RF Safe’s Founder John Coates Exposes Radiation Protection Scams: A 20-Year Commitment to Consumer Safety

For over two decades, RF Safe’s founder, John Coates, has led a relentless campaign against misleading products marketed as “anti-radiation” solutions. His commitment to educating consumers about the realities of cell phone radiation led to an important turning point in 2000 when Good Housekeeping Magazine conducted an investigative interview with Coates. This interview exposed scams within the anti-radiation product industry, leading to legal actions that shut down two companies in the United States for deceptive practices.

The FTC’s Decisive Actions to Protect Consumers

The Good Housekeeping article highlighting Coates’ warnings spurred the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into action. The FTC’s response included public warnings and legal measures to protect consumers from false claims about cell phone radiation protection. On its “Cell Phone Radiation Scams” webpage, the FTC warns:

“Shields may interfere with the phone’s signal, cause it to draw even more power to communicate with the base station, and possibly emit more radiation.”

This statement underscores a dangerous paradox: rather than reducing radiation, these shields can actually increase user exposure by forcing phones to emit stronger signals to maintain connectivity. The FTC’s warnings are a crucial reminder that poorly designed “anti-radiation” products may provide a false sense of security and even increase exposure risks.

SafeSleeve: A Case Study in Anti-Radiation Design Flaws

One such product that fails to adhere to essential design principles is the SafeSleeve anti-radiation phone case. SafeSleeve cases include a large metal plate and magnets in their detachable models, which raise significant concerns:

• Metal Plates: The metal backplate obstructs the phone’s antenna, causing the phone to increase output power to maintain signal strength. This design flaw leads to higher radiation emissions, undermining the case’s purpose.
• Magnets: Magnets in detachable cases further interfere with connectivity, compounding the risk of elevated radiation levels.

These design flaws are scientifically unsound and align with the FTC’s warnings about scams. Products like SafeSleeve, which claim to protect users but may actually increase their radiation exposure, create a false sense of security that could be more dangerous than using no protective case at all.

RF Safe’s Founding and Mission

John Coates founded RF Safe in 1998, following a personal tragedy when his daughter, Angel Leigh Coates, passed away from a neural tube disorder, anencephaly. Driven by his loss, Coates began researching electromagnetic radiation’s effects on the human body, discovering correlations between EMF exposure and various medical conditions, including the one that took Angel’s life. His insights have since led to pioneering advancements in RF safety, including air-tube headsets, anti-radiation phone cases, pre-2000 laptop shields, and EMF belly bands—all designed to protect users from RF radiation in the 1990s.

ceLLM Theory and the Importance of Bioelectric Fields

From Coates’ research, he developed the cellular Latent Learning Model (ceLLM), a theory suggesting that each cell in the body acts as a sensor, processing environmental signals through bioelectric fields encoded within DNA. According to ceLLM theory, these bioelectric signals are vulnerable to interference from EMFs, with potential disruptions leading to health issues. Coates proposes that these disruptions are particularly dangerous during pregnancy, when bioelectric signaling is essential for growth and development.

Bioelectricity and Developmental Disorders

Coates has identified a link between EMF exposure and developmental disorders like neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD. The ceLLM theory suggests that EMF-induced bioelectric disruptions may contribute to these conditions, highlighting an urgent need for more research on EMF exposure’s long-term effects on fetal and child health.

FTC Warning and Consumer Alert: Identifying Misleading Anti-Radiation Products

Consumers should be cautious of products claiming “anti-radiation” protection without scientific backing. Here are critical design flaws commonly found in misleading cases:

1. Metal Loops: Cases with metal loops may seem convenient but can alter radiation patterns and interfere with the phone’s antenna.
2. Detachable Parts with Magnets: Cases with detachable components often include metal and magnets, which increase radiation exposure by obstructing the phone’s signal.
3. Unshielded Speaker Holes: Some cases have unshielded speaker holes, allowing high-frequency radiation to pass through and compromise effectiveness.
4. Unrealistic Claims: Products claiming “99% protection” are likely misleading. Effective radiation reduction requires scientifically validated designs and responsible usage.

Why RF Safe Stopped Promoting Laptop Shields

RF Safe initially produced laptop radiation shields but discontinued them after most people started using Wi-Fi to connect them back in 2000, realizing that these shields could bring radiation sources closer to the torso, especially in pregnant users. Laptop shields might protect the legs, but they fail to shield more sensitive areas like the abdomen and reproductive organs when wifi is in use. In response to this safety issue, RF Safe chose to prioritize distance as a more effective means of protection and withdrew all support for Laptop radiation shields.

Safe Use Practices to Minimize EMF Exposure

For those looking to reduce EMF exposure safely, Coates and RF Safe recommend the following practices:

• Maintain Distance: Use laptops, tablets, and phones on a table instead of directly on your lap.
• Disable Wireless Features When Not Needed: If possible, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use.
• Upgrade Devices When Possible: Newer devices with SSD storage emit lower EMFs than older models.
• Eliminate Electronics from Bedrooms During Conception and Pregnancy: Reducing EMF exposure during these critical times is crucial for safe development.

Setting a Higher Standard: QuantaCase’s Unique Design

QuantaCase, designed by RF Safe, avoids the pitfalls of other anti-radiation cases by incorporating these essential features:

• No Metal Components: Eliminating metal reduces signal interference and prevents increased radiation emissions.
• Shielded Speaker Holes: Effective shielding covers critical areas, even in high-frequency ranges.
• Integrated Design: Non-detachable, sturdy design with no magnets, ensuring consistent protection without compromising signal quality.

Protecting Our Future: A New Era of Accountability in Washington

With the recent election, a new administration led by President Trump and RFK Jr. in Washington offers a promising opportunity for meaningful policy reform in wireless safety. This is no longer a question of science or engineering—it is the sole responsibility of our elected leaders to prioritize the health of Americans over corporate profits.

A Call to Action: Demand FCC Reform and Updated Safety Standards

Now more than ever, we must urge our leaders to take a stand. RF Safe calls on consumers and advocates to reach out to Trump and RFK Jr., emphasizing the need for regulatory change. Here’s what we’re demanding:

1. Update FCC Safety Guidelines to Include Non-Thermal Effects: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must base its guidelines on modern science, accounting for both thermal and non-thermal biological effects of RF-EMF exposure. This includes impacts on DNA, cellular repair, oxidative stress, and development in vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women.
2. Restart the National Toxicology Program’s Cancer Research: During the previous administration, critical funding for the NTP’s RF-EMF research was halted, cutting short investigations into cancer and other health risks associated with wireless exposure. Restoring this funding is crucial to understanding the long-term effects of wireless radiation.
3. End FCC Regulatory Capture: For years, the FCC has faced accusations of regulatory capture, where industry interests influence policy. Leaders must ensure that regulatory bodies prioritize public health over profits by appointing qualified, impartial officials dedicated to safeguarding Americans’ health.

Misclassification of RF Radiation Health Risks: The Need for Urgent Reassessment

Our society is in a precarious situation where the classification of RF radiation as biologically inert overlooks the growing body of research linking RF exposure to developmental and health issues. This misclassification results in inadequate protections, delaying medical and technological innovations that could advance public health.

Key Points:

• Bioelectric Dysregulation: Emerging research shows that RF radiation can interfere with bioelectric cell signaling, potentially leading to cancer and developmental disorders.
• Global Legislative Action Needed: With wireless technologies proliferating, stringent safety regulations are essential to protect vulnerable populations from potential harms.
• Environmental Impact: RF exposure doesn’t just impact humans but has consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, further underscoring the need for comprehensive safety measures.

Moving Beyond Debate: Shifting from Science to Policy

The latest research on RF radiation and bioelectric health effects demands decisive legislative action. Just as scientific evidence once shifted our understanding from a geocentric to a heliocentric universe, we now face a pivotal moment where outdated policies must be replaced with evidence-based regulations.

• Policy Over Science Alone: Scientific understanding lays the foundation, but without policy action, change is limited.
• Global Action Required: Governments worldwide must collaborate on stricter RF-EMF safety standards and enforce policies that prioritize health over convenience and profit.

Take Action Now: Make Your Voice Heard

The urgency of these issues cannot be overstated. Here’s how you can help:

• Contact Your Representatives: Demand that officials in Washington support updated safety guidelines, the resumption of NTP research, and the end of regulatory capture.
• Share Information: Raise awareness about the risks of RF-EMF exposure, encouraging safe practices for yourself and loved ones.
• Support Science-Based Advocacy: Support legislative efforts that mandate safer technologies, stricter emission limits, and more transparency within regulatory agencies.

RF Safe: Committed to a Safer Tomorrow

RF Safe remains dedicated to its mission of raising awareness, educating the public, and advocating for safer RF-EMF exposure standards. Under John Coates’ leadership, we will continue pushing for policy change and providing consumers with trusted, science-backed solutions. Together, we can create a healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.