iPads: How Safe Are Our Children?
TheGreenGazette
July-August 2013
In the past few years,
iPad has become many adults’ best friend and children’s
babysitter. It is used as a computer, eBook reader, camera,
video/music player, word processor, communication device, drawing
tool, game pad, and more.
Apple
says, “Read
all safety information below and operating instructions before using
iPad to avoid injury.” The safety
information provided with purchase is a small booklet
of 3 1/4" x 5", with text so tiny it is practically
illegible without magnifying glasses. As a result, most people have
never read the following:
“iPad
contains radio transmitters and receivers. When on, iPad sends
and receives radio frequency (RF) energy through its antenna.
The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® antennas are located behind the
screen to the left of the Home button, and behind the Apple
logo... A cellular antenna is located at the top
edge of iPad Wi-Fi+3G, when oriented with the Home
button at the bottom.”
When ifixit.com dissected
a Wi-Fi+3G iPad, they discovered not three but five antennas,
including the frame of the LCD screen being a giant antenna.
“...
to be sure that human exposure to RF energy does not exceed the FCC,
IC, and European Union guidelines, always follow these
instructions and precautions: Orient the device in portrait mode
with the Home button at the bottom of the display, or in
landscape mode with the cellular antenna (located under the
black edge at the top of the device) away from your body or
other objects...”
This means if you don’t
handle the iPad exactly as instructed, the RF radiation can exceed
governments’ limits for human exposure. Unfortunately, most parents
and teachers have no idea about this, and have never communicated the
manufacturer’s instructions to children who are using iPads.
The
user manual recommends:
“you
can further limit your exposure by limiting the amount of
time using iPad Wi-Fi+3G in wireless mode, since
time is a factor in how much exposure a person receives, and
by placing more distance between your body and iPad Wi-Fi
+ 3G, since exposure level drops off dramatically with distance.”
RF/EMF: 2B Possible
Carcinogen
In
2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the
World Health Organization (WHO) classified radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields emitted by wireless communication devices as
Type 2B Possible Carcinogen to Humans. The monograph states: “The
general population receives the highest exposure from transmitters
close to the body... In children... deposition of RF energy may be
two times higher in the brain and up to ten times higher
in
the bone marrow of the skull than in adult users.”
The
WHO report concluded that additional research is important and
advised the public, particularly young adults and children, to take
pragmatic measures to reduce exposure.
Comparison between
iPad and cellphone radiation
The published radiation
level of mobile devices is called Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). An
iPad on WiFi/3G has an SAR of 0.76-1.19 W/kg, compared to the SAR of
an iPhone on GSM/CDMA at 0.547-1.18 W/kg. Many other cellphones have
even lower SAR value than the iPhone.
Governments
of some countries including Canada have issued warnings on children’s
use of cellphones. With iPad’s radiation level being similar to
cellphones, the same caution should be taken. Health Canada,
“encourages
parents to reduce children’s RF exposure... since children are
typically more sensitive”
and “there
is currently a lack of scientific information regarding the potential
health impacts of cellphones on children.”
Health
Canada advises the following: Limit
the length of cellphone calls; replace cellphone calls with text
messages or use hands-free devices; and encourage children under the
age of 18 to limit their cell phone usage.
Just as we would not put
an actively transmitting cellphone against a child’s head for hours
a day, we should not put an actively transmitting iPad against the
reproductive organ or other parts of a child’s body for hours a
day.
900 blasts of
radiofrequency per hour
When the WiFi antenna in
an iPad is turned on, it emits a burst of radiofrequency
approximately every four seconds. That makes 900 blasts per hour in
the child’s hands, on his lap, or at his face. This does not
include any additional data signals resulting from uploading and
downloading activities. Moreover, the blasts at four-second intervals
occur even when the user is not accessing the Internet. In other
words, even if a child is only using the iPad to draw or to play a
game, he still receives 900 blasts an hour as long as the WiFi
antenna is left on.
Between
2008 and 2011, the European Union Parliament and the Council of
Europe passed multiple resolutions against the “early,
ill-considered, and prolonged use of mobiles and other devices
emitting microwaves.”
Many medical associations in North America and Europe have also
issued public statements to warn about the serious health risks
associated with using wireless devices. Among them, the American
Academy of Environmental Medicine wrote:
“In
September 2010, the Journal
of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - Fertility
and Sterility
reported that only four hours of exposure to a standard laptop using
WiFi caused DNA damage to human sperm.”
“Multiple
studies correlate radiofrequency exposure with diseases such as
cancer, neurological disease, reproductive disorders, immune
dysfunction, and electromagnetic hypersensitivity... Other
neurological and cognitive disorders such as headaches, dizziness,
tremors, decreased memory and attention, autonomic nervous system
dysfunction, decreased reaction times, sleep disturbances, and visual
disruptions have been reported to be statistically significant in
multiple epidemiological studies with radiofrequency exposure
occurring non-locally.”
With
the proliferation of the wireless industry, it might not be possible
to eliminate all sources of RF radiation. However, a good start is to
follow the European parliaments’ advice for an exposure level
called A.L.A.R.A. (as low as reasonably achievable). The following
resolution was adopted by the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory
Council this year. While these steps were proposed for schools, they
are also useful for reduction of unnecessary exposure at home:
1.
to provide on/off switches to WiFi routers;
2.
to establish a protocol of use that
(i)
WiFi routers and WiFi/3G functions of computers/laptops/tablets are
to be turned on only when they are needed for access to the
Internet via the wireless network; and,
(ii)
Bluetooth function is to be turned on only if it is needed for
accessing other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
3.
to observe safety warnings and follow safety instructions in the user
manual of iPad by reducing the duration of use under wireless mode
and keeping the iPads away from the students’ bodies.
Note that putting an iPad
on airplane mode will initially turn off all antennas on the iPad.
However, WiFi and bluetooth antennas can be re-enabled without
switching off the airplane mode. Therefore, an iPad showing airplane
mode “on” is not a guarantee that all the antennas are off. It is
important to check the antennas separately. In addition, when the
WiFi function on an iPad shows “Not Connected,” it does not mean
the antenna is off. It only means the iPad is not logged onto any
available wireless network. To ensure the WiFi antenna is turned off,
the WiFi function must read “off.”
Differences between
the iPad and an AM/FM Radio
The “radio” frequency
emitted by iPad is often confused with AM/FM radio waves. The two
actually differ in the following ways: (1) AM/FM radio utilizes
analogue signals with a continuous waveform (see diagram below). iPad
(via 3G or WiFi) emits digital signals in the form of pulsed
microwave, similar to cellphone and DECT cordless phones. Pulsed
microwave digital signal has sharp spikes in its waveform. (2) AM/FM
radio is one-way transmission, with the listeners at the receiving
end only. iPad antennas, on the other hand, work in constant two-way
communication. iPad is not only a receiver but also a transmitter of
pulsed microwave. The user of an iPad on wireless mode is in direct
or close contact with the pulsed microwave signal at its source,
which is the strongest.
Graphic adapted from EMfields.
TheGreenGazette
Download this article in a flyer format:
http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/uploads/scribd/iPads-are-they-safe-for-children-Flyer.pdf
More
Health and Safety Warnings from
the iPad User Manual:
Seizures,
Blackouts, and Eyestrain
A
small percentage of people may be susceptible to blackouts or
seizures (even if they have never had one before) when exposed to
flashing lights or light patterns such as when playing games or
watching video. If you have experienced seizures
or
blackouts or have a family history of such occurrences, you should
consult a physician before playing games or watching videos on your
iPad. Discontinue use of iPad and consult a physician if you
experience headaches, blackouts, seizures, convulsion, eye or muscle
twitching, loss of awareness, involuntary movement, or
disorientation. To reduce risk of headaches, blackouts, seizures, and
eyestrain, avoid prolonged use, hold iPad some distance from your
eyes, use iPad in a well-lit room, and take frequent breaks.
Glass
Parts
The
outside cover of the iPad screen is made of glass. This glass could
break if iPad is dropped on a hard surface or receives a substantial
impact. If the glass chips or cracks, do not touch or attempt to
remove the broken glass and stop using iPad. Glass cracked due to
misuse or abuse is not covered under the warranty.
Radio
Frequency Interference
Radio-frequency
emissions from electronic equipment can negatively affect the
operation of other electronic equipment, causing them to
malfunction... the wireless transmitters and electrical circuits in
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G may cause interference in other electronic equipment.
Therefore, please take the following precautions:
Aircraft
Use
of iPad may be prohibited while traveling in aircraft.
For
more information about using Airplane Mode to turn off the iPad
wireless transmitters, see the iPad User Guide.
Vehicles
Radio
frequency emissions from iPad may affect electronic systems in motor
vehicles. Check with the manufacturer or its representative regarding
your vehicle.
Pacemakers
The
Health Industry Manufacturers Association recommends that a minimum
separation of 15 cm (6 inches) be maintained between a handheld
wireless phone and a pacemaker to avoid potential interference with
the pacemaker.
Persons
with pacemakers: Should always keep iPad more than 15 cm (6 inches)
from the pacemaker when the wireless device is turned on.
If
you have any reason to suspect that interference is taking place,
turn iPad off
immediately
(press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then slide the onscreen
slider).
Other
Medical Devices
If
you use any other personal medical device, consult the device
manufacturer or your physician to determine if it is adequately
shielded from radio frequency emissions from iPad.
Health
Care Facilities
Hospitals
and health care facilities may use equipment that is particularly
sensitive to external radio frequency emissions. Turn iPad off when
staff or posted signs instruct you to do so.
Blasting
Areas and Posted Facilities
To
avoid interfering with blasting operations, turn off iPad when in a
“blasting area” or in areas posted “Turn off two-way radio.”
Obey all signs and instructions.
Read
more:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1562/en_US/iPad_iOS4_Important_Product_Info.pdf
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) generally categorizes agents into four (4) categories:
The
Havas article describes how radiation from wireless technology affects
the blood, the heart, and the autonomic nervous system. Certainly to
some individuals, these adverse effects represent a much more imminent threat than do the more long-term carcinogenic effects. According to Havas:
