Please see the end of this post for a resource list.
Also see recent research on Wi-Fi biologic and health effects.
MD Testifies about School Wi-Fi
Also see recent research on Wi-Fi biologic and health effects.
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SAR Estimations in a Classroom with Wireless Computers
Soares NE, Bulla G, Fernández-Rodríguez CE, de Salles AAA. (2025). SAR
Estimations in a Classroom with Wireless Computers. J. Microw.
Optoelectron. Electromagn. Appl. 24 (02) • 202. https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-
Abstract
This research provides detailed examination of the peak spatial Specific Absorption Rate (psSAR) in different age students in a classroom with wireless computers. This is motivated by the escalating inclusion of electronic devices in educational settings and the necessity to estimate the implications of this on the overall radio-frequency exposure. Two classrooms with posable realistic human models are simulated. One filled with several 7 years old children and another with several 43 years old adult, each using a laptop. The 1 g and 10 g psSAR are calculated for the head, back and hands. The distances between students are varied and the results compared to one student alone. A small free distance between rows (10 cm) produces significant reduction in psSAR (around 13 dB). Results are less sensitives to changes in lateral distance. While the maximum simulated psSAR values are below the recommended limits, it is observed that, in some classroom arrangements, the psSAR can be substantially increased (e.g., up to 26 dB in the back) comparing to just one student with his laptop. One objective of this study is to provide guidelines for the design of safer classrooms in the context of widespread laptop usage.
Excerpts
"The psSAR simulation in a classroom should consider the interaction between multiple EMF sources and the matter in the environment. While other sources such as smartphones and routers can be present, for simplicity, only the laptop of each student connected in a Wi-Fi network is considered.
The 2.45 GHz band was chosen for computational reasons. Using the 5 GHz band would have increased the mesh by 10-fold.
According to the IEEE 802.11-2020 Standard, the maximum delivered power is 100 mW. This value is used in the simulations. The simulated signals are continuous waves (CW) at the center of the band or CW modulated by a gaussian pulse to cover the whole band."
"The psSAR values obtained in this study, even for the worst case, are below the safety limits recommended by the ICNIRP [2] and IEEE [14]. However, since children can stay in the classrooms for a long time, it is important to observe that long-term exposure to low levels of electromagnetic radiation should also be considered, since they can produce health effects too [1]. Among others, long time exposure can be of serious concern, due to possible biochemical effects not considered in the simulations. Further to that, other EMF sources, such as smartphones, can be used simultaneously in the classrooms and therefore should also be considered in the simulations."
"CONCLUSIONS
The results show that, generally the psSAR decreases as the distance between students’ desks increases, as expected. Increased EMF exposure in the classroom were observed when comparing with one student alone, such as up to 4-fold in the hands, 45-fold in the head and 40-fold in the back/dorsal.
Fluctuations in the psSAR plots can be due to the EMF multipath random combinations in amplitude and phase. Also, it is observed that as the distance is increased, the positions of the psSAR are displaced along the body. For instance, in the head, the psSAR is displaced from one ear to the nose and to the other ear. Simulations show that hot spots position varies, since EMF may be increased or diminished when distance is varied, depending on the EMF phase.
Overall, simulations show that if the distance between the chair and the back desk is increased, then the EMF exposure is reduced. E.g., for 5 cm distance increase, the EMF exposure in the back can be reduced around 63 percent and for 50 cm distance increase, the EMF exposure can be reduced around 90 percent.
In order to reduce the EMF health risks, the authors suggest that wireless communications should be avoided in places where people could stay for long time, such as in the classrooms, libraries, offices, homes, etc., and the devices should then be connected using cables (e. g., ethernet or fiber optic), increasing therefore the bandwidth and reducing energy consumption."
Open access paper: https://www.scielo.br/
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Aug 1, 2018
Measurements of Radiofrequency Radiation in Swedish Schools with Wi-Fi
 |
| The highest mean level (107.3 µW/m2logarithmic scale) during a whole lesson was recorded when the teacher stood right below an access point while using her Wi-Fi connected laptop. |
Lena
K. Hedendahl, Michael Carlberg, Tarmo Koppel, Lennart Hardell.
Measurements of radiofrequency radiation with a body-borne exposimeter
in Swedish Schools with Wi-Fi. Front. Public Health, 20 November 2017 |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00279
Introduction: Wireless
access to the Internet is now commonly used in schools. Many schools
give each student their own laptop and utilize the laptops and wireless
fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection for educational purposes. Most children also
bring their own mobile phones to school. Since children are obliged by
law to attend school, a safe environment is important. Lately, it has
been discussed if radiofrequency (RF) radiation can have long-term
adverse effects on children’s health.
Method: This study
conducted exposimetric measurements in schools to assess RF emissions in
the classroom by measuring the teachers’ RF exposure in order to
approximate the children’s exposure. Teachers in grades 7–12 carried a
body-borne exposimeter, EME-Spy 200, in school during 1–4 days of work.
The exposimeter can measure 20 different frequency bands from 87 to
5,850 MHz.
Results: Eighteen teachers from seven schools
participated. The mean exposure to RF radiation ranged from 1.1 to 66.1
µW/m2 (microwatts per square meter). The highest mean level, 396.6 µW/m2, occurred during 5 min of a
lesson when the teacher let the students stream and watch YouTube
videos. Maximum peaks went up to 82,857 µW/m2 from mobile phone uplink.
Discussion:
Our measurements are in line with recent exposure studies in schools in
other countries. The exposure levels varied between the different Wi-Fi
systems, and if the students were allowed to use their own smartphones
on the school’s Wi-Fi network or if they were connected to GSM/3G/4G
base stations outside the school. An access point over the teacher’s
head gave higher exposure compared with a school with a wired Internet
connection for the teacher in the classroom. All values were far below
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection’s
reference values, but most mean levels measured were above the
precautionary target level of 3–6 µW/m2 as proposed by the Bioinitiative
Report. The length of time wireless devices are used is an essential
determinant in overall exposure. Measures to minimize children’s
exposure to RF radiation in school would include preferring wired
connections, allowing laptops, tablets and mobile phones only in flight
mode and deactivating Wi-Fi access points, when not used for learning
purposes.
Conclusion
1. The
ICNIRP guidelines are based on short-term heating (thermal) effects, and
are therefore not relevant to decide on the appropriateness of
long-term exposure.
2. The
environmental exposure to RF radiation in some schools is higher than
reported levels for non-thermal biological effects. In order to reduce
children’s exposure to RF radiation, schools should prefer wired network
connections, allow laptop, tablets, and mobile phone usage only in
flight mode and deactivate Wi-Fi access points when internet is not
needed for learning purposes.
Open source paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00279/full
Sep 10, 2017
MD Testifies about School Wi-Fi
Following are excerpts from a medical doctor's testimony regarding two Massachusetts bills to regulate Wi-Fi in schools. She provides case histories for her two children who have been diagnosed with electromagnetic intolerance (aka electromagnetic hypersensitivity).
"Despite industry campaigns to create controversy in the peer reviewed literature via “creative study design”, the current weight of the evidence demonstrates obvious harm from wireless technologies. The sum of quality, peer reviewed evidence amassed since the 1950’s is so great, that denial of this evidence is like denying of the laws of gravity."
"I have published in the peer reviewed literature, served as a peer reviewer, and taught hundreds of medical students and residents how to critically evaluate the medical literature. I have read extensively on the health impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMF’s), and am highly qualified to opine on this topic.
"This testimony, however, I write as the mother of two electrosensitive children who have been harmed by wireless technology, and are no longer able to attend school. By telling our story, I hope to prevent other children and their families from being harmed as we have: physically, socially, emotionally and mentally, and to give you an understanding of the human consequences of omnipresent Wi-fi and radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in our schools.
... my children ages 6 and 9, with physician diagnosed electromagnetic intolerance, have absolutely no access to an education, in either public or private school. In August 2017 both kids became ill in their respective classrooms, after only 3 days of school, and were unable to return. I am currently not able to find a school (without Wi-fi and not under a cell tower) that doesn’t make them ill. As a result, they will need to be home-schooled this year, unless the school district reconsiders our request for 504 accommodations that was denied last month."
"Wi-fi in schools is hazardous to the cells in every one of our children and staff members, regardless of whether they can “feel it” or not. I urge you to take swift political action to protect our school children and staff now, at the start of this school year."
The testimony can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/MD-WiFi-9-4-2017.
Feb 27, 2017
Wi-Fi
Radiation in Schools in Maryland: Final Report
Based upon
a review of the research and public input, the Maryland Children's Environmental
Health and Protection Advisory Council adopted a report on Wi-Fi Radiation in Maryland Schools in December, 2016.
The report makes the following recommendations:
"The Council recommends that the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ask the United States Department of Health and Human Services to formally petition the FCC to revisit the exposure limit to ensure it is protective of children’s health and that it relies on current science.
· The
Maryland State Department of Education should recommend that local school
systems:
○ Consider using wired devices.
■ Where classrooms have internet
access with a wireless connection, WiFi can be turned off and wired local area
network (LAN) can provide a reliable and secure form of networking for as many
wireless devices as necessary without any microwave electromagnetic field exposure.
■ If a new classroom is to be built,
or electrical work is to be carried out in an existing classroom, network
cables can be added at the same time, providing wired network access with
minimal extra cost and time.
○ Have children place devices on desks to serve as barrier
between the device and children’s bodies.
○ Locate laptops in the classroom in a way that keeps pupil
heads as far away from the laptop screens (where the antennas are) as
practicable.
○ Consider using screens designed to reduce eyestrain.
○ Consider using a switch to shut down the router when it is
not in use.
○ Teach children to turn off WiFi when not in use.
○ Consider placing routers as far away from students as possible.
○ Share this document with teachers and parents.
· The
General Assembly should consider funding education and research on
electromagnetic radiation and health as schools add WiFi to classrooms.
· The
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene should provide suggestions to
the public on ways to reduce exposure:
○ Sit away from WiFi routers, especially when people are
using it to access the internet.
○ Turn off the wireless on your laptop when you are not using
it.
○ Turn off WiFi on smartphones and tablets when not surfing
the web.
○ Switch tablets to airplane mode to play games or watch
videos stored on the device.
· This
report should be posted on the Council website and shared with the:
○ United States Department of Health and Human Services
○ Federal Communications Commission
○ Maryland State Department of Education
○ Maryland General Assembly"
Physicians’ letters and appendices to the Report can be downloaded.
Dec 30, 2016
Major influences in households and business spaces —
Wi-Fi, telecommunication masts outputs and electrical pollution
Francis Markho, Ioan Tuleasca. Major influences in households and business spaces — Wi-Fi, telecommunication masts outputs and electrical pollution. Electrical and Power Engineering (EPE), 2016 International Conference and Exposition on Electrical and Power Engineering. Oct 20-22, 2016. Iasi, Romania.
Abstract
The paper offers a non-exhaustive perspective, as well as a spectrum of performed measurements, in the field of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Shielding Wi-Fi is shown to be an effective means of counteracting its health risks. The effects of cell phone towers positioning next to living and working spaces is presented and analyzed. Electrical pollution mitigation is described, as well as the problem of earth bound stray electrical currents. Effective actions and measures to be taken for the benefit of future generations are suggested and justified.
Conclusions
The adverse health effects due to Wi-Fi and cell phone towers are well known (Carpenter’s testimony [29] and Dode’s findings [19]) should be more than enough to put the matter to rest in this respect). However, it seems to be no willingness to change the status quo, even if Lloyd’s took steps [30] to distance themselves from the possible EMF claims related issues. The careless use of this type of technology might cost us dearly in the future in both health sector national budgets blowouts and genetic degeneration.
Dirty electricity (electrical pollution) just completes the picture and adds to the effects of the above mentioned stressors. The seriousness of the problem is compounded by the availability and cheapness of various electrical devices and systems that are responsible for the creation of high frequency voltage transients in the electrical networks. Mitigating these transients can, fortunately, be performed using shielding and adequate design for electrical circuitry in addition to other appropriate means [31].
The way forward, however, may be linked to broad, thorough and mandatory institutional measures at national and international levels. The first step in this direction was taken by France [32], where the French National Assembly passed a Law that regulates the exposure to electromagnetic field EMF (Law on Sobriety, Transparency, Information and Consultation for Exposure to Electromagnetic Waves, 29 January 2015). The Law addresses a range of EMF-related aspects, from Wi-Fi usage in nurseries (banned) and schools (limited), to mobile phones Specific Absorption Rate SAR labelling and cell phone towers emissions compliance verification. The Electrohypersensitivity EHS issue was also addressed as part of this Law, where a Report on EHS must be presented to the French Parliament within one year.
At international level it may be that not only the Precautionary Principle has to have a role in organising adequate EMF exposure limits, but also specific internationally recognized legal instruments, like the Nuremberg Code of Ethics. According to this Code, one cannot submit human beings to actions causing them harm, where the said human beings are not able to “bring the experiment to an end” [33]. Since the human race is unwittingly submitted to a world-wide encompassing, society-directed, experiment, in the form of biologically adverse, profit driven, imposed EMF exposure, the Code is duly applicable.
Considering the way other crucial health-related issues (asbestos, tobacco, ionizing radiation) were dealt with over the years, it seems that there is a long way ahead in tackling EMF exposure risks. However, this time is different, since our own long term wellbeing as a species is at risk [34], due to the genotoxic effect of the presented stressors.
The adverse health effects due to Wi-Fi and cell phone towers are well known (Carpenter’s testimony [29] and Dode’s findings [19]) should be more than enough to put the matter to rest in this respect). However, it seems to be no willingness to change the status quo, even if Lloyd’s took steps [30] to distance themselves from the possible EMF claims related issues. The careless use of this type of technology might cost us dearly in the future in both health sector national budgets blowouts and genetic degeneration.
Dirty electricity (electrical pollution) just completes the picture and adds to the effects of the above mentioned stressors. The seriousness of the problem is compounded by the availability and cheapness of various electrical devices and systems that are responsible for the creation of high frequency voltage transients in the electrical networks. Mitigating these transients can, fortunately, be performed using shielding and adequate design for electrical circuitry in addition to other appropriate means [31].
The way forward, however, may be linked to broad, thorough and mandatory institutional measures at national and international levels. The first step in this direction was taken by France [32], where the French National Assembly passed a Law that regulates the exposure to electromagnetic field EMF (Law on Sobriety, Transparency, Information and Consultation for Exposure to Electromagnetic Waves, 29 January 2015). The Law addresses a range of EMF-related aspects, from Wi-Fi usage in nurseries (banned) and schools (limited), to mobile phones Specific Absorption Rate SAR labelling and cell phone towers emissions compliance verification. The Electrohypersensitivity EHS issue was also addressed as part of this Law, where a Report on EHS must be presented to the French Parliament within one year.
At international level it may be that not only the Precautionary Principle has to have a role in organising adequate EMF exposure limits, but also specific internationally recognized legal instruments, like the Nuremberg Code of Ethics. According to this Code, one cannot submit human beings to actions causing them harm, where the said human beings are not able to “bring the experiment to an end” [33]. Since the human race is unwittingly submitted to a world-wide encompassing, society-directed, experiment, in the form of biologically adverse, profit driven, imposed EMF exposure, the Code is duly applicable.
Considering the way other crucial health-related issues (asbestos, tobacco, ionizing radiation) were dealt with over the years, it seems that there is a long way ahead in tackling EMF exposure risks. However, this time is different, since our own long term wellbeing as a species is at risk [34], due to the genotoxic effect of the presented stressors.
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7781450/
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The Controversy over Wi-Fi in Schools: Health Risks to Students and Staff
Opposition to Wi-Fi adoption in schools is mounting as schools in the U.S. and other countries have begun to adopt Wi-Fi to provide internet access to students even though a wired solution would be safer.
The Los Angeles Unified School District was the first major school district in the U.S. to adopt Wi-Fi in all classrooms.
Following is a summary of the evidence that health experts submitted to the Los Angeles School Board in opposition to this plan. This is followed by a list of resources for those who are concerned about Wi-Fi adoption in their local schools.
Also see below an open letter from the BioInitiative Working Group to the CEO's of major technology corporations in the U.S.
For a list of research studies that have found adverse biological or health effects from Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi-like radiation, see a website maintained by some scientists in the United Kingdom.
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Canadian Teachers' Unions Demands for No Wi-Fi in Schools Puts Spotlight on Health Concerns
Education World, Mar 21, 2016
The unions want the WiFi routers turned off until they can be proven to be safe.
http://bit.ly/1pG6INa
Radio Canada International
http://bit.ly/1WDBvnW
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In the U.S. the United Federation of Teachers has a page on its website that educates teachers about the biologic effects and potential health risks of wireless radiation.
http://bit.ly/UFTwireless
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Italian town shuts down Wi-Fi over health fears
The Local, Jan 8, 2016
The mayor of Borgofranco d'Ivrea, a town in Piedmont, has ordered Wi-Fi to be turned off in two schools over health fears.
Also see La Stampa Cronache article in Italian: http://bit.ly/1RdVDhh
http://bit.ly/1PO4inl
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Message to Public Schools and Parents about Wireless Devices and Health
Ronald M. Powell, PhD, The Green Gazette, Nov 12, 2015
If wireless devices, such as WiFi, are used in your schools, then the health of your staff, your teachers, and your students can be at risk. But this problem can be successfully addressed, and with benefit to all.
<snip>
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Why the FCC's safety guidelines for Wi-Fi need to be re-evaluated
Ajay Malik, Network World, Nov 12, 2015FCC guidelines are based on the assumption that Wi-Fi signals are received by a human body from a distance for one transmitting antenna. However, we are not exposed to one Wi-Fi transmitting antenna anymore.
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Expert Docs Urge U.S. Secretary of Education: Play It Safe with Kids - Go Wired Not WiFi
Press Release, Environmental Health Trust, Oct 14, 2015
Leading expert scientists and doctors who are advisors of the Environmental Health Trust (EHT) have sent an open letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and incoming acting Secretary John King detailing children's unique vulnerability to the health risks of wireless technology. The scientists outline specific steps the U.S. Department of Education can take to safeguard children's health in the 21st century, such as choosing safe corded (non-wireless) technology and creating a national education program for students. The scientists applaud the fact that such efforts are already well implemented in several schools and countries and call on the United States to take a leadership role.
The letter cites how over 20 countries have taken a precautionary approach to the issue of wireless and are educating citizens on how to reduce exposures with many recommending against wireless in schools. Early in 2015, France passed a national law banning wifi from nursery schools and mandating that schools turn off wifi whenever it is not in use, and Israel has established a new national institute to review scientific evidence and recommends wired computers for teachers. In the United States both public and private schools are taking steps to reduce and remove wireless exposures. EHT maintains an updated list of these policy actions.
In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics wrote to the FCC calling for more protective wireless RF-EMF radiation exposure standards and stated, "Children are not little adults and are disproportionately impacted by all environmental exposures, including cellphone radiation. Current FCC standards do not account for the unique vulnerability and use patterns specific to pregnant women and children."
"Considering that no research documents long-term exposure to low-intensity microwave radiation as safe for children, the best approach is precautionary." The letter references the accumulated scientific research showing that wireless radiation, also known as radio-frequency (RF) radiation or microwave radiation, could increase cancer risk and has been shown to damage the reproductive system and alter neurological development.
The letter cites the research of Yale Professor Dr. Hugh Taylor that showed prenatal exposure resulted in decreased memory and hyperactivity in offspring. This study joins a growing list of experimental research showing neurotoxic effects which has informed the BabySafe Project of over 100 physicians who recommend reduced wireless exposures for pregnant women in order to mitigate the risk of fetal brain damage.
Professor Martha Herbert, MD PhD, a Harvard pediatric neurologist, is quoted: "RF radiation from wifi and cell towers can exert a disorganizing effect on the ability to learn and remember, and can also be destabilizing to immune and metabolic function."
The scientists made the following recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education:
1. Raise school community awareness through new educational curriculum: Students, teachers, and their families should be given information on wireless health risks and simple precautionary steps they can take to protect their health. It is important to teach children how to use technology both safely and more responsibly in order to protect their health and wellbeing.
2. Install a safe communication and information technology infrastructure in schools to meet educational needs: Solutions exist to reduce exposures to wireless emissions and mitigate the health risk. Low-EMF Best Practices have been developed allowing educational needs to be met with safer hard-wired Internet connections, which are also faster and more secure."A 21st century classroom must bridge the digital divide in the safest way possible. The United States of America can thoughtfully integrate safe technology into every classroom while safeguarding the health of generations to come by installing safe and secure wired internet connections." stated Dr. Davis, President of the EHT and Visiting Professor, The Hebrew University Medical School.
Please download the letter at this link.
In fall 2014, the EHT wrote to several educational organizations—including the National Education Association, the National Association of Independent Schools and the National Parent Teacher Association—informing them of the health risks of wireless installations. Letters are available on the EHT Schools and Safe Technology webpage.
This new letter calls on the U.S. Department of Education to provide leadership on common sense technology steps to safeguard children's health just as classrooms across the country are upgrading their technology systems. EHT applauds the Collaborative for High Performance Schools Low EMF criteria which provides the detailed steps schools can take to reduce EMF exposures.
Scientists have long been cautioning against wireless networks in schools and, most recently, new letters from scientists to a Massachusetts school were included in a federal complaint filed by parents alleging the school's upgraded wireless network made their child ill.
In 2014, an independent group of 29 international expert scientists of the Bioinitiative Report wrote a letter to the CEOs of wireless technology education companies such as Google, Dell, Apple, Adobe and Facebook stating that, "It does not reflect well on the ethics of your corporations to encourage the FCC to provide $2 billion dollars for new wireless classroom infrastructure and devices for school children, knowing that wireless emissions have been classified as a Possible Human Carcinogen by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (2011). To promote wireless technologies in schools is to deliberately and knowingly disregard current health warnings from international science and public health experts." These scientists have long made clear recommendations for Low-EMF Best Practices in schools based on the published scientific research.
Recently, a group of over 200 scientists (who have collectively published over 2,000 peer-reviewed papers on non-ionizing radiation) appealed to the United Nations for immediate action on this issue in order to protect public health and the environment.
Over 20 countries now take a precautionary stance towards wireless radiation. As an example, former Microsoft President Frank Clegg heads a safe technology organization C4ST calling on federal election candidates in Canada to develop an awareness campaign related to the safe use of information and communication technologies in schools after the Canadian Parliamentary Health Committee unanimously voted for 12 recommendations concerning wireless radiation and public health.
About The Scientists
<snip>
Resources
Download the October 13, 2015 Letter here
http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Letter-to-U.S.-Secretary-of-Education-from-EHT-on-Wireless-in-Schools-October-13-2015-.pdf
Letters by Scientifc Experts Against Wireless Networks to Fay School Trustees
http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Expert-Letters-Against-WiFi-to-Fay-school-trustees.pdf
Collaborative for High Performance Schools Low-EMF Best Practices
http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/US-CHPS__Criteria_2014_Low-EMF-Criteria102314.pdf
Videos
Dr. Devra Davis and Dr. Sharma Lecture at George Washington University on Wireless and Health June 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNeA26lQTvA
Dr. Devra Davis lectures at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNNSztN7wJc
Excerpt from Q and A at George Washington University on the issue of wireless in school
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkcPZV4coQ
http://bit.ly/1OCXedx
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Legislation eyed for Wi-Fi warnings in county buildings
The Island Now, Jul 23, 2015
Nassau County
Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton announced last Tuesday that she is
proposing a bill that would place visible warning signs in all county
buildings and facilities where a wireless router is located ...
http://bit.ly/1Ih8Jk6
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May 8, 2015
Oregon House Bill 3350
Oregon State Representative Alissa Kenyguyer has proposed House Bill 3350 which directs the Oregon Department of Education to prepare a statement that would disclose the potential health risks of wireless technology.
The bill requires public and private schools to distribute the statement annually to school employees and to parents of students. The bill declares an emergency stating that such an act is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health and safety.
The bill was introduced on February 27, 2015 and was referred to the Health Care Committee on March 6. If the bill is adopted, it would take effect on July 15, 2015.
For more information: https://legiscan.com/OR/bill/HB3350/2015
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May 6, 2015
First official health accommodation for public school teacher in US due to electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)
CBS televison news in Los Angeles interviewed Anura Lawson an eighth grade teacher whose electromagnetic hypersensitivity made it extremely difficult for her to work after the Los Angeles Unified School District installed Wi-Fi routers in her school. According to the news report, "she is believed to be the first public school teacher in the U.S. granted a health accommodation for electromagnetic hypersensitivity."
There is some irony in this story as Ms. Lawson teaches at at Johnnie Cochran Middle School. The school is named after the famous attorney who died of a brain tumor. Dr. Keith Black, his neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai, attributed Mr. Cochran's tumor to his heavy cell phone use. Many individuals who suffer from EHS cannot use cell phones.
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April 16, 2015
L.A. school district demands iPad refund from Apple
The L.A. Unified School District's long-running, troubled saga with iPads continues.
http://lat.ms/1Oj7fP2
October 16, 2014
iPad Scandal in 2nd Largest School District in U.S.
The Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District announced his resignation today due to a controversy over the district's billion-dollar iPad program. The program was suspended after the Superintendent received criticism about his close ties to Apple and Pearson, the company that manages the educational content.
http://bit.ly/1uc4Cil
October 10, 2014
Los Angeles Unified School District Accommodates Teacher Who Fell Ill After Wireless Installation
The National Association for Children and Safe Technology, Oct 10, 2014
Students were bleeding from the ears and nose and no incident reports were allowed by the school states the teacher who required medical intervention.
Students were bleeding from the ears and nose and no incident reports were allowed by the school states the teacher who required medical intervention.
YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1vXgwAY (3 minutes)
The Middle School teacher reported that she fell seriously ill after a wireless system upgrade in her school in Spring 2014. She described her cardiac symptoms during a May 28, LAUSD Common Core Tech Project meeting. Ms. Lawson also stated, “The students are having nosebleeds and the main offices are refusing to do incident reports. I have had two seventh grade students bleeding out of their ears.” See http://www.youtube.com/watch?
This is the first accommodation in a US public school system for microwave sickness.
Microwave sickness, also known as electro hypersensitivity (EHS), is not widely recognized in the US. However, physicians in many other countries are familiar with this medical condition and the diagnosis is more common. EHS symptoms include: headaches, dizziness, anxiety, rapid heart beat (tachycardia) and irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), ear and nose bleeds, tinnitus, red and irritated eyes, increased mucous and upper airway congestion, itchy skin rashes, abdominal pain, poor focus and attention, memory and sleep problems.
In March 2012, the Austrian Medical Association recognized and developed EHS treatment guidelines. In the United States, adverse effects were identified before 1988 when a US Air Force Review stated that "Experimental evidence has shown that exposure to low intensity radiation can have a profound effect on biological processes."
The LAUSD Board of Education went ahead with a wireless technology plan in February 2013, even after they were presented with numerous letters from many noted medical doctors and researchers, including the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, imploring them to use wired technology in the classroom because of the health impacts from wireless radiation. See http://wifiinschools.com/
Wireless LAUSD classrooms typically employ 30+ devices (iPads) in addition to an industrial-sized router. These devices all emit microwave radiation and represent an unprecedented level of exposure to children.
Decades of accumulated research show wireless radiation damages neurological, immune, and reproductive systems in addition to increasing cancer risk. Professor Olle Johansson, Karolinksa Institute, Stockholm Sweeden, has stated that wireless radiation exposure studies have indicated “irreversible sterility within five generations.” As this damage is cumulative, the longer the radiation exposure, the greater the health impact over time.
"We are getting reports of headaches and cardiac issues from across the country. The time to act is now," stated a spokesperson for the National Association for Children and Safe Technology (NACST).
NACST is an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the health impacts of wireless radiation on children. They are calling for schools to use wired Internet only. Their website details both the accumulated research showing wireless radiation’s acute as well as long term health impacts.
The National Association for Children and Safe Technology
http//www.nacst.org
contact@nacst.org
http://bit.ly/1stRqcd
February 9, 2013
The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to spend $500 million to install Wi-Fi in every classrooom and provide every student with a wireless tablet or laptop.
The initial $50 million pilot phase for this project was discussed at a School Board meeting on February 13, 2013. Although written and oral testimony was presented to the Board in opposition to this plan based on concerns about the health and safety of students and employees from continued exposure to Wi-Fi radiation, the Board approved the pilot plan.
For background on this issue and video clips, see these news stories:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22568864/tamar-galatzan-l-schools-need-technology-but-how
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22577480/lausd-approves-50m-computer-tablets
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22577480/lausd-approves-50m-computer-tablets
Following are excerpts from eight of the letters submitted in opposition to the plan.
Excerpts from Selected Letters
Martin Blank, Ph.D., College
of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
“As a researcher on biological effects of electromagnetic
fields (EMF) for over twenty five years, as well as one of the contributors to
the 2007 and 2012 Bioinitiative Reports, I am writing to you concerning the health risks associated
with the radiation from WiFi and to urge you not to install WiFi in the schools
in your district.”
“RF radiation can cause single and double strand DNA
breaks at exposure levels that are currently considered safe under the FCC
guidelines. There are also epidemiological studies that show an increased risk
of cancers associated with exposure to RF.”
“RF has been shown to cause other potentially harmful
biological effects, such as leakage of the blood brain barrier that can lead to
damage of neurons in the brain, increased micronuclei (DNA fragments) in human
blood lymphocytes--all at RF exposures that are well below the limits in the current
FCC guidelines.“
“As noted above, many potentially harmful effects, such
as the stress response and DNA strand breaks, occur at nonthermal levels. Since
these field strengths do not cause a temperature increase (the only parameter
currently accepted as dangerous), they are unwisely considered safe. It is clear that the safety standards must be
revised downward to take into account nonthermal as well as thermal biological
responses. Given the problems in current standards, it is essential, for the
protection of ourselves and our children, to take a precautionary approach and
not install a WiFi system.”
Devra Davis,
Ph.D., MPH, Environmental Health Trust
“In our new paper, we conclude that the weight of
scientific evidence available at this time supports a classification of cell
phone and other wireless technology as a "probable human carcinogen."
(2A) The information on which we base this view includes experimental studies as well as a growing
number of studies in humans. The criteria on which we rely have been validated
through more than three decades of use by the IARC; other materials classified
as probable human carcinogen include: diesel engine exhaust, tars,
petroleum refining and a number of pesticides. Our paper reviews new studies
not available to the IARC in its determination in 2011, including several
reports from the team of Swedish investigators led by Lennart Hardell.”
“We note that the American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed its concerns about the growing exposures to children in a letter to Congress dated 12 December 2012: ‘Children are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures, including cell phone radiation. The differences in bone density and the amount of fluid in a child’s brain compared to an adult’s brain could allow children to absorb greater quantities of RF energy deeper into their brains than adults. It is essential that any new standards for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are safeguarded through their lifetimes.'”
“We note that the American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed its concerns about the growing exposures to children in a letter to Congress dated 12 December 2012: ‘Children are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures, including cell phone radiation. The differences in bone density and the amount of fluid in a child’s brain compared to an adult’s brain could allow children to absorb greater quantities of RF energy deeper into their brains than adults. It is essential that any new standards for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are safeguarded through their lifetimes.'”
"As many researchers have noted, children are not merely little adults. Their brains and skulls absorb more radiation than do adults. Empirical data have shown a difference in the dielectric properties of tissues as a function of age, mostly due to the higher water content in children's tissues. High resolution computerized models based on human imaging data suggest that children are indeed more susceptible to the effects of EMF exposure at microwave frequencies."
"Please be aware that national authorities in France and Israel are advising against wi-fi expansion, especially in schools with younger children. Many authorities have noted that standards for wireless exposures differ by several orders of magnitude, with those in the home country of the World Health Organization, Switzerland being among the most stringent in the world."
"In fact, research on this topic remains poorly funded in the U.S. The absence of definitive information on risks from wi-fi in the U.S. at this time should not be interpreted as proof of safety."
"Wired systems are far more safe, secure, and speedy, and avoid potential long term public health issues. In addition, wired systems will protect the growing number of persons who are hypersensitive to wi-fi exposures, as well as limit risks to persons with pace-makers or those with other implanted electronic or metal devices that can absorb greater amounts of such radiation."
Katharina Gustavs,
Cert. EOH, Building Biology Consultant IBN
“Second, as an EMF consultant, I recommend choosing wired
technologies, especially for Internet access in schools and, in general, keeping
RF radiation exposures from all sources as low as possible. In this I follow
the recommendations of the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection
(2007), the Parliament of the Federal State of Salzburg (2007), the Israeli
Parliament (2010), the International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety
(ICEMS), the BioInitiative Working Group (2012), and the Seletun Scientific
Panel (2010), just to name a few. Understand that with each additional wireless
transmitter you add to the school environment, you unnecessarily increase the overall
exposure to radio-frequency radiation for each student and staff member. Be
inspired by other government agencies and school districts that try reducing
the RF exposure of their students and staff members. “
“Last year the Physicians’ Working Group of the
Competence Initiative not only launched another International Doctors’ Appeal,
but they also released another warning regarding Wi-Fi in which it says: ‘Wi-Fi
radiation seems to be perceived as particularly stressful. Not only electrohypersensitive
people say so, but also healthy people report their discomfort in the presence
of Wi-Fi radiation.”
“Laboratory tests of laptops have shown that the exposure
level for a user can easily be greater than 100,000 μW/m2 when the laptop is
placed in the lap, which is definitely higher than even elevated urban RF
levels. The recently released EMF Guidelines by the EMF Working Group of the
Austrian Medical Association consider any level greater than 1000
μW/m2 ‘very far above normal,’ and greater than 10 μW/m2
‘far above normal.’”
“Do not be fooled by the URS report.* In my testing
experience, people tend to adversely react to Wi-Fi radiation, starting at 100
μW/m2 (0.01 μW/cm2). And this is not a whole- body, time-averaged value, which would
be much lower, but a peak value. The human body does not care about the
‘accepted practice’ of the FCC.”
“Also, basic logic seems to escape the authors of the URS
report. On the one hand, they claim that ‘a cautionary level of 0.1 μW/cm2 is
attainablewithin LAUSD classrooms.’ At what distance from any device? At the user
distance? From one single Wi-Fi device? For any scenario when all devices in a
given classroom are working? How can recommendation
number 3 on page 1-2 be reconciled with number 6? Does
this mean that the recommended cautionary level only applies to a single
frequency band, i.e. Wi-Fi? What about cumulative exposure from all the
different types of wireless frequencies?”
“Ambient exposure levels in a classroom with a Wi-Fi
access point may range from 100-4,000 μW/m2 (up to 90,000 μW/m2), depending on
a person’s distance to the access point. Compared to the 10 million μW/m2 of
the FCC limit, 1000 μW/m2 (0.1 μW/cm2) may sound rather small. Considering that
the natural background radiation (in which
human life has evolved) is over a billion times lower
(ca. 0.000001 μW/m2), this may give you pause. For your orientation, I have
compiled a table with various Wi-Fi exposure levels:
“The electromagnetic quality of our indoor environment is
part of a healthy learning environment. Just because we cannot smell RF radiation
does not mean it cannot cause any harm at low levels. Be smart; invest in wired
networks and the future health of our children.”
Magda Havas, Ph.D.,
Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent University, Canada
“The safest way to connect to the internet in the
classroom is through either Ethernet cable or through fiber optics. The worst way to connect to the internet from
a health perspective is through Wi-Fi routers.
However, if Wi-Fi routers are deployed in the classroom it is essential that
the routers be turned off when not in use and/or turned down to minimize
exposure of students and staff.”
“The scientific evidence clearly shows that microwave
radiation at levels well below the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
guidelines and at levels now commonly found inside classrooms with Wi-Fi
routers causes cancer in laboratory animals, causes heart palpitations in sensitive
adults, causes reduced sperm motility and viability, and is associated with
symptoms of electrosensitivity that include–but are not limited to–cognitive
dysfunction, pain, fatigue, mood disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability),
dizziness, nausea, weakness, skin problems, and tinnitus.”
“The current guidelines for microwave radiation are based
on a heating effect of a healthy adult male (as they were originally designed
for military personnel working near radar antennas). These guidelines were never designed nor
intended to protect children and pregnant women. The guideline in the U.S. is calculated as
the average exposure over a 30-minute period that does not raise the body
temperature of tissue by 1 degree Celsius.
The U.S. has no long-term guidelines and no biological guidelines for microwave
radiation. The guidelines in Russia, Switzerland
and many other countries are 100 times more protective than those in the United
States.”
“Furthermore, in 2011 the World Health Organization
classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as a possible human
carcinogen, which is a warning to governments around the world. Why would we want to place a possible human
carcinogen in the classroom?”
Martha Herbert,
M.D., Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital :
“In fact, there are thousands of papers that have accumulated over decades and
are now accumulating at an accelerating pace, as our ability to measure impacts
become more sensitive that document adverse health and neurological impacts of
EMF/RFR. Children are more vulnerable than adults, and children with
chronic illnesses and/or neurodevelopmental disabilities are even more
vulnerable. “
“EMF/RFR from wifi and cell towers can exert a disorganizing effect on the ability to learn and remember, and can also be destabilizing to immune and metabolic function. This will make it harder for some children to learn, particularly those who are already having problems in the first place.“
“EMF/RFR from wifi and cell towers can exert a disorganizing effect on the ability to learn and remember, and can also be destabilizing to immune and metabolic function. This will make it harder for some children to learn, particularly those who are already having problems in the first place.“
“I urge you to step back from your intention to go wifi
in the LAUSD, and instead opt for wired technologies, particularly for those
subpopulations that are most sensitive.
It will be easier for you to make a healthier decision now than to undo
a misguided decision later.”
Olle Johansson,
Ph.D., Dept of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
“In November, 2009, a Scientific Panel comprised of
international experts on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields met
in Seletun, Norway, for three days of intensive discussion on existing
scientific evidence and public health implications of the unprecedented global
exposures to artificial electromagnetic fields (EMF) from telecommunications
and electric power technologies. This meeting was a direct consequence of
on-going discussions already from the mid-nineties, when cellular
communications infrastructure began to rapidly proliferate, and stretching
through, among many, the Benevento (2006), Venice (2008) and London (2009)
Resolutions from this decade, and involving important conclusions drawn from
the 600-page Bioinitiative Report published August 31, 2007, which was a review
of over 2,000 studies showing biological effects from electromagnetic radiation
at non-thermal levels of exposure, which partly was published subsequently in
the journal Pathophysiology (Volume 16, 2009). The Bioinitiative Report has, in
addition, recently been updated (2012).”
“The Seletun Scientific Statement (2011) recommends that
lower limits be established for electromagnetic fields and wireless exposures,
based on scientific studies reporting health impacts at much lower exposure
levels. Many researchers now believe the existing safety limits are inadequate
to protect public health because they do not consider prolonged exposure to
lower emission levels that are now widespread.”
“Furthermore, based on the available scientific data, the
Seletun Scientific Panel states that:
· Sensitive populations (for
example, the elderly, the ill, the genetically and/or immunologically
challenged) and children and fetuses may be additionally vulnerable to health
risks; their exposures are largely involuntary and they are less protected by
existing public safety standards.
· It is well established that
children are more vulnerable to health risks from environmental toxins in
general.
· The Panel strongly recommends
against the exposure from wireless systems of children of any age.
· The Panel strongly recommends
against the exposure from wireless systems of pregnant women.”
“Another misunderstanding is the use of scientific
publications (as the tobacco industry did for many years) as 'weights' to
balance each other. But you can NEVER balance a report showing a negative
health effect with one showing nothing! This is a misunderstanding which, unfortunately,
is very often used both by the industrial representatives as well as official authorities.”
Joel Moskowitz,
Ph.D., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
“Based upon my review of the research of the health
effects associated with exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic
radiation (EMR), especially microwave radiation, I feel compelled to register
my concern that adoption of Wi-Fi in LAUSD classrooms is likely to put at risk
the health of many students and employees in the District.”
“…I was concerned about the health risks of unnecessarily
subjecting 660,000 children to 13,000 hours of Wi-Fi microwave radiation during
their K-12 school years.”
“I have been calling on the FCC to strengthen its standards
and testing procedures to protect the public and workers from the low-intensity,
non-thermal risks of RF EMR exposure that have been reported in hundreds, if
not thousands, of research studies. These include increased risk of neurological
and cardiovascular problems, sperm damage and male infertility, reproductive
health risks, and cancer.”
“The precautionary
principle should be applied to this critical policy decision. This principle, developed at a U.N.
environmental conference in 1992 states that in the absence of scientific
consensus if an action has a suspected risk of causing harm, the burden of proof it is not harmful falls
on those taking the action, and all reasonable measures to reduce the risk must
be taken. Internet access can be
provided to students through wires or optical fiber without installing Wi-Fi in
the classrooms.”
(Complete letter: http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/02/adoption-of-wi-fi-in-los-angeles-usd.html .)
(Complete letter: http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/02/adoption-of-wi-fi-in-los-angeles-usd.html .)
Cindy Sage, M.A.,
Sage Associates, Santa Barbara, CA
“The LAUSD will place hundreds of thousands of school
children at risk for illness, learning impairments and other health problems by
choosing a delivery technology that produces a toxic emission (radiofrequency
and microwave radiation) that has recently been classified as a Possible Human
Carcinogen.”
“There is overwhelming evidence that children are more
vulnerable than adults to many different exposures (Sly and Carpenter, 2012),
including RFR (Wiart et al, 2008), and that the diseases of greatest concern
are cancer and adverse effects on neurodevelopment. “
“Existing FCC safety standards are under formal review by
the FCC (Proceeding 03-137). The US
Government Accountability Office Report of 2012 recommends to the FCC that it
formally reassess, and, if appropriate, change it's current RF energy exposure limit
and mobile phone testing requirements related to likely usage configurations, particularly when phones are held against the
body (US GAO, 2012). The existing FCC public
safety standards cannot be presumed for purposes of the LAUSD decision on wireless
to be protective of public health under these circumstances. The existing safety limits do not protect
against chronic exposures nor against non-thermal effects of radiofrequency and
microwave radiation on human health.
They are specifically not protective of children or smaller-stature
individuals (they are developed to be suitable to protect a six-foot man (in
stature). They address acute, but not chronic exposures. And they are not protective against
biological effects of non-thermal low-intensity RFR exposures for either
children, adults, or the disabled.”
“LAUSD must incorporate appropriate measures to address
the recent World Health Organization International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) classification of RFR as a Possible Human Carcinogen before
subjecting widespread hundreds of thousands of its District personnel and
students to a preventable toxic exposure.
The WHO IARC classified RF
radiation as a Group 2B Possible Human Carcinogen; it joins the IARC classification
of ELF-EMF (Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields) as a Group 2B
Possible Human Carcinogen. The evidence
for carcinogenicity for RFR was primarily from cell phone/brain tumor studies
but IARC applies this classification to all RFR exposures.”
“New scientific studies of radiofrequency radiation of
the kind and at the levels associated with wireless classroom environments
report that chronic, whole-body RFR exposure at levels as low as 0.003
microwatts per square centimeter result in adverse health effects on children
and adolescents (Thomas et al 2008; Heinrich et al 2010; Thomas et al 2010;
Mohler et al 2010). Wireless classrooms will create unavoidable and involuntary
exposure to RFR at levels shown to adversely affect memory, learning, cognition,
attention, concentration and behavior to school occupants. No level of RFR exposure has been
conclusively determined to be safe.”
“LAUSD should not encourage or mandate the use of
wireless devices like iPads or wireless computers with associated wireless
access points installed in classrooms; or cell phones in learning environments
on LAUSD properties. There is evidence that is sufficient to warn against
chronic use of wireless devices near or worn on the body related to reproductive
organs in both males and females (See Footnote 1).”
Other Submissions
Numerous other individuals submitted written testimony in
opposition to the LAUSD WiFi plan including Stephanie and Jeff Austin, Liz
Barris, Mary Beth Brangan (Ecological Options Network), Susan Brinchman (Center
for Electrosmog Prevention), Merry Callahan, Sue Chiang (Center for
Environmental Health), Linda Ewart (Citizens for Safe Technology), C. Gartz,
Shane Gregory, Kim Hahn, Joshua Hart (Stop Smart Meters), Kawartha Safe
Technology Initiative, Elizabeth Kelley, Barbara Li Santi, Ellen Marks
(California Brain Tumor Association), Kiki Iwata and Gail Nicol, Garril Page,
Ray Pealer, Sharon Phillips, Deb Rubin, Victoria Siever, Toni Stein
(Environmental Health Trust), K. Sundmark, R. Paul Sundmark, and Diane
Whitmire.
The testimony in opposition to this policy is available at:
The testimony in opposition to this policy is available at:
http://www.wifiinschools.com/lausd-testimony.html
March 11, 2013
Dear School Board Members:
I wish to bring to your attention a press release I distributed today as it is relevant to the District's Technology Plan. At a recent meeting, the Board decided to adopt a Wi-Fi system in the LA Unified schools against the recommendations of some American health experts as well as the Council of Europe:
http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/02/testimony-in-opposition-to-lausd-wi-fi.html and
http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/03/council-of-europe-called-for-council-of.html.
As you may know, the FCC's regulatory standard protects the population from thermal exposure to microwave radiation from wireless equipment but not from low-intensity, non-thermal exposures.
Since the District ignored these warnings and intends to install wireless networks in the schools, I suggest you consider a requirement that the systems be designed consistent with the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle in order to minimize potential health risks to students and staff. It would be prudent for the Board to follow this course of action based upon the precautionary principle.
In 2003, a major telecommunications company acknowledged in a patent filing that exposure to low intensity, non-thermal wireless radiation is carcinogenic. The technology described in this patent could substantially reduce microwave radiation exposure from a local wireless network. Although I have not done a patent search, I would imagine that the wireless industry holds numerous patents that could reduce microwave radiation exposure from wireless local networks. Unfortunately, the industry has little incentive to apply these patents to extant technology because the FCC has been lax in its regulation of microwave radiation.
The District could become a model for the nation by adopting a Wi-Fi system and distributing tablets/laptops that are compliant with the ALARA principle. School districts and their students throughout the country could also benefit if the Board requires the wireless industry to make this option available to the public.
Sincerely,
Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.
Wireless Industry's Patented System to Reduce Cancer Risk from Wireless Local Networks Never Adopted
A major telecom company patented a system to reduce "electrosmog" from wireless local networks to reduce cancer risks associated with non-thermal exposures to microwave radiation. The industry has known the risks for many years but has failed to act. Joel M. Moskowitz, PRLog (Press Release) - Mar 11, 2013
Swisscom AG, a major telecommunications provider in Switzerland, filed U.S. and international patent applications for an innovative system to reduce “electrosmog” from wireless local networks (i.e., Wi-Fi) in 2003.
This patent application acknowledged the cancer risk from exposure to wireless radiation eight years before the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that radiofrequency energy, including cell phone and Wi-Fi radiation, is a “possible carcinogen” to humans, like DDT and lead.
Furthermore, the application acknowledged that low-intensity, non-thermal exposures to wireless radiation is genotoxic. This is critical because the current U.S. regulatory standard for wireless radiation, established in 1996, does not protect us from non-thermal exposures ...
To see entire news release: http://www.prlog.org/12094566
March 25, 2013
On March 19, the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, an international association of physicians and other professionals, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Unified School District that makes the following recommendation:
The letter discusses why precaution is warranted:
"There is consistent emerging science that shows people, especially children are affected by the increasing exposure to wireless radiation. In September 2010, theJournal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine ‐ Fertility and Sterility reported that only four hours of exposure to a standard laptop using WiFi caused DNA damage to human sperm."
"In May 2011, the World Health Organization elevated exposure to wireless radiation, including WiFi, onto the Class 2b list of Carcinogens."
"In October 2012, the AAEM issued a public warning about WiFi in schools that
'Adverse health effects from wireless radio frequency fields, such as learning disabilities, altered immune responses, and headaches, clearly exist and are well documented in the scientific literature. Safer technology, such as use of hardwiring, is strongly recommended in schools.'”
"In December 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics ‐ representing 60,000 pediatricians, wrote to Congress requesting it update the safety levels of microwave radiation exposure especially for children and pregnant women."
"The WiFi systems in schools are typically hundreds of times more powerful than the home consumer systems you may be familiar with. They are also dozens of times more powerful than the cafe and restaurant systems you may have beenexposed to. The WiFi systems in schools are necessarily more powerful than anymicrowave communication systems in any other setting because they are requiredto run hundreds of computers simultaneously. They are also exposing children ‐ the most vulnerable to microwave radiation ‐ to extended periods all day, for their entire childhood."
"This is an unprecedented exposure with unknown outcome on the health and reproductive potential of a generation."
"To install this system in Los Angeles risks a widespread public health question that the medical system is not yet prepared to answer."
The Academy forewarns the District, "caution must be exercised to prevent a potential public health disaster."
"It is unlikely that there are currently enough doctors in Los Angeles County familiar with the biological effects of microwave radiation to diagnose and treat the numbers of children who will potentially become symptomatic from exposure to your wireless system should you elect to install it. Statistics show that you can expect an immediate reaction in 3% of your students and time‐delayed reactions in 30% of them. This will also include teachers."
CEO Wireless Letter from the Bioinitiative Working Group
[The BioInitiative Working Group consists of 29 scientists from ten nations.]
On behalf of the BioInitative Working Group, we are writing to express our concern about the views expressed by CEOs from Google, Dell, Apple, Adobe, eBay, Facebook, the George Lucas Educational Foundation and others to the FCC supporting wireless technologies in schools ....
Saturating schools with wireless technology will likely create unnecessary liability for municipalities and result in a loss of public trust and confidence in the corporations that push their wireless products with a blind eye toward health concerns.
Epidemiological studies show links between radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure and cancers, neurological disorders, hormonal changes, symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity (EHS) and more. Laboratory studies show that RFR exposure increases risk of cancer, abnormal sperm, learning and memory deficits, and heart irregularities. Fetal exposures in both animal and human studies result in altered brain development in the young offspring, with disruption in learning, memory and behavior.
The brain development of a fetus can be impaired by in-utero exposure to a pregnant woman. The evidence for these statements is based on hundreds of published, peer-reviewed scientific studies that report adverse effects at levels much lower than current FCC public safety limits. WiFi is schools, in contrast to wired internet connections, will increase risk of neurologic impairment and long-term risk of cancer in students. Corporations cannot avoid responsibility simply by asserting compliance with existing legal, but outdated and inadequate FCC public safety limits ...
Canadians for Safe Technology (C4ST)– WiFi in Schools
Collaborative for High Performance Schools. 2014 US-CHPS New Construction and Renovation Criteria: Low EMF Best Practices (pdf). http://bit.ly/loEMF14CHPS
Collaborative for High Performance Schools: EMF in Schools Summary
http://healthybuildingscience.com/2015/01/21/emf-in-schools/
Council of Europe: Restrict Wi-Fi and Mobile Phone Use in Schools
March 11, 2013
Dear School Board Members:
I wish to bring to your attention a press release I distributed today as it is relevant to the District's Technology Plan. At a recent meeting, the Board decided to adopt a Wi-Fi system in the LA Unified schools against the recommendations of some American health experts as well as the Council of Europe:
http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/02/testimony-in-opposition-to-lausd-wi-fi.html and
http://saferemr.blogspot.com/2013/03/council-of-europe-called-for-council-of.html.
As you may know, the FCC's regulatory standard protects the population from thermal exposure to microwave radiation from wireless equipment but not from low-intensity, non-thermal exposures.
Since the District ignored these warnings and intends to install wireless networks in the schools, I suggest you consider a requirement that the systems be designed consistent with the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle in order to minimize potential health risks to students and staff. It would be prudent for the Board to follow this course of action based upon the precautionary principle.
In 2003, a major telecommunications company acknowledged in a patent filing that exposure to low intensity, non-thermal wireless radiation is carcinogenic. The technology described in this patent could substantially reduce microwave radiation exposure from a local wireless network. Although I have not done a patent search, I would imagine that the wireless industry holds numerous patents that could reduce microwave radiation exposure from wireless local networks. Unfortunately, the industry has little incentive to apply these patents to extant technology because the FCC has been lax in its regulation of microwave radiation.
The District could become a model for the nation by adopting a Wi-Fi system and distributing tablets/laptops that are compliant with the ALARA principle. School districts and their students throughout the country could also benefit if the Board requires the wireless industry to make this option available to the public.
Sincerely,
Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.
Wireless Industry's Patented System to Reduce Cancer Risk from Wireless Local Networks Never Adopted
A major telecom company patented a system to reduce "electrosmog" from wireless local networks to reduce cancer risks associated with non-thermal exposures to microwave radiation. The industry has known the risks for many years but has failed to act. Joel M. Moskowitz, PRLog (Press Release) - Mar 11, 2013
Swisscom AG, a major telecommunications provider in Switzerland, filed U.S. and international patent applications for an innovative system to reduce “electrosmog” from wireless local networks (i.e., Wi-Fi) in 2003.
This patent application acknowledged the cancer risk from exposure to wireless radiation eight years before the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that radiofrequency energy, including cell phone and Wi-Fi radiation, is a “possible carcinogen” to humans, like DDT and lead.
Furthermore, the application acknowledged that low-intensity, non-thermal exposures to wireless radiation is genotoxic. This is critical because the current U.S. regulatory standard for wireless radiation, established in 1996, does not protect us from non-thermal exposures ...
To see entire news release: http://www.prlog.org/12094566
March 25, 2013
On March 19, the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, an international association of physicians and other professionals, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Unified School District that makes the following recommendation:
"do not add to the burden of public health by installing blanket wireless internet connections in Los Angeles schools. Hardwired internet connections are not only safer, they are stronger, and more secure."
The letter discusses why precaution is warranted:
"There is consistent emerging science that shows people, especially children are affected by the increasing exposure to wireless radiation. In September 2010, theJournal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine ‐ Fertility and Sterility reported that only four hours of exposure to a standard laptop using WiFi caused DNA damage to human sperm."
"In May 2011, the World Health Organization elevated exposure to wireless radiation, including WiFi, onto the Class 2b list of Carcinogens."
"In October 2012, the AAEM issued a public warning about WiFi in schools that
stated:
'Adverse health effects from wireless radio frequency fields, such as learning disabilities, altered immune responses, and headaches, clearly exist and are well documented in the scientific literature. Safer technology, such as use of hardwiring, is strongly recommended in schools.'”
"In December 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics ‐ representing 60,000 pediatricians, wrote to Congress requesting it update the safety levels of microwave radiation exposure especially for children and pregnant women."
"The WiFi systems in schools are typically hundreds of times more powerful than the home consumer systems you may be familiar with. They are also dozens of times more powerful than the cafe and restaurant systems you may have beenexposed to. The WiFi systems in schools are necessarily more powerful than anymicrowave communication systems in any other setting because they are requiredto run hundreds of computers simultaneously. They are also exposing children ‐ the most vulnerable to microwave radiation ‐ to extended periods all day, for their entire childhood."
"This is an unprecedented exposure with unknown outcome on the health and reproductive potential of a generation."
"To install this system in Los Angeles risks a widespread public health question that the medical system is not yet prepared to answer."
"It is unlikely that there are currently enough doctors in Los Angeles County familiar with the biological effects of microwave radiation to diagnose and treat the numbers of children who will potentially become symptomatic from exposure to your wireless system should you elect to install it. Statistics show that you can expect an immediate reaction in 3% of your students and time‐delayed reactions in 30% of them. This will also include teachers."
The full text of this letter is available at:
Resources on
WiFi in the Schools
(Updated: 2/1/2017)
Inviting Discussion about Safer Tech Use in Schools
Katie Singer, An Electronic Silent Spring. Jan 27, 2017 http://bit.ly/2k9MYQh
Katie Singer, An Electronic Silent Spring. Jan 27, 2017 http://bit.ly/2k9MYQh
Screens in Schools are a $60 Billion Hoax
Nicholas Kadaras. TIME Magazine. Aug 31, 2016. http://ti.me/2bIp6Ce
Is WiFi in Schools Safe?
Nicholas Kadaras. TIME Magazine. Aug 31, 2016. http://ti.me/2bIp6Ce
Is WiFi in Schools Safe?
Brian Spero, Boston Parents Paper, undated. http://bit.ly/1LYPgvu
Wi Fi in Schools: Are we Playing it Safe with our Kids?
Cindy Russell, MD, The Bulletin (Santa Clara County/Monterey County Medical Association), March/April 2015, pp. 16-21. http://bit.ly/1HtJ9eU
CEO Wireless Letter from the Bioinitiative Working Group
September 17, 2014
[The BioInitiative Working Group consists of 29 scientists from ten nations.]
On behalf of the BioInitative Working Group, we are writing to express our concern about the views expressed by CEOs from Google, Dell, Apple, Adobe, eBay, Facebook, the George Lucas Educational Foundation and others to the FCC supporting wireless technologies in schools ....
Saturating schools with wireless technology will likely create unnecessary liability for municipalities and result in a loss of public trust and confidence in the corporations that push their wireless products with a blind eye toward health concerns.
Epidemiological studies show links between radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure and cancers, neurological disorders, hormonal changes, symptoms of electrical hypersensitivity (EHS) and more. Laboratory studies show that RFR exposure increases risk of cancer, abnormal sperm, learning and memory deficits, and heart irregularities. Fetal exposures in both animal and human studies result in altered brain development in the young offspring, with disruption in learning, memory and behavior.
The brain development of a fetus can be impaired by in-utero exposure to a pregnant woman. The evidence for these statements is based on hundreds of published, peer-reviewed scientific studies that report adverse effects at levels much lower than current FCC public safety limits. WiFi is schools, in contrast to wired internet connections, will increase risk of neurologic impairment and long-term risk of cancer in students. Corporations cannot avoid responsibility simply by asserting compliance with existing legal, but outdated and inadequate FCC public safety limits ...
Other Resources
Ahonen, M. & Koppel, T. (2012). Mobile Learning and
Health-Risk Management of Pulsed Microwave Technologies. In Specht et al. (Eds.) mLearn 2012, Mobile and Contextual Learning, Proceedings of
the 11th International Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning 2012
Helsinki, Finland. 134-139.
Many schools and educational institutions are using wireless Wi-Fi and Tablet technologies in their education. Recently WHO IARC classified radiofrequency (RF) radiation ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’. Currently guidance levels for electromagnetic fields (including RF) are based on thermal effects while effects have been reported on non-thermal levels. Possibly these biological, non-thermal effects are brain-related and affect cognition, memorizing and learning. We start by describing our measurement method used for Wi-Fi routers and laptop Wi-Fi antennas. Then a historical overview on thermal and non-thermal viewpoints is provided. The objective of this study is to quantify the actual RF radiation levels around Wi-Fi access points and laptop computers at educational facilities and to assess their compliance with the current thermal-only guidelines and also with precautionary, biological guidance levels. This paper ends to recommendations how to minimize radiation exposure in educational institutions.
Ahonen, M. Mobile Learning
and Health Risks—Implications for Pedagogical and Educational Practices (Based
on a presentation in 2008, updated in 2011). http://slidesha.re/1cECBIj
American Academy of Environmental Medicine –Statement on
WiFi in Schools
American Academy of Pediatrics – Protection of Children
and Pregnant Women from Wireless Radiation
Boston Parents Paper. "Is Wi-Fi in Schools Safe? Putting EMF exposure on your radar of potential health risks." http://bit.ly/2bVo5GcCanadians for Safe Technology (C4ST)– WiFi in Schools
Citizens for Safe Technology – WiFi (Schools, Children and
Families)
Collaborative for High Performance Schools. 2014 US-CHPS New Construction and Renovation Criteria: Low EMF Best Practices (pdf). http://bit.ly/loEMF14CHPS
Collaborative for High Performance Schools: EMF in Schools Summary
Council of Europe: Restrict Wi-Fi and Mobile Phone Use in Schools
http://www.saferemr.com/2013/03/council-of-europe-called-for-council-of.html
EMF-Portal - Search on "wifi" for summaries of more than 175 studies
EMF-Portal - Search on "wifi" for summaries of more than 175 studies
http://www.emf-portal.de/suche.php?l=e
EMR Policy Institute
http://www.emrpolicy.org/public_policy/schools/index.htm
Environmental Health Trust: School, Union, and PTA Actions
http://bit.ly/1MMxbmi
Greater Victoria Teachers' Association
http://gvta.net/index.php/health-safety/2013-02-20-23-22-17
Havas, Magda, Ph.D.
http://www.magdahavas.com/wifi-in-schools-and-health-effects/
Leszczynski, Dariusz, Ph.D., D.Sc. Wireless Radiation and Children's Health. Feb 24, 2017
http://bit.ly/2nBs4Kk
Manhattan Neighbors for Safer Telecommunications
http://manhattanneighbors.org/parents-schools/
Maryland Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council. WiFi Radiation in Schools in Maryland Final Report. December 13, 2016
http://bit.ly/MDWifireport
New Jersey Education Association. Minimize health risks from electronic devices. Sep 2016.
No Radiation For You
http://www.norad4u.com/knowledge/wifi-in-schools
Powerwatch
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20130214-norwich-wifi.asp
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/pdfs/20071210_wifi_signals.pdf
Practice Safe Tech - Letters from experts pertaining to Wi-Fi in schools updated Dec 2016,154 pages
http://bit.ly/schoolwifiletters
WiFi in Schools
EMR Policy Institute
http://www.emrpolicy.org/public_policy/schools/index.htm
Environmental Health Trust: School, Union, and PTA Actions
http://bit.ly/1MMxbmi
Greater Victoria Teachers' Association
http://gvta.net/index.php/health-safety/2013-02-20-23-22-17
Havas, Magda, Ph.D.
http://www.magdahavas.com/wifi-in-schools-and-health-effects/
Leszczynski, Dariusz, Ph.D., D.Sc. Wireless Radiation and Children's Health. Feb 24, 2017
http://bit.ly/2nBs4Kk
Manhattan Neighbors for Safer Telecommunications
http://manhattanneighbors.org/parents-schools/
Maryland Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council. WiFi Radiation in Schools in Maryland Final Report. December 13, 2016
http://bit.ly/MDWifireport
New Jersey Education Association. Minimize health risks from electronic devices. Sep 2016.
No Radiation For You
http://www.norad4u.com/knowledge/wifi-in-schools
Parents Against WiFi in Schools
Powerwatch
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20130214-norwich-wifi.asp
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/pdfs/20071210_wifi_signals.pdf
Practice Safe Tech - Letters from experts pertaining to Wi-Fi in schools updated Dec 2016,154 pages
http://bit.ly/schoolwifiletters
SafeinSchool.org
http://www.safeinschool.org/
Singer, Katie. Inviting Discussion About Safer Tech Use in Schools. Feb 2017.
Singer, Katie. Inviting Discussion About Safer Tech Use in Schools. Feb 2017.
Stop UMTS! – WiFi in Schools
WiFi in Schools
WiFi in Schools Australia
WiFi in Schools United Kingdom
Wireless Watch – WiFi in Schools
