How many of you have had parents expressing concerns that the school’s wi-fi system may pose a threat to their child’s health? I suspect the number of queries is about to rise significantly as a result of the media coverage around tonight’s Panorama programme on BBC.
What’s the issue?
There have been anecdotal reports that the digital radio waves from mobile phone masts, personal mobile phones and wi-fi networks could cause lethargy, behaviour issues, concentration problems and even pose a cancer risk. Local campaigns to stop mobile phone masts being built near schools and amenities have long been grist to the mill for local newspapers, so much so that planning guidelines (since 2002) suggest that no mast should be built where the main beam of radiation would fall on a school. On the issue of concentration problems and lethargy, would it be wrong to suggest that other issues such as excessive use of computer games might be another explanation for the rise in reported cases of ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders?
On tonight’s programme, one school classroom was measured as having three times the level of radio-wave radiation than a mobile phone. However, it is important to point out that this is still some 600 times below the government published safety limit.
How should schools respond?
It is undoubtedly a difficult question, and much will depend on local feelings. Has there been an attempt to build a phone mast in the vicinity of the school that has aroused local opposition? Is it also worth asking whether objecting parents have wireless internet at home or allow their children to use mobile phones? Many scientists already recommend that children should not sit texting with mobile phones in their lap, and the same should apply to the use of wireless laptops in school (make it a policy?).
Bear in mind the following:
- There has been no scientific study that can concretely link wi-fi networks to specific health issues
- All school wi-fi networks operate at hundreds of times below government safety guidelines
However, as part of our duty of care we should also point out that the scientific research on the long term health effects of wi-fi radiation has simply not been done and should government guidelines change in the future then the school will take steps to ensure compliance.
The Health Protection Agency is very clear on wi-fi:
“On the basis of current scientific information WiFi equipment satisfies international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and therefore no reason why schools and others should not use WiFi equipment .”
The Stewart Report summary is also worth looking at. It did, however, note the possibility of biological effects at levels well below government guidelines, hence the advice not to allow children to use phones and wireless laptops in their laps.
Conclusion
At the moment there is no evidence to say that the use of wi-fi has any effect on health whatsoever and therefore this should not be a ground upon which to base a decision on whether to install wi-fi equipment or not. Children and adults are exposed to similar electromagnetic radiation every day from mobile phones, from neighbours’ wireless internet systems, from masts and from local and citywide wireless hotspots so school is just one other possible low level source.