San Francisco Unanimously Upholds Cell Phone Radiation ‘Right to Know’ Law

San Francisco, CA (I-Newswire) July 20, 2011 - With strong support from Environmental Health Trust and other public health experts, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted today 11-0 to improve and strengthen the nation’s first cell phone radiation law, in spite of legal intimidation and threats from the cell phone industry.

After the city passed the nation’s first cell phone radiation law in June, 2010 with a vote of 10-1, the industry promptly responded by issuing a legal challenge claiming their 1st amendment constitutional rights were violated by having to disclose the radiation levels of every phone marketed in the city. The city reacted by temporarily shelving its consumer “right to know” law.

By April of this year, city attorney Herrera’s staff and the majority of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were reportedly to be considering repealing the law instead of going head to head in court with the cell phone industry’s intimidating legal force.

With pressure from Lt. Gov Newsom’s office and cell phone safety activists, and technical reviews from the Environmental Health Trust (EHT), interim Mayor Lee’s staff submitted an amended cell phone consumer safety ordinance, which Supervisor Avalos agreed to sponsor. The new ordinance does not require the controversial disclosure of specific radiation levels, however it DOES require that cell phone consumers are informed at the point of sale about cell phone radiation health risks and receive suggestions for safer use, especially for children.

The World Health Organization recently classified cell phone radiation as possibly carcinogenic based upon studies that long-term use can cause malignant brain tumors. This ramps up the scientific debate about the correlation between cell phone use and cancer, as well as other health impacts such as impaired reproductive systems and salivary gland tumors.

Ellen Marks, Director of Government and Public Affairs for EHT was emotional after the unanimous vote, “I am deeply touched by the integrity of the entire San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Department of Environment, Lt. Gov. Newsom, Mayor Lee and his staff. And I am especially grateful for Supervisor Avalos’ leadership as sponsor of the amendment. It is thrilling to see our government’s commitment to what is right for their citizens rather than voting in favor of corporate concerns.”

City attorneys feel confident the amended ordinance will not provide industry with justification for legal action.

About Environmental Health Trust

Environmental Health Trust (EHT) educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. Current multi-media projects include: local and national campaigns to ban smoking and asbestos; working with international physician and worker safety groups to warn about the risks of inappropriate use of diagnostic radiation and cell phones, promoting research and awareness of environmental causes of breast cancer, and building environmental wellness programs in Wyoming and Pennsylvania to address the environmental impacts of energy development, the built environment and radon. EHT was created with the goal of promoting health and preventing disease one person, one community and one nation at a time. Capitalizing on growing public interest in Dr. Devra Lee Davis’s three popular books, When Smoke Ran Like Water, a National Book Award Finalist, The Secret History of the War on Cancer, and Disconnect--The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What Industry Has Done to Hide It and How to Protect Your Family, as well as recent documentary films, the foundation’s website offers clear, science-based information to prevent environmentally based disease and promote health, for the general public, children, and health professionals. For more information about getting involved in the numerous special projects spearheaded by the EHT, please log on to www.ehtrust.org.


Contact: Environmental Health Trust media@ehtrust.org

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