EMF and Radiofrequency Exposure from Cell Phones and Power Lines

Here's the latest on EMF and RF exposure what science says and what types of lawsuits have met with success.

For years some people have worried about the effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) on human health. People living near large power lines have wondered if high EMF emissions can cause leukemia or other cancers. Recently, these fears have extended to radiofrequency (RF) exposure from wireless technologies like cell phones, cell phone towers, and GPS devices. Scientists are continuing to learn more about the effects of EMF and RF exposure on the general population and on employees in certain occupations.

This article discusses the basics of EMFs and RFs, scientific studies on links between exposure and health problems, and recent trends in lawsuits over EMR and RF emissions.

What are EMFs and RFs?

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are produced by alternating electric currents found in electric transmission lines, plants that generate power, electric wiring, home and business appliances, cell phones, and other electric devices. Electric fields are measured in Volts per meter (V/m). Typical EMFs at home or on the job measure from 5 to 10 V/m, while levels under a power transmission line may measure as high as 10,000 V/m.

Radio frequency (RF) is one form of electromagnetic energy that is used in many types of wireless technologies including cordless phones, radar, ham radio, GPS devices, cell phones, and radio and television broadcasts.

Walls do not block electromagnetic fields, so EMF from outside sources like power lines or nearby electrical towers can enter homes and workplaces. However, because EMF levels decrease rapidly as you move away from the electric source, exposure levels from electrical lines, towers, and cell phone stations are usually very low for most people.

Concerns About the Health Effects of EMF and RF Exposure

Concerns about EMF exposure from power lines were first raised in a 1979 study examining the incidence of leukemia in children living close to power lines. Some people believe that EMF exposure at high levels can also cause other types of cancers, reproductive problems, developmental problems, and mental depression. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the possible negative health effects of using cell phones or living or working near cell phone towers that emit RF waves.

Scientific Studies Regarding EMF Exposure and Illness

In the 1990s, several well regarded national research organizations looked at the potential health problems associated with EMF exposure. In 1995, the American Physical Society reviewed reports and literature on EMF exposure and concluded that there was no consistent, significant link between cancer and power line fields. In 1999, the National Research Council (part of the National Academy of Sciences) examined evidence from the EMF-RAPID program (a government program established in 1992 to study EMF exposure) and concluded that it was very unlikely that EMFs in the normal domestic or occupational environment produce negative health effects, including cancer.

However, in 1999, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) acknowledged that, because of the existence of "weak scientific evidence that exposure may pose a leukemia hazard," it could not entirely rule out the possibility that EMF exposure caused health problems. Although today most scientists believe that low-level exposure to EMFs does not cause health problems, researchers continue to study the issue. Many scientists do believe that people exposed to high levels of EMFs such as workers in certain occupations may develop health problems that are not linked to lower levels of EMF exposure.

The Safety of RF Exposure

Since 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted standards for safe levels of radio frequency (RF) exposure. Federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) monitor and investigate issues related to RF exposure.

RF exposure from cell phone use. The FDA has acknowledged that it cannot entirely rule out the possibility of negative health effects caused by RF exposure from cell phone use. However, the agency maintains that, if a risk does exist, "it is probably small." The FDA provides recommendations to people who are concerned about RF exposure, including limiting cell phone use and using hands-free kits, which create a greater distance between the phone and the user (although experts caution that clipping the phone to a belt or clothing doesn't reduce exposure). To learn more about safety precautions for cell phone use, visit the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health at www.fda.gov.

RF exposure from cell phone towers. Usually, antennas used for cellular and personal communication system (PCS) transmissions are found on towers, water tanks, or other elevated structures including rooftops and the sides of buildings. The FCC has adopted safety guidelines for evaluating RF environmental exposure, and federal health and safety agencies, such as the EPA, FDA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have also been involved in monitoring and investigating issues related to RF exposure. The FCC's limits for RF emissions on the ground near a cell tower are measured in milliwatts per square centimeter and is 1 mW/cm2 for PCS towers and 580-600 mW/cm2 for cellular towers. While RF emissions from cell phone towers usually result in ground-level exposure that is typically below the safety limits recommended by the FCC, RF emissions on the ground within 100-150 feet of a cell tower, or on a roof within 100 feet of a roof-mounted cell tower, can exceed FCC limits.

Generally, plaintiffs who bring toxic tort lawsuits over EMF or RF exposure will gather and present evidence that is intended to prove:

• the plaintiffs' actual exposure to EMF or RF
• the strength and length of time of that exposure
• that plaintiffs suffered illness or injury (for example, cancer), and
• that the illness or injury caused by the EMF or RF exposure. (To learn more about toxic tort lawsuits including who to sue and what damages might be available. see Nolo's article Toxic Torts: An Overview.)

To date, lawsuits alleging harm caused by EMF or RF exposure have had little success. For the most part, this is because scientific evidence has failed to establish a definite link between exposure to electromagnetic fields and health problems like cancer. However, lawsuits brought on behalf of people who are exposed to high levels of EMFs and RFs such as workers who work near high-energy electrical equipment may fare better.

Getting Help

Claims involving EMF or RF exposure are usually not the kind of lawsuits in which you can represent yourself effectively. The legal and scientific issues in such cases are often complex and sophisticated. Depending on your case, you may wish to retain the services of a lawyer who specializes in toxic torts or EMF and RF litigation specifically.

For help in choosing a good personal injury attorney, read Nolo's article Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer. Go to Nolo's Lawyer Directory for a list of personal injury attorneys in your geographical area (click on the "Types of Cases" and "Work History" tabs to find out about the lawyer's experience, if any, with EMF or RF cases).