wifi and smart meters – a health risk we need to know about..
what’s wrong with wifi and smartmeters?
guidelines + effects
myths + facts
what are the alternatives + what else can I do to help?
links + further information
(please sign the Downing St. petition by clicking on the image on the left)
What’s wrong with wifi and smart meters?
You’ve heard that mobile phones emit dangerous levels of radiation, but your phone isn’t the only source of microwave radiation most of us are being exposed to. Over the past few years there’s been a monumental increase in our exposure to microwaves from mobile phone masts (2G, 3G, UMTS), wireless DECT-phones, wireless DECT-baby monitors, wifi and now, smart meters.
Many of us have numerous wifi signals coming through our houses, and yet are relatively unaware of the health impact
this can have on us — especially when it comes to children. (Over 14 peer-reviewed studies1 show that low-level electromagnetic radiation is harmful to health, and that children are the worst affected – as they absorb three times as much radiation due to their thinner skulls.)
Studies have also shown a direct link between the current rise of chronic disorders (Alzheimer, ADHD, fibromyalgia, CFS, insomnia, stress related disorders etc.) and the exponential rise in this form of radiation, known as ‘electrosmog’, during the past 10 years. More recently, thousands of professors, researchers and medical doctors have been warning politicians repeatedly that the current exposure to pulsed microwaves is a direct threat to public health and that new safety standards for Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) exposures are needed.
New recommendations from the EU Parliamentary assembly clearly state that wifi should be removed from public places, especially schools, and many European countries have already started removing and banning wifi from public places.
As for smart meters, UK households are on the brink of a nationwide scheme to roll out these radiation-emitting monitors to each of our houses. In the US much controversy has been sparked, campaigns launched and actions taken by citizens who’ve been adversely affected since their installation. The harmful levels of radiation emitted by smart meters infiltrates your home, travels for a few miles in all directions and pierces through all non-metallic mediums. Although the smart meters fire off intermittently, they have a cumulative harmful effect on our health over time. This video shows the kinds of levels of radiation being emitted from smart meters in the USA.
effects of wi-fi and government safety guidelines
Doctor Andrew Goldsworthy of Imperial College, a leading expert in the UK, says government guidelines are based on the thermal (heating) effects of radiation but there are other damaging consequences from the nonthermal effects of wi-fi microwave radiation. These include cell damage, risks to fertility, genetic defects and cancer.
Magda Havas PhD, a renowned scientist and internationally recognised expert in this field, also states, “guidelines are based on the assumption that if microwave energy does not heat tissue it is not harmful. This assumption is incorrect. Adverse biological effects have been documented at levels below government guidelines.”
Norbert Hankin, Environmental Protection Agency senior scientist and radio frequency (RF) radiation expert, echo<s Goldsworthy and Havas. He says, “. . . [safety guidelines] are thermally based and do not apply to chronic non-thermal exposure situations.” In other words, if it doesn’t “cook tissue,” it is assumed to be safe. Research indicates however that low-power exposure (WiFi and smart meters are “low power’) has been shown to have numerous biological effects which can lead to serious health consequences, including neurological, cardiological and hormonal disorders, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, DNA damage, cancers, diabetes and asthma. Children have brains and nervous systems that are still developing; they are particularly vulnerable.
myths, facts and recommendations
Myth 1 “Non-ionizing radiation is safe because it doesn’t heat tissue”
Reality “ . . . the assumption that if microwave energy does not heat tissue it is not harmful is incorrect. We know that magnetic fields above 2.5 milli Gauss (mG) are critical for children under the age of 14 and that magnetic fields at 12 mG are critical for adults with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. Magda Havas Ph.D. Environmental & Resource Studies
“. . biological and epidemiological evidence from all around the world . . shows that electromagnetic radiation . . causes massive increases in cancer, cardiac, neurological and reproductive health effects.” Neil Cherry Ph.D. environmental physicist
Myth 2 “wifi is safe because it emits a much weaker signal than the mobile phone system.”
Reality Frequencies emitted by a Wifi system are different to those emitted by mobile phone systems. They are well-known to disrupt the body’s vital electrical systems. Public Wi-Mesh system frequencies are also not the same as those of home systems.
Myth 3 “wifi systems are safe because they operates within government guidelines”
Reality “What we experience in the daily reality of our medical practice is anything but hypothetical! We see the rising number of chronically sick patients [also] as the result of an irresponsible “safety limits policy,” Freiburger Appeal, signed by 3000 doctors.
Some important dates:
July 2007: The German government warned its citizens to avoid using WiFi.
The Environment Ministry said that WiFi should be avoided and preference given to “conventional wired systems.” http://www.icems.eu/docs/deutscher_bundestag.pdf
September 2007: The EU European Environment Agency called for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from WiFi and mobile phones:.Professor Jacqueline McGlade, the EEA’s executive director, said: “Recent research and reviews on the long-term effects of radiations from mobile communications suggest that it would be prudent for health autorities to recommend actions to reduce exposures especially to vulnerable groups such as children.
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/radiation-risk-from-everyday-devices-assessed
May 31, 2011: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organization (WHO) reclassified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as a Class 2B carcinogen. (The same category as lead and aspestos.)
May 2011: The Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe (PACE) released Resolution 1815 on the Potential Dangers of Electromagnetic Fields and their effect on the Environment. This document has some excellent recommendations regarding cell phones, cordless phones, wireless baby monitors, WiFi, WLAN, WiMax, power lines, relay antenna base stations; with special concerns expressed for the protection of children and those who are electrosensitive.
http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc11/EDOC12608.pdf
So what can we do about it?
Smart meters:
1) SIGN: It’s not too late here in the UK to make a difference. There’s currently a Downing Street petition to stop the nationwide implementation of smart meters – PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SIGN IT. (AND PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE ON FACEBOOK. (Or email your contacts the link.) 100,000 signatures are needed for Downing Street to take action.
2) WRITE: to your electricity company stating your concerns and inform them you will not allow a smart meter to be installed in your home.
3) SHARE: awareness through your networks: emails, facebook, twitter, friends and family.
wifi:
Contrary to popular belief wifi is not the only way to have internet access in every room! There’s a wonderfully simple solution…
1) Get yourself a dLAN. These are inexpensive and carry your internet signal through the mains electricity instead of the air. (Meaning no pulsed radiation yet still the convenience of internet in every room. You’ll a blue dLAN plug per person for your household.)
2) Speak to your neighbours about wifi and, if they’re interested in finding out more, print out or show them this document. (The document also includes dLAN instructions too!)
3) Switch your PC’s / MAC’s airport off so you’re not getting irradiated as you sit at your laptop.
4) If you can’t switch to a wired connection: SWITCH THE WIFI OFF AT NIGHT & WHEN YOU’RE NOT USING IT.
1: Report: available at www.bioinitiative.org Title: BioInitiative: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF)
UK website for the ‘Stop Smart Meters’ campaign: http://www.smartmeterpetition.org
Stop Smart Meters website: (USA based, but heaps of relevant information for us in the UK.) http://www.stopsmartmeters.org/why-stop-smart-meters/
Watch another great video on smart meters here… (it’s long but worth it.) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nmaYU6kek
Powerwatch – heaps of info on wi-fi (and also on dLAN) – http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/rf/wifi.asp
Electro-Sensitivity UK – info for electro-sensitives – http://www.es-uk.info/
When in Doubt Throw it Out – an essay by ‘energy doctor’ Stephen Kane on the health, political and ethical issues raised during the Glastonbury Why WiFi Campaign in 2008 – http://tinyurl.com/bfmz2o
Energy Protection Products – tools to strengthen the energy field and eliminate forms of environmental stress -http://www.nataliefee.com/energy-egg
Updating...
