Techies split over wi-fi health fears

This one's gonna run and run...

NEWS

When it comes to wi-fi, silicon.com readers are divided over whether they should be concerned about potential health risks, according to our latest exclusive poll.

Readers were asked whether they are worried about the health implications of the increasing use of wi-fi and 41 per cent admitted they have concerns about the tech.

But 59 per cent said they're not worried at all, meaning people are pretty much split over the issue.

Concerns about the health implications of wi-fi surfaced this week following a BBC Panorama investigation into wireless networks in schools.

The silicon.com A to Z of wireless

Click on the links below to find out more on each of the entries in the list.

A is for Antivirus
B is for Bluetooth
C is for The Cloud
D is for dotMobi
E is for Email
F is for FMC
G is for GPS
H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
M is for M2M
N is for NFC
O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee

The programme visited a school in Norwich where levels of radiation from the classroom wi-fi were measured.

The radio frequency radiation levels were up to three times the level transmitted from the main beam of a mobile phone mast, according to the programme.

Panorama went on to claim children are more susceptible to absorbing radiation as they have thinner skulls than adults.

But the levels recorded were well below government limits and there has been little scientific evidence supporting the argument that wi-fi can be harmful.

The issue will remain a talking point with wireless networks continuing to spread across cities and rural areas.

Companies such as The Cloud are rolling out citywide wireless networks, while a number of local authorities are working with BT on the telco's Wireless Cities programme.

Comments

There is 1 comment. Join the discussion

  1. 1. anonymous

    This is just a repeat of the mobile phone health hype.

    There was a "report" about it in the Independent last week - loads of quite disturbingly bad pseudo-scientific waffle and garbled techno-babble presented as some sort of scientific investigation.

    A reporter claims to have recently installed wifi and started feeling run-down? Try looking at the way your PC usage habits have changed since you are no longer tied to a desk in the spare room!

    Get real people, low level electromagnetic radiation in these frequencies is a fact of life and is not harming anyone. But the changes in lifestyle that these technologies bring about need to be managed by us all to realise the benefits while minimising the downsides.

    • 5 June 2007 10:56
    • Add comment

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your silicon.com account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy.

Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Membership FAQ

Get silicon.com's daily newsletter

  • Register on silicon.com

    Enter your email to register

Keep in touch with silicon.com

silicon.com newsletters