Agency says Wi-fi in UK schools is probably safe

THE UK'S Health Protection Agency (HPS) has decided that it would be a jolly good idea if some-one was to measure the levels of exposure to EMR schoolchildren receive when they're working in the vicinity of a Wi-fi network.

"There has not been extensive research into what people's exposures actually are to this new technology and that is why we are initiating this new programme of research and analyses," the agency explained.

It pointed out, for example, that the typical power of a Wif-fi network is around 100 milliwatts.

Which is well within the guidelines set out by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP). So why bother? The answer lies with Sir William Stewart who works for the UK's National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB).

When he looked at the danger to people from the EMR effects of mobile phones, he concluded that while there was nothing really to worry about, he advised that children between eight and 14 should use them only "when absolutely necessary."

His reason was that children's skulls are actually thinner than those enjoyed by adults.

So the HPA has just woken up to the fact that it has been estimated there are about two million Wi-fi networks in operation across the UK.

So it had been do some checking. But not to worry, the HPA says, "We have good scientific reasons to expect the results to be re-assuring and we will publish our findings."

So, is this just a sop to assure worried parents? Absolutely. µ

L'INQ
www.hpa/org.uk