San Francisco’s ordinance requiring retail outlets to inform consumers about the (alleged) effects of cell phone radiation has been blocked by a federal judge. “Whether or not cell phones cause cancer is a debatable question and, at this point in history, is a matter of opinion, not fact. San Francisco has its opinion. The industry (CTIA- The Wireless Association) has the opposite opinion,” wrote Judge Alsup.
The World Health Organization issued a report that seemingly butressed San Francisco’s position in May when it labeled cellphones “possibly carcinogenic,” meaning that there is “limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.” The judge left the door open to the possibility that a revised “fact sheet” could pass muster and stayed the enforcement of the law until November 30 so that both sides can file appeals.
San Francisco has already promised to do exactly that.
