Monfredo: How Safe are the Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by Wireless Technology?

Saturday, September 03, 2016

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

Technology in the 21st century continues to grow and gives all of us instant information that we never had before, but are we using it in a responsible way? During the past few years there has been much research on the rapidly accelerating artificial, electromagnetic field including the National Grid’s digital wireless “smart” meter pilot program. Groups in Worcester and throughout the world are now looking into the danger of over use of radiation in our lives and looking to educate the public on how to use these devices cautiously!

My colleague Brian O’Connell and I were invited to such a meeting by a group of well informed individuals led by Leslie Saffer to discuss how this problem could affect our students and our teachers in the schools. The School Committee will discuss this topic at a standing committee of Teaching, Learning and Student Support in October to find out more information on its impact on the schools.

There have been cases reported about students being electro-hypersensitive to radiation within their environment and in some cases this sensitivity creates a life-threatening situation.

We did find out that 221 scientists who have published peer-reviewed papers from around the world have sent an International EMF Scientist Appeal to the World Health Organization and the United Nations to address the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by wireless technology. At the top of their action list is to protect children and pregnant women! Here is the link for you to consider.

This is all new to me so like so many I’m researching the issue. Here is what others in the field have to say about this topic: Dr. Roxana Marachi’s research from EduResearcher – Connecting Research, Practice and Advocacy in Education stated in a letter before the U.S. Department of Education in January of 2016 at the hearing focusing on the transition to the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) The portion addresses aspects of student testing; the second presented focuses on the need to provide clear, effective communication to parents and education communities regarding the health and safety risks associated with the extended use of screen and wireless devices and to share resource sites with strategies to minimize exposure.

The National Association for Children and Safe Technology ( nacst.org/nacst-turn-it-off-4-kids.html…) stated, “ Classrooms typically have industrial strength routers and 30+handheld devices or laptops which all emit radiation. This situation is becoming increasingly commonplace, as there has been a national movement to digitalize learning in our schools. Much to our dismay this represents an unprecedented health risk to children across the nation who are now being exposed 6 hours, 5 days a week, for their entire school career.”

International concern from the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for immediate measures to protect public health, a step in their words, “is long overdue. We are really all part of a large biological experiment without our informed consent. To protect our children, ourselves and our ecosystem, we must reduce exposure by establishing more protective guidelines.” ( https:/emfscientist.org)

Countries such as France and Israel have been pro-active in their research. France has banned Wi-Fi in daycares, and restricts wireless infrastructure. Israel in the city of Haifa has removed Wi-Fi from its schools saying, “When there is a doubt, when it comes to our children, there is no doubt.” Here in Massachusetts, the school system in Ashland led by activist and parent CeCe Doucette has worked on “Best practices” with technology. She will be one of our guests in October to discuss what Ashland’s best practices are.

In the state of Maryland, Dr. Ronald Powell, a retired U.S. Government career scientist told superintendents, “Despite assurances of safety from the FCC and the wireless industry, the International biomedical research community is showing, in study after study, that current exposure limits are not even close to being protective of living things. The limitations of that guidance have been highlighted by other agencies of the U.S Government and by medical organizations.” He went on to say that schools can resolve the problem of the mandatory irradiation of children in the schools by moving from wireless connectivity, like Wi-Fi, to shielded wire connectivity, like the following:

•   Shielded Ethernet cable
•   Coaxial cable which is inherently shielded
•   Optical fibers which do not need shielding because they do not radiate at all.

My question would be why haven’t we heard about this from the FCC? Well, according to the Harvard University's Law School Center for Ethics they have published a report that shows the FCC is protecting corporate profits over public health, and how they have manipulated legislation to that end: Read on and let me know your thoughts on this link.

I’m open-minded on this issue but I want to find out as much I can as to whether this poses a health risk for our children. There are sites you may want to check out … National Association for Children and Safe Technology, the Environmental Health Trust and SaferEMR.com.

What I am advocating is for all of us to find responsible ways of using technology. Please do your part in checking out the research and get back to me. Anyone interested in coming to our meeting in October email me and I’ll let you know when a firm date has been scheduled.