Children are thought to be more vulnerable to radio-frequency radiation emissions than adults because their skulls are still growing and are thinner, which is why parents have protested against the erection of mobile phone masts near schools. However,  it looks like parents may have been missing a greater evil in their midst. In the UK a BBC Panorama investigation has discovered that Wi-Fi networks in schools can give off three times more signal radiation than mobile phone masts.

Researchers for the BBC’s Panorama program visited a comprehensive school in Norwich and measured the strength of a radiation signal from a classroom Wi-Fi laptop. They found that the maximum signal strength was three times higher than that of a typical mobile phone mast.

Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson, who was interviewed for the program, said: “There needs to be an inquiry into whether there are dangers from Wi-Fi in schools.”

“It has been introduced without any investigation into its effects on people’s health. If it’s safe, people ought to provide data to prove it.”

He added that an independent assessment needed to be carried out.

The program contacted nearly 50 of these schools and claimed only one had been alerted that there might be possible health risks, some had been told there was no risk.

While the readings were 600 times below the government’s radiation safety limits, the program is expected to fuel the debate over potential risks of Wi-Fi – particularly among young children who could be under greater risk.

Following the BBC investigation, the Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, Sir William Stewart publicly called for a review of the health effects of Wi-Fi, which centers heavily on the adoption of wireless in schools.

Seventy per cent of secondary schools in the UK already have Wi-Fi and nearly 50 per cent of all primary schools do. He said: “I believe that there is a need for a review of the Wi-Fi and other areas. I think it’s timely for it to be done now.”

Current Government advice – from a report published by Sir William in 2000 – recommends that phone masts are not sited near schools, without consultation with parents and the school, because children are thought to be more vulnerable to radio frequency radiation emissions than adults. Health Protection Agency guidelines also state that masts should not be sited near schools because of a possible cancer link and other health risks.

Recent research has linked radiation from mobiles to cancer and brain damage, and children are thought to be more vulnerable than adults.

While the health risks associated with mobile phones and masts remain unproven, new concerns were raised last month after a study of seven sites reported higher cases of cancer, brain hemorrhages and other serious illnesses within 400 meters of the towers.

Philip Parkin, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, reiterates his concerns about the use of the technology in schools.

Mr Parkin said: “I think schools and parents will be very worried about it . . . I am asking for schools to consider very seriously whether they should be installing Wi-Fi networks now and this will make them think twice or three times before they do it.”

The UK Government states there is no health risk from Wi-Fi and cites the World Health Organization’s view that there are `no adverse health effects from low level, long-term exposure’.

However, Sir William believes they are wrong to provide this advice. In 2000 he was commissioned to produce a report to examine mobile phones, masts and health.

Speaking about the findings of that report, in relation to mobile phones, masts and health, he said: “… there may be changes, for example in cognitive function… there were some indications that there may be cancer inductions… there was some molecular biology changes within the cell and these were issues that we had to bear in mind.”

The Government relies on the data supplied by ICNIRP, an international group of scientists, for radiation safety limits.

But Panorama states ICNIRP does not take into account the biological effects of radio frequency radiation and bases exposure limits on a thermal effect.

Professor Henry Lai, a biologist from Washington University, reviewed all the experiments on mobile phones. He found health effects at similar levels of radiation to Wi-Fi in some of the studies. He said: “I think it’s about 50-50; 50% found an effect and 50% did not find an effect at all”

“I think it’s irresponsible to just set standards using a thermal standard.”

“If you set it just based on a thermal effect you are neglecting a large amount of data.”

On the other hand, some scientists have savaged a BBC TV investigation into the dangers of wireless internet networks, calling the program’s claims “grossly unscientific” and a “scare story”.

They said the claim is based on a spectacularly disingenuous presentation of the facts. And the irresponsible way in which the program was promoted will have needlessly raised fears among parents across the country.

The researchers apparently measured radiation strength 100 meters away from the base station and one meter away from the laptop.

One thing scientists know very well about electromagnetic waves is that as they move away from a source they weaken rapidly. At two meters away they will be four times weaker; at three meters away they will be nine times weaker, and so on. So making a comparison of two sources at such radically different distances is meaningless.

Panorama’s defense is that a child would never be one meter away from a base station, so the legitimate comparison is between the likely point where radiation from a base station would hit the ground and the place where she would use a laptop – right next to it.

Scientists generally believe that Wi-Fi ought to be safer than mobile phone radiation because Wi-Fi devices transmit over shorter distances and so can operate at lower power. The Health Protection Agency says a person sitting within a Wi-Fi hotspot for a year receives the same dose of radio waves as a person using a mobile phone for 20 minutes.

Related:

Let WiFi fry your brain or put down cables

Panorama "expert" defends Wi-Fi cancer scaremongering

Scientists reignite mobile phone cancer fears

Warning: keep Wi-Fi notebooks away from children’s laps

Arrested child porn offender blames Google

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Entry was posted on Monday, May 21st, 2007 at 11:49 pm under Technology.

Read more entries by Ruben Francia.
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