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UK Studies Health Risks of Wi-Fi
No one wants to believe that it might just be safe
Apparently you can never be too careful. At least that seems to be the case with trying to find a link between health problems (namely cancer) and exposure to radiation from wireless devices and Wi-Fi networks. Worries persist about the link despite the fact that studies have consistently been unable to make the connection.
quote:
“There is no scientific evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within ICNIRP [International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation] guidelines.”
That quote comes from the CEO of the Health Protection Agency in the UK, the ones heading a new study on the issue (after months of pushing for this kind of investigation). The study will place particular emphasis on possible health risks to children due to ongoing concerns about exposure in schools.
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HardwareGeek
join:2003-11-15
Brooklyn, NY

HardwareGeek

Member

Doesn't it take years to come up with any data

Most health studies I read about take 10 to 20 years. So I doubt there will be any data anytime soon proving or disproving that wi-fi is a health risk.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Doesn't it take years to come up with any data

said by HardwareGeek:

Most health studies I read about take 10 to 20 years. So I doubt there will be any data anytime soon proving or disproving that wi-fi is a health risk.
There have been studies done on non-ionizing radiation for decades and no proof has been found yet that "low power devices" can do any harm. While WiFi is relatively new, it isn't significantly different from other similar devices that have been used for decades.

Here is a good easy to understand web page on the issues of non-ionizing radiation and potential hazards. »www.hko.gov.hk/radiation ··· ss_e.htm

But you are right, in that if you want to rule out WiFi specifically, studies will take a very long time to provide definite lack of harm.

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7

Premium Member

Re: Doesn't it take years to come up with any data

Cell phones have been in use long enough that if there is, for example, a 10-year latency period for health effects, we should start seeing mass effects soon, if there will be any.

As you emphasize, most studies have not found short-term harmful effects from low-power sources. High power sources are known to be harmful (this is why a microwave oven is required to be sealed when in operation, for example).

Study of high-power sources and of long-term effects has been hindered by conflicts of interest. See for example, »globalresearch.ca/index. ··· aid=7025

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Accusers depend on "Can't prove the negative" to sow FUD

The Luddites always fall back on the old tried and true tactic of making accusations and then demanding the government, health authorities, wireless firms, etc prove that no harm can be possibly be done ever. »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne ··· ve_proof

In other words:
Accuser: "I say that WiFi harms me. Now prove it doesn't."

The only thing that scientists can do is prove that it HASN'T HARMED anyone. They can't prove that it will never harm anyone, but that is what the Luddites demand.

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

1 edit

swhx7

Premium Member

Re: Accusers depend on "Can't prove the negative" to sow FUD

Well, I can't claim to be a "luddite" such as you are denouncing. I'm more of a skeptical, scientifically-minded citizen who's probably better informed than the average.

As such, I'd like to see some studies that are free from conflicts of interest. This would rule out sponsors or researchers who are, or have some financial or career interest or dependence on:
  • businesses that profit from wireless devices;

  • government agencies that historically and routinely favor business interests over those of individual citizens or the public as a whole;

  • any study not peer-reviewed by disinterested experts for methodological and scientific soundness;

  • any entity that reserves the right to not release results of health-related studies it conducts or sponsors.
I suspect that there is little scientific literature in existence today, on the subject of radio frequency effects, that is free from such conflicts of interest (and likely causes or bias or concealment).

calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA

1 recommendation

calvoiper

Member

Re: Accusers depend on "Can't prove the negative" to sow FUD

Let's see, would you have preferred a world free of electricity (because electricity has indeed killed some people) or automobiles (which also sometimes kill people) or grape crushers (which also sometimes kill people) or tools (which also sometimes kill people) or man-made fire (which also sometimes kills people)?

The true nature of Luddites is that they seek to escape both all risk and all possibility of making a wrong decision. They abhor not only novelty, but also choice.

calvoiper
IndyDoug
join:2003-10-26
Indianapolis, IN

IndyDoug

Member

The biggest experiment in human history

We are undergoing the biggest human experiment in history. Time will tell soon enough of our constant exposure to low-level radiation does any harm.

JammerMan79
Premium Member
join:2004-05-13
Prince George, BC

JammerMan79

Premium Member

Re: The biggest experiment in human history

We've had 1000's of years to test constant low-level radiation exposure.. There's a giant radiation emitting ball that we're all exposed to daily. In case you couldn't figure it out... it's called the sun.
MTU
Premium Member
join:2005-02-15
San Luis Obispo, CA

MTU

Premium Member

RF is good for you

Highly unlikely you'll hear a govt. or business type admit anything harmful with RF. Too much of our 'security' and commerce depends on RF/EMR. Look back at the residents of St. George Utah during the NV nuke tests. So a few sheep and kids perish, and other have to get their thyroids excised. The gov. line was 'no comment' or 'no risk here'.

Ever consider just how much RF/EMF is part of the day to day? Been a pilot with years of being scanned by high-power radar at freq. from 50mhz to 100ghz. Watch the A/C transponder being interrogated & cavity oscillator responding. Watched a can of MEK 20 feet away explode when a nose radar was 'accidentally' activated on the ground. Walk through the 'security' halos at WalMart? Ever wonder how much energy is required to activate an RF tag?

Unlikely that an MD will tell you that your rare inner-ear tumor was caused by RF. They can only just conjecture that fatty diets cause heart disease.

It's up to you to figure out what of all this crap will do you, an yours, harm. Wonder why you're not supposed use an Ipod if you have a pacemaker?

K3SGM
- -... ...- -
Premium Member
join:2006-01-17
Columbia, PA

K3SGM

Premium Member

Re: RF is good for you

Ok, anyone here that stands and watches the popcorn popping in the microwave oven only 6 inches from your head every night, or even let their kids watch, please raise your right hand.

Unless the brain tumor in the left side of your brain has already destroyed your ability to control your right hand that is.

If that is the case, please raise your left hand.

JAXx
aka Stephen
Premium Member
join:2000-03-31
New York, NY

JAXx

Premium Member

Atmospheric Radiation is much worse

Atmospheric Radiation is much worse for you and there is no protection from it (except for UV). Life is dangerous and as they say, there is no getting out of it alive.....

james16
join:2001-02-26

james16

Member

Re: Atmospheric Radiation is much worse

Sure there are worse things that we cannot control, but that's no reason not to change the things we CAN control.

calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA

calvoiper

Member

Luddites of the world...

...you can significantly reduce your exposure to man-made radiation. Just be like Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) and live in a featureless shack, devoid of amenities or comforts, deep in the woods (but don't send the bombs.)

As for the rest of us, let us choose to be part of civilized society, acknowledging the risks thereof.

calvoiper