Decades of ignored warnings: How U.S. regulators failed to act on wireless radiation linked to 23 chronic diseases

For over 50 years, the U.S. government has known about the potential health risks of wireless radiation, yet regulatory agencies have consistently failed to act, leaving the public exposed to chronic conditions ranging from autism to diabetes. A new report, released on February 6 by researchers Richard Lear and Camilla Rees, reveals how a 1971 U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute study identified 132 biological effects and 23 chronic diseases linked to electromagnetic radiation (EMR)—findings that were ignored as wireless technology proliferated. The report, shared at the American Academy of Environmental Medicine’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, on February 14, highlights the staggering growth of these diseases and calls for urgent regulatory action.

Key Points

• A 1971 U.S. Navy study reviewed 2,311 scientific studies and identified 132 biological effects and 23 chronic diseases linked to wireless radiation.

• Despite these findings, U.S. regulators, including the FCC, have failed to update exposure limits since 1996, leaving the public vulnerable.

• Between 1990 and 2015, 23 chronic diseases predicted by the Navy study surged, with cases reaching 549 million and adding an estimated $2 trillion in annual healthcare costs.

• The report calls for immediate action to minimize wireless exposure and restore local control over cell tower placements.

The Navy’s 1971 warning: a missed opportunity

In 1971, the U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute conducted a comprehensive review of 2,311 scientific studies on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The study focused on low-intensity EMR signals in the 1 to 4 gigahertz (GHz) range—frequencies strikingly similar to those emitted by modern devices like cell phones, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The Navy’s findings were unequivocal: wireless radiation exposure was linked to 132 biological effects and 23 chronic diseases, including ADHD, autism, diabetes, and leukemia.

“These types of wireless exposures are virtually identical with those from modern devices and wireless sources such as cell phones, WiFi, Bluetooth, smart meters, GPS, wearables, and wireless infrastructure,” Lear and Rees wrote in their report.

Despite this groundbreaking research, the U.S. government failed to act. Regulatory agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ignored the warnings, allowing the wireless industry to expand unchecked.

The explosion of chronic disease

Between 1990 and 2015, the U.S. witnessed an alarming rise in chronic diseases, many of which were predicted by the Navy’s 1971 study. Autism cases skyrocketed by 2,094%, while chronic fatigue syndrome saw an 11,027% increase. Other conditions, such as ADHD (139%), anxiety (104%), and diabetes (305%), also surged. By 2015, these 23 diseases accounted for 549 million cases, placing an immense burden on the healthcare system and economy.

“Of the 36 chronic diseases and conditions that more than doubled (1990-2015), the U.S. Navy study warned us of the connection between wireless radiation and twenty-three of those chronic diseases, predicting what has indeed happened to the health of Americans,” Lear and Rees wrote.

The economic impact is staggering. By 2015, these 23 diseases may have added more than $2 trillion in annual healthcare costs to the U.S. economy. The authors acknowledged that other factors, such as sugar consumption and pesticide exposure, likely contributed to the crisis. However, they emphasized that wireless radiation’s role cannot be ignored.

The smoking gun: peroxynitrite and chronic disease

The report delves into the biological mechanisms behind wireless radiation’s harmful effects, pointing to peroxynitrite—a molecule common to all chronic diseases—as a potential “smoking gun.” Wireless radiation triggers oxidative and nitrative stress, leading to the production of peroxynitrite and other free radicals. These agents disrupt biological homeostasis and create a lethal system of seven synergistic biofactors, dubbed “P-Factor,” which includes systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.

“P-Factor is shared by all 36 of the fastest-growing diseases in the U.S.,” the authors wrote. “Is P-Factor the smoking gun for the current U.S. chronic disease health crisis?”

Lear and Rees are calling for immediate action to address the public health crisis caused by wireless radiation. They plan to send hard copies of their report to all U.S. Congress members and 1,000 business leaders, urging them to take responsibility for minimizing wireless exposure.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

ManhattanNeighbors.org

ManhattanNeighbors.org