Environmental Health Sciences, a US nonprofit that reports on environmental health, reports that Petaluma City Schools in California passed Resolution 2627-06 on October 6, prohibiting new cell towers on district property. The district joins others that have adopted bans, restrictions or non-renewal policies, including Los Angeles Unified, Palo Alto Unified, Temecula Valley Unified and the Loudoun County School Board.
Theodora Scarato, who directs the organisation's Wireless and EMF Program, reviewed school RF radiation measurements obtained through public-records requests and reports significant increases at several Fairfax County schools over the decade following cell tower installations. She notes that US cell tower exposure limits have not changed since 1996 and permit higher levels than Italy, Switzerland, China and Russia. In September 2026, the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields recommended that cell towers and base stations be prohibited on or near school property.
Quotes
"Children’s health and safety should come first. Cell towers have no place on school grounds"
"Research on cell tower and health continues to grow, with studies reporting a range of adverse effects associated with cell tower radiation."
"Scarato points out that U.S. cell tower radiation exposure limits have remained unchanged since 1996 and permit higher levels than several countries including Italy, Switzerland, China, and Russia."
"Internationally many countries restrict cell towers on school grounds, but the US has no safeguards for children."
"In light of accumulating evidence and children’s prolonged daily exposure, implementing exposure-reduction strategies in schools represents a prudent public health approach."
Location
📍 Petaluma, California, United States
