HHS launches review of wireless radiation risks as scrutiny of safety standards intensifies

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a review of the potential health effects of wireless radiation, reopening a long-running debate over whether existing federal exposure limits adequately reflect modern technology.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the initiative this week, saying the department would examine the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and human health.

“The MAHA Strategy gave us a clear mission: investigate the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and health, identify gaps in our knowledge, and make sure federal policy keeps pace with rapidly changing technology,” Kennedy said in a post on X.

On September 21, HHS issued a formal Request for Information seeking scientific research, health data and public observations on radiofrequency (RF) radiation and electromagnetic fields (EMF).

The agency is inviting scientists, healthcare professionals, industry representatives, families and members of the public to submit information by October 21.

The review covers radiation associated with mobile phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, wearable devices, wireless medical equipment, 5G and 6G networks, satellites and other connected technologies.

HHS is also seeking evidence on cumulative exposure and whether particular groups, including children, pregnant women, workers and people with implanted medical devices, may face different risks.

“Wireless technology touches nearly every part of American life,” Kennedy said in a video posted on X. “Americans deserve clear answers about what these exposures mean for our health.”

FCC standards under scrutiny

The HHS review comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) regulation of RF exposure.

The FCC’s current exposure guidelines date largely to 1996. In 2019, the agency decided not to revise them, saying available evidence supported maintaining the existing limits.

However, wireless technology has expanded substantially since those standards were established, with smartphones, Wi-Fi, wearable devices, smart appliances and extensive wireless infrastructure becoming part of everyday life.

In 2021, a federal appeals court directed the FCC to address evidence and concerns regarding the health and environmental effects of RF radiation and explain the basis for its determination that existing limits adequately protect the public and environment.

The issue remains before the court. In May 2026, Children’s Health Defense (CHD) petitioned the court over the FCC’s compliance with the 2021 order. The court subsequently gave the agency 30 days to explain why it had not complied.

The FCC has also sought public comments on health and environmental issues related to RF exposure, with submissions due October 22.

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Some researchers have reported associations between RF exposure and conditions including headaches, neurological effects, reproductive problems and cancer. A March 14 study published in Environmental Health argued that existing exposure limits may be substantially higher than levels needed to protect against certain potential health risks.

Other research has reached different conclusions.

The World Health Organization has said available reviews have not established that RF exposure from wireless networks causes cancer. A 2024 study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), involving more than 250,000 mobile-phone users, found no increased risk of brain tumours among people with the highest cumulative calling time compared with light users.

IARC, however, classified RF electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” in 2011, based on evidence available at the time, including findings involving mobile-phone use and glioma.

The scientific disagreement has continued, with some researchers challenging the conclusions of recent reviews and others maintaining that current evidence does not establish a causal link between ordinary wireless exposure and serious health outcomes.

HHS seeks updated evidence

The new HHS inquiry is therefore expected to examine not only individual exposure sources but also how Americans encounter multiple wireless technologies simultaneously.

Kennedy said the department would distinguish established findings from emerging research, identify unanswered questions and determine where further studies are required.

“We will follow the evidence wherever it leads,” he said.

The investigation will take place alongside the FCC’s continuing review and legal dispute over its RF standards.

For HHS, the central question is whether existing exposure limits adequately reflect real-world exposure patterns, including long-term and cumulative exposure.

“This is your opportunity to help inform how the federal government studies these exposures, measures them in the real world, and evaluates potential risks to human health,” Kennedy said.

The department’s findings could eventually contribute to discussions over whether U.S. federal policies governing wireless radiation need to be reassessed as wireless technologies continue to expand.