Author: Admin

The California Department of Public Health on RF Health Impacts

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST)Health Impacts of Radio Frequency From Smart Meters final report was released on March 31, 2011. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) comments challenged the CCST, stating, “CDPH suggests further review of the literature on non-thermal effects, which is complicated and controversial, but does not support a claim of no non-thermal health effects from radio frequency electromagnetic fields.”

CDPH also provided the following comments regarding the controversy over Smart Meter (radio frequency radiation-RF) safety:

CDPH sent the following 3 study references to the CCST:

Electromagnetic Fields and DNA Damage: Phillips, J.L.; Singh, N.P.; Lai, H.;Pathophysiology 16(2009) 79-88

Electromagnetic Fields and the Induction of DNA Strand Breaks: Ruiz-Gomez, M.J.; Martinez-Morillo, M.; Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine 28:201-214, 2009

Radiofrequency and Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Effects on the Blood-Brain Barrier: Nittby, H.; Grafstrom, G.; Eberhardt, J.L.;Malmgren, L.; Brun, A.; Persson, B.R.R.; Salford, L.; Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine 27:103-126, 2008

Glasser: PG&E crossing the line on SmartMeters

Glasser: PG&E crossing the line on SmartMeters
Written by Howard Glasser
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
I’d be interested to know where a public utility company or state regulatory agency could be found guilty of breaching public trust, committing fraud, violating consumer rights and inappropriate and unethical conduct that falls short of the business standards most agencies and businesses are otherwise held to when it has deliberately manipulated and misled the print and broadcast media resulting in a misinformed general public.

No matter how sheltered the California Public Utilities Commission may be, does this excuse it from abiding by the law where its actions would otherwise be judged as criminal?

Here of some examples of Pacific Gas & Electric’s inexcusable transgressions where they have violated the public’s sacred trust:

1. Pointing media to the PG&E Web site which had stated that 39,000 SmartMeters had been installed in Lake County when at that point in time, only 2,500 meters had actually been installed.

2. Declaring a “delay installation” list that customers can be placed on through the PG&E SmartMeter phone line and then ignoring the list and not enforcing it when it comes to SmartMeter installations.

3. Leading the public to believe that an opt-out position would be considered or provided down the line for those customers who choose to opt-out while concurrently beefing up installations of SmartMeters so that by the time this provision was there, it would be moot since the entire deployment would be considered “mission accomplished.” That’s a shell game.

Regardless of the code that the CPUC cites as its operating guidelines, it’s clear that the CPUC is using its mandate as a shield to defend the commission against allegations that could hold water in court.

In matters where it can be shown that the public trust, health and welfare are disregarded and a state regulatory agency yields to industry’s demands while ignoring the people that it is chartered with protecting, I would think that the law provides recourse against such abuses of power.

No matter what the circumstances, the CPUC cannot hold itself above the law and where ethical and legal lines have been crossed, they should be held accountable to the people of California.

Howard Glasser lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
First printed in the Lake County News: Wed April 13

3 PG&E Smart Meters Explode at Santa Rosa Mall

According to the incident report from the Santa Rosa Fire Department on April 7, firefighters found the electrical room at the Santa Rosa Mall “charged with smoke” and “upon investigation found 3 PG&E meters that had blown off the electrical panel causing damage to the interior wiring of the electrical panel. A fire was still smoldering..”

The cause of the fire is listed as equipment failure and arcing coming from the switchgear area, and transformer vault.

According to a Press Democrat article, Santa Rosa Battalion Chief Jack Piccinini described the scene as a “meltdown”.

EMF Safety Network has been informed that the electrical room was filled with Smart Meters, which have been reported to explode and catch fire in other areas, including Bakersfield, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oregon, Virginia, Texas, Canada and New Zealand. Inspectors in Maine and Australia found thousands of homes were at risk for electrical hazards from Smart Meter installations.

PG&E has admitted Smart Meters have interfered with GFCI and AFCI’s, which are electrical devices designed to protect against fires and shocks.

“Smart Meters are dangerous and PG&E and the CPUC should act now to stop the installation” states Sandi Maurer, EMF Safety Network.

More info: Smart Meter Fires and Explosions

Fire forces Evacuation of downtown Santa Rosa Plaza

incident report 2011-0005703-000

 

 

INVESTORS AND UTILITIES WARNED, SMART GRID MAY FAIL

International News details consumer health and privacy pushback

Recent news articles warn both the utility industry and investors over the consumer pushback against Smart Meters.

Posted Today in the “National”, an English-language news journal from the middle east-located in Abu Dhabi is a report titled, “ Health risks could switch off home energy meters”

Excerpts from the article include: “Investors in this new sector should be aware that, despite its green-energy saving credentials, the smart-metering industry could become the focus of international concern regarding the levels of radiation generated by the new digital devices.”

The report suggests that the announced sale of Landis & Gyr, who make PG&E Smart Meters, coincided with the US Smart Meter protests where women opposing the meters over radiation concerns were arrested.

The article warns, “Should the US health and privacy fears continue to spread internationally, there could be global consequences.”
Another Smart Grid article warns the industry, “A new study by Ovum warns that most ongoing efforts by utilities to gain early customer acceptance of smart meters have been inadequate. The report concludes that unless utilities do better jobs educating consumers about the long-term benefits of smart meters, it’s likely they will fall back on old power consumption habits and entire grid projects could ultimately fail.”

FCC’s Inadequate Response to Smart Meter Complaint

On November 4, 2010, I filed a complaint with the FCC, and yesterday received the following response.

You are receiving this email in response to your inquiry to the FCC.

Dear Ms. Maurer,

Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission.

This letter is in response to your complaint, 10-C00258888, filed with the FCC.

PG&E’s SmartMeter program is part of a statewide effort driven by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to upgrade California’s energy infrastructure with automated metering technology. This technology will enable new programs that help California energy customers use less energy and save money.

The SmartMeter system uses programmable solid-state meter technology that provides two-way communication between the meter at your home or business and the utility, using secure wireless network technology records hourly meter reads and periodically transmits the reads via a dedicated radio frequency (RF) network back to PG&E.

Please reference PG&E’s web site concerning questions about potential health effects related to radio frequency (RF) emissions from the meters,http://www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety/systemworks/rf/.

The California Council on Science and Technology released a preliminary study entitled “Health Impacts of Radio Frequency from Smart Meters”. You may view this study at: http://www.ccst.us/publications/2011/2011smartA.pdf.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits for radio transmitters of all types, including SmartMeters. The FCC standard provides a currently accepted factor of safety against known thermally induced health impacts of smart meters and other electronic devices in the same range of RF emissions. Exposure levels from smart meters are well below the thresholds for such effects.

There is no evidence that additional standards are needed to protect the public from smart meters.

For questions concerning this study, you may wish to contact the California Council on Science and Technology, 1130 K Street, Suite 280, Sacramento, California 95814. Phone: (916) 492 0996. E-mail: ccst@ccst.us

Thank you for your inquiry.

Brenda Althoff

Consumer Advocate and Mediation Specialist

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Representative Number : TSR22

Complaint Sent:

“PG&E is deploying radio frequency radiation (RF) smart

meters throughout its service territory in California. PG&E

claims there are no health impacts and states they are safe

because they comply with FCC Safety Standards. PG&E has

not provided realistic RF specifications like the peak RF power

at one foot. We need accurate RF emissions information for

their Smart Meters.

“People are reporting health impacts from RF smart meters,

including sleep problems, headaches, anxiety, tinnitus, ear pain

and more. There are people who are EHS and immune

compromised and this is a huge threat to their homes and

health. See stories here:

http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292

“Since the FCC is the jurisdictional body that regulates RF

emissions we call on you to impose an immediate moratorium

on PG&E Smart Meters.”

Audio, Video and Books

“Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields” SF Nov. 18 2010 Conference videos

Ecological Options Network Smart Meter Videos

Former telecom officer rams tank into a cell tower

 A Cell Tower Lament for the Earth

16:9 News Investigation: Wi-Fi

Cindy Sage:  Bioinitiative Report Video

Dr. Magda Havas: Cell Phones & Cigarettes: What do they have in Common?

Dr. Martin Blank:Electromagnetic Fields and Health Risk 

 SNAFU Videos: Bad Reception: The Wireless Revolution in San Francisco (Opening Montage/Preview) 

Anti Cell Phone Antenna Demonstration, San Francisco

San Francisco Residents Take on the Cell Phone Industry

Matt Gonzalez Takes on the Cell Phone Industry

Cell Phone Antennas Blamed for Kindergarten Cancer Cases

Books:

Dr. Devra Davis  Disconnect:The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide it, and How to Protect Your Family

Blake Levitt

Samuel Milham MD MPH Dirty Electricity: Electrification and the Diseases of Civilization

more books: Less EMF

Global EMF Websites

Alliance for Irish Radiation Protection http://www.eirewaves.com/

Alliance for Human and Environmental Health www.allianceheh.org

Antenas Agui NAO Portugal:http://antenasaquinao.blogspot.com/

Arthur Firstenberg: The Largest Biological Experiment Ever:  http://proliberty.com/observer/20070307.htm

Artists Against Wi-fi: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artists-Against-WiFi/105666932809

Associated Bioelectromagnetics Technologists: http://www.emfbioeffects.org/

Asociation Vallisoletana de Afectados por las Antenas de telefonia http://www.avaate.org/

Australian Centre for RF Bioeffects Research:  http://acrbr.org.au/SW2008/SW08.aspx?section=Keynote

Ban the Tower: New Zealand: http://www.banthetower.co.nz/blogs/index.php?itemid=202

Bioinitiative Report: http://bioinitiative.org

Blake Levitt http://www.blakelevit.com

Burbank Action:  No Cell Tower ln Our Neighborhood http://sites.google.com/site/nocelltowerinourneighborhood/

Burgerwelle: Germany: http://www.buergerwelle.de

California Brain Tumor Association http://www.cabta.org

Cell Phone Lies: http://www.cellphonelies.com

Cell Slayer: http://www.cellslayer.com/

Cell Tower Dangers, What you may not know! http://www.celltowerdangers.org/

Center for Electrosmog Prevention www.electrosmogprevention.org

Center for Safer Wireless http://www.centerforsaferwireless.org/

Clean Energy Foundation Canada: http://www.cleanenergycanada.com/

CFL Impact: http://www.cflimpact.com/

Citizens Against Un-Safe Emissions: http://causetm.wordpress.com/

Citizens for Safe Technology Canada http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org/

Coalition for Local Oversight of Utility Technologies CLOUT: www.cloutnow.org

Coghill Research Lab UK: http://www.cogreslab.co.uk/

Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE EMF, a premier online discussion list focusing on EMF science and public policy:  http://www.healthandenvironment.org/working_groups/emf

Council on Wireless Technology Impacts, CA http://www.wirelessimpacts.org/

Detect and Protect: Preventative healthcare for the wireless world: http://www.detect-protect.com/k/

Dirty Electricity, Electrification and the Diseases of Civilization http://sammilham.com/

Dirty Electricity: http://www.dirtyelectricity.ca/

Dr. Andrew Marino: http://andrewamarino.com/comments.html

Dr. Devra Davis: http://ehtrust.org/

Dr. Magda Havas: www.magdahavas.com www.magdahavas.org

Dr. Neil Cherry: New Zealand:  http://www.neilcherry.com/

Dr. Robert C. Kane http://emfbioeffects.org/

Dr. Vini Kharuna-brain surgeon Austrailia:  http://www.brain-surgery.us/

Danish Association of Electrosensitives: http://www.el-allergi.dk/

Dutch EHS Foundation: http://www.stichtingehs.nl/content/view/64/1/

Dutch National Platform on Radiation Risks http://www.stralingsrisicos.nl/

Ecological Options Network: California http://www.eon3.net/

Ecopolitan-Eco Health Network: http://www.emfpollution.com/

EHS Fight Back (Israel) http://ehsfighback.blogspot.com/2012/05/israeli-government-installing-wi-fi-in.html

Electricsense.com England http://www.electricsense.com/

Electrical Pollution Solutions: http://www.electricalpollution.com/

Electrical Sensitivity/Yahoo online discussion list: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/eSens/

Electrical Sensitivity and Electrical Pollution Information: http://home.comcast.net/~es_info/

Electrosensitivity.org: http://www.electrosensitivity.org/

ElectroSensitivity Support ESS USA: http://www.electrosensitivity-support.com/

Electrosensitivity UK: http://www.es-uk.info/

ElektroSMOG News: http://www.elektrosmognews.de/

Electromagnetic Health: http://electromagnetichealth.org/

Electromagnetism & Life: Dr. Robert Becker and Dr. Andrew Marino: http://n.b5z.net/i/u/8100263/f/MSelectromagnetismbook.pdf

EM Watch EMF Safety and Health http://www.emwatch.com/Cellmasts.htm

EM Radiation Health Alliance- B.C. Canada http://emrabc.ca/

EM Radiation Research Trust UK:  http://www.radiationresearch.org/

EMF Damage: http://www.emfdamage.com/

EMF Effects Consulting:  http://www.emfinterface.com/

EMF Experts www.EMF-Experts.com

EMF Facts Consultancy Australia http://www.emfacts.com

EMF Information: Colonel Joe: http://www.coljoe.com/emf_info.htm

EMF Relief emfrelief.net

EMF Safe Home Vancouver Canada: http://www.emfsafehome.com/index.htm

EMF Safety Network CA USA http://www.emfsafetynetwork.org

EMF Sensitivity: http://emfsensitivity.com/index.html

EMF Services Florida: http://www.emfservices.com/index.htm

EMF-PORTAL: http://www.emf-portal.de/motivation.php?l=e

EMF Solutions Canada: http://www.emfsolutions.ca/

EMF Store http://www.emfstore.net/

EMR Australia: http://www.emraustralia.com.au/

EMR Policy Institute VT USA: http://www.emrpolicy.org/

The EMR Network VT USA: http://www.emrnetwork.org/

EMR Surveys: http://www.emrsurveys.com.au/index.html

Environment Health and Safety Online: http://ehso.com/ehshome/emf.htm

Environmental Illness Netherlands:  http://www.milieuziektes.nl/Pagina100.html

Escuela Sin Wi-fi www.escuelasinwifi.org Spain

Expel Cell Towers: No Towers at School http://expelcelltowers.org/

FEB Sweden Electrosensitivity: http://www.feb.se/index_int.htm

Fight the Tower Camp Meeker CA USA: http://fightthetower.com/

Forum Mobilkommunikation/ Austria: http://www.fmk.at/

Guinea Pigs R US: USA: http://guineapigsrus.org/

H.E.S.E. Project:: http://www.hese-project.org/

Independent Expert group on Mobile phones UK: http://www.iegmp.org.uk/

International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS): http://www.icems.eu

International Coalition for an Electromagnetic Safe Planet The Microwave Factor http://emfrefugee.blogspot.com

International MCS/EMS Awareness: http://www.nettally.com/prusty/mcs.htm

Italian Association for the Electrosensitive: http://www.elettrosensibili.it/

Korean EMF Pages: http://emf.or.kr/

Life Energies EMF mitigation and education: http://www.LifeEnergies.com/

Likely Mountain Lookout: http://www.alikelydeath.com/index.htm

Marin Project: Are Wireless technologies Making Us Sick?: http://www.marinproject.org/index.html

Mast Action UK http://www.mastaction.co.uk/

Mast Sanity UK: http://www.mastsanity.org/

Mast-Victims.org discussion forum:http://www.mast-victims.org

Microwave news- Dr. Louis Slesin: http://www.microwavenews.com

Mobile Mast Action Group:http://freespace.virgin.net/mast.action/

MOBILEFUNK-Initiative: Austria:http://www.plattform-mobilfunk-initiativen.at

Neuert Electromagnetic Services CA USA: http:/www.emfcenter.com

Next-Up News of the World France:http://www.next-up.org

No Marinwood Tower:http://sites.google.com/site/nomarinwoodtower/Home

No Masts: http://www.nomasts.org/

No More Towers: http://nomoretowers.org/home.html

No Radiation for you  http://www.norad4u.com/

Nordic Society for Radiation Protection:  http://www.nsfs.org/index.php?lang=_eng&groupid=5&contentid=

Norwegian Association for the Electro-Hypersensitive: http://www.felo.no/

Ouruhia, Christ Church, NZ: http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/ouruhia/

Overcoming Electrical Sensitivity: http://www.electrical-sensitivity.info/

Pendle Residents Against Insensitive Siting of Masts: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cad-designs/prism/about/about.htm

People’s Initiative Foundation: Santa Monica CA:http://www.thepeoplesinitiative.org/

Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology http://www.psrast.org/mobileng/mobilstarteng.htm

Plan Wireless Kreines and Krienes legal team for opposing cell towers: http://www.planwireless.com/

Power Watch Alasdair Phillips UK:http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/

Radiation Education: EMR Safety For Kids- by kids http://www.radiationeducation.com/

Raleigh NC ElectroSensitivity Support RESThttp://www.raleighes.info/Support/Welcome.html

RF.com Canada: http://www.rfcom.ca/welcome/index.shtml

Robin Des Toits (National Association for Safe Technologies) France: http://www.robindestoits.org/Ondes-de-choc-Le-Mag-France-3-Rhone-Alpes-28-03-2009_a785.html

Safe Living Technologies Inc. Canada:http://www.safelivingtechnologies.ca/

Sage EMF Design, environmental consulting CA USA:http://www.silcom.com/~sage/emf/

Silencing the Fields-Ed Leeper: http://www.silencingthefields.com/index.html

SNAFU: San Francisco California USA: http://www.antennafreeunion.org/

Stetzer Electric RF filters:http://www.stetzerelectric.com/

Stop-Radiation.com:http://www.stop-radiation.com/ 

Stop Smart Meters http://stopsmartmeters.org

Stop UMTS!: http://www.stopumts.nl/english.php/

Stray Voltage.org:http://www.strayvoltage.org

Tetra Watch! UK: http://www.tetrawatch.net/main/index.php

Those With Chemical Sensitivities and Electrical Sensitiviy Build New Lives: http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/

Valdemar Gisli Valdemarsson /Iceland:  http://www.isholf.is/vgv/

VOC-EMF Measures Research Association (Japan EHS) http://homepage3.nifty.com/vocemf/link53.html

Wave-Guide EMF RFR Bio effects and Public policy: http://www.wave-guide.org/

WEEP Initiative Canada:http://www.weepinitiative.org/index.html

West San Pedro Alliance http://westsanpedro.org/links.htm

Wi-Fi in Primary Schools-New Zealand: http://www.webshack.co.nz/wifiinschools.htm

Wifi in Schools http://www.wifiinschools.com/

Wi-Fi in Schools UK: http://wifiinschools.org.uk/index.html

Wired Child UK: http://wiredchild.org/

Wireless Victims Lawyer | Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, Spain, USA:  http://wireless-victims-lawyer.info/index.html

Wireless Watch Blog: http://www.wirelesswatchblog.com/

Websites specific to smart meters are listed here: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=6914

Updated June 30, 2013 Sandi Maurer

EMF Safety Network PO Box 1016 Sebastopol CA 95473  www.emfsafetynetwork.org