Trade union Amicus has supported calls for a government
investigation into the potential health effects of using Wi-Fi
networks in the workplace, but has warned about raising fears over
the technology without reasonable evidence.
“We would support the calls for longer term investigation of any
possible Wi-Fi risks in the workplace, so that any judgement can be
based on sound evidence,” said Peter Skyte, national officer for
Amicus.
But he said that addressing the concerns of using Wi-Fi must be
measured.
The move follows
calls by the Professional Association of Teachers
(PAT), which is concerned about the number of wireless networks
that are being installed in schools without any research of the
possible long-term consequences.
A statement from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said its
chairman, Sir William Stewart, was being pressed by lobbyists to
condemn Wi-Fi but was unprepared to do so.
The statement said that Wi-Fi devices are of very low power,
much lower than mobile phones, and that the HPA and Stewart have
always pressed for more research into these new technologies.
Kenneth Foster, professor of bioengineering at
the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, conducted a
study of more than 300 different measurements at more than
50 sites in four countries of Wi-Fi signals in different
environments.
“In all cases the signal levels were very far below
international safety limits and health agencies such as the World
Health Organisation have repeatedly examined the scientific
evidence and concluded that there is no convincing evidence for
hazard from RF energy at levels below these international
guidelines,” he said.
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