The HHS launch cellphone study was announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, initiating a federal review of cellphone radiation. The move comes amid criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has linked cellphone use to neurological damage and cancer.
HHS Orders Review of Radiation Risks
The Department of Health and Human Services said it is beginning a new study to examine the potential health effects of cellphone radiation, expanding federal research into electromagnetic radiation and modern wireless technologies.
“The FDA removed webpages containing outdated conclusions about cellphone radiation as the HHS launch cellphone study focuses on electromagnetic radiation and health research. The initiative aims to identify gaps in knowledge, including those related to new technologies, to ensure safety and efficacy,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said.
Nixon said the effort was directed by President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again Commission, known as MAHA, and outlined in the commission’s strategy report. The study aims to review existing science and identify areas where additional research may be needed.
The HHS launch cellphone study builds on longstanding public skepticism from Kennedy, who has questioned federal safety standards and suggested links between cellphone radiation and serious health conditions. Those claims, however, remain disputed by many scientists and federal health agencies.
FDA Removes Older Guidance During Review
As part of the broader review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed older webpages stating that cellphones are not dangerous, Nixon said. The agency said the pages reflected outdated conclusions and were taken down while the study proceeds.
Despite the removals, other federal agencies continue to say that current evidence does not show health risks from cellphone radiation. Webpages from the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still state that there is no credible evidence linking cellphone radiation to adverse health outcomes.
The National Cancer Institute, which operates under the National Institutes of Health, says, “Evidence to date suggests that cellphone use does not cause brain or other kinds of cancer in humans.” That position reflects decades of epidemiological studies examining cancer rates and cellphone usage patterns.
Federal officials emphasized that the new study does not indicate a change in official conclusions but reflects an effort to reassess existing research as technology evolves. Smartphones and wireless networks have changed significantly since early studies were conducted.
States Restrict Phone Use in Schools
The review also follows policy moves by states aimed at limiting cellphone use among children. Last year, HHS said twenty-two states had restricted cellphone use in schools under the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Those restrictions were intended to improve the mental and physical health of children, according to HHS. State officials cited concerns about distraction, screen time and social development rather than radiation exposure.
Public health experts have generally supported limits on phone use in classrooms for behavioral and educational reasons, while the HHS launch cellphone study continues to examine claims about radiation risks. Many scientists emphasize that the primary health concerns related to cellphones involve distracted driving and excessive screen use, rather than radiation.
The HHS launch cellphone study was first reported by sources on Thursday. The department has not provided a timeline for completion or clarified whether the findings could result in updated federal safety guidelines.
HHS said it would release more information as the research progresses. For now, agencies continue to advise the public that existing evidence does not demonstrate harm from cellphone radiation when devices are used as intended.
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