A Decades-Old Warning About Protecting Children from EMF/RF (Wireless) Radiation
In 1985, Sting’s haunting words in the song Russians captured the anxiety of the Cold War era:
“We share the same biology, regardless of ideology… I hope the Russians love their children too.“
Russia has proven they love their children by taking concrete steps to protect them from the invisible and potentially harmful waves of EMF/RF (Wireless) radiation that now permeate schools, homes, and playgrounds. By implementing some of the strictest exposure limits in the world and adopting rigorous measures in educational settings, Russia has acted with caution to safeguard its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. Meanwhile, much of the rest of the world including Great Britain, the USA, and most of Europe has largely ignored these warnings, leaving children exposed to increasing levels of wireless radiation.
Sir William Stewart, Professor Yury Grigoriev, and Dr Oleg Grigoriev, Three Giants in Science have long warned about children’s vulnerability to EMF/RF exposure.
Sir William Stewart: A Cautious Voice in the UK
Warnings issued 25 years ago by Sir William Stewart, the UK’s former Chief Scientific Adviser to both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, remain highly relevant today. In 2000, as chair of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, Sir William published the landmark Stewart Report on mobile phone safety.
Key recommendations included:
- ♦ The “beam of greatest intensity” from any phone mast antenna should not fall on school grounds or buildings unless agreed by the school and parents.
- ♦ Permitted development rights for mobile phone base stations should be revoked.
- All new base station developments, including those under 15 metres in height, should be subject to the full planning process, particularly when near schools or other sensitive sites.
“For all base stations, including those with masts under 15m, permitted development rights should be revoked and the siting of all new base stations should be subject to the normal planning process.”
- 2007 BBC Panorama: Speaking about mobile phones, masts, and health, Stewart noted:
“… there may be changes, for example in cognitive function… there were some indications that there may be cancer inductions… there was some molecular biology changes within the cell and these were issues that we had to bear in mind.”
— Sir William Stewart, BBC Panorama, 21 May 2007
BBC Press Release
- 2008 EM Radiation Research Trust presentation:
“There are additional factors that need to be taken into account in assessing any possible health effects. Populations as a whole are not genetically homogeneous and people can vary in their susceptibility to environmental hazards. There are well established examples in the literature of the genetic predisposition of some groups, which could influence sensitivity to disease. There could also be a dependence on age.”
Sir William Stewart, 2008, HPA presentation
Despite these clear, precautionary warnings, safety measures have been ignored or actively weakened over time. Planning safeguards that once protected schools and sensitive sites have been eroded. The aggressive rollout of 5G and densified wireless infrastructure has introduced small cell antennas on lampposts and rooftops near homes and schools often without public consultation or full planning scrutiny. The Stewart Report’s original recommendations have largely been sidelined, even as exposure from new high-frequency wireless technologies continues to rise.
Photo from RRT 2008 London Conference from left to right:
- Brian Stein CBE, Chairman, EM Radiation Research Trust (RRT)
- Professor Yury Grigoriev, Chair, Russia’s National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
- Eileen O’Connor, Director & Co-founder, RRT
- Professor Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, Chairman, Health Protection Agency (HPA)
Professor Yury Grigoriev: A Stark Warning from Russia
The late Professor Yury Grigoriev, long-time Chair of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, was a consistent voice on EMF risks.
- ♦ Children’s Vulnerability: Children are particularly susceptible to RF-EMF exposure.
- ♦ Public Health Crisis: He warned that society was “sleepwalking into a public health crisis” due to uncontrolled RF-EMF proliferation.
- ♦ Cumulative Exposure & Inadequate Standards: He highlighted that non-ionizing radiation is out of control, cumulative exposure of children may be comparable to adult occupational exposure, and current international standards are inadequate.
“Ionizing radiation is monitored with safety systems in place to contain and control and prevent overexposure. The current proliferation of wireless frequencies is worse as levels of non-ionizing radiation are constantly increasing and ubiquitous; it is out of control. The world-wide dissemination of mobile telecommunications has resulted in new sources of large-scale population exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. Prevention of childhood and juvenile diseases from exposure to EMF sources is of paramount social and economic importance… The current standards are outdated and inadequate. Urgent action is needed to curb the negative impact from this physical agent.”
Yury Grigoriev, 2012
Full text PDF
- Non-Ionising Radiation Out of Control: When asked whether ionising or non-ionising radiation was the greater threat, he replied: non-ionising – “because it is out of control.”
- 2012 Appeal:
“Man conquered the Black Plague, but he has created new problems – EMF pollution. The world needed to listen, but did not.”
Resources to explore his work:
- Call for order – the world needs to listen
- RRT Conference 2008 Presentation
- Free Book: Frequencies Used in Telecommunications – An Integrated Radiobiological Assessment
- The Cold War of Electro-Magnetic Radiation
Dr Oleg Grigoriev – Continuing the Mission
Yury’s successor, Dr Oleg Grigoriev, current Chair of Russia’s National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, has carried forward the message with clarity and urgency.
- ♦ Prioritising Children’s Health: He advocates for wired connections in schools and kindergartens, putting children’s health above convenience.
- ♦ Strict Exposure Limits: Under his guidance, Russia maintains some of the strictest exposure limits in the world, far lower than those in the UK, USA, and much of Europe.
- ♦ Global Advocacy: Russian scientists under his leadership are advising governments worldwide to regulate mobile phones and Wi-Fi use in educational institutions.
Presentations and Seminars
- June 2015 – Non-Ionising Radiation and Health Concerns Seminar, London
- January 2010 – Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London seminar on electrosensitivity and EMF standards
Contributions to Clinical Practice
Dr. Grigoriev’s work confirms that Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) is not psychosomatic, but a diagnosable and treatable medical condition. His research demonstrates that prolonged RF/EMF exposure disturbs cognitive function, and his protocols provide clinicians worldwide with guidance to identify and manage EHS, advancing patient care and shaping future research.
2010 January – Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London. Download Professor Oleg Grigoriev’s Presentation for the EM Radiation Research Trust. ‘Health And EMF Exposure: Protocol for Diagnostics and Therapy’:
https://radiationresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20100111_grigoriev_presentation.pdf
June 2015 Non-Ionising Radiation and Health Concerns Seminar, London – Professor Oleg A. Grigoriev Head of the Scientific Department of Non-Ionizing Radiation Federal Medical Biophysical Centre of Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia presented for the EM Radiation Research Trust on the subject of “Electromagnetic pollution and reaction of the central nervous system.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82zlghOKN24
Photo from RRT 2008 London Conference from left to right:
- Dr Oleg Grigoriev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP). He was also the Director of the Center for Electromagnetic Safety at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS).
- Eileen O’Connor, Director & Co-founder,EM Radiation Research Trust (RRT)
- Professor Yury Grigoriev, Chair, Russia’s National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
- Mike Bell Trustee and Co-founder RRT
- Brian Stein CBE, Chairman, EM Radiation Research Trust (RRT)
Russia’s Child-Focused EMF Protections: A Global Model for Precaution
Russia has taken decisive steps to protect children from EMF/RF exposure, providing a model for precautionary policy. The country enforces some of the lowest permissible exposure limits in the world, recognising that children absorb more electromagnetic energy and are more sensitive to long-term effects than adults. Mobile phones are restricted in classrooms, Wi-Fi and wireless devices are limited in schools, and wired connections are prioritised. Parents and children are advised to favor text-based communication, use headsets or speakerphone, and limit voice calls. Warning labels are recommended on devices and areas with unavoidable exposure, and EMF-free zones are encouraged in public spaces and transport. A 14-year longitudinal study conducted by the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection confirmed statistically significant negative effects of mobile phone use on children’s sensorimotor reactions, fatigue, and cognitive function, which were mitigated by safe-use practices. Under the leadership of Professor Yury Grigoriev and Dr. Oleg Grigoriev, Russia continues to advocate globally for strict, child-focused safeguards, contrasting sharply with the more permissive policies in much of the UK, Europe and the United States.
Warning Labels
East and West: A Stark Contrast
The message could not be clearer. Sir William Stewart, Professor Yury Grigoriev, and Dr Oleg Grigoriev spoke decades ago about children’s vulnerability to RF-EMF. Russia listened, adopting strict exposure limits and enforcing school protections. Great Britain, the USA, and most of Europe largely ignored the advice of leading scientists, relying on ICNIRP guidelines that only consider short-term heating effects, not long-term biological impacts.
Sting’s words from 1985 resonate more strongly than ever:
“We share the same biology, regardless of ideology… I hope the Russians love their children too.”
Russia has already answered.
The science is clear. The warnings have been sounded. What might save the next generation, East and West alike, is if every nation finally proves it truly loves its children.
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