Learning occurs when brain cells are able to freely communicate with each other. Science now shows that Wi-fi signals disrupt inter-cellular communication[1] and impede learning.

Although individual learning, taking advantage of the Internet and rich multi-media resources, is a good idea in principle, we believe that using wireless-enabled devices to do so is adding unnecessary danger to children and their teachers particularly when wired and pluggable devices+ can be used virtually risk-free. (+ e.g. see HHL07 Guide P17 for digimemo USB and espresso SD Card devices)

In this conference you will be tempted by wireless hand held devices which use the same microwave emitting technologies that mobile phones do - and thus carry the same health risks (although, no doubt, you will not be told this by the conference speakers or equipment vendors).

Facts to Consider:

• Wi-fi has never been pre-market safety tested, nor were mobile phones or other wireless devices.
• Wireless/Mobile technologies (Wi-fi, Bluetooth, HSDPA, 3G etc.) all use microwave frequencies

• Independent Scientific studies have consistently shown health effects from microwave emissions well below currently allowed levels[2,3,4]

• The UK Department of Health's own advice is that "the widespread use of mobile phones by children (under the age of 16) should be discouraged for non-essential calls"[5,6]

• It has been shown on Panorama[14] that the radiation intensity inside a classroom with 30 Wi-Fi laptops is 3 times higher than as a result of being in the main beam from a mobile phone mast antenna at a typical distance.

• Wireless computers, laptops and routers constantly emit pulsed microwave radiation over (and through) students' and teachers' bodies even when not being actively used.

• Sir William Stewart reiterated that they (Stewart Committee) had found evidence for genetic damage and cancer at exposures below the guidelines[5] and he is now calling for an enquiry into Wi-fi in schools[14].

• The German government is already advising its citizens to use wired internet connections instead of Wi-Fi, and landlines instead of mobile phones[7]

• Executive Director of the EU's European Environment Agency said last month 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.[8]

• World Health Organisation's EMF Project has been funded by Industry* and has not issued health warnings despite the ever increasing mass of evidence[11,12] to justify doing so - their decisions have been made on out of date and biased data.[9] (* Admitted by Mike Repacholi, it's ex-head and speaker at HHL07)

• The exposure guidelines (ICNIRP) only protect against short term heat shocks and burns (heating effects). They are not designed to protect against long term exposure.[10]

• Furthermore, Industry is perpetuating the myth that only the heating effects from microwaves can cause health problems, as opposed to non-heating (biological) effects[13 , 15 ]. Current 'ICNIRP' exposure guidelines used in the UK ignore non-heating effects.[10 ]

With Adult and even teenage adoption of mobile phones at saturation point, children - with their less-developed and more vulnerable bodies - are being targeted by companies such as O2 and T-Mobile (who are both heavily involved in HHL07) as an easy way of increasing sales and hence their revenue.

We hope that this information is useful and that it persuades you to put the safety of pupils and staff first and to keep all your hand held devices and networks wired.

Mast Sanity - http://mastsanity.org

References

[1] http://www.w-a-r-t.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/2007_carlo_jersey_evidence_health2.pdf (P48) Dr. George Carlo evidence to States of Jersey Health, Social Services and Housing Sub-Panel Telephone Mast Review 26th February 2007.

[2] Ecolog Report - Mobile Telecommunications and Health - Reveiw of the Current Scientific Research in view of Precautionary Health Protection, Ecolog-Institut April 2000 - sponsored by T-Mobil (Translated from German into English by Andrea Klein 2007) - http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/ecologsum.php

[3] The Bioinitiative Report - http://www.bioinitiative.org

[4] Joining the Dots - Overview of Public Health Trends in Australia - http://www.mastsanity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1...

[5] ,[6] The Government's expert group on mobile phones recommendation, from the leaflet Department of Health Leaflet: Mobile phones and health

- Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones Report "The Stewart Report" http://www.iegmp.org.uk/

- Department of Health Leaflet: Mobile phones and health

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPo...

N.B. The Department of Education Guidelines and the Stewart Report state that "... the beam of greatest RF [i.e. microwave] intensity ...should not be permitted to fall on any part of the school grounds or buildings without agreement from the school and parents".

[7] The German government is already advising its citizens to use wired internet connections instead of Wi-Fi, and landlines instead of mobile phones - http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/bundesregierung.php

[8] Europe's top environmental watchdog is calling 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, smoking and lead in petrol.

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, the EEA's executive director, said yesterday: "Recent research and reviews on the long-term effects of radiations from mobile telecommunications suggest that it would be prudent for health authorities to recommend actions to reduce exposures, especially to vulnerable groups, such as children." - http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/radiation-risk-from-everyday-devices-asse... and http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10463870

[9] Repacholi and the WHO - http://www.mastsanity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1...

[10] Barrie Trower on ICNIRP - http://www.mastsanity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1...

[11] Essex Study on MS - http://www.mastsanity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1...

[12] MTHR on Powerwatch http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20070926_mthr_update.asp

[13] Mobile Phone Industry view ('heating only' - see also [10] above) - http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/information/fact_sheets/public_exposure_guideli...

[14] Panorama "Wi-Fi: a warning signal" Transcript - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6683969.stm

[15] Non-thermal bioelectromagnetic effects explained - http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/resonance1.php