August 2014 Update

Why Hoboken is Throwing Away All of its Student Laptops

Hoboken school officials were also worried they couldn’t control which websites students would visit. Crocamo installed software to block pornography, gaming sites and Facebook. He disabled the built-in web cameras. He even installed software to block students from undoing these controls. But Crocamo says students found forums on the Internet that showed them how to access everything.
http://www.wnyc.org/story/why-hoboken-throwing-away-all-its-student-laptops/?%3A+This+Week+On+WNYC

French Senate passes bill to add precautions to wireless networks and mobile phones

“This amendment takes into account the rights of parents to be informed when their children are exposed to electromagnetic fields. It also follows the principles of common sense in switching wireless networks off when they’re not in use,”
http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/french-senate-passes-bill-to-add-precautions-to-wireless-networks-and-mobile-phones

Boil the Frog Slowly with guest Cindy Sage - The BioInitiative Report

Are hospitals safe for newborns? Cindy Sage joins Pat to discuss some of the findings of the updated BioInitiative Report as it relates to hospital safety. Listen as she answers some audience email questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ns5KrAwMo

Major Device Safety Warnings
Below is a list of warnings from every major manufacturer in the world found deep inside their user manuals warning consumers of the dangers of holding their device to the head or storing in pockets/bras. Most people have no idea. This information should be on the front package of every device.
http://www.c4st.org/news/major-device-safety-warnings.html

Scientists and Physicians call Health Canada to protect the public from radiofrequency radiation exposure

People are becoming ill and so far the medical profession in Canada, apart from a few enlightened individuals, is largely ignorant of the health risks of continuous exposure to wireless technology.

http://www.magdahavas.com/scientists-and-physicians-call-health-canada-to-protect-the-public-from-radiofrequency-radiation-exposure/

July 2014 Update

Health Canada fails to protect children from all-day WiFi in schools
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/wireless-radiation-exposure-code-fails-to-protect-canadians-1.1906165

Dr. Stephen Sinatra - His Son Was Near Death, You Won't Believe What Was Making Him Sick!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDCuEY8fu0

Australian’s Telecommunications Giant sent a text message to its mobile customers to encourage them to take steps to help prevent their exposure to electromagnetic energy (EME)

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/telstra-warning-customers-avoid-potential-cancer-r/2309084/#comments

More than 100 Scientific Studies Omitted by Health Canada in its Scientific - We want to know why?
http://www.c4st.org/website-pages/hc-resolution-documents/c4st-analysis-of-ignored-studies-full.html

Please help by sharing and donating so this documentary about the health effects from unregulated wireless technology can be completed!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/generation-zapped

NOTE:  US Naval Medical Research Institution (1972 declassified)

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Carl Sagan on the dangers of not questioning new technology

Wi-Fi health risks?
Many schools use industrial Wi-Fi, which transmits at the same level as a phone tower.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/24259295/wi-fi-dangers/​

  

Belgium Boosts Cell Phone Radiation Safeguards

With the adoption of these rules, Belgium becomes the latest in a rapidly lengthening list of nations to attempt to shield children from too much cell phone radiation and to inform everyone about the risks of exposure to these emissions.
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2013/11/belgium-boosts-cell-phone-radiation-safeguards-0

Carl Sagan on the dangers of not questioning new technology

A Science Icon Died 17 Years Ago. In His Last Interview, He Made A Warning That Gives Me Goosebumps.

http://smartmeternewsupdates.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/carl-sagan-on-the-dangers-of-not-questioning-new-technology/

Interview with Dr. Dominique Belpomme by Radio Canada on Electromagnetic Fields and Electrosensitivity

According to Dr. Dominique Belpomme, 80-90% of cancers are linked to the environment. Living was not always “carcinogenic”. Cancer is a recent disease due to the fact that it has become a scourge of huge proportions. 

http://mieuxprevenir.blogspot.ch/2014/06/interview-with-dr-dominique-belpomme-by.html

Why Wireless WIFI radiation can make you sick and what you can do about it Dr Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVV8uT-BJPs

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June 2014 Update

A Waldorf School takes a Precautionary Step - Saying Good bye to WiFi
City of Lakes Waldorf School took a courageous and perhaps prescient step in eliminating WiFi and going back to hardwired access to the Internet. The school chose to act out of concern for the health and will being of the students entrusted to its care.

http://parentsforasafeschool.blogspot.ca/2014/06/a-waldorf-school-takes-precautionary.html

Note: There is going to be a meeting in June about a possible opening of a Waldorf School in Victoria BC. Email me if you are interested parentsforsafeschools@gmail.com

Mobile Phones Health Hazards, Risks and Dangers

A surprising page at a Microsoft User Website about the dangers of cell phones and microwave radiation:

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/mobile-phones-health-hazards

Presentation by Doctors for Safer Schools at Belmont School May 8^th Hosted by SPEAC

Dr Kerry Crofton - How Our Children can be Tech Savvy, Healthy, and Connected

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyk2gsfoztg

Short 'n Tweet: Dr. Blank explains how EMFs damage cells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KodzfI2lh6U

 

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Is Health Canada Protecting Your Family?

Do mobile phones cause brain tumours?

While the scientific community is still arguing over phone safety, one man tells Maxine Frith why he has banned his children from using mobiles

"When Neil Whitfield was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 44, he left the consulting room in shock.

He had been struggling with debilitating headaches, short-term memory loss and fatigue for months, and faced a brutal choice between risky surgery or leaving the tumour where it was and coming to terms with the fact that it would kill him within five years.

But what also shocked him was his doctor’s theory about what had caused the tumour.
“He said he was absolutely convinced it was my mobile-phone use,” said Mr Whitfield, from Wigan, Lancashire. “He told me that mobile phones were going to be the smoking gun of the 21st century in terms of cancers. I hadn’t even thought about it before.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10853688/Do-mobile-phones-cause-brain-tumours.html

May 2014 update

Open letter by British Medical Doctors: Health and Safety of Wi-Fi and Mobile Phones

Additionally, doctors are encountering a significant and growing number of people presenting with a range of acute (short-term) symptoms from wireless radiation, including headaches, palpitations, rashes, fatigue, sleep disturbance, allergies and memory and concentration problems.

http://ssita.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/British-Doctors-Letter-March-2014.pdf

Wi-Fi in Schools: Dr. Stephen Sinatra M.D. (8min)
Dr. Sinatra cautions ’this exposure is the greatest medical threat of our time.’ Students in WiFi schools experience ‘unexplained’ cardiac and other symptom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V9WuM5q-x0

Cell Phone Chatter Linked to Triple Risk of Brain Tumors

The latest study, which analyzed 253 cases of glioma and 194 cases of meningioma reported in four French departments between 2004 and 2006, revealed that people who spend 900 hours on the phone during the course of their career are significantly more likely to develop brain tumors.

http://www.mdconnects.com/articles/1536/20140514/frequent-cell-phone-use-triple-risk-brain-tumors.htm

EMR Safety for kids...BY KIDS

Wireless machines are dangerous for kids because the radiation makes our cells shut down - so they can't breathe properly and they can't get rid of toxins. Then our DNA in our cells gets damaged and our cells don't work properly. After years of this harmful microwave radiation you can get leukemia or cancer. But, before you get cancer, look at these immediate results of WiFi radiation. Have you noticed that your friends have gone home early because of headaches, nausea, nosebleeds etc?

http://www.radiationeducation.com/home.html

Oh my...what's in WiFi?

When the school district rolled out the Ipads this year, Aiden Fitchett noticed something new; as he did when seated near the wireless projector any time a teacher used one for a presentation: headaches. Bad ones. Bad enough that the 8-year-old second grader would come home crying from the pain.
http://www.tricitytimes-online.com/Articles-News-i-2014-04-02-218015.112113-Oh-mywhats-in-WiFi.html

Please Support NEW DOCUMENTARY ON CELL PHONES! MOBILIZE 

Mobilize is an investigative documentary that explores the potential long-term health effects from cell phone radiation including brain cancer and infertility. Examining the most recent scientific research and legislative efforts, Mobilize illuminates how finance can corrupt public health.
http://www.mobilizemovie.com/

16:9 by Carolyn Jarvis  

documents the health effects that children are suffering from in our Schools and how Health Canada was unable to provide non-industry funded peer reviewed studies by scientists or medical experts to support their claim that WiFi is safe for children and the unborn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN7VetsCR2I

Your cellphone is killing you: 

What people don’t want you to know about electromagnetic fields You may not realize it, but you are participating in an unauthorized experiment—“the largest biological experiment ever,” For the first time, many of us are holding high-powered microwave transmitters—in the form of cell phones—directly against our heads on a daily basis.
http://www.salon.com/2014/04/12/your_cellphone_is_killing_you_what_people_dont_want_you_to_know_about_electromagnetic_fields/

CNN Special Report 1985 Electromagnetic Frequency
26+ years later and here we are, still questioning whether or not this very technology even exists! Just IMAGINE how far more advanced things are today . . .

http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org/still-hot-in-news-and-developments,54,0


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Wi-Fi and Health: Review of Current Status of Research"

Shortcomings of Review Paper, "Wi-Fi and Health: Review of Current Status of Research" by Kenneth R. Foster and John E. Moulder, May 9, 2013* 

Michael Meszaros, M.Eng., P.Eng., November 4, 2013 

INTRODUCTION 

Foster and Moulder’s (hereafter termed “Foster”) paper is portrayed as reviewing all literature; however, upon analysis of their paper, it appears that many studies which show harmful effects were not reviewed, the exposure levels of radiation were downplayed, and warnings from Health Agencies were missed. When a review of Wi-Fi and health is more complete, there is a completely opposite finding, namely that Wi-Fi is causing harmful biological effects. 

Note that Foster's paper was funded by the Wi-Fi Alliance which certifies compliance of Wi-Fi networks. 

I have received no financial compensation for this review and have no conflict of interest. 

DEFICIENCIES

In terms of health and current research, there are a number of deficiencies in the Foster paper. 

A. Firstly, there are incorrect statements. 

1/
Their paper claims to “examine the current state of research on possible biological effects/health effects of RF energy emitted by Wi-Fi”; however, the paper is missing dozens and dozens of studies which show negative health effects from Wi-Fi radiation. 

Literature listed in the BioInitiative Report and the Building Biology Survey are not mentioned as well as many other studies. 

Consider the paper, “Non-Thermal Effects and Mechanisms of Interaction Between Electromagnetic Fields and Living Matter” by Magda Havas, PhD, et al, published for the National Institute for the Study and Control of Cancer and Environmental Diseases, Italy, 2010. It demonstrates that phones which radiate 2.4 GHz, the same frequency as Wi-Fi and at comparable power levels, cause heart rate variability. 

So, a lot of critical research is not included. 

2/
Page 561 states, "Health agencies have not expressed concern about possible health hazards from such exposures (e.g., WHO 2006)" (i.e., referring to exposure levels below ICNIRP 2009 and IEEE 2005 levels).

Contrary to this statement, in 2007, the the European Environment Agency warned that cell-phone

technology "could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking, and lead in petrol." In 2011, the WHO warned that, "IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” More recently, the BC Centre of Disease Control, 2013, noted that “most of the studies show harmful effects from low levels of radiation”. Oct.15, 2013, the French Health Agency “recommends limiting the population’s exposure to radiofrequencies – in particular from mobile phones – especially for children and intensive users, and controlling the overall exposure that results from relay antennas.” 

Considering that Foster’s paper is about “Wi-Fi and Health”, making such an incorrect statement about HealthAgencies issubstantial.

3/
On page 568, Foster claims that IARC’s decision “has no relevance to possible health effects of Wi-Fi.” 

It is important to note that IARC consists of scientists who understand the difference between cell phones, Wi-Fi, and other radiation. Within this context, IARC did not limit the carcinogen warning to "cell phones", but rather classified "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields" as a possibly carcinogen. Wi-Fi is a "radiofrequency electromagnetic field", so IARC’s statement is very relevant to Wi-Fi.
Further, on page 566, Foster shows that multiple Wi-Fi users is similar to cell phone usage. 

Foster seems to have missed that all the studies that he references as showing no effects are short-term studies. Opposite to his statement, it is these short term studies that “have little relevance to Wi-Fi” because they were either measuring irrelevant parameters or the durations of exposure were too short. Wi-Fi produces millions of times longer exposure duration than the 6 minutes in ICNIRP and IEEE. 

Dr. Hardell shows that one study which claimed “no effect” was measuring meningioma. Subsequent re-evaluation studies found that though it was correct that EMF doesn’t cause meningioma, the studies found that it is glioma and acoustic neuroma that are caused.

The paper entitled, “Non-Thermal Effects and Mechanisms of Interaction Between Electromagnetic Fields and Living Matter” by Magda Havas et al shows that phones which radiate 2.4 GHz (the same frequency as Wi-Fi and at comparable power levels) cause heart rate variability. This demonstrates that Wi-Fi causes negative health effects. 

4/
Foster’s paper states “no basis to anticipate that Wi-Fi exposure will cause any biological effects” (p.571)
.
This contradicts ICNIRP’s statement that “There are also data for chronic low level exposure that indicate that there may also be other health effects. It is, however, ICNIRP's view that in the absence of support from laboratory studies the epidemiological data are insufficient to allow an exposure guideline to be established.” – “Use of ICNIRP EMF Guidelines”, p. 294. 

ICNIRP supports that low level exposure causes health effects. It is only their opinion to choose not to establish guidelines from it. In contrast, the Building Biology Survey and the Biolnitiative Report 2012 chose to make guidelines from the data, and it is these guidelines that are helping people to maintain and improve their health.

Foster’s incorrect claims of “no biological effects” are not supported by the organization that Foster is comparing his exposure results to. 

5/
Foster provides a free-space propagation formula; however, the results he proposes in various examples are substantially lower than what the formula produces. Foster does not explain this discrepancy. 

B. Secondly, the paper downplays the seriousness of health issues. 

1/
The paper assumes 1 m distance from an antenna in the exposure models and considers a 3 cm distance as a “worst case”. 

When health is at stake, these are not the “worst case” scenarios. For example, when one approaches one’s computer to plug something in, one can be immediately beside a Wi-Fi antenna. Similarly, one could be right next to a Wi-Fi antenna that may be in one’s fridge or in one’s car. Foster’s paper is downplaying the real life exposure from Wi-Fi. This is inconsistent with an objective review about health. 

2/
Foster tries to discredit studies which found health harm with the statement “Dose (SAR) in these studies ranged from 0.08 – 4.0 W/kg, all well above real-world Wi-Fi exposures. However, the studies had reasonably long exposure durations 1 – 2 h per day for 10 – 50 d).” (p.568)
Firstly, 2 h per day for 50 days is a small fraction of exposure that many people experience from Wi-Fi. For example, in schools with Wi-Fi, children and staff are exposed all day long, many returning to homes or other places such as sports complexes that also have Wi-Fi. Many people may be exposed to Wi-Fi day and night 365 days a year. 

Secondly, on p.566, Foster states a “worse case” exposure condition of 0.817 W/kg. This dose is within the range of the studies that Foster tries to discredit above. 

SAR is based on dead adult tissue. Studies have shown that a child absorbs twice as much as an adult. So, that would make it 1.634 W/kg. 

Foster goes on to reduce the dose from 0.817 W/kg to 0.00817 W/kg because of “1% duty cycle”; however, Foster makes no mention of recovery time. As noted in his reference above on p.568, 0.817 W/kg (0.08-4.0 W/kg) has been shown in a number of studies to have negative effects on the immune system, brain development, etc. How long does it take for this damaged tissue to recover? If the recovery time of the tissue is longer than the time to the next pulse (as it very likely is because of the microseconds between pulses), “1% duty cycle” cannot be used to reduce the health effect on the tissue. 

Further, the 1% duty cycle adds another frequency to the equation which studies have shown also harms cells. 

As such, the paper is using the “average of exposures” rather than designing for the worst case. This is downplaying the impact on health effects. 

3/
The review appears to be blinded by "inconsistent results" rather than exploring the differences that each study revealed. There is an assumption that "inconsistency" means falsehood and falsehood for the harm studies only (rather than considering that it could mean falsehood for the "Wi-Fi safe" studies). The paper does not explore the fact that "inconsistency" reveals a complexity in biological systems. In fact, it is more logical that any study showing harmful effects should be more serious to explore than studies which couldn’t find any effects. 

4/
Foster notes that the IEEE 802.11 standard was first approved in 1997. 

Compare this 1997 date to Hallberg and Oberfeld’s report which records an increase in electrohypersensitivity (EHS) from below 2% prior to 1997 to approximately 10% by 2004. Further, EHS is expected to affect 50% of the population by 2017. 

5/
The Standard of Building Biology Testing Methods (Standard SBM-2008) lists severe health concern above 10 μW/m2 and no health concern below 0.1 μW/m2(i.e., 0.00001 μW/cm2, or 0.002 V/m).
Compare this to Foster’s maximum time-averaged values (which are much lower than the peaks which hit the biological cells) from a laptop a distance of 0.5 m away (which is not the worst case for people using their laptop on their lap or beside them on their bed, as shown in the laptop advertisements). Foster says this equals 220 μW/m2 (page 565). Even at this “downplayed” exposure value, this exposure is still 22 times higher than “severe health concern” levels. It’s no wonder people report that laptops give them pain in their abdomen, make them lose energy, or cause lumps on their legs. 

6/
There is no comment or review of the fact that different parts of the body have different sensitivities to radiation. The eye, for example, is more sensitive than other parts of the body because it is exposed and has less of a blood supply than other parts of the body. 

The Royal Society of Canada recommended in 1999 that a lower exposure limit be established for the eye. 

7/
Foster compares Wi-Fi to microwave ovens, Bluetooth, cordless telephones, Smart Meters, and other household devices. The tone of the paper is portrayed as if to say, “because these are common, it must be safe”. The paper, however, omits to mention that each of these other devices are causing health problems in people too and have scientific studies to show this. Thus, aligning Wi-Fi with these devices is actually a demonstration of negative health affects from Wi-Fi just like all the other devices are causing. 

As an example, on page 566, Foster compares a roomful of schoolchildren uploading to a single WLAN to the power radiated by a single mobile phone handset (100 mW). Is Foster suggesting that a single mobile phone handset is safe? Compare this to IARC’s statement that mobile phone handsets have been documented to cause cancer. 

A recent supreme court ruling in Italy directed that a worker's compensation be awarded in a case where a man claimed that his cell phone caused his facial tumour. 

Like cell phones, Wi-Fi is unsafe. 

C. Other Deficiencies 

1/
The authors make unscientific hypotheses to discredit papers and then criticizes those other papers for not being scientific.

On page 570, Foster states, “it is not clear how many people actually use laptops on the laps”. From a quick survey of laptop users, many of them use them on their laps (or can no longer use them on their laps because of the negative health effects). There is nothing in the design of a laptop that would prevent or discourage a user from putting it on one’s lap (in fact, they are marketed as "lap” “tops"). Since putting them on one’s lap is part of the design, for a review paper to propose otherwise raises questions if the authors are really interested in health. 

2/
The paper references IEEE 2005 and ICNRP as “major international limits” and the “reference standard”. About 40 countries are currently following ICNIRP because of their organizational structures; however, this is commenting on “status quo” not on “current health research”. Countries which are responding to “current health research” have provided lower protection levels than ICNIRP. Countries such as Finland, France, Japan, Russia, Israel, India, and the U.K. are considered “major” countries, and they have lower exposure limits and warnings for children. 

On page 563, Foster notes that the European Union limits are one tenth the Canadian/US limits. ICNIRP is based in Germany. So for the European Union to have maximum. limits one tenth the power of ICNIRP, emphasizes that IEEE 2005 and ICNIRP are not the “current health research”. 

CONCLUSION
Foster’s paper does not heed the warnings of the “public outcries” and tries to discredit studies on opinionated grounds rather than exploring the serious impacts of their findings.
A review of Wi-Fi and health should document the negative effects that are being reported world-wide and the reasons for the Health Agencies warnings. It should include the dozens and dozens of papers which show negative health effects from Wi-Fi.

--

* Foster, Kenneth R, and John E Moulder. 2013. “Wi-fi and Health: Review of Current Status of Research.” Health Physics 105 (6) (December): 561–575.