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HHS launches inquiry into health impacts of electromagnetic fields

Scientific American reports that HHS requested public feedback on digital devices while research shows no clear health risks below safety limits

Updated Sep 22, 2026 · 18:57 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a call for information seeking public accounts of alleged harm from electromagnetic fields and digital devices.[Scientific American]
  • Decades of research, including World Health Organization-commissioned systematic reviews and a study of over 250,000 people, show no consistent link between exposures below safety thresholds and cancer.[Scientific American]
  • Experts emphasize that low-energy radiation from devices like phones and Wi-Fi lacks the energy required to break DNA bonds.[Scientific American]
  • Health agencies and researchers cite a need for high-quality confirmatory studies despite a decline in U.S. research funding.[Scientific American]

Key facts

  • The Department of Health and Human Services requested public information regarding personal harm allegedly caused by electromagnetic fields and digital devices.[Scientific American]
  • Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the health inquiry at a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense.[Scientific American]
  • A set of 12 World Health Organization-commissioned systematic reviews evaluating frequencies from zero to 300 gigahertz found little to no evidence of cancer or symptom risks below safety thresholds.[Scientific American]
  • A 2024 study tracking over 250,000 individuals identified no heightened risk of brain cancer linked to mobile phone use.[Scientific American]
  • Low-energy radiation emitted by personal devices does not possess enough energy to break DNA bonds.[Scientific American]

What remains uncertain

  • The authors of the World Health Organization systematic reviews noted that limited high-quality evidence constrained the confidence level of their conclusions.[Scientific American]
  • Many small, exploratory studies on radio frequency exposure yield inconsistent or non-persuasive biological findings while research overall is declining in the United States.[Scientific American]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.