Vermont’s top health officer is telling lawmakers not to be overly worried about a form of radiation emitted by the wireless smart meters some Vermont utilities want to install in customers’ homes and businesses.
Dr. Harry Chen is the state health commissioner, and he told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that an international health panel last year found that radio frequency radiation emitted by cell phones is a possible source of brain cancer in heavy cell phone users.
Chen said smart meters emit well less than 1 percent of the radiation emitted by cell phones, and they’re not often held right next to the head.
The committee also heard from three other scientists who said wireless smart meter radiation is a concern, and the state should require utilities to use wired meters.