California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) study on radio frequency

In January, 2011, the California Council on Science and Technology released a preliminary study entitled "Health Impacts of Radio Frequency from Smart Meters".

Quoting from the study, there are two primary conclusions:

• “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.”

Download Health Impacts of Radio Frequency Exposure from Smart Meters (PDF, 5.5 MB).
Read the PG&E response to the initial CCST study. Download PG&E Response to CCST Report (PDF, 151 KB) to review the PG&E response to the initial study. This report was released in January 2011.

 

Learn the CCST report conclusions and key findings

The study also presents four key findings, quoted below:

1. Wireless smart meters, when installed and properly maintained, result in much smaller levels of radio frequency (RF) exposure than many existing common household electronic devices, particularly cell phones and microwave ovens.
2. The current FCC standard provides an adequate factor of safety against known thermally induced health impacts of existing common household electronic devices and smart meters.
3. To date, scientific studies have not identified or confirmed negative health effects from potential non-thermal impacts of RF emissions such as those produced by existing common household electronic devices and smart meters.
4. Not enough is currently known about potential non-thermal impacts of radio frequency emissions to identify or recommend additional standards for such impacts.