Wireless Technology Use in Schools - Algoma District School Board

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Safety of Wi-Fi EquipmentOctober 2011Updated: IT’SYOUR HEALTHSafety of Wi-Fi EquipmentTHE ISSUEWi-Fi equipment is being installedin many public places across Canadaincluding schools, offices, libraries, shoppingvenues and coffee shops. Some peopleare concerned that radiation from Wi-Fiequipment could cause health problemsand that children may be at particular riskin school environments.WI-FI EQUIPMENTWi-Fi is a technology that allows devicessuch as home and portable computers,digital audio players and video gameconsoles to communicate data wirelessly.It is often used to link home computersto the internet. Wi-Fi is the second mostcommon form of wireless technology, nextto cell phones. Like other commonly usedhousehold products (cordless phones,Bluetooth devices, and remote controls forgarage door openers), Wi-Fi equipmentemits radiofrequency (RF) energy.The RF energy given off by Wi-Fi is a typeof non-ionizing radiation. Unlike ionizingradiation (as emitted by X-ray machines),RF energy from Wi-Fi equipment and otherwireless devices cannot break chemicalbonds. While some of the RF energy emittedby Wi-Fi is absorbed in your body, theamount largely depends on how close yourbody is to a Wi-Fi enabled device and thestrength of the signal. Unlike cellular phoneswhere the transmitter is in close proximityto the head and much of the RF energythat is absorbed is deposited in a highlylocalized area, RF energy from Wi-Fi devicesis typically transmitted at a much greaterdistance from the human body. This resultsin very low average RF energy absorptionlevels in all parts of the body, much likeexposure to AM/FM radio signals.HEALTH RISKS OF WI-FIIn 2011, the International Agency forResearch on Cancer (IARC) classifiedRF energy as “possibly carcinogenic tohumans”. The IARC classification of RFenergy reflects the fact that some limitedevidence exists that RF energy might bea risk factor for cancer. However, the vastmajority of scientific research to date doesnot support a link between RF energyexposure and human cancers. At present,the evidence of a possible link between RFenergy exposure and cancer risk is far fromconclusive and more research is needed toclarify this “possible” link. Health Canadais in agreement with both the World HealthOrganization and IARC that additionalresearch in this area is warranted.As long as RF energy levels remainbelow Health Canada’s RF safety guidelines,current scientific evidence supports theassertion that RF energy emissions fromWi-Fi devices are not harmful. HealthCanada’s conclusions are consistent withthe findings of other international bodies
and regulators, including the WorldHealth Organization, the InternationalCommission on Non-Ionizing RadiationProtection, the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers and the U.K.Health Protection Agency.RF energy exposure from Wi-Fi equipmentin all areas accessible to the generalpublic are required to meet HealthCanada's safety guidelines. The limitsspecified in the guidelines are far belowthe threshold for adverse health effectsand are based on an ongoing reviewof thousands of published scientificstudies on the health impacts of RFenergy. The public exposure limits applyto everyone, including children, andallow for continuous, 24/7 exposure.MINIMIZING YOUR RISKHealth Canada’s position is that noprecautionary measures are needed,since RF energy exposure levels fromWi-Fi are typically well below Canadianand international safety limits. As withany product, Wi-Fi devices shouldbe operated in accordance with themanufacturer’s instructions.THE GOVERNMENT OFCANADA’S ROLEHealth Canada’s role is to protectthe health of Canadians, so it is theDepartment’s responsibility to researchand investigate any possible healtheffects associated with exposure toRF energy, such as that coming fromWi-Fi equipment. Health Canada hasdeveloped guidelines for safe humanexposure to RF energy (Safety Code6). It is one of a series of codes thatspecify the requirements for the safeuse ofradiation-emitting devices operating in thefrequency range from 3 kilohertz (kHz) to300 gigahertz (GHz). Wi-Fi operates inthe 2.4 and 5.8 GHz frequency range.Industry Canada, the federal regulatorresponsible for the approval of RFcommunications equipment andperforming compliance assessments,has chosen Health Canada’s RFguidelines as its exposure standard.As long as exposures respect theseguidelines, Health Canada hasdetermined that there is no scientificreason to consider Wi-Fi equipmentdangerous to the public.FOR MORE INFORMATION• Health Canada Wi-Fi YouTube video:www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/video/wifi-eng.php• Frequently Asked Questions AboutWi-Fi: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/cons/wifi/faq-eng.phpHealth Canada, Cell Phone Towersat: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewhsemt/radiation/cons/stations/index-eng.php
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