Cellphone Radiation and Health Effects — New U.S. Study: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will undertake a study on cellphone radiation and its potential health effects. The initiative, aimed at examining gaps in current research, was reported by Reuters on January 16, 2026, and has also been covered by other news organizations.
FDA Removes “Lack of Health Risk” Statement from Cell Phone Pages
The pages now focus on the FDA’s regulatory role with the FCC and its public scientific guidance. https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/home-business-and-entertainment-products/cell-phones
There is no public announcement yet that provides a research protocol, detailed aims, timelines, or responsible investigators.
At this stage, no detailed official documents or research plans have been made public. There is currently no information describing how the study will be conducted, including whether it will involve human observational research, laboratory experiments, animal models, or a combination of approaches. Specific health outcomes to be examined—such as cancer, neurological effects, or fertility—have not been identified, nor have any details been released about exposure levels, measurement methods, or control groups.
There has also been no announcement outlining a timeline for the study. Authorities have not indicated when data collection might begin, how long the research is expected to run, or when findings could be released.
In addition, aside from its general connection to recommendations from the MAHA Commission, there has been no public disclosure of funding levels, oversight mechanisms, scientific review boards, or collaborating institutions.
Such details are typically released later through official channels, including press statements from the Department of Health and Human Services, announcements from agencies such as the NIH or FDA, grant notices, publication of study protocols, or registration in research databases like ClinicalTrials.gov. As of now, none of these disclosures have occurred.
How WHO and IARC Review the Evidence.
WHO and IARC review scientific evidence in a thorough, step-by-step process, using systematic reviews and expert evaluations. They usually don’t wait for a single new study—like the upcoming U.S. health department study—before updating their conclusions or the official classification of cellphone radiation. Instead, they consider all available, peer-reviewed research up to a set cut-off date and make their assessments on schedule.
Further reading: Autism, Circadian Disruption and Pregnancy https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/autism-circadian-disruption-and-pregnancy/
References
US health department to launch study on cellphone radiation https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-health-department-launch-study-cellphone-radiation-2026-01-15/
RFK Jr. tells USA TODAY 5G towers for cellphone use ‘a major health concern’ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/16/robert-kennedy-5g-electromagnetic-radiation/88220793007/
Is Cellphone Radiation the Next Big Health Question? Inside the U.S. Health Department’s New Inquiry https://earthtimes.org/is-cellphone-radiation-the-next-big-health-question-inside-the-u-s-health-departments-new-inquiry/
Report of the Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs during 2025–2029 https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AGP_Report_2025-2029.pdf
*Photo by Victor Larracuente on Unsplash