Should Wi-Fi be outlawed in schools?
Could the use of wireless equipment in schools be making our children sick?
Wi-Fi in schools is very dangerous for children. At least, that is what’s claimed in a news release recently pushed out by the Simcoe County Safe School Committee:
American Public Health Researcher Susan Clarke says parents of children in Ontario schools should not accept microwave transmitters for WiFi in classrooms because it can make their children feel sick.
“The symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and even erratic speeding heart rates are already documented in fourteen schools throughout Simcoe County since they installed them,” said Clarke, who has worked at the Harvard School of Public Health and has lectured on emerging Public Health problems for two decades.
The Safe School Committee website includes a list of comments made by both parents and kids. The comments include:
- “My son goes to Birchview Dunes in Wasaga Beach has a racing heart to the point where he’s been passing out and even hit his head when he fell. This only ever happens in school, and it happens alot. Since school let out he has not had any problems with this and he’s running and playing all summer just like the other kids.”
- “I go to high school in Elmvale. In school I get severe headaches, nausea, I’m dizzy, I have also noticed mild memory loss. I occasionally lose vision in my one eye and I also lose feeling in my left hand. Just a few days after school ended the headaches stopped and I’ve been fine.”
- “Since school let out my daughter has no more headaches. She needed Tylenol 4 days a week after school but has been fine every day this summer. She always looked pale after school but she’s also fine every day and has no symptoms at all. The strangest thing was that her eyebrows went almost white in a matter of days during the school year when her headaches and dizziness were at their worst. I am a Registered Nurse and I could not figure out why this was happening. However within a week into the summer holiday her eyebrow colour returned to her natural brown. It was very weird and actually scared my daughter. God only knows what other damage is being done that we can’t see.”
The debate about the health risks associated with wireless equipment is certainly not a new one and Wikipedia actually has a page devoted to the subject: Wireless electronic devices and health. How concerned should you be about the health risks? Are they real or imagined? Should you send your kids to school in a tinfoil hat or maybe even switch them to a school that doesn’t use wireless internet connections? Or is it all rubbish? I can’t answer any of those questions. What I can tell you is that the most of the accepted evidence points to wireless equipment being safe – see the Wikipedia page for details. On the other hand, there are also a considerable number of contrary opinions some of which are listed on the Safe School Committee website. What is certain is that our kids are being exposed to more sources of electromagnetic fields than ever before – cell and cordless phones, cell phone base stations, wireless routers, printers and video game controllers, etc., etc. – and that these devices haven’t been around for long enough for their effects to be known for sure.
What’s your take? Should wireless equipment be used in schools? And should we also be concerned about the use of other wireless devices in – and out of – our homes? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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The illnesses and deterioration of health can be easily eliminated, and the wifi maintained. The EarthCalm OMEGA WiFi incorporates EarthCalm’s proprietary technologies to transform the hazardous fields created by routers and laptops into a beneficial field of protection. It does this by modulating EarthCalm grounding patterns into the EMF microwave field generated by the router or laptop, which allows your body to dissipate the effects of the hazardous radiation. In addition, the EarthCalm grounding patterns amplify your ground in the earth’s electromagnetic field, which creates a sense of well-being. Most people notice the relief instantly as soon as they plug in the OMEGA WiFi. On sale for $187.
For more than 25 years, EarthCalm has offered people protection from EMFs with a variety of products that re-establish and strengthen the resonance between the human nervous system and the earth, thus allowing the body to heal itself of many health issues. EarthCalm is the leading pioneer in the field with its revolutionary technology involving both Scalar Resonance and Vortex Shielding. Both of these technologies serve to free you from the assault of EMFs on your body, allowing you to experience increased relaxation and well-being in your life and deeper levels of healing.
Earthcalm is a “SCAM” and only the desperate and stupid would buy into such a blatantly flawed junk science.
Any credible scientist and researcher would laugh Earthcalm out of the laboratory. No proper scientific studies, including double and triple blind independent studies have ever been done on their snake oil product. Independent rigorous study would prove it bogus.
Rather Earthcalm used 15 customers, who as the word implies are already sold on this crap, to answer a questionnaire.
You are either a charlatan yourself or just a stupid person. I have been in the scientific field all my life, have conducted thousands of double/triple blind studies in medicine and electronics for government, military and private firms. I have three degrees Harvard University: Dr.Sc., MIT: PhD Mathematics, McGill: PhD Psychology plus other minor studies.
You spew a vomit of misinformation raping the innocent and desperate with your unfounded, uneducated drivel. Educate yourself before disgorging pedestrian and moronic, for fools only tripe.
As for the cases for electromagnetic fields and CFL dirty power fields, there is real concern and early known effects. Immediate research with swift action to curtail ill effects need to be taken. In the meantime, remove the WiFi setups eliminating the problem for the moment. Err on the side of caution for our children’s sake.
Finally it is coming out!
Years ago I was given a Home plug unit, as an electronic Engineer I was curious as to what was inside…so I opened it.
There was a loose piece of 2 inch long masking tape, it was folded over and appeared to have something inside. Upon separating the tape I found 7 tiny cheap beads, yes like you would string a necklace with. The were seperated about 1/4 inch or less apart. That was it…the “circuit”
I see people still buying these on Ebay paying over $300.00.
This madness has to stop! It seems like excellent prey for new age airy fairyness and a touch of electronic jargon.
I only wish I had youtube’d the deconstruction of this device so people can see first hand how utterly useless this device is. When you see it you know that it can’t possible do what they claim. I wonder how many people would buy my specially aligned cotton swabs? It gets rid of EMF and aligns your whole body, just stick one in each nostril and walk around…ooohhh can you feel the healing?
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@singlegeek thank you for absolutely destroying earthcalm.
It is unacceptable that people spew information without years of testing and proper study. Earthcalm is making themselves look like an absolute fool by even posting an comment/ blatant advertisment regarding this article. I would love to see their research regarding “the sense of well being” This is just preying on the uninformed consumer.
Also- I hope one day I can get as many degrees as you. Nice to know their are still people wanting to push the boundries of knowledge.
Scientists and Physicists who understand phenomenon that takes place at the level of quantum physics and who work with equipment based on the principles fo quantum physics have discerned that the technology in EarthCalm’s devices are viable and scientifically significant. That is why, for instance, an EarthCalm product has been recently procured for use in a study requiring a device to protect biomolecules and enzymes from the effects of EMFS. Specifically, the device has been procured by:
Dr. Feng Ni
Head of Bio-NMR and Protein Research
Project Leader, Targeted Anti-thrombotic Therapies
Biotechnology Research Institute
National Research Council Canada
SingleGeek, dead on.
I decided to look up (for the fun of it) Ms. Epstein’s retort. It would seem that Ms. E. found Feng Ni’s name in Linkin and tried to adapt this person(s) to prop up Earthcalm. This just gets better.
The first Feng NI who is a Post Doctoral Scientist at BU-CMLD in Boston Dr. Feng Ni received his Ph. D. in pharmaceutical engineering from East China University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Professor Xiaoxin Shi. His Ph. D. research focused on the development of synthetic method as well as their application to the synthesis of natural products. He joined the CMLD-BU as a postdoctoral scientist in May 2009. He has no knowledge of Earthcalm.
the second Feng Ni is a current “group leader” at the NRC in Montreal who does not possess a doctorate of any kind. Nor is there any information about her education. Again nobody seems to know about Earthcalm.
Liala Epstein: is the owner at Advanced Health Technologies, Earthcalm. Also there is a lack of educational information not to mention a total disregard for transparency. Moreover, has only been at this charlatan’s game for a few years.
Jean Gallick the apparent inventor of this clap trap junk science. What scientific background does she have, again a total lack of education. If she were a doctor you would have proudly pronounced her as Dr. Jean Gallick, she is not so there fore you cannot.
BioNMR.com is a NMR online community & aggregator, what the hell is this?
http://groningen.bio.ucalgary.ca/bio/
Is not on staff or associated with the University of Calgary. AND has never heard of Feng Ni.
Biotechnology Research Institute:
In what country, in what city, there are thousands of companies and government agencies that use this same moniker within their titles?
Antithrombotic, first is not hyphenated, secondly is the study of artrial (this is the correct spelling I am not meaning arterial) fibrillation, the prevention of stroke and stroke care.
WiFi for one thing is too low in emissions to increase temperature. FEAR mongering is exactly what you are propagating by advocating Earthcalm’s scam.
I do have first hand knowledge of ill effects of CFL emissions, there is a real problem with the “dirty power” given off by these lights. The solution there is to replace them with the tried and true Incandescent bulbs.
FWIW, there is indeed a Dr. Feng Ni who works for the NRC. His contact details and bio can be found here: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/people/ni_feng_8591.html
Dr. Ni does indeed work for the NRC in Montreal; a friend of mine contacted me to look at this blog who also contacted Dr Feng Ni at the NRC in Montreal. Dr. D. Thorton had a lengthy talk about general science and this blog. There is a Doctoral witness to that very conversation with other details not mentioned here.
Dr. Ni was disturbed about the fact that Liala Epstein used without permission his name and the name of the NRC. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Ni phoned Liala Epstein owner of EarthCalm telling her to discontinue using his name and that of the NRC.
Dr. Feng Ni nor the NRC have any link to EarthCalm, nor do either endorse in any way EarthCalm’s claims or products. She claimed to have e-mail correspondence between the two, that is correct but it is of a very general nature. Liala Epstein mislead the general public by insinuating a collaboration, where none exists.
You have Dr. Ni’s phone and e-mail address ask him yourself.
Contrary to what Brad Tucker wrote, at no time did I state or suggest a link between EarthCalm and Dr. Ni or a collaboration of any kind. Furthermore, I am not the owner of EarthCalm and have never claimed to be the owner of EarthCalm. The posting I wrote on August 17th was written with full integrity and honesty.
Contrary to Mr. Tucker’s claims and attacks on my reputation, I and Jean Gallick have been in communication with Dr. Feng Ni; I have email correspondence to support this as well as his contact telephone number and email address to show that Dr. Ni is, as I stated previously,
Head of Bio-NMR and Protein Research
Project Leader, Targeted Anti-thrombotic Therapies
Biotechnology Research Institute
National Research Council Canada.
Okay this is getting out of hand- But we all now know not to advertise ones products on a blog.
More information about the biological effects of non-ionizing radiation from wireless technology is coming out every day. Enough is not being done by cities, counties, states and the Federal Government to protect us from the potentially devastating health and environmental effects. Through the 1996 telecommunications act the telecoms are shielded from liability and oversight. Initially cell phones were released with no pre-market safety testing despite the fact the Government and the Military have known for over 50 years that radio frequency is harmful to all biological systems (inthesenewtimes dot com/2009/05/02/6458/.). Health studies were suppressed and the 4 trillion dollar a year industry was given what amounts to a license to kill.
On it’s face, the 1996 telecommunications act is unconstitutional and a cover-up. Within the fine print city governments are not allowed to consider “environmental” effects from cell towers. They should anyway! It is the moral and legal obligation of our government to protect our health and welfare? Or is it? When did this become an obsolete concept? A cell tower is a microwave weapon capable of causing cancer, genetic damage & other biological problems. Bees, bats, humans, plants and trees are all affected by RF & EMF. Communities fight to keep cell towers away from schools yet they allow the school boards to install wi fi in all of our schools thereby irradiating our kids for 6-7 hours each day. Kids go home and the genetic assault continues with DECT portable phones, cell phones, wi fi and Wii’s. A tsunami of cancers and early alzheimer’s await our kids. Young people under the age of 20 are 420% more at risk of forming brain tumors (Swedish study, Dr. Lennart Hardell) because of their soft skulls, brain size and cell turn over time. Instead of teaching “safer” cell phone use and the dangers of wireless technology our schools mindlessly rush to wireless bending to industry pressure rather than informed decision making. We teach about alcohol, tobacco, drugs and safe sex but not about “safer” cell phone use. We are in a wireless trance, scientists are panicking while young brains, ovaries and sperm burns.
What about all the Cellular Phones that younger students are presented with from their parents ? PSP and Ninendo DS’ have wireless functionality
built into the Devices. Many homes have Wireless Technology all around them.
What about GPS Signaling Beams, Local and Satelite TV broadcast Streams.
Do not be laid paranoid by scaremongers it is how they make their money. Signals of all kinds travel at varying lengths, most are harmless. Close encounters can be deadly in very few cases, one being a ships radar or land based radar units. Not knowing the long-term side effects of say heavy hours a day cell phone usage is worse. Again merchants of fear are always willing to falsely claim a cure all, 1800’s snake oil.
On the other hand buying a machine to cancel a potentially harmful noise is stupid. Just unplug the offending gadget. There is also no scientific proof of harmful Radio Frequency from toys, computers or gaming devices.
The idea that wi-fi is making kids sick is ludicrous, especially when most of these parents probably have wi-fi in their own households. What we have here is a bunch of people tying competely unrelated incidents into a single cause. I’ve never heard of low frequenecy radio waves causing vision loss, memory loss, hair bleaching, racing hearts and headaches. What sort of thing would affect the heart, eyes and at the same time bleach the hair? These complaints are probably coming from the same ontarians who believe that windmills give them cancer…
All this said I don’t think theres any big secret to what is causing the dizzyness and nausea symptoms – heat. This has been an extremely hot summer and most public schools aren’t air conditioned.
Excellent point Chuck.
Yes, thank you Chuck, for being a level headed voice of reason amongst all the nonsense. The effects of RF (radio frequency) radiation have been thoroughly studied many many times, and not one well-designed, valid, scientific study has shown any probable link between RF and illness. It’s all just mass hysteria and people pointing their fingers at one “easy target” rather than using their heads.
Most symptoms are unrelated to RF and can be explained by other causes (anxiety, heat, etc) but sometimes it’s the opposite of the placebo effect at work. I think it’s called the noicebo effect…. You know, where you feel sick because you believe something is bad for you…
I must be very old fashioned, all i see is children using machines as a subtitute for what is supposidly located between thier ears.
Hours becoming robotic cannot be healthy for either their bodiesor interlect.
Soon we can implant all this equiptment in either buttocksat birth,and switch them on.
Providing of course we also implant an OFF switch in their heads.
Omg at 1 foot distance a wifi router gives off .5 mG a florescent bulb used in schools at for 50 years gives off 2 mG. Your all idiots. Pure and simple take a reading using a proper gauss meter and post actual readings. Of course no one is interested in actual information like a numbered reading or they would be found out for the frauds they are. Tin foil I hear is very effective at shielding from EMFs I recommend wearing it on your head.
Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University, Peterborough Ontario, maintains that the interpretation of EMF
research is both political and highly controversial. Her close examination of EMF studies comes to another
conclusion: “If you look at occupational studies, for example, there is a positive association between people
While avoiding all exposure to EMFs is impossible in
today’s electrified world, it’s common sense to advocate
for and apply the principle of ‘prudent avoidance’ —
minimizing exposures.
regularly working with electricity and increased cancer incidence for several types, including leukemia, brain and
breast cancer and lymphomas.”6
Dr. Havas is a strong supporter of the precautionary principle in the case of EMFs and electrical lines and equipment
– that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
A new study published by Samuel Milham, MD, MPH, in the September 2009 issue of the journal Medical Hypotheses reveals that electricity is responsible for most of the so called “diseases of civilization.” Author Milham is the 1997 recipient of the prestigious Ramazzini Award for his contribution to the epidemiology of occupational disease, with particular reference to carcinogenic risk from electromagnetic fields. Milham is a leading international expert in occupational hazards. He published as early as 1979 that electrical workers have increased mortality due to certain cancers.
Dr. Milham’s work is based on decades of government records of deaths and electrification that show electricity has been causing increased mortality from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and suicide since the beginning of the 20th century.
The slow spread of residential electrification in the US in the first half of the 20th century from urban to rural areas resulted by 1940 in two large populations that allowed a detailed comparison of the spread of electricity with death rates. Electrification is clearly associated with increasing rates of disease and death. Urban death rates were as much as 66% higher than rural rates for cardiovascular diseases, malignant diseases, diabetes and suicide in 1940. Rural death rates were significantly correlated with level of residential electric service by state for most causes examined.
Dr. Milham’s publication suggests that the 20th Century epidemic of the so-called diseases of civilization including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and suicide was caused by electrification not by lifestyle. He also concludes that a large proportion of these diseases may therefore be preventable.
Dr. Milham further comments that: “The explosive recent increase in radiofrequency radiation and high frequency voltage transients sources, from cell phones and towers, terrestrial antennas, WiFi and WiMax telecommunication systems, broadband internet over power lines, and personal electronic equipment may be leading to a new 21st Century epidemic much like the 20th Century electromagnetic field epidemic.” That this new epidemic of morbidity and mortality may be underway is of major concern to Dr. Milham.
It does not take a genius to cut and paste information. Guys at school do it too often.
The fact remains that there is only unreliable information about what is the real causes of modern death. The scientific communities across the world have not as yet proven what are the causes. Though most agree that lifestyle, what is in our food sources and comes into our foods at and after processing, lack of exercise, air and noise pollution also play a major roll in our demise.
The fact is there are no definitive or conclusive answers only theories that remain unproven. Erring on the side of caution is sound advice, debate is essential but the scientists, the people must collectively push the governments to open the cash gates that will fund the much-needed research.
Sound and radio waves have always been around us, some animals communicate at infrasonic levels of 15 hertz. No elephant handler has died because of close proximity to infrasonic elephant speak. So there is much more complexity to the whole than is made out to be by those who want to make a name for themselves.
Though still in second year university, I believe in taking a step back, and look without prejudice at the data and do serious scientific testing that is repeatable and will hold up in any forum.
Over 10 years ago, while still in high school, I was hired by the Toronto District School Board as a systems administrator for my high school. I setup wireless networks in various labs and throughout the school, to no ill effect. (Presently, there have been no complaints from WiFi-equipped TDSB schools.)
Many cities (including Toronto) have municipal WiFi networks and I have yet to visit any college or university without it. While it’s true that the effects of EM radiation on human beings is incomplete, we’d have seen more ill effects if they did exist given how widespread WiFi is.
Also, things like EarthCalm make my Iron Ring (http://www.ironring.ca/) weep/laugh.