Arthur Firstenberg
Encyclopedia
Arthur Robert Firstenberg (born May 28, 1950, Brooklyn, New York) is an American activist on the subject of electromagnetic hypersensitivity
. He is the founder of the independent campaign group the Cellular Phone Task Force. His 1997 book Microwaving Our Planet: The Environmental Impact of the Wireless Revolution was published by the group.
in 1971 and continued into medical school from 1978 to 1982. Firstenberg did not complete medical school due to illness, which he attributes to electromagnetic hypersensitivity
brought on by receiving over 40 diagnostic dental x-rays.
says that "[ there is] no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects."
In 1997, the Cellular Phone Taskforce was the lead petitioner in a challenge to the Federal Communication Commission's RF radiation exposure limits, which was joined by dozens of other parties including the Ad-Hoc Association of Parties Concerned About the Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Health and Safety Rules ("AHA"). The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled for the FCC. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which was supported by an amicus curiae
brief written by Patrick Leahy
and Jim Jeffords
, was denied.
In May 2008, he and other groups accused the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico
of discrimination against those allergic to EM radiation for having free wireless network
s in city buildings.
In January 2010, he filed a lawsuit against his neighbor, seeking damages of $530,000, for "refusing to turn off her cell phone and other electronic devices." He claims that electromagnetic fields from his neighbor's cell phone are destroying his health, and that her charging laptop keeps him up at night. He states that he has been made homeless as a result.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields is a set of claims of adverse medical symptoms purportedly caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields. Other terms for IEI-EMF include electromagnetic hypersensitivity , electrohypersensitivity, electro-sensitivity, and...
. He is the founder of the independent campaign group the Cellular Phone Task Force. His 1997 book Microwaving Our Planet: The Environmental Impact of the Wireless Revolution was published by the group.
Education
Firstenberg was a Westinghouse scholar who received a BA in mathematics from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1971 and continued into medical school from 1978 to 1982. Firstenberg did not complete medical school due to illness, which he attributes to electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields is a set of claims of adverse medical symptoms purportedly caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields. Other terms for IEI-EMF include electromagnetic hypersensitivity , electrohypersensitivity, electro-sensitivity, and...
brought on by receiving over 40 diagnostic dental x-rays.
Campaign against microwave technology
Since 1996, he has argued in numerous publications that wireless technology is dangerous and that "the telecommunications industry has suppressed damaging evidence about its technology since at least 1927." The World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
says that "
In 1997, the Cellular Phone Taskforce was the lead petitioner in a challenge to the Federal Communication Commission's RF radiation exposure limits, which was joined by dozens of other parties including the Ad-Hoc Association of Parties Concerned About the Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Health and Safety Rules ("AHA"). The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled for the FCC. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which was supported by an amicus curiae
Amicus curiae
An amicus curiae is someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it...
brief written by Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
and Jim Jeffords
Jim Jeffords
James Merrill "Jim" Jeffords is a former U.S. Senator from Vermont. He served as a Republican until 2001, when he left the party to become an independent. He retired from the Senate in 2006.-Background:...
, was denied.
In May 2008, he and other groups accused the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
of discrimination against those allergic to EM radiation for having free wireless network
Wireless network
Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...
s in city buildings.
In January 2010, he filed a lawsuit against his neighbor, seeking damages of $530,000, for "refusing to turn off her cell phone and other electronic devices." He claims that electromagnetic fields from his neighbor's cell phone are destroying his health, and that her charging laptop keeps him up at night. He states that he has been made homeless as a result.
See also
- Electromagnetic radiation and health
- Mobile phone radiation and healthMobile phone radiation and healthThe effect of mobile phone radiation on human health is the subject of recent interest and study, as a result of the enormous increase in mobile phone usage throughout the world . Mobile phones use electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range...
- Wireless electronic devices and healthWireless electronic devices and healthThe World Health Organization has acknowledged that electromagnetic fields are influencing the environment , and that some people are worried about possible effects...
External links
- "Cellular Phone Task Force" Website.
- "Radio Wave Packet" (2001), Article by Firstenberg.
- "Electromagnetic Fields (EMF): Killing Fields" by A. Firstenberg " The Ecologist v.34, n.5, 1 jun 2004"