You can’t see it, hear it, smell it, or taste it, and most of us can’t feel it. But it’s all around us, like an invisible web growing stronger every day. It’s the radiation from the countless wireless devices filling our lives. As this explosion of technology advances, the scientific community is increasingly finding that radiofrequency radiation—or wireless radiation—has biological impacts on all living things, including humans.
A tug of war is unfolding: on one side, the industry is working to keep concerns under wraps, while on the other, scientists—who may not wish to become advocates—are frustrated that people remain unaware of what they know about the potential harm of wireless radiation.
Dr. Joel Moskowitz, Director of the Center for Family and Community Health at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, has researched disease prevention programs and policies for over 40 years. Recently, he has focused on the adverse health effects of cell phones and wireless radiation.
Earlier this week, Patty and I had a conversation with Dr. Moskowitz, asking him to explain what constitutes wireless radiation. Here’s what he shared:
“Wireless radiation is a form of radiofrequency radiation emitted by various wireless devices, including cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi routers, and many smart appliances. Although it’s considered non-ionizing—which means it doesn’t directly knock electrons out of their orbits—it can cause significant harm to biological tissues through indirect means. This is distinct from ionizing radiation, like X-rays or gamma rays, which is more widely recognized for its ability to harm biological tissue directly. But non-ionizing radiation can still be harmful to us and other species, even at very low intensities.”
Dr. Moskowitz clarified, “For years, people believed that non-ionizing radiation couldn’t do any harm. This misconception was largely spread by the military initially, then later reinforced by the telecom industry and others. It’s a false notion to think exposure to radiofrequency or wireless radiation is harmless. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of studies showing biological harm, and some human studies even show evidence of increased cancer risk and other health issues, such as headaches, from both acute and chronic exposure.”
When asked how long we’ve known about the biological risks of wireless radiation, Dr. Moskowitz delved into the research history, underscoring the need for more public awareness and updated safety standards as wireless technology continues to expand.
