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Nearly 2 Years ago Mast
Sanity welcomed the announcement from the UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA)
that more research was to be done into Wi-Fi[1] after Sir William Stewart requested an
enquiry into Wi-Fi in schools.[5]
However we believed at the
time that this ‘Research' was merely a smokescreen, to appear to be doing something without actually doing
anything new.
And so it has proved to be.
Mast Sanity asked in 2007[12]:
1) What is this 'research'
going to be about?
Are the HPA only taking
measurements of Wi-fi signal levels (as they state in their press release)? Or
are they going to look to see if there are any health effects on children
[already being exposed to Wi-fi] in schools [across the UK] by taking blood
samples, measuring heart rates and brain response (EEG's) and doing health
surveys?
We already know what the [microwave
radiation] levels emitted from the Wi-fi laptops and routers are. OFCOM (one of
the HPA's 'partner' Agencies) has already taken measurements in schools [in
Birmingham].[11]
Powerwatch have already done
this [on the Panorama investigation into Wi-fi in schools in 2007] [8]
as have various campaign groups. It is no mystery.
What the HPA did[2]:
Scientists at the Health
Protection Agency began a research project on wireless local area networks
(WLAN) [Wi-Fi] in late 2007. One aspect of public concern over Wi-Fi is its use
by children in schools. So as part of its study into the technology scientists
set up 15 laptop computers commonly used in UK schools and investigated the
strength of the radiowaves [microwave radiation] around them. ... Computer
modelling is also being carried out to learn more about how the radio waves are
absorbed in the body. [The HPA results concur with those taken by Powerwatch
and measured by the other agencies above and yet it took them 2 years and cost
the taxpayer £300,000!]
NO real tests carried out on already exposed children for health effects
NO blood samples
NO heart rate measuring
NO EEG measurements taken
IGNORED the constant emissions from the Wi-fi routers also present
IGNORED a request in 2007 to do a proper study from 8 members of the HPA EMF
Discussion Group [14]
Mast Sanity noted and asked
in 2007:
2) The HPA are still going
to compare the levels with the outdated ICNIRP guidelines.
We know that the ICNIRP
guidelines only protect against short term heating effects and are not
appropriate to protect against cancer and genetic [i.e. biological,
non-heating] damage over the long-term. This was highlighted in the recent
Bioinitiative Report[3].
Sir William Stewart also
said the World Health Organisation (WHO) are wrong in their evaluation of the
science behind the guidelines[5]
and the Stewart report[4] said that relying solely on the
guidelines will not protect people from biological (non-heating) effects that
may become apparent.
Mast Sanity spokesperson
Yasmin Skelt says "Independent Scientific studies have consistently
shown health effects from microwave emissions well below currently allowed
levels[3,6,7] - so what is the point of comparing emissions against
these outdated ICNIRP guidelines?"
What the HPA did:
The tests were carried
out in a specially adapted laboratory at the HPA's Centre for Radiation,
Chemicals and Environmental Hazards in Oxfordshire. The effective powers in the
direction of maximum emission were in the range 17 to 57 milliwatts (mW) and
well within the 100 mW limit set for Europe [ICNIRP]. Dr Simon Mann ... said:
"Our findings are consistent with the HPA position that exposures to the
radio waves from Wi-Fi equipment are expected to be well within
internationally-accepted exposure guidelines [ICNIRP] and less than levels from
mobile phones."
So - This
has been a pointless exercise in spin by the HPA at the Tax Payers' expense.
All it shows is that the levels of Wi-fi microwave radiation will not greatly heat-up
children in their class rooms. We already knew that. We said so 2 years ago.
It does not prove
that Wi-Fi is safe.
The following points (and many more) have still not
been addressed:-
·
The Department of Education
guidelines state that a school should not be in the main beam of a Mobile Phone
Mast.[4] The microwave
radiation intensity in a classroom with Wi-fi is the same order of magnitude as
if the schools were in the main beam of a mobile phone mast.[2]
·
Philip Parkin, General Secretary of VOICE, said [15]:
"I have concerns about the health of
both pupils and staff...I am concerned that so many wireless networks are being
installed in schools and colleges without any understanding of the possible
long-term consequences."
-
The German government is
already advising its citizens to use wired internet connections instead of
Wi-Fi, and landlines instead of mobile phones[9]. Why isn't the HPA
doing the same?
-
The Public Health Dept of
the Salzburg Government has issued advice not to use WLAN in schools and
nurseries [16]
-
The Frankfurt Local Education Authority have
banned wireless networks in schools as they ‘did not wish to conduct a "large scale human experiment"
-
The Bavarian Parliament
recommend to all schools in the land to refrain from installing wireless LAN
networks. [17]
-
The Executive Director of
the EU's European Environment Agency said that, "it would be prudent for
health authorities to recommend actions to reduce exposures, especially to
vulnerable groups, such as children."
The Agency called for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation
from Wi-Fi, mobile phones and their masts.
It suggests that delay could lead to a health crisis similar to those
caused by asbestos and smoking[10]. Our government is increasing our
exposure to microwave radiation, not decreasing it.
Mast Sanity trustee Yasmin
Skelt said back in 2007 "Why is the HPA happy to increase Wi-fi use in schools when it says it knows
little about its health effects - in effect our children are guinea pigs for
its own research." This is still the case.
Mast Sanity call for the UK
Government to remove Wi-Fi from all UK schools[13] -
Our children should not be
made to be guinea pigs.
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