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| Teachers call for school wi-fi ban | |
| United Kingdom | Created: 22 Sep 2009 |
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Teachers are calling for a ban on new wi-fi systems in schools, despite research from the Health Protection Agency that claims school systems are safe. Scientists set up 15 laptop computers commonly used in UK schools and investigated the strength of the radiowaves around them. The findings, presented today at HPA's annual conference at the University of Warwick, concluded that exposures to radio waves from Wi-Fi equipment were well within internationally-accepted exposure guidelines. But Philip Parkin, general secretary of education professionals union Voice said: "Just because a few laptops have been tested and found to have no immediate effects, doesn't mean there might not be long-term effects on developing children." Voice is calling for a ban on the installation of new wi-fi systems in schools, for existing systems to be turned off when not required and that schools should consider whether they really need to use wi-fi. Parkin added: "It is a considerable concern that in schools we are installing wi-fi systems and we have no clear evidence that they are safe. My concern is that until they are declared to be safe and proven to be safe we should not be installing them in schools. The difficulty is that once installed in schools, they are switched on constantly. Whether the children are using them or not, they are exposed to that level of radiation." The union is also calling for nurseries to ban mobile phones to protect children and staff from illicit photography. Related new: Jul 2008, United Kingdom: Suspend wi-fi in schools, says union chief following reports it causes ill-health Oct 2007, United Kingdom: Official Wi-Fi study to compare emissions to ICNIRP (so it's designed to find nothing) Apr 2007, United Kingdom: BECTA WI-FI headache report suppressed Jul 2007, United Kingdom: Repacholi to speak as "radiation expert" at BECTA "Handheld Learning" conference Oct 2007, Switzerland: Repacholi Admits Interference from the Industry at the World Health Organisation EMF Project Aug 2007, Scotland: Concern over Wi-Fi 'dangers' as pupils are guinea pigs |
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| Click here to view the source article. | |
| Source: Children & Young People Now, Charlotte Goddard, 15 Sep 2009 | |
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