.
The majority of animal and cell studies have found non-ionizing RFR can induce oxidative stress—a key characteristic of human carcinogens and a way that RFR can initiate or promote tumor development as well as play a role in the development of other diseases.
Recent experimental and epidemiological studies indicate that RFR also induces cancers of the thyroid and breast. DNA damage and cancer in these state-of-the-art studies signal the need for the public to reduce exposures to RFR now.
-Birnbaum et al. (2022) in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute
This webpage lists the recommendations of expert medical and scientific organizations on how to minimize the risk from cell phone and wireless radiation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has written several letters to the FCC calling on them to update their 1996 wireless safety limits to protect children, stating that:
“Children are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures, including cell phone radiation.”
“Current FCC standards do not account for the unique vulnerability and use patterns specific to pregnant women and children. It is essential that any new standard for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are safeguarded throughout their lifetimes.”
In response to the National Toxicology Program animal study findings of cancer and DNA damage from cell phone radiation, the AAP also issued cell phone safety tips specifically for families to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation.
They’re not toys. They have radiation that is emitted from them and the more we can keep it off the body and use (the phone) in other ways, it will be safer.
- American Academy of Pediatrics Cell Phone Safety Tips
- Use cell phones in speaker mode or hands-free to distance the cell phone away from the head.
- Make only short or essential calls on cell phones.
- Avoid carrying your phone against the body like in a pocket, sock, or bra.
- Do not talk on the phone or text while driving.
- If you plan to watch a movie on your device, download it first, then switch to airplane mode while you watch in order to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.
- Minimize use in areas of low signal (i.e. how many bars you have). The weaker your cell signal, the harder your phone has to work and the more radiation it gives off.
- Avoid making calls in cars, elevators, trains, and buses. The cell phone works harder to get a signal through metal, so the power level increases.
- Remember that cell phones are not toys or teething items.
The American Academy Of Pediatrics has a webpage on the science regarding cell towers and non-ionizing EMFs
“An Egyptian study confirmed concerns that living nearby mobile phone base stations increased the risk for developing:
- Headaches
- Memory problems
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Sleep problems
Short-term exposure to these fields in experimental studies have not always shown negative effects, but this does not rule out cumulative damage from these fields, so larger studies over longer periods are needed to help understand who is at risk. In large studies, an association has been observed between symptoms and exposure to these fields in the everyday environment.”
The California Department of Health
The California Department of Health released an advisory on how to reduce cell phone radiation stating:
“Children may be more at risk for harm from exposure to RF energy because:
1. A child’s brain and body grow and develop through the teen years. During this time, the body may be more easily affected by RF energy and the effect may be more harmful.
2. RF energy can reach a larger area of a child’s brain than an adult’s.
3. A child who uses a cell phone will have many more years of exposure to RF energy in his or her lifetime than someone who started using a cell phone as an adult.”
The advisory detailed several recommendations to reduce exposure, including using speakerphones to distance the phone from the head, and not sleeping with the phone near your body. These recommendations also detail why and how to minimize use when RF levels are the highest.
- California Department of Health Cell Phone Safety Tips
- Keep the phone away from the body
- Reduce cell phone use when the signal is weak
- Reduce the use of cell phones to stream audio or video, or to download or upload large files
- Keep the phone away from the bed at night
- Remove headsets when not on a call
- Avoid products that claim to block radio frequency energy. These products may actually increase your exposure.
Reduce or avoid using your cell phone when it is sending out high levels of RF energy. This happens mainly when:
- You see only one or two bars displayed. Cell phones put out more RF energy to connect with cell towers when the signal is weak.
- You are in a fast-moving car, bus, or train. Your phone puts out more RF energy to maintain connections and avoid dropping calls as it switches from one cell tower to the next, unless it is in airplane mode.
- You are streaming audio or video, or downloading or sending large files. To watch movies or listen to playlists on your phone, download them first, then switch to airplane mode while you watch or listen.
The Santa Clara California Medical Association
The Santa Clara Medical Association has investigated this issue for years, publishing several scientific articles with recommendations.
In 2014, they released Best Practices for Technology in Schools recommending the minimization of Wi-Fi exposure in the classroom and highlighting the need to restrict cell towers near schools.
- Santa Clara County Medical Association Best Practices for Technology in Schools
Ensure educational curriculum for students and staff on how and why to reduce wireless radiofrequency RF radiation exposure.
Measures to reduce personal exposure include:
- Prefer speaker phone and text rather than voice call.
- Put devices in airplane mode when not in use.
- Carry phones in backpacks, etc., not on the body.
- Switch devices to airplane mode when not in use.
- Avoid or strictly limit the use of Virtual Reality headsets.
Mitigate RF and non-ionizing EMF exposure in classrooms by choosing low or no RF-emitting devices and technology infrastructure.
- Install and prefer hard-wired ethernet connections.
- Wi-Fi routers, devices, printers and screens in the classroom should have timers and/or easy access on-off buttons or remotes so they can be turned off when not in use.
- Decrease router power and locate routers as far away from students as possible.Do not place them overhead.
- Disable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and use only 5GHz for classrooms
- Choose routers which are only on-demand (i.e. only transmit when in use.)
- Professionally measure RF before and after mitigation steps.
- Consider a Wi-Fi Free Zone on campus with signs posted to turn off phones.
- Avoid installation of smart meters on school premises.
- Implement blue light reduction methods such as apps, blue light computer covers or blue light glasses.
Implement classroom strategies to reduce wireless radiation:
- Pre-download materials, then disable wireless antennas (Bluetooth, GPS, cellular, and Wi Fi) and use airplane mode.
- Prefer books instead of computers or tablets.
- Keep tablets and computers on a table and off students’ laps
Implement measures school and district wide to mitigate risk. Examples include:
- Establish and promote cell phone-free school policies.
- Promote tech-free breaks in classrooms.
- Consider a policy to restrict installation of cell towers on or within 1640 feet of school property.
- Develop and distribute state-level policies and/or guidance for schools on RF and technology safety.
Educate school nurses and launch monitoring program:
School nurses need to be educated on this issue and can maintain a monitoring and reporting program for EMF exposure-related health symptoms (headaches, nausea etc.).
California Medical Association
In 2014, the California Medical Association passed two resolutions regarding wireless standards:
1. To “support efforts to reevaluate microwave safety exposure levels associated with wireless communication devices, including consideration of adverse non-thermal biologic and health effects from non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation used in wireless communications”
2. To “support efforts to implement new safety exposure limits for wireless devices to levels that do not cause human or environmental harm based on scientific research.”
These resolutions were featured in the Santa Clara California Medical Association bulletin article.
The North Carolina Public Health Department
The North Carolina Public Health Department lists the full cancer findings of the NTP study, the FDA’s stance and also the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations to reduce cell phone radiation, stating “there is some concern that exposure to non-ionizing radiation, also called radio frequency radiation, that is emitted by cell phones may result in an increased risk of cancer or other health effects”
The Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health And Protection Advisory Council
The Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health And Protection Advisory Council, whose 19 member Commission includes experts in public health, pediatricians, epidemiologists, state health and environment agencies and legislators, sent a Letter to the Federal Communications Commission on the need for stronger regulations, issued a “Wi-Fi in School Report” recommending schools reduce wireless exposure , and released “Guidelines to Reduce Cell Phone and Electromagnetic Field Radiation” for parents.
- Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health And Protection Advisory Council Guidelines
Cell phones, wireless devices, and WiFi routers emit RF radiation all the time, even when you are not using them. Even in standby mode, your phone emits RF radiation because it is constantly searching for service or new messages. If you do not need your cell phone, simply turn it off or put it in airplane mode. This applies to all other wireless devices, including laptops, tablets, video gaming consoles and smart speakers.
Around the Home
- Replace cordless phones with corded home phones.
- Unplug cordless phones when not in use (if you have at least one corded telephone in the house, you can always be reached, even if the cordless phone is off at night).
- Remove electronics from the bedroom, especially around your bed and the crib.
- Avoid sleeping with electric blankets and heating pads; if you use an electric blanket to preheat your bed, unplug it before sleeping. If you only turn it off, the electromagnetic field will still be present.
- Do not stand close to a microwave oven when it is on or let your child press their face up to it watching the food cook.
Cell Phones
- Try to keep devices, especially cell phones, away from the head and body. Keeping them an arm’s distance away significantly reduces exposure.
- When you are talking on a cell phone, use the speakerphone to reduce exposure to your head.
- Avoid carrying your phone against the body like in a pocket, sock, bra, or spandex pants. Cell phone manufacturers cannot guarantee that the amount of radiation you are absorbing will be at a safe level.
- Make only short or essential calls on cell phones so that you minimize your daily exposure.
- Use text messaging rather than voice calls when possible.
Laptops and Computers
- Choose wired Internet (ethernet cable modems) at home instead of wireless systems, if possible.
- Place WiFi routers as far away from children as possible.
- Consider using a switch to shut down your wireless router when it is not in use.
New Hampshire State Commission on 5G Health and Environment
In 2019, the New Hampshire government passed House Bill 522 “An act establishing an expert commission of physicians, engineers and representatives of state government and agencies to study the environmental and health effects of evolving 5G technology.”
The Commission released its Final Report on Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology in 2020 with findings that safety assurances for wireless technology “come into question because of the thousands of peer-reviewed studies documenting deleterious health effects associated with cellphone radiation exposure.”
The Commission recommended 15 measures to reduce wireless exposure and ensure accountability.
“The objective of those recommendations is to bring about greater awareness of cell phone, wireless and 5G radiation health effects and to provide guidance to officials on steps and policies that can reduce public exposure. We also recommend partnering with our federal delegation to facilitate the reevaluation of radiation exposure guidelines and policies by federal agencies (i.e., the FCC, FDA, NASA, NOAA, FAA, EPA, etc.) to protect people, wildlife, and the environment from harmful levels of radiation.”
- New Hampshire Commission on 5G Health and Environment
New Hampshire State Commission on 5G Recommendations to the Governor:
- A resolution to US Congress to require the FCC to commission an independent health study on wireless health effects and to review safety limits.
- Engage agencies with ecological knowledge to develop RF-radiation safety limits that will protect the trees, plants, birds, insects, and pollinators.
- Under the National Environmental Policy Act, FCC should do an environmental impact statement as to the effect on New Hampshire and the country as a whole from 5G and the expansion of RF wireless technologies.
- New measurement protocols needed to evaluate high data rate, signal characteristics associated with biological effects and summative effects of multiple radiation sources.
- New Hampshire schools and libraries should replace Wi-Fi with hardwired connections.
- Require setbacks for new wireless antennas from residences, businesses, and schools.
- Cell phones and wireless devices should be equipped with updated software that stop cell phones from radiating when positioned against the body.
- Support statewide deployment of fiber optic cable connectivity with wired connections inside homes.
- Establish RF-radiation free zones in commercial and public buildings
- New Hampshire health agencies to educate the public on minimizing RF exposure with public service announcements on radio, television, print. “Warnings concerning the newborn and young as well as pregnant women”
- State should measure RFR post maps for the public.
- Require 5G structures to be labeled for RFR at eye level and readable from nine feet away.
- RFR signal strength measurements for cell sites should be done by independent contractors.
- NH professional licensure to offer education so home inspectors can include RF intensity measurements.
- Warning signs to be posted in commercial and public buildings.
The report referred to the FCC as a “captured agency with undue industry influence,” citing the Harvard Press Book “Captured Agency: How the Federal Communications Commission is Dominated by the Industries it Presumably Regulates,” which compares the wireless industry to the tobacco industry.
The International Commission on Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields
The International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF) is an independent, multidisciplinary consortium of scientists, medical doctors, and professionals specializing in the biological and health impacts of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. The commission’s primary mission is to provide science-based recommendations that extend beyond numerical exposure guidelines, aiming to protect human and environmental health from potential harms associated with EMF exposure. Their work includes critically evaluating existing safety standards, such as those set by the FCC and ICNIRP, and advocating for the recognition of conditions like electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) as legitimate health concerns requiring urgent attention.
Exposure limits of the FCC and ICNIRP “are based on false suppositions, do not adequately protect workers, children, hypersensitive individuals, and the general population from short-term or long-term RFR exposures. Thus, urgently needed are health protective exposure limits for humans and the environment. These limits must be based on scientific evidence rather than on erroneous assumptions, especially given the increasing worldwide exposures of people and the environment to RFR, including novel forms of radiation from 5G telecommunications for which there are no adequate health effects studies.”
Physicians for Safe Technology
Physicians for Safe Technology is a group of medical professionals and scientists focused on promoting safer use of wireless and digital technologies. Their website provides research summaries, safety guidelines, and educational materials for clinicians, educators, and the public related to the health risks of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields covering topics such as wireless radiation, digital addiction, and technology’s impact on health. The doctors advocate for precautionary measures and updated safety standards to better protect vulnerable populations.
“The abundance of peer reviewed science showing harm coupled with obsolete radio-frequency safety guidelines that fail to address long term health effects and non-thermal biological effects indicate that a precautionary approach is essential to reduce potential harm to the public and the environment.”
- Physicians for Safe Technology Safety Tips
Keep cell phones away from the head: Use speaker phone or air tube wired earbuds. Avoid wireless ear buds.
Distance Matters. Keep wireless devices away from the body- tablets and laptops on the
tabletop, not on the lap. Standards are 7 inches (20 cm) away from the body
Signal Strength Matters: If the signal is weak reduce phone use as radiation is higher
Time Matters: Make only short or essential calls on cell phones
Babies and Kids Matter: Do not let babies or young children use a cell phone, tablet or laptop.Children should use a cell phone for emergencies only.Airplane Mode for Kids: Download movies first then watch in airplane mode.
Airplane Mode if cell phone is on your body or you are not using the phone: Do not put your cell phone in a bra or pocket unless on Airplane Mode
Avoid sleeping with your cell phone next to your head or as an alarm unless phone is on Airplane Mode (it still works as an alarm when on Airplane Mode)Turn off Wi-Fi router at night and plug into an on/off surge protector for ease of use
Convert back to a wired connection in your house. It is easy. Visit EMFAnalysis.com
A cordless phone has essentially the same radiation as a cell phone. Use the landline for long calls. Replace the DECT phone as base radiates wireless radiation as well.
Keep your landline if you have one and try to resume landline service if you can.
Do not keep a router in the bedroom or near the child’s room. The farther away the better.
When traveling in a bus or car download games or google map then turn your devices on airplane mode as the radiation is much higher as the device connects and disconnects to different cell towers as you move.
In the car try not to use devices and turn off bluetooth if not in use as radiation levels in the car increase by a factor of 2 or more.
Remove your Smart Meter and switch back to analogue with a human meter reader.
Call your local utility company or in California call PG&E at 1-866-743-0263 and ask to Opt Out. 24 states now have an opt out option.
Environment and Human Health, Inc.
This report on cell phones and health was penned by Yale doctors and public health experts.
John Wargo, Ph.D., professor of Environmental Risk and Policy at Yale University and a lead author of the Environment and Human Health Report said, “The scientific evidence is sufficiently robust showing that cellular devices pose significant health risks to children and pregnant women. The weight of the evidence supports stronger precautionary regulation by the federal government. The cellular industry should take immediate steps to reduce the emission of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from phones and avoid marketing their products to children.”
While the report is from 2011, the recommendations to protect public health remain valid today as the government has not updated its safety guidelines since 1996.
INTERNATIONAL
Ibero-American Commission on Radiological Protection from Electromagnetic Fields
The Inter-American Commission on Radiological Protection from Electromagnetic Fields (CIPRACEM) is an organization of radiation experts who are part of the Latin American and Caribbean Radiological Protection Federation, which is part of the International Radiological Protection Association.
They have issued several advisories and communications on the need for updated exposure limits and minimizing exposure to the public.
Dr. Daniel Orfila, a member of CIPRACEM and a specialist in neurology and auditory pathway tumors, worked with teacher Fernanda Palacios on a cell phone radiation awareness project they called “Sleeping with the Enemy”.
Spanish Society of Radiological Protection
The Spanish Society for Radiological Protection (SEPR) published resources compiling simple actions that will minimize exposure to electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones in 2022.
“The SEPR supports the recommendations of international organizations to minimize exposure to mobile phone emissions, especially among minors.”
- Spanish Society of Radiological Protection Cell Phone Health Safety Tips
“Although current regulations set limits on the emissions from these devices to ensure they don’t generate immediate and harmful temperature increases in our tissues, there are some indications that prolonged or repeated exposure to subthermal intensities could have harmful effects on sensitive or vulnerable individuals . In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has included RF-MW radiation on its list of “Possible Carcinogens (Class 2B).”
- Use headphones or hands-free.
- Limit contact of the phone with the body.
- Texting or voice messaging is better than calling.
- When speaking, move as little as possible.
- Avoid calls in low coverage conditions.
- Use airplane mode.
- Do not use accessories or covers that block the emission.
- While you sleep, turn off your phone or move it away from you.
- Avoid exposure to blue light, especially at night.
- Monitor and limit children’s phone use.
Brochure Ten Ways to Minimize Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation
Poster: RECOMENDACIONES DE LA SEPR PARA UN USO SEGURO DEL MÓVIL
La SEPR presenta un decálogo de recomendaciones para un uso seguro del móvil
Switzerland Doctors for the Environment
The Switzerland Doctors for the Environment recommends precautionary measures and issued a report recommending the establishment of an environmental medicine advisory service for non-ionizing radiation.
The Federal Council decided on April 22, 2020, to establish such an advisory center and the Swiss Medical Advisory Network on Non-Ionizing Radiation (MedNIS), headed by Dr. Diana Walther, has been operational since September 2023 at the Institute of General Medicine at the University of Fribourg. It offers people suffering from electrosmog-related complaints medical advice.
- The Switzerland Doctors for the Environment Recommendations on EMF and Wireless
The Switzerland Doctors for the Environment Framework
- Rigorously apply the precautionary principle regarding mobile telephony and its use.
- Strengthen the level of protection for residents near antennas; minimize mobile phone radiation (separate indoor/outdoor coverage).
- Moratorium on millimeter waves for 5G and WLAN; conservative enforcement rules for adaptive antennas.
- Independent research on health risks due to mobile telephony, with monitoring of exposure and its health effects (health monitoring).
- Transparent information on how to reduce exposure
- Develop a physician-led environmental medicine consultation service for Non-ionizing Radiation.
- These recommendations are detailed here.
The Switzerland Doctors for the Environment
How to Reduce Your Daily Exposure to EMFs
Basic Practices:
- Completely unplug electronic devices when not in use.
- Move away from the source – even a few centimeters makes a difference.
- Reduce the time you use devices.
- Favor wired technologies (e.g., Ethernet) over wireless ones (e.g., Wi-Fi/Bluetooth).
Device-Specific Recommendations:
Mobile Phone:
- Use speakerphone, hands-free kit, or wired headphones to keep phone away from your body.
- Use the phone when the network connection is optimal to reduce power use.
- Disable mobile data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and use airplane mode when not in use.
- Use power saving mode to reduce automatic functions.
- Choose phones with a low SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) value.
Landline:
- Prefer a wired landline over cordless (DECT) or mobile phones.
- Activate ECO mode and use speakerphone if using cordless landlines.
- Keep cordless phone base station 50 cm away from places of prolonged stay.
- Forward mobile calls to landline when at home.
Wi-Fi (WLAN):
- Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use, especially at night.
- Use Ethernet cables instead of wireless.
- Strategically position the router for optimal signal to reduce EMF.
Laptops/Tablets:
- Use Ethernet cables and disable wireless mode.
- Use three-prong sockets or ensure correct orientation of two-prong plugs.
Microwave Oven:
- Ensure door seals and casing are in good condition.
- Stay 1 meter away if in use for a prolonged time.
Electrical Network:
- Do not run electrical cables under the bed.
- Turn off power in the bedroom at night via the circuit breaker.
Resources
- The Switzerland Doctors for the Environment webpage on EMFs
- Mednis Swiss Medical Advisory Network on Non-Ionizing Radiation
- Switzerland: Doctors for the Environment: Press Release on 5G and the New Regulations for Adaptive Antennas
- Good practice guide: reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
Austrian Medical Chamber, Cyprus Medical Association, and Cyprus Committee on Environment and Children’s Health
In 2017, the Cyprus Medical Association, the Vienna Austrian Medical Chamber and the Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health signed the Nicosia Declaration on Electromagnetic and Radiofrequency Radiation and issued 16 ways to minimize risk.
“Potential health Impacts of non ionizing radiation from EMF/RF of 30KHz-300GHz include carcinogenicity (class 2b IARC 2011), developmental neurotoxicity, effects on DNA, on fertility, Hypersensitivity and other serious effects are well documented in peer reviewed studies. RFR can increase oxidative stress in cells and lead to increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lower capacity to repair DNA single and double strand breaks. Cognitive impairments in learning and memory have also been shown.”
- Nicosia Declaration on Electromagnetic and Wireless Radiofrequency Radiation
The Nicosia Declaration on Electromagnetic and Wireless Radiofrequency Radiation
- At the policy level, existing guidelines and regulatory standards must be revised. In the interim, science-based and biologically relevant criteria should be applied to assess children’s exposure from devices and infrastructures.
- Decision-makers, particularly in the education and health sectors, must recognize the potential risks of current technologies and the availability of safer alternatives. They should prioritize children’s health and vulnerability, ensuring safe environments in schools, daycare centers, and pediatric units. An age-appropriate, rational approach to the use of digital technology is essential.
- Wireless networks should be prohibited in schools, especially in preschools, kindergartens, and elementary schools. Instead, wired connections should be implemented. Authorities are urged to adopt the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) and to align with Council of Europe Resolution 1815, taking all reasonable steps to reduce exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR).
- Given that children spend 60–90% of their time at home and school depending on their age, exposure in these environments must be reduced. This includes limiting the use of mobile phones and other wireless devices.
- Medical professionals, especially pediatricians and obstetricians, should receive appropriate education on the health implications of electromagnetic exposure.
- The public has a right to full information about potential health risks from wireless and EMF-emitting devices and infrastructures. Public education on risk reduction is vital, and parents must be empowered to advocate for safer home and school environments.
- A set of sixteen recommendations to reduce personal exposure includes guidance that children under 16 should use cell phones only for emergencies, use airplane mode, disable wireless antennas before handing devices to children, maintain distance from devices, and prioritize wired over wireless connections.
- These recommendations are informed by existing protocols from the Medical Chamber of Vienna, the Cyprus Committee on Environment and Children’s Health, and the Reykjavik Appeal of 2017.
16 Practical Rules to Reduce Exposure to Mobile Phone and Wireless Radiation
- Children and teenagers under 16 should use mobile phones only for emergencies.
- Mobile devices are not toys. For children, use only in airplane mode with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data turned off. Limit use based on age: minimal for preschoolers, none for infants under 2.
- Keep calls short and infrequent. Prefer landlines or text messages
- Maintain distance from the body during calls. Use speakerphone or a headset.
- Avoid carrying phones directly on the body. Pregnant women and individuals with electronic implants should be especially cautious.
- Do not use mobile devices in vehicles without an external antenna; radiation levels are higher.
- Never text while driving.
- At home and work, make calls via hardwired networks.
- Use airplane mode or work offline when possible. Many functions do not require an internet connection.
- Limit the number of apps and disable unnecessary background services to reduce radiation.
- Avoid making calls in areas with poor reception; devices emit more radiation in such conditions.
- Choose mobile phones with low SAR values and, if possible, an external antenna connector.
- Prefer wired internet connections (e.g., LAN) over wireless. Avoid constant exposure from DECT phones, Wi-Fi access points, and LTE modems, especially near children.
- Use wired internet for chatting and phone calls.
- Protect pregnant women and children from passive exposure by maintaining distance from mobile devices and routers.
Athens Medical Association
In 2017, the Athens Medical Association held a scientific conference and recommended:
1.Regulations be reviewed with the latest scientific evidence.
2.The implementation of measures to reduce children’s exposure, such as wired
3.networks instead of Wi-Fi in kindergartens and schools.
4.Cell towers and wireless base stations should not be permitted near schools, day care centers, nursing homes, hospitals etc.
5.The public needs to be informed about ways to reduce cell phone and wireless radiation exposure.
- Athens Medical Association Recommendations to Minimize Cell Phone and Wi-Fi
The Athens Medical Association issued 16 recommendations for the safe use of wireless communication:
- Use your mobile phone minimally and keep calls short.
- Children under 14 years of age should not use mobile phones.
- Don’t put your cell phone in contact with your head.
- Do not use your cell phone in the car, train, plane or elevator.
- Do not use a cell phone when there are small children or pregnant women around you.
- Keep your cell phone away from your body.
- When using a cell phone, keep your distance from others.
- Don’t put your cell phone in your pocket.
- At night, always turn off your cell phone and disable Wi-Fi.
- Don’t play games on your mobile phone online, put it in airplane mode
- Using your device “hands free” is preferable, but there may still be radiation.
- Wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) can expose you to microwave radiation.
- Limit Wi-Fi and use a fixed wired connection.
- When your signal is bad, don’t call.
- If you have access to a landline, use it as a priority.
- Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Data options when not in use.
Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health
The Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health (CNCECH) has launched a national effort to protect children from wireless radiation and other environmental risks such as smoking and plastics. Their strategy includes public education, changes in healthcare and school practices, and policy advocacy—all based on the precautionary principle.
Public education has been central to their work. They created multilingual brochures, such as “What You Need to Know About Wireless Radiation and Your Baby,” and distributed them through hospitals and health professionals. Their multimedia campaigns include videos, podcasts, and infographics to educate parents, teachers, and the general public on minimizing wireless exposure.
In healthcare settings, the Committee collaborated with Archbishop Makarios III Hospital to eliminate Wi-Fi sources in their neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, replacing it with wired internet. Educational videos and posters are displayed in waiting areas, and parents are advised to keep mobile devices away from children during visits.
In the education sector, the Committee worked with the Ministry of Education on a Directive to remove Wi-Fi from kindergartens and elementary classrooms and promote wired connections. They provide training for teachers, preschool educators, and parents on safer use of technology and reducing children’s wireless exposure at home and school.
Vienna Medical Association
The Vienna Medical Association issued Ten Medical Rules for Cell Phones in 2016.
The radiation from mobile phones or smartphones is most likely not as safe as cell phone providers claim it to be. Therefore, the Vienna Medical Association has decided to do the responsible thing and inform the Austrian public about possible adverse effects from a medical perspective.
The Council of Europe
In 2011 The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued Resolution 1815: entitled “The Potential Dangers of Electromagnetic Fields and Their Effect on the Environment” which called on European governments to “take all reasonable measures” to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields particularly for children and young people “who seem to be most at risk from head tumours.”
This resolution emphasizes the application of the precautionary principle and the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle to mitigate potential risks.
“For children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by school children on school premises.”
- Council of Europe Resolution 1815
- Implement reasonable measures to reduce EMF exposure, particularly from mobile phones, with special attention to children and young people who may be more susceptible to risks.
- Set preventive thresholds for allowable levels of long-term exposure to microwave wireless radiation in all indoor areas not exceeding 0.6 volts per meter and in the medium term to reduce it to 0.2 volts per meter. This is significantly more conservative than current international guidelines (e.g., those from the ICNIRP or FCC),
- Reassess current exposure standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), considering both thermal and non-thermal biological effects, and apply the ALARA principle.
- Conduct public information campaigns to raise awareness about the potential long-term biological effects of EMFs on the environment and human health, targeting especially children, teenagers, and young adults.
- Recognize and provide support for individuals with electromagnetic hypersensitivity by creating wave-free areas not covered by wireless networks.
- Encourage research into alternative technologies and devices that are efficient yet have less negative impacts.
- Promote the use of wired internet connections in schools and classrooms to minimize children’s exposure to EMFs.
- Regulate the placement of mobile phone masts and other EMF-emitting devices, ensuring they are not installed near schools, nurseries, or similar sensitive areas.
- Implement labeling requirements for wireless-emitting devices, providing clear information about potential health risks.
- Support independent and multidisciplinary research to better understand the health impacts of EMFs.
- Establish monitoring systems to track EMF exposure levels in the environment and assess potential health outcomes.