Serious independent scientific research has proven a link between electromagnetic fields and all kinds of health problems, including cancers and neuro-degenerative diseases. The utilization by children and adolescents of cell phones and computers equipped with WiFi is particularly harmful because children absorb more radiation than adults. This can cause hyperactivity, aggressive behavior and memory and concentration problems.
Most scientific studies have been conducted by the telecommunications industry which does all in its power to cover up the truth about health effects since this technology generates billions of dollars' worth of business each year. Government regulatory agencies follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the safety of this technology. WHO hired an expert, Michael Repacholi, to lead the investigation. It was later discovered that he was paid by the industry to deny the existence of damaging effects. Thus, WHO is also covering up the truth.
Due to industry influence, it is proving difficult to educate consumers, legislators and doctors about the harmful effects of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by wireless devices. One should limit the use of cell phones to short conversations, or better, send text messages instead of talking. Headsets should be used. One should not carry one's cell phone near sensitive parts of the body since these devices continue to emit radiation even when switched off. These are a few of the recommendations included in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) guidelines on use. Why would they be mentioned if the technology were harmless?
Although wireless communication is useful to medical personnel, firemen etc., WIRED Internet service should be the norm for all public places: schools, universities, patients' rooms in hospitals, libraries. Other solutions include protective devices for cell phones and computer screens. (Refer to http://www.emf-bioshield.com/)
In November 2010, the Commonwealth Club of California organized a forum on the health effects of electromagnetic fields, which included presentations from world experts. This may be viewed at www.electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/cc-video/
Health officials in a number of countries around the world have taken steps to issue warnings for children to limit their use of cell phones. The use of WiFi in public places such as schools and libraries is being questioned in parts of Canada and some European countries. WiFi is being replaced by WIRED connections. In 2009, the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted a resolution by a vote of 43 to 1, recommending precautions to be taken to protect human health with regard to wireless technology.
Another troubling aspect of this technology is the resources used to manufacture electronic devices such as smartphones, computers and cell phones. These include coltan which is mined illegally in the war-torn Congo at great social cost: slave labor, violence, sexual assault.
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| Recycling plant in New York City |
Recycling is also an issue. It is estimated that the average consumer changes his cell phone every 18 months, although these devices are produced to last about five years. Some discarded phones are resold, however a lot of these are shipped to other countries to be dismantled by hand and the metals reused. This has devastating effects on human health and the environment.
What is very worrying is that the majority of people are unaware of the potential harmful health effects of this technology and the social and environmental implications. So many people are addicted to the latest wireless gadget. They cannot imagine living without this technology. Others choose not to know the truth about the health and environmental impact. The media remains quasi-silent on this issue since a part of its advertising comes from the telecommunications industry. Government regulatory agencies rely on health information from WHO, which as mentioned, covers up the truth. A large share of government's and others' pension plans include investments in the wireless industry. President Obama has included a plan costing the federal government $18 billion in his economic recovery program to provide wireless Internet access to 98 per cent of the United States.
The mobile phone industry will not disappear. Our only solution may be to adopt more sensible behavior regarding use of wireless devices, develop less harmful communications solutions, and pressure governments into enacting legislation to impose WIRED access to the Internet in public places and ban cell phone use in children under a certain age. We must not sacrifice our health for the profits of industry, especially not the health of our children, who are our future.
Start now by signing these petitions: Children's Wireless Protection Act (Jan. 2010) sponsored by the People's Initiative Foundation (http://www.thepeoplesinitiative.org/) and the Prove-It Initiative (http://www.justproveit.net/).
Books: "Public Health SOS: the Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution" by Camilla Rees and Magda Havas.
by Meris Michaels
References to documents/research mentioned in my comment of 8 October 2011:
- Council of Europe resolution 1815 on the Potential Dangers of EM Fields and their effect on the environment
- Report of the Council of Europe on the Potential Dangers of EM Fields and their effect on the environment
- Scientific Proof from Comparative Encephaloscans and www.artac.info
After conducting numerous researches on the subject of impact of wireless networks on human health, the same conclusion was reached: there is no convincing evidence that exposure to RF causes any health problems. However, there are some limitations as to how high a level of frequency people can be exposed to and it should be respected.
ReplyDeleteCouncil of Europe resolution 1815, adopted on 27 May 2011 and applicable to all 47 Member States in Europe states: “While electrical and electromagnetic fields in certain frequency bands have wholly beneficial effects which are applied in medicine, other non-ionizing frequencies, be they sourced from extremely low frequencies, power lines or certain high frequency waves used in the fields of radar, telecommunications and mobile telephony, appear to have more or less potentially harmful, non-thermal, biological effects on plants, insects and animals as well as the human body even when exposed to levels that are below the official threshold values.”
ReplyDeleteAt the end of May, the IARC/WHO declared cell phones to be a class 2b carcinogen, “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. The Report of the Council of Europe on the Potential Dangers of Electromagnetic Fields and their Effect on the Environment published on 6 May 2011, made the point that most mainstream studies attempt to downplay or completely ignore the fact that the latency period for brain tumors from cell phone use may be 30 to 40 years. Thus, many current studies showing “no risk” from cell phone use are flawed because they are focused on the short term, too short to predict the real health outcome for heavy users who start using the technology at an early age.
The clinical research of ARTAC undertaken in 2010 and ongoing, which involved over 200 persons describing themselves as electrosensitive, has shown health effects through biological analyses: a decrease in vitamin D in almost all patients; an increase in histamines, sometimes 10 times higher, in 35% of patients; a decrease in melatonin in at least one-third of patients (indicated by decreased levels of melatonin in the urine of patients); reduced blood flow to the limbic area of the brain, as indicated by encephaloscan results.
Proof of a causal link to electromagnetic fields was established by comparing analyses of the biological markers of patients when exposed to electromagnetic (EM) fields and after several months of protection in “white zones”, (areas where there are no EM waves). The histamine levels of patients decreased considerably. The level of melatonin increased. Encephaloscans revealed improved vasculature of the brain. (References to the documents/research mentioned here are cited above at end of post.)