Have you ever wondered why your cell phone gets hot when you use it? It’s because the cell phone is emitting microwaves which cause it to become hot. These days if you question the safety of wireless technology, you’re in danger of being branded a Luddite.
It would seem that wi-fi has become the acceptable standard for Internet connectivity as well as a host of other electronic gadgets. As more and more municipalities decide to blanket communities with free wireless Internet access, some citizen groups are questioning the safety of wi-fi. Is an environmental review in order? What does the research say? You may be surprised to learn that there is a lot we don’t know about the health effects of wireless technology.
One of the first groups that has come against wireless of technology is firefighters–although they might not want it publicized. Firehouses are often the targeted by cellular phone companies as ideal places to place antennas. Because firefighters work and sleep in the same location, they opposed the continuous exposure to non ionizing radiation and were able to litigate against it. The International Association of Firefighters has taken the position that firehouses should not be the site of cellular base station antennas until more is known about the long term effects of exposure.
The firefighters found that they could not respond as well when exposued to continuous radiation. They understood that by using wi-fi, you never give your body a break. Many people sleep in close proximity to wireless devices–cell phones, routers, PDAs. The intensity of the exposure is not the issue. Chronic exposure to low intensity exposure is considered to be worst than a single high intensity exposure.
The work of Canadian scientist Magda Havas is frequently referenced to demonstrate the adverse biological impact of electromagnetic radiation. Her research focuses on the effects of radio frequency radiation (RFR) used by cell phones and other wireless technologies. There is little funding in the United States for research of the biological and health effects of RFR or and EMF by government agencies. Available studies are often funded by the wireless industry, and not surprisingly, these studies often find no adverse effects.
So what are the potential health effects? Keeping in mind that much of the information is conflicting, potential health effects are:
- cancer
- genetic effects such as damage to DNA,
- cellular and molecular effects such as a reduction in enzymes critical to the central nervous system
- changes in electrophysiology such as reduced activity between nerve cells, and
- physiological and behavioral changes such as impairment of peripheral vision
Consumers can protect themselves best by simply using wired devices instead of wi-fi. Wi-fi is slower in comparison to wired technology, and wireless networks are notoriously insecure. In the meantime, educate yourself on the various issues.
Resources:
Original Articles. Constant-Content.
Frightening how our progress is also our down fall. All areas diet, technology, mechanization, ohh for my cave and piece of land!
Technology is great, but it has its drawbacks
Just to be a contrarian…
“and not surprisingly, these studies often find no adverse effects…”
Also, not surpisingly, studies by opposing groups seem to find an amazing amount of adverse effects. Doesn’t matter which area you’re referring to, either. All I’m saying is that many studies are agenda driven, even so-called “neutral” government studies, which is something we should always be aware of.
You’re right, the jury is still out on WiFi, but you’re also right that it’s something we should be studying.
Good article.
Wi-fi is becoming almost a must-have, just like cell phones. Health is not always the first thing that people think about, until it’s too late.
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Cell phones and other wi-fi tecnology are here to stay, no matter what. Their use will only increase. People need to remind themselves of the dangers or potential dangers, It’s a balancing act.
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Most Wifi is in the microwave EMF bands… Nothing like cooking yourself w/o knowing it! Bigger risk is with high power Wifi or sitting near access points, esp commercial sites for long periods of time (6 cappachino’s and 200 emails later…).
If you feel dizzy, nauseated, or start feeling a hotspot on or in your skin – back away, you might be too close!
I think the jury is still out on WiFi. But, it’s definitely something that should be of concern and should be studied.
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If there is a danger from cell phone transmitting masts then what about the mobile phone next to your ear? That’s transmitting too, on a long call it gets hot right? So if the masts are dangerous the phone must be lethal but I don’t see anyone discouraged in using them.
Wireless technology is very good and have lot of advantages but it have slow speed than cable.l
Many times we read that Wi-Fi technology is not safe or healthy for living beings. This so called fact that wi-fi is harmful doesn’t really make a change to our lives or the manufacturers lives. they are still producing and we are still buying in great numbers .what we need is some research to be done on new technology that is safe and sound for us in the future .
knowing the above mentioned facts of what all diseases we can attract by radiations are enough to start thinking NOW.
So fearful the Wi-Fi use.With the development of science technology, I hope the risks can removed the from it.
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As there is a lot we don’t know about the health effects of wireless technology, unbiased research and studies of this important topic would be valuable to our populations. Thanks for an enlightening article.
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Thanks for the info about this matter. Although I am sure we will learn from our mistakes. We have a want for these things more than there is a known problem about it. It is good to raise awarness around it and it’s good to recycle mobile phones for the environment as well.
Mkcoy
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I am using more Wifi devices in my home and office but I don’t know the danger of Wi-Fi technology. As all the devices plays an important role in our life is there any precaution available for safe usage of these devices.
I’m in two minds about this on the one hand i need my cell and would find it hard with work to go without it, on the other i would not in a million yearsgive my child a cell because anything that you can hear buzzing cannot be good, but as of yet theres no proof but unfortunatly it will eb too late by the time there is.
Unsure as to what argument will triumph with this one i hope using our cells turns out to be safe, trouble is if its not, it will be a little late to do anything about it for our generation by the time they find out.
I watched a great documentary on the discovery channel last night about this, and there are lots of conspiracy theories that wi fi is very damaging to us and that it has been proven and covered up, as the worlds finance would collapse.
I have another data to share with you all. The emissions from wireless networks are very similar to those from mobile phone base stations in terms of frequency and signal modulation. Many published reports have shown ill-health affects apparently associated with living and working close to mobile phone masts. In a Latvian study of 966 children, motor function, memory and attention were significantly worse in the group exposed to radiation from a pulsed radio location station. The exposure levels were low, but similar to those that children in classes with wLANs will be exposed to.
When we have conducted measurements in schools, typical exposures from wi-fi are around 20 millionths of the international guideline levels of exposure to radiation. As a comparison, a child on a mobile phone receives up to 50 per cent of guideline levels. So a year sitting in a classroom near a wireless network is roughly equivalent to 20 minutes on a mobile. If wi-fi should be taken out of schools, then the mobile phone network should be shut down, too – and FM radio and TV, as the strength of their signals is similar to that from wi-fi in classrooms.
Informative article. The Wi-Fi technology has adverse effects on health so one should be aware about it. It causes chronic diseases like cancer and genetic disorder like damage to DNA etc.
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The main problem is that it’s almost impossible to prove that WiFi does not affect health. You can only conduct tests to show that it does. No such evidence currently exists.
The test of WiFi vs Mobile phone masts is a ridiculous one. The level of radiation from a mobile phone.. held around 5cm from your head is so vastly greater than that of the mast as to make the mast’s radiation insignificant at realistic distances.
A 1m distance from a WiFi hotspot is again a ridiculous test, if you take the distance up to around 2m (which is much more realistic), then by the law of square, you get about a quarter of that radiation, so making it less than a phone mast that’s 100m away.
I just happened to stumble upon this article and it caught my eye because it about a week ago I swore the outside of my ear seemed painful to the touch. I really don’t think it has anything to do with the cell phone,but it sure got me thinking. With my business I find myself on the cell phone a lot and it’s normally held up to my right ear where the discomfort was. All I can tell you is it made me decide that it was time I rethink the possible side effects that my lifestyle may have down the road, because like so many others my home is full of all the latest equipment.
I think you can still take full advantage of technology, but if you use it a lot then make sure you are doing so responsibly by using speaker phone options and headsets.
I’ve also started becoming more aware of the hot-topic that is up-and-coming of cell phone radiation. While not yet proven to cause negative health affects, there is proof that cell phones emit radiation. I’ve done some research on products that reduce exposure to cell phone radiation, and found there are some products out there which allow you to go about your daily life with peace of mind. These cases protect the whole cell phone, and still provide good protection from drops and bumps. They offer cases for the iPhone, Android phones, Blackberrys and even the iPad. It’s only slightly more expensive than other sturdy cases, so why not spend the little more to protect yourself and give you peace of mind!