July 2010
The Welsh Assembly Government has produced leaflets offering mobile phone guidance for primary and secondary school children. But leading international scientists have reacted, saying that the information is scientifically incorrect and misleading. "Surely the children of Wales deserve to have high quality health advice which is scientifically correct." "In the light of the scientific opinions and inaccuracies I hope you will withdraw and redraft these leaflets." Please see letter for details of the false and misleading information. It should be possible for Wales to provide young people with accurate and balanced precautionary advice
Full Signal the movie is out on DVD.
Simcoe County Safe School Committee in Canada are monitoring the health of pupils in wireless schools.
Dr. Martin Blank talks about the inadequacy of current standards for electromagnetic exposure from cell phones and other electronic and electrical devices.
San Francisco to make mobile phone SAR values available at the point of sale. This follows France's decision to do the same, as well as including information that overuse of the device may carry health risks
Open letter about the compulsory use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies in the classroom (UK). Please pass on the letter (page 1) and the links page (page 2) to schools.
June 2010
France bans the use of mobile phones by pupils in all kindergartens, elementary schools and colleges (up to ages 15-17). All mobile phones sold in France must also mention that overuse of the device may carry health risks. Article 72, Assemblée Nationale May 11th 2010 (translation). Sénat vote, Article 72, 8th October 2009 (translation).
May 2010
International Interphone study into a possible link between mobile phone use and tumours is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Microwave news comment. Increased risks of gliomas were found for high mobile phone use (>1640 hours of cumulative call time). With children's bodies absorbing more radiation than adults', risks are likely to be higher in children. But controversy over study design, bias and flaws limit the conclusions. Future studies need careful planning and choice of meaningful controls that take into account exposure to cordless phones and other wireless technologies
Absorption of radiation from wireless technologies into the brain and bone marrow of children: Time to start talking sense.
Dr Kesari, Director of Neuro-Oncology at the Moores Cancer Centre at UC San Diego USA, talks about long-term mobile phone use and the increased risk of developing brain tumours.
Next-up Organisation publish a 1973 Canadian Research document which describes microwave radiation as a potential threat to human health.
April 2010
Wi-Fi security problems.
A call for courageous ministers to follow the precautionary principle, where there is evidence of harm to public health.
Study published in PNAS describes how a magnetic field applied behind the right ear can disrupt human moral judgements and risk taking. Could mobile phones also alter moral judgements, in particular with respect to attempted harm?
Preliminary study finds that 2.4GHz microwaves affect the heart, causing arrhythmia and tachycardia (irregular and rapid heart rate) in some people. Exposures were within the range of those experienced by users of wireless laptops: 3microW/cm(2), or 30milliW/m(2).
March 2010
March 2010 is Brain Tumour Awareness month. Braintumourresearch.org is asking people to wear a hat for a day in March to raise awareness of brain cancers. Brain tumours now kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Article about brain tumours and mobile phone use. Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo, videos on brain tumours, part 1 and part 2.
Debate about the safety of wireless technologies.
Rehab clinic for technology addicts.
February 2010
Leaflet about the exposure of children and adolescents to mobile phones and wireless technologies. Supported by the Austrian Medical Association and Physicians for a Healthy Environment.
GQ Magazine reports on mobile phone and wireless technology health risks (Feb 2010).
Living in a Wireless World - pregnancy, fertility and children in wireless times.
Videos for teenagers describe how mobile phones can be used more safely and what the potential risks are. These are highly recommended. An excellent resource for schools to stimulate discussion about an issue which affects the majority of young people today.
January 2010
Open letter from Professor Havas about wireless routers in schools (Jan 2010).
December 2009
'Full Signal', the movie, wins Best Documentary award at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. See film website and trailers. Film screenings from early 2010 and DVD available from June 2010.
November 2009
Public concern about radiation from Wi-Fi and mobile phone mast transmitters. Parents in Formby and Stockton (see Video, Mac version) petition, campaign against and remove children from wireless schools. Massive public protest in Stuttgart over phone masts and in Nantes over masts and Wi-Fi in schools.
International Conference on Electromagnetic Fields and Health, 17th November 2009, Stavanger, Norway. Website and Press Release.
October 2009
French Health and Security Agency recommend reducing exposure to mobile phones and other wireless devices. France to ban mobiles in schools. Cancers are linked to long-term mobile phone use. Maine set to introduce warning labels on cell phones. But Mick Brookes from the National Association of Head Teachers wants mobile phones to be used by pupils in the classroom.
Mobile communication technologies decrease male fertility and damage sperm DNA (Scientific Research). Will the countries with the highest exposures to Wi-Fi, WiMAX or mobile phone mast transmitters suffer the highest rates of infertility and genetic abnormalities in future generations?
International scientists express concern about exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields in the Porto Alegre Resolution. 'The ... use of Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or any other form of wireless communications technology ... shall preferably not include siting or signal transmission in residencies, schools, day-care centres, senior centres, hospitals or any other buildings where people spend considerable time'.
September 2009
Health Protection Agency (HPA) announce their measurements of microwave emissions from individual wireless laptops, similar to those used in schools (see Wi-Fi exposures and guidelines). A teachers' union remains concerned. Powerwatch and Mast Sanity also comment. The HPA will go on to use this information for a wider health risk review.
A new website, Wiredchild.
A link between mobile phones and cancer?
August 2009
Are we living in the 'Age of Stupid'? Is a sustainable future one where we damage wildlife, bees needed for pollination, human health and the DNA needed for healthy future generations?
A Telecom Strategy described by a former company Environment Manager.
June/July 2009
The Israeli Government bans marketing of home Wi-Fi products as a precautionary measure. The Environment Minister said that "the health consideration comes before any economic consideration" (16.7.09).
The UK Government outlines its plans for a wireless, digital Britain despite scientific warnings of a future public health crisis and environmental damage.
How independent are the decision makers? Former Government Health Minister, Patricia Hewitt, receives £75,000 from British Telecom (Sunday Telegraph, 28.6.09).
May 2009
Teachers' Unions still concerned about wireless technologies (May 2009).
Schools in France and a Paris University remove Wi-Fi (International concerns).