California Officials Release Guidelines To Avoid Cellphone Radiation « CBS San Francisco
Author: http://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco
Description: For the first time ever, the California Department of Public Health is releasing guidelines about harmful cell phone radiation and how you can avoid it.
Keywords: vibTech
Date: 2017-12-14T17:08:25+00:00

By Susie Steimle December 14, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Filed Under: cellphone radiation

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — California health officials have a new message for cellphone users.

For the first time ever, the California Department of Public Health has released guidelines about harmful cellphone radiation and how you can avoid it.

Dr. Karen Smith with the California Department Of Public Health said, “We recognize that there are a lot of people in the general public that have some concerns about their cellphones and whether using a cellphone is safe.”

Smith said, “When you sleep, you keep the cellphone at least arm’s length away from your body. And also, not carrying your cellphone in your pocket, having it either in your purse or not carrying it with you.”

Read Also: Cellphone Radiation Exposure Fact Sheet Draft Released By California

The research suggests cellphones could increase our risk for brain cancer and tumors, low sperm count, headaches, as well as impaired memory, hearing, and sleep.

Dr. Joel Moskowitz at UC Berkeley said, “Currently we’re not doing a good job in regulating radiation from these devices. In fact, we’re doing an abysmal job.”

Moskowitz says this is a long-time coming.

He’s partially responsible for bringing this information to light. He sued the Department of Public Health for refusing to release information about the dangers of cellphone radiation back in 2009.

This spring he won that case.

“People are being injured and harmed by the delay in having this information accessible to them,” Moskowitz said.

So does the release mean that the state believes cellphones are dangerous?

“Not at all,” said Dr. Karen Smith. “Our position is that the science is evolving.”

The state said one of the main reasons they’ve decided to release these guidelines now, is that there are new numbers out showing that cellphone use is higher than ever, with 95 percent of Americans using them on a regular basis.

Susie SteimleSusie Steimle has come a long way since reporting on a Shetland pony who relieved itself inside a Rhode Island liquor store. Since arriving at KPIX...More from Susie Steimle
Comments (111)

1. stillnotregistering says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:28 am

   california authorities are liars

   Reply | Report comment |
   1. Sam Wise says:
      December 16, 2017 at 8:27 am

      Only stupid people carry cellphones. Its really a tracker chip, an animal ID tag, so that your owners know where you are, and what you’re doing. Because Tax farmers want to know what their tax slaves are doing at all times.

      FYI:
      They don’t plan on keeping humans alive. Once you are replaced with robots, you’ll have to give a convincing argument of why YOU should be kept alive. Without a purpose, your tax farmers don’t need you anymore.

      Regarding income taxes in USA…
      Look it up…
      “exempt income means any income” (use quotes)
      “income that is not considered tax exempt”
      ecfr g ov
      gpo g ov

      US citizens are simply tax slaves.

      Reply | Report comment
2. Leo Rodolfo says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:30 am

   I like the part where they say ‘Don’t carry it with you’.

   Kinda defeats the purpose of having one.

   Also, this part:

   So does the release mean that the state believes cellphones are dangerous?

   “Not at all,” said Dr. Karen Smith.
   —

   ‘But we’re still going to do our best to freak everybody out’

   lol

   Reply | Report comment
   1. Chondra Lee says:
      December 15, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Also no mention on WiFi in the house-businesses…we’re getting it everywhere, all day now.

      Reply | Report comment
   2. John Schmidt says:
      December 15, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      Well it is CA and you have to keep all those APP makers happy.

      Reply | Report comment
   3. Joe Loftus says:
      December 16, 2017 at 4:41 am

      And of course being a San Francisco expert on these matters, she’d obviously be expecting men to follow the, in the purse regimen ….

      Reply | Report comment
3. Rick McCargar says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:37 am

   “Doctor” Joel Moskowitz is brought on to discuss his expertise in cellphone radiation.

   Moskowitz earned his PhD in Social Psychology. He does not seem to be an expert in any associated scientific field. He’s a political advocate.

   Use that opinion to gauge just how concerned you should be.

   Reply | Report comment
4. Richie Rich (@rebman70) says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:43 am

   Any words from a California government troll or study group are worthless.

   Reply | Report comment
5. Bar Dou says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:55 am

   I’m more concerned about the mental health of these homeless people going around starting fires, defecating in the streets spreading Hepatitis A, shooting innocent people, and being here illegally. Let’s start with that and leave the cell phones alone. It’s mere speculation that cell phones cause brain cancer.

   Reply | Report comment
6. Bob Walker (@SingerGuy59) says:
   December 15, 2017 at 8:55 am

   Women are encouraged to carry their phones in their purses. Men, please note that you must now carry a man-bag, as pockets are far too dangerous…unless you don’t want kids.

   Reply | Report comment
   1. danmcn61 says:
      December 16, 2017 at 4:32 am

      All you have to do is wear an aluminum foil hat. Not bad once you get used to it and the voices are sooo friendly and soothing

      Reply | Report comment
7. Barley Booth says:
   December 15, 2017 at 9:03 am

   I would laugh at these so called experts util I realize that manufactures and providers will bend over backwards to please the California market rules (coming next) and those will be spread out to all of us.

   Reply | Report comment
8. Jeffrey Gee says:
   December 15, 2017 at 9:05 am

   Cell phone frequencies oscillate at 2 to 3 times faster than the frequencies in a microwave oven. Of course, they are lower power or people’s heads would melt a lot quicker, but with prolonged exposure it adds up. I put mine at the other end of the house when I go to bed, try and not carry it in my pants pocket often, and usually always use speaker phone instead of sticking it against my head!

   Reply | Report comment
   1. Keith Engie says:
      December 15, 2017 at 10:37 pm

      I but mine in the backyard every night and dig it up in the morning and put it in a metal box when I take it to work. You can’t be too safe you know

      Reply | Report comment
9. Rob Ervin (@The_AZ_Warrior) says:
   December 15, 2017 at 9:13 am

   You have far more to fear from lunatic government bureaucrats and politicians than a cell phone.

   Reply | Report comment
10. Al says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:18 am

    Wacko Californians unable to have kids because of cell phones is a problem?

    Reply | Report comment
11. Byron Brewer says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:20 am

    If a product is found to be dangerous it should be outlawed! Wait….What? We’re talking about cell phones?? What do these doctors know? Probably just looking for a government grant!!!!

    Even if phone are dangerous, what’s the worst thing that happen? What? Brain Cancer??
    Ok…so if I get Brain Cancer….will I still be able to text?

    Reply | Report comment
12. John Pound (@Pound0612) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:22 am

    This just in from anyone in power in California:

    BE AFRAID OF EVERYTHING!

    Reply | Report comment
    1. Jim Namalias says:
       December 15, 2017 at 1:20 pm

       So, I recently bought chains to repair my RV weight distributing hitch. The box comes complete with a prominent label telling me that the state of California deems the contents of the box to be carcinogenic. Yep, chains.

       Reply | Report comment
13. daveinwoodland says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:24 am

    Ok, so design a shielded bag that will prevent a problem as well as not allow them to receive a signal when called. Have to say pretty ridiculous and I have never like carrying a phone anyway.

    Reply | Report comment
14. Erik Szpyra (@ErikSzpyra) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:44 am

    Can they name one person who was even harmed slightly by cell phone use?

    Reply | Report comment
15. Ralph Swindler says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:47 am

    Guidelines are totally impractical. So, where are you to carry the phone if not in your pocket? Don’t these people have any common sense?

    Reply | Report comment
16. William Hofmeister says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:51 am

    Electromagnetic radiation has been studied for over 100 years. With regards to ham radio theory, etc. quite extensively. The science is in and the potential risks from cellphones is zero. This is another scam being perpetrated on the population. The effects drop off so quickly with distance that over a couple of inches the exposure is practically nil.

    Reply | Report comment
    1. Smart Meters Suck (@SmartMetersSuck) says:
       December 15, 2017 at 1:22 pm

       100% WRONG and easily verifiable by researching the available science (not funded by the telecommunications industry).

       Reply | Report comment
       1. Jim (@Bridger54) says:
          December 15, 2017 at 2:13 pm

          Show your work please

17. Kelley Eidem says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:54 am

    Cell phones slow your brain’s cilia, promoting amyloid plaque & Alzheimer’s. Whirling Bliss Machines promote faster cilia.

    Using a cell phone day after day is like volunteering for Alzheimer’s. Texting is like volunteering for obesity. Regardless of where the phone is held the body is being exposed to spikes of harmful ions. So if we get diabetes first because we text or hold our phones near our abdomen, that promotes Alzheimer’s, too. Some experts call Alzheimer’s “Type III Diabetes.”

    Since no one reading this is likely to give up their cell phone, the next best thing to do is to get a Whirling Bliss Machine and Bliss Disks. The typical recommendations such as keeping the phones out of one’s pocket and at arm’s length while sleeping are a joke, a cruel joke. Maybe it delays your diabetes of Alzheimer’s by a year. Big whoop!

    Reply | Report comment
18. Tony Konte says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:59 am

    McCain must have talked to often with his son Lindsey Graham.

    Reply | Report comment
19. Beefrod McDougal (@Darth_Zorro) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:59 am

    Given this new information, I am all for free Obama-phones.

    Reply | Report comment
20. Richard Stenger says:
    December 15, 2017 at 10:00 am

    Came to this story from Drudge. Left for http://www.PressCalifornia for more real California news.

    Reply | Report comment
21. Tony Bichler says:
    December 15, 2017 at 10:00 am

    This is ridiculous! When your not using your phone i.e sleeping, the amount of radiation your phone transmits is probably equal to or less than the amount it receives from the light in your bed room, so better turn off your night light. Visual wave radiation is much worse for you, can you believe that thousands of people die from skin cancer every year,, from the sun. This whole thing is stupid but, consider the source “California”! As an cell phone engineer, don’t fear radio wave radiation, wifi, cellular, but the kind that you get from your doctor and dentists, yikes! And yes, use sun block!

    Reply | Report comment
22. Jerry Bradley says:
    December 15, 2017 at 10:15 am

    Another CYA message from people who don’t have a clue what the affects are outside a lab. Thanks for scaring us for no reason.

    Reply | Report comment
23. D Patrick Dewey says:
    December 15, 2017 at 10:16 am

    Even if this is true there’s no problem with carrying a cell phone in your pocket if it’s powered off. You could check it occasionally for missed calls, messages or texts.

    Reply | Report comment
24. mary beth gannon (@marybethgannon) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:10 am

    Ever wonder why so many people seem to have cancer these days? Cell phones. I refuse to carry one on me. I’ll take my chances with a little inconvenience as opposed to cancer.

    Reply | Report comment
25. Stephen P Donohue says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:21 am

    The old dial telephones were worse, although the effects were not as quickly evident. Most people that used them for even a few decades died, research shows.

    Reply | Report comment
26. Paul Russell says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Must be the frequency range. I’ve never seen a warning on a clock radio saying not to put it on the nightstand by my bed. In the early 1980’s my dad had an acquaintance who was an RF engineer for Amana. He helped design microwave ovens but wouldn’t allow one in his house.

    Reply | Report comment
27. Jack Cade says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:23 am

    I, for one, welcome our new talking horse overlords.

    Reply | Report comment
28. Bill Bailey says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:31 am

    I’m much more interested in the donkey that took a whiz in the liquor store.

    Reply | Report comment
29. Bruce Boelter says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:34 am

    All with ZERO evidence, ZERO science, and ZERO research.

    Reply | Report comment
30. Jeff Ashby says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:35 am

    The biggest fruitcakes in the world. How can live with such loonies?

    Reply | Report comment
31. Robert (@rightlineblog) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Just alert these California officials that you self-identify as having an immunity to radio wave damage.

    Reply | Report comment
32. Bill Jefferson says:
    December 15, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    I can see that. San Francisco “men” do carry purses. That’s just a sample of their weirdness.

    Reply | Report comment
33. Jack Inmanz says:
    December 15, 2017 at 12:25 pm

    Hmmm. I have all of those things, but I don’t own a cell phone, never have. Who do I sue?

    Reply | Report comment
34. moinsd (@moinsd) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    As always, creating policy around a pseudoscientific notion with no support from empirical evidence in order to seize control over something.

    Reply | Report comment
35. Aaron Collins says:
    December 15, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    Anti-racists say there is a RACE problem that can only be solved when the third world pours into EVERY White country and “assimilates.”

    What if I said there was a RACE problem that could only be solved if hundreds of millions of non-Blacks were brought into EVERY Black country? How long before people realize I’m not talking about a RACE problem, but the conclusion to the BLACK problem?

    They say they are anti-racist. What they are is anti-White.

    Anti-racist is a codeword for anti-White.

    Reply | Report comment
36. Santana Jose says:
    December 15, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    Seems simple to me. I don’t recall similar issues with (receive only) radios. It is the transmission aspect that causes the risk. Cell Phones could easily be made “receive only” until transmission is needed – like when you are actively using the phone. Same issue with Bluetooth headsets – I have one, but only will put it in my ear on the rare occasions that I am on a call requiring it. Problem is that the providers and app developers have monetized knowing your location at all times and sending back god knows what personal info constantly – which requires the transmission.

    Reply | Report comment
37. Ledfether (@ledfether) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    So does the release mean that the state believes cellphones are dangerous?

    “Not at all,” said Dr. Karen Smith. “Our position is that the science is evolving.”

    Except on the subject of Anthropocentric Climate Change of course. “The science is settled” on that subject…unless we deem its not, then we’ll tell you the latest way your simply existing within the status quo is killing you and everyone else.

    It doesn’t mater what you are and have been doing…you need to change it.

    Reply | Report comment
38. Jolly Roger says:
    December 15, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    The Soviet Socialist Republic of CA is an out-of-control Nanny State whose Marxist elites seek to regulate and control every last aspect of people’s lives. They do it either through coercion and/or fear. Unfortunately Californians are no longer real Americans, but dimwitted sheepish serfs who obediently obey the commands of their government masters.

    Reply | Report comment
39. Randy Bassham says:
    December 15, 2017 at 2:45 pm

    I drive way too fast to worry about this…

    Reply | Report comment
40. Gabriel Powers (@oldGabePowers) says:
    December 15, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    Will the new brain implant cell phones be dangerous too?

    Reply | Report comment
41. Kelley Eidem says:
    December 15, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    Everyone is looking at the waves and the frequency, but it’s the ions that do so much damage. The ions that come off of cell phones, routers, cell towers, smart meters, etc., can be measured, and it has been known since about 1958 that those kinds of harmful (so-called “positive ions”) slow down and stop the motion of the cilia in our bodies. Negative ions speed the cilia up and allow them to beat in concert which is vitally important. Slowed and stopped cilia produce amyloid plaque in the brain and elsewhere.

    The positive ions also repel the positive ions in our cells’ channels such as the calcium and sodium channels. This interferes with how the cells function.

    Reply | Report comment
    1. claytoncramer says:
       December 16, 2017 at 8:26 am

       Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation (EMF). The rest of your claims sound like someone trying to sell something, ,like the book you have as your image.

       Reply | Report comment
42. Jack Rice says:
    December 15, 2017 at 3:35 pm

    So Dr. Smith’s outfit say’s you shouldn’t sleep near a cell phone or carry one on you. When asked if that means they’re saying cell phones are dangerous, she says, Not at all, just that “the science is evolving.”

    Wow, if you want an example of “mealymouthed,” then I give you Dr. Smith!

    Reply | Report comment
43. stacy4422 says:
    December 15, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    yea I NEVER put my phone in my pocket! it goes right in my underwear under my junk!

    Reply | Report comment
44. Kurt Frommd says:
    December 15, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    Makes one wonder when the first lawsuits come in or the FDA takes over and requires warning labels on each phone.

    Reply | Report comment
45. chrismireya says:
    December 15, 2017 at 6:22 pm

    California lawmakers also require EVERY store, restaurant and business that has common household items to display signs about how they “contain agents known to cause cancer.” I’ve even seen these signs at HOSPITALS.

    Reply | Report comment
46. chrismireya says:
    December 15, 2017 at 6:24 pm

    Has anything good come out of UC-Berkeley since ~1968?

    Reply | Report comment
47. Ken Keppel says:
    December 15, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    How many times have we heard this? Then the following week it is debunked.

    Reply | Report comment
48. John Wygant says:
    December 15, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    Never had my cellphone set off a rad monitor and I am around them several times a day and go through a scan many times a week

    Reply | Report comment
49. Lou Cipro says:
    December 15, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    Look at the APA’s guidelines regarding cellphones and children, read the Studies done by the Swedish Health Dept. There were two court cases in Italy where it was proven that cell phone use caused death by brain cancer.
    This is NOT NEW INFORMATION, folks; face it; you just don’t want to have to think about giving up your toys. They are not a necessity – you just believe them to be.
    BTW, with no cancer history in my family, my 63 year old sister died of a brain tumor behind her ear.
    The risk is yours to take. Just saying…

    Reply | Report comment
50. rogertc1 (@rogertc1) says:
    December 16, 2017 at 12:46 am

    UC Berkeley Psychologist Joel Moskowitz Is Cell Phone, Wi-Fi ‘Truther’ … Joel Moskowitz is one of those professors. With a … Even though Dr. Moskowitz admitted to the Los Angeles Times that there is no “irrefutable evidence” linking cell phones to cancer, the conspiracy storyline never gets old.

    Reply | Report comment
51. Daniel Staggers says:
    December 16, 2017 at 3:18 am

    As usual wacky California. IF THEY’RE THAT BAD BAN THEM OR SHUT UP!

    Reply | Report comment
52. Jon Raitmon says:
    December 16, 2017 at 4:04 am

    From Kalifornicatia? Build the wall — from Mehico along eastern border of Kalifornicatia — straight to Canada — removing the Western threat for we Deplorables.

    Reply | Report comment
53. Robert Gregory Anders says:
    December 16, 2017 at 6:16 am

    If its coming out of California its Junk Science, that will be designed to weaponize something against you. They hate the cell phone, like most leftists do, and they want to turn the cell phone into the new “cigarette”

    Reply | Report comment
54. David Stubbs says:
    December 16, 2017 at 6:17 am

    I was taking this seriously until I saw that this originated in Calif. But really, doesn’t EVERYTHING in Calif already have ‘Calif 65’ warning stickers? This is redundant.

    Reply | Report comment
55. Willis Forster says:
    December 16, 2017 at 6:51 am

    So we can thank Apple for putting McCain down.

    Reply | Report comment
56. Hal Guernsey says:
    December 16, 2017 at 7:55 am

    This nonsensical supposition/suggestion is mindless pseudoscience. It is shameful how far California has devolved.

    Reply | Report comment
57. Dave Hardesty says:
    December 16, 2017 at 7:55 am

    While minimizing exposure to electromagnetic radiation is a good thing, considering the damage to living tissue over the frequency bandwidth of such electromagnetic one would think there would be a greater concern over the low frequency electromagnetic fields we are exposed to rather than the high frequency electromagnetic fields we are enveloped in within our own homes. We are aware of our cellular telephones and microwave ovens and perhaps even the Wi-fi signals from our routers, computers and even our new flat screen televisions but what about the 60 cycle electromagnetic radiation we are exposed to continually by the wiring inside of our own homes? I only mention this to give others something to worry about.

    Reply | Report comment
58. Daniel Horowitz says:
    December 16, 2017 at 8:06 am

    This is fake news. Here are the scientific facts.
    https://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-06-09/

    Reply | Report comment
59. Chuck Blinn says:
    December 16, 2017 at 8:12 am

    Cell phone health hazard is like Global Warming. It gets shot down and it comes back. It gets shot down again and it comes back. It gets shot down again and it gets a name change.

    Reply | Report comment
60. Bob Ames says:
    December 16, 2017 at 8:30 am

    The only possible solution for this health care crisis is for California to raise taxes on cell phones. It is the right thing to do.

    Reply | Report comment
61. Ken Bockman says:
    December 16, 2017 at 9:39 am

    We are talking about battery powered devices here.

    Reply | Report comment
62. Jerome Barry says:
    December 16, 2017 at 10:13 am

    We’re down to a choice: Tin-foil undies or tin-foil encasements for our ‘phones.

    Reply | Report comment
63. Aaron Collins says:
    December 16, 2017 at 11:21 am

    Asian countries for Asians.

    Black countries for Blacks.

    but White countries for everybody?

    That’s genocide.

    Anti-racist is a codeword for Anti-White.

    Reply | Report comment
64. Doug Oritz says:
    December 16, 2017 at 3:03 pm

    I shot my cell phone for trying to fry my balls.

    Reply | Report comment
65. Kelley Eidem says:
    December 16, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    This announcement is sort of like a someone announcing in 1943 that there might be a problem in Germany, “Keep those pesky Germans at arm’s length, especially at night. No, we don’t have proof they might be bad for you.”

    Reply | Report comment

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