Havas Submission to CCST “Report on Smart Meters”.
For those interested, below is my invited submission to CCST as part of a Technical Response
Team.
Date:
From:
To:

October 12, 2010
Magda Havas, BSc, PhD
CCST

Submission on Smart Meters.
Item 1. Whether FCC standards for Smart Meters are sufficiently protective of public healthtaking into account current exposure levels to radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields.
In my opinion, the FCC standard for Smart Meters is not sufficient to protect public health. Thisis based on the following facts:
1.1

Thermal vs. Non-thermal Debate. The thermal vs. non-thermal debate is largely ared herring that has been perpetuated for decades and has influenced the type ofresearch done in the United States. The FCC standard is based on a thermal effect. It
was originally based on the amount of radiation that would heat an adult male in theUS military exposed to radar. While the heating effect is not disputed, biologicaleffects, some of which have adverse health consequences, occur well below thethermal guideline (Inglis 1970). As a consequence various countries in the world areopting for a “biologically” based guideline rather than a “thermal” guideline, whichtakes into account not only adult males in peak physical conditions but children,pregnant women, the elderly, and those who have developed electrohypersensitivity(EHS). I will return to the concept of EHS later.

1.2

Guidelines in Russia, Switzerland, Poland, and China are well below the FCC
standard (i.e. 10 vs. 1000 microW/cm2 or 1% of FCC guidelines). Some military andgovernment insiders tried to get U.S. guidelines reduced decades ago but were notsuccessful (Pollack and Healer 1967, Dodge 1969). Steneck et al. (1980) provides anexcellent account of how the U.S. standards were established for radio frequency
radiation.

1.3

Our exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) is increasing exponentially as
we design more equipment that relies on higher frequencies in the electromagnetic
spectrum. Prior to World War II, this type of radiation was negligible. Today we haveradar (military, marine, aviation, and weather), we have cell phone antennas, radio andTV broadcast antennas, and a growing number of WiFi hotspots, citywide WiFi andWi-Max antennas. Inside buildings we have cordless phones, many of which emit
microwave radiation even when they are not being used; wireless alarm systems;
wireless baby monitors, wireless computers, iPads, and Smart Phones that can connect
to wireless internet or WiFi. More children are playing wireless video games thanever before and radio frequency identification devices (RFID) are placed intoHavas, Oct 12, 2010

Smart Meters CCST1

merchandise to provide information to the manufacturer about consumer habits. The“smart meter” is just another source of exposure that will be placed on every home andin every apartment. Smart meters are being used to monitor use of electricity, gas andwater. As part of this system, appliances are being designed to communicate directlywith smart meters, all in a wireless mode, which will ultimately increase levels ofradiation in the home.
1.4

I work with people who have become electrically hypersensitive (EHS) and I havereceived emails and phone calls from those who have had smart meters placed on theirhomes. They complain of ill health and many are unable to use the room closest to thesmart meter. These individuals have no place to “hide” from the growing levels ofelectrosmog especially in densely populated urban centers. Sickness contributes totime off work and away from school, growing medical costs and a general poorer
quality of life. Children are particularly vulnerable as are pregnant women and thosewith compromised immune systems. The presence of metal implants in the body(such as metal pins in bones) may concentrate the absorption of radiation at thelocation of implantation, inducing thermal effects from lower power densities thanwould ordinarily cause such harm (Massey 1979). Some implants, such as pacemakers and deep brain stimulators for Parkinson’s disease, may malfunction and thiscan be fatal. In Switzerland about 5% of the population has EHS. If the same fractionof the population has EHS in the US that would come to a staggering 15 million
people!
The symptoms following exposure to radio frequency radiation were labeled
radiowave sickness and were first reported for those occupationally exposed in theformer Soviet Union. These same symptoms are now referred to aselectrohypersensitivity (EHS) and are experienced by a growing fraction of thepopulation. They include . . .
“. . . headache, eyestrain and tearing, fatigue and weakness, vertigo, sleeplessness atnight and drowsiness during the day, moodiness, irritability, hypochondria, paranoia,
either nervous tension or mental depression and memory impairment. After longer
periods of exposure, additional complaints may include sluggishness, inability to makedecisions, loss of hair, pain in muscles and in the heart region, breathlessness, sexual
problems and even a decrease in lactation in nursing mothers. Clinically observed effects
in persons voicing these complaints include trembling of the eyelids, fingers and tongue,
increased perspiration of the extremities, [and] rashes . . .” (Massey, 1979).

1.5

In addition to sensitive people, Switzerland also identifies Places of Sensitive Use(German acronym is OMEN). These places include: living rooms; classrooms andkindergartens; hospitals and nursing homes; permanent jobs (where people spend
more than 2.5 days per week); and playgrounds. For these OMEN sites, the Swissgovernment recommends that greater precaution be taken for long-term exposure toweak radiation. In these places, radiation from wireless microwave base stations (suchas cordless phones or WLAN/WiFi) may exceed radiation from nearby cell phonebase stations and hence these devices must generate emissions as low as possible. For
more information visit http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/strahlung/00053/index.html?lang=en

Havas, Oct 12, 2010

Smart Meters CCST2

Item 2. Whether additional technology specific standards are needed for Smart Meters and otherdevices that are commonly found in and around homes, to ensure adequate protection fromadverse health effects.
2.1

Technology specific standards are definitely needed for Smart meters as well as
cordless phones, DECT baby monitors, wireless routers, and all of the other devices thatemit radio frequency radiation.
Massey, in a report published by Duke Law Journal in 1979, identifies nine variables
that need to be considered when determining the impact of microwave radiation. Theseare “power density, intensity and relative phase of all field components, specificfrequency ranges, waveform characteristics, exposure regimes, specific occupations,level of control over exposed populations, individual differences (age, sex, health,specific predisposing factors) and presence of other environmental stressors.” Thecurrent FCC guidelines do NOT take these into consideration.

2.2

We have evidence that pulsed microwave frequencies, that are generated by WiFi andcordless phones are more harmful than continuous wave and yet this is not considered in
the FCC guidelines (Reno 1975).
The key microwave emitting devices in the home/office/school environment are:Cordless phones (some are labeled DECT and others pulsed digital 2.4 GHz). Theseradiate all the time even when no one is using them. They should be replaced by wiredphones or cordless phones currently available in Europe, which are “on-demand” phonesthat radiate only when the handset is not in the cradle of the base station. These phones
are so dangerous that I recently submitted a Petition to the Auditor General of Canada tohave DECT phones banned (Havas 2008).
The DECT baby monitor also radiates all the time, as does the receiver that is often
carried on the Mother’s waist. Here we need a voice-activated baby monitor that is usedin Europe.
Wireless Internet (WiFi or WLan) is not as common in Europe as they are in North
America. There they prefer using wired service in the form of fiber optic and Ethernet
connections. Germany hotels ask that you bring an Ethernet cables with you, as they
don’t provide WiFi. The Swiss government is providing free fiber optics to schools
provided they don’t install wireless routers.

2.3

An additional point I would like to make relates to dirty electricity.
Wires can act like antennas and the radiation produced by radio frequency generating
devices can flow along and reradiate from wires both inside and outside the home. This
contributes to dirty electricity and localized radiation exposure. Dirty electricity has been
associated with cancers (Milham and Morgan 2008); health and behavior problems inschools (Havas and Olstad 2008); and both diabetes and multiple sclerosis (Havas 2006).
From a human health perspective and to protect sensitive electronic equipment it isHavas, Oct 12, 2010

Smart Meters CCST3important to maintain good power quality and to prevent radiation from smart meters
flowing along wires.
In conclusion, I have great concern regarding the current levels of microwave radiation in
North America. Instead of promoting wireless technology, we should be promoting wired
technology and reserving wireless for situations where wired in not possible (while one istraveling for example). Shortly after X-rays were discovered, they were used in shoe stores todetermine shoe-size for young children. Fortunately, we recognized that X-rays were harmful
and we restricted their use to essential medical diagnoses. We need to recognize that microwaves
are also harmful and we cannot use this technology in a frivolous manner. With more frequencies
being used, with the levels of radiation increasing, and with so little research on the long-term,
low-level effects of this technology we are creating a potential time bomb. If smart meters areplaced on every home, they will contribute significantly to our exposure and this is both unwise
and unsafe.

References
Dodge, CH. 1969. Clinical and Hygienic Aspects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields: AReview of the Soviet and Eastern European Literature. Biological Effects and Health
Implications of Microwave Radiation, Symposium Proceedings, Richmond, Virginia, September
17-19, 1969 (BRH/DBE 70-2) (PB 193 898). http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/08/Dodge_1969.pdf
Havas, M 2006. Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Biological effects of dirty electricity withemphasis on diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 25: 259268. http://www.electricalpollution.com/documents/Havas2006.pdf
Havas, M 2008. Request that first generation DECT Phones be Banned in Canada, Environment
Petition, Auditor General of Canada, 15 pp. http://www.oagbvg.
gc.ca/internet/English/pet_253_e_31629.html
Havas, M and A Olstad. 2008. Power quality affects teacher wellbeing and student behavior inthree Minnesota Schools. Science of the Total Environment, Volume 402, Issues 2-3, 1
September 2008, pp. 157-162.
http://www.electricalpollution.com/documents/08_Havas&Olstad_schools-1.pdf
Inglis, L.P. 1970. Why the double standard? – A critical review of Russian work on hazards ofmicrowave radiation. IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, July 1416. 1970. http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/08/Inglis.pdf
Massey, KA. 1979. The Challenge of Nonionizing Radiation: A Proposal for Legislation. Duke
Law Journal, Volume 1979, No. 1. 86 pp. http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/Massey-1979.pdf
Milham, S and LL Morgan. 2008. A New Electromagnetic Exposure Metric: High Frequency
Voltage Transients Associated With Increased Cancer Incidence in Teachers in a California
School. Amer. J. Ind. Med. 8 pp. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.20598/abstract

Havas, Oct 12, 2010

Smart Meters CCST

4Pollack, H. and J. Healer. 1967. Review of the Information on Hazards to Personnel from HighFrequency Electromagnetic Radiation. Institute for Defense Analyses, Research and Engineering
Support Division. Internal Note N-451, IDA/HQ 67-6211, Series B, copy 5 of 15, 15
pages.http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/07/Pollack_19671.pdf
Reno, VR. 1975. Some considerations concerning the use of magnetron generators in microwave
biological research. Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Florida.
Approved for Public release. Distribution unlimited. 11 pp.
http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/09/Reno_Pulsed_Waves.pdf
Steneck, NH, HJ Cook, AJ Vander and GL Kane. 1980. The Origins of U.S. Safety Standards for
Microwave Radiation. Science, Vol. 208, 13 June 1980.
http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2010/06/steneck_science_1980.pdf

Chronology:
On July 30, 2010, California State Assembly Member Jared Huffman (San Rafael) asked theCalifornia Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to provide an assessment of the safety ofSmart Meters.
On August 16, 2010, CCST agreed to compile and assess the evidence available to address thefollowing two issues:
1. Whether FCC standards for Smart Meters are sufficiently protective of public health taking
into account current exposure levels to radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields.
2. Whether additional technology specific standards are needed for Smart Meters and otherdevices that are commonly found in and around homes, to ensure adequate protection fromadverse health effects.
On October 4, 2010, I was invited to be part of a Technical Response Team and, as part of thatteam, I was asked to provide a written response to two key concerns mentioned above.
On October 12, 2010, I submitted my report to CCST.
On December 13, 2010, I was informed that CCST was not appending any documents to theirreport, nor were they making these documents available to others, but they were recognizing
those who contributed.
On January 11, 2011, CCST released their report “Health Impacts of Radio Frequency fromSmart Meters” on their website: http://www.ccst.us/news/2011/20110111smart.php. CCST is
receiving public comments until January 31, 2011.

Havas, Oct 12, 2010Smart Meters CCST5