Physician group adds weight to warnings of Wi-Fi in schools

[Image credit] MARK WIERZBICKI/QMI AGENCY

By Kristy Kirkup, Parliamentary Bureau,
St. Catharines Standard

Friday, October 5, 2012 6:12:25 EDT PM

OTTAWA - Schools should not install wireless Internet systems because the technology is linked to learning disabilities, headaches and immune system deficiencies, according to an international association of physicians.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine, which is holding a conference on the brain and nervous system this week in Florida, says safer alternatives should be used instead of Wi-Fi.

"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," the academy said in a statement on its website. "Safer technology, such as use of hard-wiring, is strongly recommended in schools."

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also called for a review of government safety limits for electromagnetic radiation because of the growing number of wireless devices that are part of children's lives.

In 2011, the World Health Organization classified radiation emitted by wireless devices, including cellphones and wireless Internet, as possibly carcinogenic. Despite this classification, Health Canada still says Wi-Fi is safe.

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, an Ottawa-based doctor who works an environmental health clinic, says it is important to practise precaution, especially with kids. She is the former president of AAEM.

"They're more vulnerable. Their skulls are smaller, their brains are still developing. We don't want to start treating any permanent damage in these kids," Armstrong said. "If they're going to have trouble learning while at school or if they're developing immune system problems ... we don't need to contribute more to it with something we can prevent."

Tory MP Terence Young has called for a review of Safety Code 6, the framework for industry guidelines on radiation exposure in Canada.

"My constituents believe that Safety Code 6 is outdated, and there are a number of studies that have come out in the last year that they haven't taken into consideration," Young said in an interview with QMI Agency.

Kristy.Kirkup@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter: @kkirkup

[Source, Web Archive] Physician group adds weight to warnings of Wi-Fi in schools

Educational and Informational Purposes: All information on this site and all links that are linked to from StayOnTheTruth.com represent solely the opinions of their producers.

This information and links to more information are made available to you as a resource for your own research and evaluation not as an endorsement.

StayOnTheTruth.com is not in the business of persuading you or anyone else to believe anything that that is presented linked to from this site; however, it does encourage you to use all available resources to form your own judgement about very important things that affect your life.

Fair Dealing and Fair Use Notice: The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of scientific, environmental, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair dealing' or 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in copyright law. In accordance with the Fair Dealing or Fair Use intention, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair dealing' or 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal or technical advice.

Landline Telephone

(416) 551-7259
Please Note:
Landline Telephone cannot receive a text message and without any notification if sent.

Mailing Address

Dianne Knight, B.A.
18-3555 Don Mills Rd.
Suite 157
North York, Ontario, Canada
M2H 3N3