NetStumbler

Wi-Fi Health Study Gets Go Ahead

Kristin Abraham — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:57:14 +0000

The BBC has announced that the Health Protection Agency is going to begin a systematic research program on how WiFi is used. The goal of this study is to determine how WiFi is being used and the possible radiation exposure that results from such use.

Spokesmen from the HPA believe that the study will confirm the safety of using WiFi, but feel that since England’s Chief Medical Officer suggested children limit their non-essential cell phone use due to potential exposure to radiation that a study into the radition emmissions of WiFi was the next logical step.

Results of the study will be publicly available, but officials reinforce their belief that WiFi is safe.
Via [bbc.co.uk]

Schools Want Urgent Wi-Fi Advice

Kristin Abraham — Tue, 29 May 2007 07:20:14 +0000

Debate over the safety of Wi-Fi radiation levels in Britain continues. Britain has adopted municipal Wi-Fi fairly well and has added millions of users and several wireless cities to its roster, but they’re now finding the debate over health and safety is spreading. Stirring the pot of contention is the BBC program Panorama, which is questioning the level of control over Wi-Fi in the classroom. Britain’s Health Protection Agency acknowledges the concerns of citizens and vows to continue research into the topic, but at the same time reassures communities by saying that the networks produce very low power which does not represent a health risk. This ambiguity has served to alarm more than placate the public and watchdog groups have been set up to demand evidence of safety.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]

Wi-Fi: A Warning Signal

Kristin Abraham — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:26:10 +0000

Municipal Wi-Fi in Britain doesn’t seem to be hitting the same stumbling blocks that it’s American counterpart. With millions of subscribers and entire cities going Wi-Fi, Britain has developed a new concern… health risks.

The radiation produced from a Wi-Fi tower is similar to that from a cell phone tower. And in 2000 Sir William Stewart, current Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, led a study into the effects of cell phone tower radiation and determined that there was enough reason to be concerned and suggested a precautionary approach to putting towers near schools. Radiation levels are much lower than the safety limits in Britain but with entire schools going Wi-Fi there is an increased radiation level. Currently, there are studies being performed across the world and the jury is still out on this possible health problem.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]

Wi-Fi: Children At Risk From ‘Electronic Smog’

Eliza Villarino — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:17:07 +0000

Sir William Stewart, head of the Health Protection Agency in the U.K., wants a probe on whether the use of Wi-Fi in schools poses any danger on students. Such action is also being sought by the Professional Association of Teachers — the group has called on Secretary of State for Education Alan Johnson to launch an official investigation into the issue. Current figures indicate that wireless networks are now deployed in over half of primary schools and four-fifths of secondary schools in the country.

The calls mirror the growing concerns that Wi-Fi has ill effects on health some scientists believe it can cause cancer and premature senility. According to Professor Olle Johansson of Karolinska Institute in Sweden, scientific literature confirming Wi-Fi’s “adverse health effects” abounds. He remarked: “Do we not know enough already to say, ‘Stop!’?” Dr. Gerd Oberfeld, chief of the environmental health and medicine in Salzburg, agreed and described the technology as “dangerous.” Authorities from the said Austrian province is now mulling a ban and, has been advocating against installing Wi-Fi in schools over the last 16 months.
Via [news.independent.co.uk]

Wi-Fi: Children At Risk From ‘Electronic Smog’

Eliza Villarino — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:55:54 +0000