After WWII: US begins robust interagency research: 1957 Conference Report, 1967 Air Force Report, 1971 Naval Report, 1978 Report Office of Science & Technology, 1978 Conference, 1979 Dept of Commerce Report, 1980 Dept of Energy Report, 1994 Air Force Report.
1979: United States Congressional Hearing (Transcript 1, 2, 3)
1980’s to 1996: EPA measured levels in US and was tasked to develop wireless radiation safety limits. 1984 EPA Report on Biological Effects, 1986 Report on Environmental Exposure Levels
1995: EPA meets with FCC & presents EPA’s plan to develop RF safety limits . Video explainer.
1996: EPA defunded from researching EMFs. EPA closed project measuring EMF levels in US Cities.
1996: FCC adopts RF wireless radiation rules and safety limits from industry connected groups (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992 and NCRP’s 1986 Report). EHT’s Analysis of the creation of US limits.
1999: FDA requests the National Toxicology Program to study cell phone radiation because of the lack of safety data on health effects from long term chronic exposure.
2008: Congressional Hearing: Health Effects of Cell Phone Use
2009: US Senate Hearings on Health Effects of Cell Phone Wireless Radiation
2012: Government Accountability Office Report recommends cell phone test procedures be reassessed to ensure they reflect real world use and are based on latest science.
2013: FCC opens official inquiry 13-84 asking if RF limits should be updated
2013 to 2019: Thousands of pages of scientific evidence submitted to FCC in Docket 13-84.
2018: National Toxicology Program releases Final Reports on large scale animal studies of chronic exposure to cell phone radiation and concludes “clear evidence” of cancer. FDA rejects the findings. EHT and expert scientists write FDA with science based letters calling on the FDA to retract their biased review.
2019: FCC decision 19-126 not to update 1996 RF limits
Environmental Health Trust (EHT)
2020: EHT filed case against the FCC arguing the 2019 decision was not based on adequate review of the FCC 13-84 record.
2021: The U.S Court of Appeals for DC Circuit rules on EHT et al., v. FCC in our favor.
Notable US Agency letters
1996: EPA Letter that US Limits are only protective for thermal impacts
2002: EPA Letter stating FCC’s 1996 RF limits do not protect against all effects
2003: Scientists from US federal agencies (RFIAWG) again write IEEE on additional issues about IEEE’s RF exposure limits. Both 1999 and 2003 letters remain unanswered.
Article: Timeline of development of safety limits for wireless radiation in US