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Wireless Technology Article

September 2018

ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

Dr Elizabeth Evans MA(Cantab), MBBS(Lond), DRCOG


•Wireless technology (mobile phones, WiFi hubs, DECT cordless home telephones, baby monitors, wireless alarms, smart meters etc.) has proliferated at an incredible rate over the last 15-20 years. Our exposure to the microwave/radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted is unprecedented, and the long term implications are, as yet, unknown. Humans have evolved with exposure to low level natural electromagnetic fields (EMFs) which come from space. However, wireless technology uses pulsed EMFs (different to the analogue form of natural EMFs) with information carrying waves. This is a completely novel exposure for all life on earth. RF levels in big cities are now up to 1018 times the natural background levels of this particular electromagnetic frequency.


•There is a growing body of evidence (over 20,000 published studies in peer-reviewed journals) that not only suggests there may be a link between RF radiation and cancer (including childhood leukemia and brain tumours), dementia, neurological damage, fetal damage and infertility, but that, acutely, this radiation could be the cause of a whole host of other symptoms - allergies, insomnia, headaches, lack of attention, immune problems, depression, cardiac arrhythmias, loss of cognitive function, anxiety and behavioural problems. These symptoms are described as Electrical Hypersensitivity (EHS). EHS, recognised by the WHO, is estimated to affect 3-5% of the population significantly and up to 30% mildly.


•The International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) set limits on RF levels in 1998. These safety standards are only based on exposure levels that cause acute adverse health effects as a result of short-term tissue heating (>1°C) or electric shock. They are not designed to protect against the cumulative effects of long-term exposure, or non-thermal, biological effects of RF exposure. The ICNIRP limit allows microwave levels many thousands of times greater than those now being reported as causing the symptoms listed above.


•The Council of Europe Resolution 1815 (from 2011) reviewed all available scientific evidence http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-DocDetails-EN.asp?FileID=17994&lang=EN and calls for schools to give preference to wired internet connections, and for raised awareness on potential health risks of DECT wireless telephones, baby monitors and other domestic appliances which emit continuous pulse waves, including recommending the use of wired, fixed telephones at home. The Council’s view is that waiting for high levels of scientific and clinical proof could lead to high health and economic costs, so recommends taking a precautionary approach to this technology, avoiding children’s exposure to RF radiation where possible.


•In May 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a body connected to the WHO, classified RF radiation as a class 2B (possible) carcinogen. Many leading experts are now calling for an upgrade to 2A (probable) carcinogen, or Class 1 (definite) carcinogen based on the current data, especially following the US National Toxicology Programme preliminary trial results (2018) showing increased incidence of brain and heart tumours in rats exposed to 2G and 3G frequency radiation https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/cellphones/findings/study_index.html


•In June 2012 the UK Office of National Statistics released data showing that the incidence of frontal and temporal lobe brain tumors increased by >50% from 1999-2009. Brain tumours are now the leading cause of cancer death in children. Data from 1995-2015 shows the incidence of gliobalstoma multiforme (the deadliest brain tumour) has more than doubled in the UK over those 2 decades. Data from other countries shows a similar pattern over the last 20 years.


•The BioInitiative Report 2012 reviewed 1800 new studies on RF. They concluded that there is now sufficient evidence of harm – genotoxicity, DNA strand breakage, decreased melatonin, neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, damage to sperm, damage to bone and brain of fetus – for schools to use only wired internet, wired classrooms and wired learning devices, as children are more vulnerable than adults. (See Appendix)


•This technology appears to be here to stay for the time being, and our children are the first generation that will have been exposed to it from birth, or in utero. However, there is a growing body of evidence which suggests we should be using this with extreme caution, particularly when it comes to children. It is likely that in due course, as with smoking, asbestos and leaded petrol, it will be outlawed, but it could take decades for policy to catch up with scientific evidence. In the meantime it is up to individuals and organisations to look at the evidence themselves and to formulate behaviour and policies in the light of that evidence.


USEFUL LINKS AND DOCUMENTS FOR REFERENCES

1.International EMF Scientist Appeal 2015 https://www.emfscientist.org/

Signed by 190 scientists from 39 nations, who have collectively published over 2,000 peer-reviewed papers on the biological or health effects of non-ionizing radiation. They call upon the United Nations, the WHO, UNEP and the UN Member States to address the emerging public health crisis related to cell phones, wireless devices, wireless utility meters and wireless infrastructure in neighborhoods. They ask the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging precautionary measures, and educating the public about health risks, particularly risks to children and fetal development.


2.Safe Schools 2012http://wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/safeschools2012.pdf

Medical and scientific experts call for safe technologies in schools. Includes statements from:

•American Academy of Environmental Medicine,

•Swiss Doctors for Environmental Protection,

•Austrian Medical Association,

•Irish Doctors Association,

•Russian National Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection


3.BioInitiative Report 2012 http://www.bioinitiative.org/

A report by 29 independent scientists and health experts from around the world (ten holding medical degrees (MDs), 21 PhDs, and three MsC, MA or MPHs) about possible risks from wireless technologies and electromagnetic fields. It updates BioInitiative 2007 and draws on 1800 new studies. Among the authors are three former presidents of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, and five full members of BEMS. One author is the Chair of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation. Another is a Senior Advisor to the European Environmental Agency.


4.Freiburg Appeal 2012 http://freiburger-appell-2012.info/en/observations-findings.php

More than 1000 physicians signed the Freiburg Appeal in 2002. 36,000 people from all over the world supported its warning about the dangers of radio-frequency radiation. In 2012 physicians and scientists called again on colleagues, the wider global community and politicians around the world.


5.Safety limits in different countries compared to natural background levels of RF Radiation

Earth’s background microwaves0.000,000,000,000,001 µW/cm2

Salzburg’s limit on RF levels0.001 µW /cm2

Switzerland’s limit9.5 µW/cm2

China’s and Italy’s limits10 µW /cm2

UK’s limit (ICNIRP safety limits)1000 µW/cm2

There is no known safe level of RF radiation exposure for children or fetuses


6.This paper by Martin Pall disproves the popular claim that biological effects from wireless radiation cannot occur, for lack of a plausible mechanism of action. A careful review of twenty-three studies shows that calcium channel activation may be a key mechanism for understanding the biological effects of EMFs. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcmm.12088/full


7.Comprehensive list of studies classified by health effect, also including link to Naval Medical Research Institute Report http://www.justproveit.net/studies

Electrohypersensitivity 

March 2014

WIRELESS RADIATION – THE INVISIBLE TOXIN IN YOUR HOME

DR ELIZABETH EVANS MA(Cantab), MBBS, DRCOG


Does anyone in your family suffer with headaches, sleep problems, depression, palpitations, anxiety/panic attacks, recurrent infections, fatigue or rashes or unexplained symptoms? Do you feel you are doing all the right things - a healthy diet, supplements, exercise etc. - but are still not feeling 100%? Could the missing link be your exposure to wireless microwave radiation from mobile phones, baby monitors, WiFi, wireless burglar alarms or Wii's inside your house and perhaps phone masts and satnavs outside your house?


A few years ago I developed severe electrosensitivity and it took many months - using high dose vitamins, adrenal support and NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique) - to recover. I also completely cleaned up my house with respect to electrical devices, particularly those emitting microwave radiation, and I feel all my family's health and sleep has improved as a result. We swapped our cordless phones for traditional wired ones, we replaced WiFi with a wired router and had several broadband points put in around the house, that we can plug computers into, and that all work from our provider’s WiFi router with the WiFi permanently disabled and Ethernet cable used instead. We ditched the digital baby monitor. Although my husband has a mobile and Blackberry for work he always turns it off in the house and gives our landline number if people need to get hold of him at home. We ask guests to make sure their mobiles are turned off, particularly at night. Mobile phones emit a large burst of microwaves about every 8 minutes when they are switched on, to communicate with the local mast, so even if you rarely actually use your phone, while you are carrying it with you, you will be getting irradiated every 8 minutes or so, and the microwaves emitted can be detected up to 6 metres away from the phone, so will also be affecting people around you (babies, children etc). Smartphones are even worse as, unless you turn off the WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth and Data Services functions, they emit even higher levels of radiation constantly. Other sources of this radiation are phone masts (if you can see one from your house you will be getting fairly high levels of radiation) and wireless burglar alarm systems, wireless music systems and Smart TVs which are becoming increasingly fashionable but emit microwave radiation 24/7.


The evidence from around the world from research on animals and epidemiological studies in humans is accumulating to show many serious health effects arising from this radiation – both short-term and long-term. There may be no conclusive evidence yet that this radiation can cause harm, but equally there are no long term studies into the effects of being "microwaved" 24/7, particularly from multiple sources, as the technology is so new. Indeed, it is our children that are the real guinea pigs in the long term experiment, as many are exposed to WiFi all day at school, to phone masts and digital TV/radio masts in the environment, and are then coming home to houses where WiFi is being left on 24/7, and multiple mobile phones which people generally don't turn off, even at night. They also may spend a lot of time playing on iPads or Wiis (the same technology). This, combined with the electromagnetic pollution from neighbours' WiFi/mobiles (passive WiFiing!), and perhaps a baby monitor in the room or burglar alarm in the room below and a cordless telephone base close by, means that the level of exposure to this radiation may be astronomical for some babies and children. No studies have been done on the effect of multiple sources of this radiation but basic laws of physics would indicate that the effects will be multiplied greatly with exposure to more than one transmitter.


I believe that avoiding this pollution will become just as important to good health as good nutrition, chemical avoidance, vaccine/drug avoidance etc. are. Thousands of published scientific studies have linked long term exposure to dementia, male and female infertility, cancers and autism. I fear that in 20-30 years, when we will see the effect this radiation exposure has had on our children's generation from conception onwards, we will view this pollutant in the same way that we think of smoking and passive smoking. We could be facing a public health disaster of unprecedented levels as the proliferation of this technology continues almost unregulated and at breakneck speed. The industry is now worth $trillions a year – is money being put before the health and safety of ourselves and our children? I feel confident that I am doing the best I can to make sure my children are not a statistic in a possible epidemic of early dementia, cancer, immune problems, infertility etc. and I am keen that other people at least think about it while they can still change their behaviour.


If you have anyone in your family suffering with headaches, sleep problems, palpitations, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, recurrent infections, fatigue or rashes or unexplained symptoms, please think about how much exposure to wireless technology they are getting. You can hire meters (called Acoustimeters) for a week from the Healthy House https://www.healthy-house.co.uk/electro/meters-and-monitors/acoustimeter-rental relatively cheaply. These are easy to use and you can assess your house yourself and then make changes to reduce the levels of pollution.


European surveys estimate that 35% of the population have mild/moderate electrosensitivity and 3% suffer severely and those figures are expected to rise to 50% and 5% by 2020 as exposure increases. It was the most frightening experience in my life to suffer from severe electrosensitivity. I feel incredibly fortunate to have recovered and I will not take any risks of it coming back again. It is perfectly possible to live in the modern world without overdosing on this radiation - I do, and I don't feel cut off from modern life in any way!

Wireless Technology Health Guidelines

November 2015

Guidance about Wireless Technology for Concerned Parents

Dr Elizabeth Evans MA(Cantab), MBBS(Lond), DRCOG


Educate yourself and your child

•Use Flight Mode on phones/tablets/iPod Touch when not using online/expecting calls, and always at night

•Distance is your friend. Keep your body as far away from transmitters as possible and NEVER carry phone on body

•Mobile phone calls – use Airtubes or speakerphone to reduce radiation to the head

•Use your smartphone in a smart way. Turn OFF all functions – 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, Data Services, Location – so you can just receive calls and texts, then turn on individual functions only when required.

•Don’t use wearable wireless technology e.g. Smartwatches, Fitbits etc.

•Games Consoles emit wireless radiation e.g. X-Box, Play Station etc.


Clean Up Your House

•Hire an acoustimeter from Healthy House www.healthy-house.co.uk and measure levels of RF radiation in your house, and from devices with functions on and off. Aim for zero levels in bedrooms at night.

•Change WiFi router to wired only, or turn off WiFi on router, and connect computers to broadband internet from router with ethernet cables, or with dLan adapters through house electrical circuit

•Replace DECT cordless phones with corded phones (or Siemens ECO-DECT phone with ECO and ECO-PLUS modes both activated)

•Don’t install wireless burglar alarms/ music systems or baby monitors

•Refuse a smart meter www.stopsmartmeters.org.uk


Educate your School

•Print out the British Doctors’ Letter and send to headteacher and governors/local authorities. http://ssita.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/British-Doctors-Letter-March-2014.pdf

•Print out Safe Schools 2012 document and send to head and governors/local authorities. http://wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/safeschools2012.pdf

and also direct them to this excellent website by Dr Sarah Starkey to help them make a full risk assessment of their wireless technology https://www.wirelessriskassessment.org/

•Make your concerns known to fellow parents and campaign for WiFi removal.

•Ask school to turn off routers when not being used for educational purposes, and turn down the power of the routers.

•Ask school to draw up a Code of Practice for safer teacher and pupil use of wireless technology at home and in school e.g. devices on Flight Mode when not in use.

•Ask school to sign a Statement of Accountability admitting liability for any harm caused from the WiFi they have installed.


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