Answer: Some have speculated that prolonged exposure to wireless network devices can cause memory loss or other brain damage. Potential health hazards from the microwave signals of wireless LANs (WLANs) and Wi-Fi have not been validated scientifically, however. In fact, using Wi-Fi is most likely much safer than using a cell phone.

Health Risks from Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi transmits radio signals in the same general frequency range as microwave ovens. Yet compared to ovens and even cell phones, wireless network cards and access points transmit at much lower power. WLANs also send radio signals only intermittently, during data transmission, whereas cell phones transmit continuously while powered on. Overall, the average person’s cumulative exposure to microwave radiation from Wi-Fi is much, much less than exposure from other radio frequency devices.Schools have nonetheless remained concerned about the health risks of wireless networks on children. A few schools have banned or limited the use of Wi-Fi as a safety precaution:

• Ballinderry Primary (UK) Decides to Shut Off Wi-Fi (2008)
• Lakehead University Restricts Deployment of Wi-Fi on Campus (2006)

Health Risks from Cell Phones

Scientific research into the effects of cell phone radiation on the human body also has produced inconclusive results. Some are adamant there is no health risk while others are convinced that cell phones increase the risk of brain tumors. As with Wi-Fi, some schools have considered banning cell phones due to radiation concerns:

• France Bans Cell Phones in Primary Schools (2009)
• Karnataka Government to Ban Cell Phones in Schools (2007)

Some people speculate that prolonged exposure to wireless network devices can cause memory loss or other brain damage. A few schools have even banned use of Wi-Fi networking due to health concerns. Scientific studies, however, have been inconclusive. Is it some kind of conspiracy by the wireless industry to keep basic research from being done? Or is there no real problem to be found. One thing is for certain: Many people have strong opinions on both sides. What Do You Think?

Worried and wondering

I have noticed the since Telstra have put an NBN wireless and another box of some sort in my bedroom I have had pain in my legs and throughout my body. My bed is right next to it, as that is where the electric plug is for my light. Am worried about the effect of the waves coming out through the boxes. Am seriously thinking of moving into the other bedroom – at least then I will know if it is that affecting me. Would be interested if anyone knows anything.

—Guest Mary Burland

New router triggering symptoms

I always thought WiFi was terrific–a wonderful way to communicate and with no problems.  I’ve used it at public places as well as at my children’s homes and experienced no bad effects.  Then recently I got a Jetpack [Verizon router] for use in my home and it’s been frightening.  I’ve experienced headaches, dizziness and have had a lot of trouble thinking clearly when I use it.  I took the device back to the company and told the reps about these problems.  They (and my family) look at me with great disbelief–can’t understand how this could happen.  I cannot explain it either, but for sure, the Jetpack created some serious problems for me.

—Guest Kathy

All these waves and transmissions

I feel I live in an age where the pressure is for me to keep up with all this technology. I have a mobile phone,  laptop,  tablet,  iPod,  dab radio, cordless phone,  e-reader with Wifi. And I feel yuk. I don’t know whether this is to do with waves being sent out, but… compared to my youth my body inside doesn’t feel as great and its not because of aging. I think it’s also to do with all this processed food, even vegetables and fruit I find lack the nutrition they once had. Wi-Fi is still relatively all new and we don’t know all the effects it truly is doing to people. All I know is my mum has lung cancer, never smoked a day in her life, is under 50 and has been told her cancer is a rare mutation. I think this partly has to do with working next to a mobile mast [cell tower] for 10 years and use of mobile phoneS. My grandad also is suffering from Alzheimers, which is probably to do with old age… but like someone said in a previous comment, this wasn’t so common 50 years ago.

—Guest Ryan

Wi-Fi can be harmful as well as it can’t

The whole world today is becoming a different thing where one can’t tell what is harmful or not. But I say that let’s live by the world and not let the world live by us… .

—Guest toh

EMF-sensitive

In my case, proximity to many wireless devices such as WiFi transmitters results in a restless jittery feeling, headaches and sometimes nausea and muscle weakness.   My brother has similar reactions, though for him the worst symptom is tinnitus. My doctor, who specializes in complex chronic illnesses, has noted that EMF-sensitivity is becoming much more common amongst his patients.

—Guest Marie

How wireless is affecting my health

Wi-Fi gives me a bad headache after some time. So do also cellphones and cordless phones. Gives me a constant high frequency ear sound inside my head. Bad sleep disorder, all nights.

—Guest Haraldur

+30 scientific gatherings try to warn

Vienna Resolution 1998 Salzburg Resolution 2000 Declaration of Alcalá 2002 Catania Resolution 2002 Freiburger Appeal 2002 Bamberger Appeal 2004 Maintaler Appeal 2004 Coburger Appeal 2005 Oberammergauer Appeal 2005 Haibacher Appeal 2005 Pfarrkirchener Appeal 2005 Freienbacher Appeal 2005 Lichtenfelser Appeal 2005 Hofer Appeal 2005 Helsinki Appeal 2005 Parish Kirchner Appeal 2005 Saarlander Appeal 2005 Stockacher Appeal 2005 Benevento Resolution 2006 Allgäuer Appeal 2006 WiMax Appeal 2006 Schlüchterner appeal Brussels Appeal 2007 Venice Resolution 2008 Berlin Appeal 2008 Paris Appeal 2009 London Resolution 2009 Porto Alegre Resolution 2009 European Parliament EMF Resolution 2009 Dutch Appeal 2009 Int’l Appeal of Würzburg 2010 Copenhagen Resolution 2010 Seletun Consensus Statement 2010 Potenza Picena Resolution 2013

—siencewisdom

Asbestos was used in hospital buildings

To the reader who mentioned WiFi in hospitals: Once upon a time, asbestos was used in hospital buildings, too. Doesn’t mean it was/is safe.

—Guest June

Hazardous? Yes

Wifi is everywhere… The same as smoking was permitted everywhere, even in hospitals. It is going to take some heavy research, and a ton of evidence for this current America to give up Wifi… . Convenience has always surpassed safety in this country. Sad, but so true.

—Guest Riffio

Why are only cell phones at issue?

Because wireless cell phone frequency is lower than the land line or cordless phone.

—Guest Arya

Why only cell phones?

It isn’t only cell phones – cordless landline phones are indeed hazardous to your health as well.

—Guest Stacy

Research on tinnitus needed

I can’t help but wonder if tinnitus is caused by Wi-Fi or irritated further because of it.

—Guest Anonymous

Wireless and radiation

The wireless devices that we use today, use Em waves to send signals. Our prolonged exposure to these Em waves can result in harming our body. The effects may be nausea, dizziness, headaches etc. But the most feared effect is mutation. Mutagens like radiation can change the genetic code/sequence of the cell DNA which can result in formation of mutant cells which divide at an uncontrollable pace . This can lead to formation of tumor and thus cancer. And the most feared property of tumor cells is metastasis (these mutant, abnormal cells may show up at another site in the body). We can’t avoid these EM waves in our world today, but we can limit the exposure of our body to these harmful radiations. These changes are not caused suddenly but due to frequent and prolonged exposure to radiation.  Wireless devices emit radiation, and I request everyone to avoid too much use of these devices. Use them when needed.

—Guest Shaun

Noticing there is more dementia

I am 70 years old. When I was younger, I had no problem sleeping soundly. And there were less people with dementia. I have noticed that since the increase in more radio waves being used there is more dementia. Also I have more trouble shutting my mind off for sleeping. I wish I had a lead lined room to stop radio waves and see if that would help. Any studies being done?

—Guest Ron

The sun puts out more radiation then Wi-Fi can ever dream to put out. Wifi is not radiant energy per se like the sun – you can feel the sun’s heat. However, anything that cause inflammation can cause cancer which comes from changes in oncogenes that can be from radiation, genetic or immunologic.

Headaches from tablet

I got a tablet for my birthday and used it mainly to listen to audio books an watch videos. I started to get headaches and decreased thinking ability. I believe this was due to prolonged use of my tablet. I use it a lot less now, mainly to check emails. I feel a lot better with less use. Oh, and on the issue of government making sure the people are not exposed to harmful substances / EM fields / drugs etc. – ha, give me a break. If you use a device or are exposed to something and you feel bad or sick, trust your own judgement not what vested interests or authority figures say.

—Guest Danny

Enjoy it

I have trust in the matter that when is found out that any harm can be caused by Wifi, we will be notified. If people want to have conspiracy theories about wireless companies or whatever, that is fine. I choose to live my life without worrying over every little thing.  I enjoy wireless Internet immensely, as I am on the toilet as I write this on a tablet. It makes life easier and more fun, and if it so happens to bite me in the … years from now, so be it.

—Guest Rabin

Health issues here

I always got a hot spot on the side of my head when I used analog wireless. I had to ask callers to call on my land line if they wanted to chat. I have the iPhone 4 digital now but I am still aware of the signal.  I put it on airport as often as possible – turn it on for messages – I spend as little time in town at my apartment – 3 to 4 days max because of the proliferation of Wifi devices. I see 28 Wifis and 7 other devices on my internet connection that are transmitting through my apartment. I spend as much time down the coast as possible and I am thankful my signal is only 1 bar and often not even that. For my health I hope the signal never gets any stronger. My body can feel exposure.

—Guest Mimi

Is there proof of Wifi danger?

Is there a full proof that wifi is dangerous or not? I know of many people who believe that it is dangerous and of many who say it isn’t. I have to do a summer project report about wifi – its danger and how to prevent it. But when I searched I found a number of sites saying it isn’t. Can anyone please tell me if there is any proof that wifi is dangerous?  -star ^_^

—Guest star

Man made chaos and double standards

It is impossible to find no interaction of matter with waves/ radiations. The potency and exposure periods are still to be researched for safe tolerance limits to still recast and prove it. It will very depending on age, health etc. Never forget of impact on animals, birds, plants etc. Therefore, how will you discover the safe limit and for whom will it apply? Are we, independent of nature, other species, agriculture and plants?? This radiation will continue to spread like it is happening for chemical pollution, petro-chemical pollution, fertilizer pollution and never to miss the medicinal and clinical pollution; while simply forgetting about theological and cultural pollution already crossed individual’s tolerance limits (to protect the native structures) and it’s confinement to some regions! All this man made chaos and double standards, implement to create economic concentrations and for spreading the technology or it’s benefits!

—Guest Vivek Gupta

Electromagnetic stress from heavy metals

I developed electrical sensitivty over a period of time and fell quite ill with it. I discovered that my silver / amalgam fillings, which contain mercury and other metals, were causing a lot of ill health and also causing a magnet effect around any electrical sources i.e. using a PC, Wi-Fi, even going into shops etc, where there is fluorescent lighting.  I have had my amalgam fillings removed and replaced with white composites, and  I am currently going through a detoxification process to remove the metals from my body.  This is a very common problem amongst people, especially with highly sensitive individuals like myself.

—Guest LKT

If wireless are harmful… then why?

If wireless are harmful, then why do we use them at hospitals all over the country… even in patient areas.. and also as a guest to keep you entertained? I work at a major hospital and see them all over the place as well other hospitals… and we are one of the biggest hospitals within USA with over 30,000 employees.

—Guest Willie

Wi-Fi is harmful

Wireless is hazardous to our health. I believe all devices that have WiFi can cause cancer due to massive radiation. We use them daily so its very easy to have cancer. The manufacturer does (?) tell the all truth.

—Guest josphat

So many different kinds of transmissions

Man is surrounded all around by different types of radiations of different frequencies at different power. Moreover, man stands as a transmitter of various radiations generated within human body ranging from thermal radiations, Infra red, microwave, bio luminescence , mental modes etc. Man interact with external world sometimes through these radiations, some times through power as well as data acquired from external world.  Man takes data in the forms what his five sense organs  ear, skin, eye, tongue, nose) can collect . Truly speaking, man is a like a browser client with Nature as the server. Regarding the effects of radiation, it depends on the frequency range and its actual power. Mobile is uses low power transmitters and the user is far away from the source. Radiations from hand set is more. Broadcasting uses HPT and user is far away . The television set generated powerful electron beams. The computer screen generates more power and user is very close to it.

—Guest Lokanath M.P.

Why only cell phones?

If wireless cell phones are a hazard to the health, why aren’t land line phones that are wireless (cordless phones)?

—Guest Glenn Lego

Everyone is a research scientist

Everyone saying there is no harm from this low level radiation must be research cell biologists and scientific researchers. Look at the Bioinitiative 2012 report. Lots of reports showing damage to proteins and damage on a cellular level. This info doesn’t get much play because it is being suppressed by the big bucks of the wireless communication industry. Cigarettes, asbestos, thalidomide, nearly every new drug and medical procedure–all safe– oh, wait–NO THEY WEREN’T. How many people are going to be damaged–now and future generations because the morons in this country don’t read scientific journals where real info is published. They read the information sheet that comes with their new phone in which the phone manufacturer says everything’s just great–no worries! We are such an uneducated society that we believe if we can’t see it–it can’t harm us. If the government says it is OK, then it must be OK.  Maybe we all need a lesson in biology, medicine, physic,…and less Angry Birds.

—Guest SADFORU

Until it happens to you

I would have erred on the side of thinking the ‘experts’ were making sure no damage was being done to us regarding RF’s until I started having a problem myself. Moved into a new home with two smartmeters and developed electromagnetic hypersensitivity or electromagnetic injury. Became highly sensitized to frequencies. I also can ‘feel’ a phone turn on or off, transmissions from phones, wifi, signals from phone towers as I drive past them. My life is a mess due to this. I never had this problem before. Can’t even live in my own home or go to a restaurant that has wifi. To all those naysayers out there–I wouldn’t have believed it but certainly do now since it happened to me. I can only use a computer that doesn’t have wifi and only for about 5 minutes before I can feel the effects. My utility company won’t change out my meters. I am going to attempt this myself. Don’t judge how other feel just because you don’t feel it. It is real and, if it happens to you, you will be suffering.

—Guest veronica

Targets or victims?

Cavemen lived under EM fields.  But I think telecommunication fields are stoked at specific times of the day, most probably at night, routed through neighborhood complex trunks.  I watch wiring go up, curiously fortified equipment through even the most mundane of neighborhoods.  If the average family isn’t being targeted, I wouldn’t doubt they’re collateral victims of new technologies.  And I’m the first to admit I love my WiFi and cell phone.

—Guest kandiamo

A scientific approach

I love wireless.  But that being said, as a scientist I never doubt biological effects.  At the molecular level, cells permit entry of substances and shaping of enzymes for reaction based entirely on electro-chemical environment.  Enzymes and cell membrane channels have to be in a very specific configuration to permit normal activities to continue.  Usually, cells buffer their own water to create this environment, but it is possible for external fields to rearrange ions in such a way as to make these essential reactions ineffective or nonexistent. When I experienced ‘restless legs’ I wondered if it was result of ambient EM field from the wires running along my apartment window just 20 feet away.  The experiment was simple:  Use mylar (plastic impregnated with aluminum) to ‘shield’ my legs under a sort of Faraday cage. I used a backpacking emergency blanket, tossing it carelessly over my legs when I woke in pain, resulting in a cooling sensation enabling me to sleep again.

—Guest kandiamo

I have read several studies, one from Germany where a number of children at a Wi-Fi’d school started having sleep and attention issues post-installation.  My old cell, which had a SAR rating of .59 or something I now use an iPhone4 (2 x the W/kg). The side of my head was getting hot after just a few minutes! It used to be more like ~30. So I got an anti-radiation case by Pong, is indi verified to reduce cell radiation, and now it takes about twice as long with the iPhone4 to get as hot (~8 minutes). But the old cell was still much less than half the effect. I’m talking temperature, not feeling! Something another person can come up and touch, and say “wow” b/c the other side of my head is not hot! Old Cordless 2.4GHz, some Microwaves 2.4GHz, much Wifi is still 2.4 GHz. 1) they can (and do) interfere with each other 2) stand 3′ away from microwave 3) strength of Wifi depends on standard, frequency, and OUTPUT POWER of ANTENNA! You think there’s no difference or effect based on this?

Going back to direct connection

I was given a wireless mouse a couple of years ago and became progressively more sensitive to it over a period of three months, until every time I touched it, I would get a pain (not RSI) in either wrist. When I got rid of the mouse and went back to analogue, the pain went away, but I am now highly sensitive to mobile phones and have just sold my smart phone as I can no longer use it or even touch it without getting a headache. I replaced it with one of the lowest rating of SAR that I could find, but this is still causing me discomfort. I am now going back to old school hand sets. There is huge amounts of money involved in the proliferation of these technologies. Don’t expect government or industry to be protecting your health any time soon.

—Guest Auckland

Wi-Fi is going to give us cancer

Dear Guest Henrietta, Your story is identical to mine. Our Smart meter did me in too. The peak was when I woke up one day screaming because my head wanted to explode. I had to have it replaced. For about a week I felt numbness on the left side of my head. I couldn’t speak properly, I was so scared. Now I have no tolerance for Wi-Fi. I feel pressure in my head along with a burning sensation on top of my head. I have permanent retainers on and I get a metal taste in my mouth when there’s a wireless connection near me. I now feel my skin burning. I am very concerned!

—Wz81

Yes – wireless makes me sick!

I used to use wireless laptops, Wii, DECT cordless phones, wireless printer, cell phones and on and on.  That is until a smart meter was placed on my house and the transmitters were turned on.  It took months to figure out what in the world was causing the headaches, dizziness, burning skin, ringing in the ears.  The smart meter did me in, and now I cannot tolerate wireless devices.  Even walking through Walmart’s doorway scanners gets me.  It’s become an absolute nightmare of trying to find a place to live and function without feeling assaulted by cell tower and all the other wireless signals.

—Guest Henrietta

Something out of Star Wars

@”Guest at” : it appears “the Force” is strong in you my friend.

—Guest Guest jedi

Feeling heat waves

I have been feeling hot from the inside and wondering what the cause could be, until I heard that someone connected this with wifi waves. Also headaches and insomnia. I gather some other people have these things too. That everyone does not is no surprise as everyone has different sensitivities. For example, I really couldn’t understand dyslexia until I had a child with the condition. I am very interested in hearing other people’s experiences with wifi.

—Julie3925OO

Back in the day…

when i started as a tv apprentice in 1952, all the line output transformers were shielded with warnings about operating with the cover off. We were talking about a mere 10kh. I wonder why much higher frequencies don’t seem to matter now. -John Methven

—Guest methven

Weighing the harmfulness of WiFi

I do know this: Profit carries more weight than people.

—cjaa1

Placebo effects

I have been dealing with RF radiation since the early seventies. If you can honestly claim you feel the effects of these transmitters, you are a miracle individual. Automatic door openers at the supermarket and  Walmart would literally lay you out on the ground as they operate in the same spectrum. So do your Microwave ovens.  Even though this is fact and based on real world medical evidence, this doesn’t negate the possibility of cumulative cellular damage over time.  The fact is everyone is in constant contact with these RF fields every second of every day. Some are man made some are natural occurring. The come from the stars, from the atmospheric conditions, from electrical and electronic devices everywhere around us.

—Guest Scott

The effects of WiFi and coffee

Too much of most anything can be bad.  Ergo, all things in moderation, except moderation, I say. I browse during coffee in the mornings, via my WiFi and was getting a sharp pain in my right eye. I soon discovered that you must remove the spoon from the coffee cup prior to raising toward your face.

—Guest Ignatius

Just paranoia

There’s pretty strong evidence of wireless causing no ill effects on health. I don’t just mean a “lack of evidence” for ill health, but real evidence of a lack of a problem. One thing we know about wireless / microwave / 3G  signals is that there is a lot more of it now than there was 20 years ago. If any of it really was harmful, there would be a marked increase in headaches / brain tumors / cancer clusters / whatever else , yet there is no non infectious condition that has shown a marked increase in the last 20 or so years that would correlate to the vastly increased use of wireless.  It’s very easy of course to imagine a “feeling” when turning on a mobile phone or standing near a mobile transmitter, and I don’t blame people for being worried, but these kind of feelings don’t stand up to a blind test. Try it yourself: Ask someone else to turn your phone on or off and see if you can consistently tell if it’s on or not by just by holding it near your head.

—Guest Skeptic

Eye damage from wireless?

I have been exposed for 4 years to a PC transmitter. My son has a wireless receiver and the transmitter is in my bed room. I have recently developed blindness in the left eye. What causes this problem is lack of blood flow to the eye, or small blood vessels at the back of the eye drying out. I sleep between the transmitter and receiver and on my right side, putting my left eye at a higher level than my right eye. I believe the exposure of the past four years to this transmission has damaged my left eye. Does anyone else have the same problem? P.S. I am moving this problem out of my bedroom.

—Guest CARLTON

Could be staring at the screen too long

If you get a headache from using your laptop, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the radio signals. I get headaches from using my desktop, that does not even have a wireless adapter. Take a break from looking at the screen for too long. Your screen might be the main cause of your headache. For those who get a creepy feeling…yeah whatever. Reset yourself.

—Guest clapYOass

Avoiding hands-free devices

I can now understand what is really going on in my body system. Some times i do feel slight headache when ever I put on my wireless hands-free, but I never knew that it was the cause of my problem. Pleas stay away from wireless devices.

—Guest Jude Akwarandu

Can you feel it from a sixth sense?

When I’m transmitting wireless information, I get a feeling inside my body, I think near my right kidney. If I turn the wireless off, its gone.  I tested this with my friend. We had a wireless modem and a wireless computer. When he started downloading, the feeling would get stronger. I could “sense” it.

—Guest at

I believe there is a risk in wireless/mobile signals. However, while there is so much money involved in this area no true answers will be given. I have switched my wireless network off at home as I was suffering constant headaches. Since then my headaches have stopped. Coincidence??

A balanced opinion on Wi-Fi (?)

I believe that these wireless devices only emit a very small amount of radiation which has very little affect on the body. However, when your exposed to these small amounts of radiation surely this must creep up on us  and damage our body in some way. It’s currently under research whether radio waves emitted by wireless devices can damage men’s sperm cells. However, I’m not entirely sure if the research has been complete yet.  Google it. But my opinion on them is that the radio waves are much too weak to pose potential to harm to the body. We need to research this more to find out whether these devices can actually pose a threat to our good health.

—Guest JCC

Radio wave patterns

Anyone know where to find the radiation patterns emitted by the different routers?

—ichidoyo

Everything is causing cancer

Bottom line: You can not change Wifi, it’s too ingrained in today’s society. The one thing you can do is adapt to it and regulate the rest of what you do to lower your chances of cancer. Unfortunately for Americans that’s going to be tough. Our food with the chemicals, our clothes, our stress above all, causes a propensity for cancer. Get over it! So exercise, do not use the cellphone every five minutes. Try not to use Wifi too much, but if you must, then at least look for organic food, exercise extensively and try to live a happy life.

—Guest Cancer

Wi-Fi is surely harmful

Whenever I started wireless tethering from my Android, I would feel something… inside my body. After i turn it off, it is gone. So, if you can avoid it, avoid it.

—Guest amirkodi

What will we then do

So this makes our life in danger. What will we then do? Should we stay a bit farther away from the device?

—Guest Fredrick Ogutu

Having problems for more than ten years

I have been having problems with wireless devices and mobile phones since 1999, when I was 19 years old. I only can use a couple of phones, and it is really hard to find which ones they are when I want an upgrade. The more advanced the phone is, the more they affect. I am sure if they did any test on me they would find out with 5 minutes that phones are a big risk to the public… .

—Guest levon

Do not believe

This is not right..I have Wifi at home. We do not have these issues.

—Guest Ap

Are headaches a symptom?

I sometimes get headaches when using the laptop but not much else. Is this a symptom [caused by wireless signals]?

—Guest guest guest

Wifi, E, 3G frequencies are risky

Completely agree with the risk of communication technology (Wifi, E, “3G frequency microwave radiations”). Not just my opinion, but I am feeling pain and many health problems just when being close to any sources (receiver and transmitter) of Wifi / 3G. Now am writing these words and colleagues using smartphones and me feeling pain in my body and i cannot ask him to turn off his Wifi and 3G. My choice, I have to go away from him. I had experience with  linksys wireless router  from 2004, and Iphone 4 for one year. now i can not used them, and replaced it with wire router and  GSM cellphone. 

—Guest Bahrain

A crawling feeling

When I am near wireless devices, my ear feels like I have something crawling in it.

—Guest gerrysot

It does affect human body.

I personally believe whatever electronics invensions we humans have made till today severly affect our mind, body and soul. Its really the shit thing we have ever made.  As an Electronics & telecommunication engineer, I strongly recommend people to avoid exposure to these radio waves & wifi radiations.

—Guest Omkar Chitnis

Frying our brains and important parts

My testosterone level, immune system, and memory have deteriorated since I installed a wireless router in my home. Coincidence? I think not.

—Guest richman

A hypothetical question…

What would we do if it turned out that something that was incredibly useful, something which we had come to depend on as a society and into which trillions of dollars had been invested, was contributing to a wide variety of serious health problems—cancer, heart problems, infertility, neurological problems—in hundreds of millions of people? I believe the answer is clear: the problem would be ignored and swept under the rug.  Facing it would be too expensive.   The only people who would attempt to cope with such a problem would be those so severely affected that they have no  choice in the matter.   Sites to look at – fullsignalmovie.com, disconnectbook.com, emfwise.com

—Guest Josh

Wireless and radiation – common sense

Wireless radio signals use different wave lengths which from common sense are harmless. I use a laptop and I haven’t experienced any issues. And to the guy who posted about having a pain in the testicle: You must have been sitting wrong. I use a laptop every day and my testicles never hurt in any way.

—Guest thatguy

How much data do we need?

Should we force our children to use wi-fi when their is no long term studies carried out? If its true that it harms rats and changes some peoples heart rate, than this should be more than enough reason to not use wi-fi, especially in schools.

Ex wireless technician says….

I repaired radio for 30 years and I am convinced that those waves can be harmful.  Even recently I was using a lap top and I started having pain in one testicle which continued to a couple of weeks until I stopped using the lap top in that position.

—Guest Aubrey Brown

Why are we continuing to use Wi-Fi?

Since it has been confirmed that it has side effects, we should stop using it.

—Guest RASAQ

Focusing on exposure dangers, warnings

I was glad to see that 3 or 4 of the articles was related to exposure…not use while driving or whatever. I would like to know about the risks of WiFi and cell usage… from the EXPOSURE aspect. Common sense dictates the rest.

—Guest mike-nw indiana

Wi-Fi is harmful but also useful

In modern life it is essential to use Wi-Fi wireless systems. We can’t avoid this, but we can restrict its use. We can make people aware by lots of campaigning that wireless systems are very harmful.

—Guest SUDIP PANDA

It’s not about the wireless signals

I am sure WiFi is dangerous.  But it isn’t very much so compared to CELL PHONES.  These things can kill.  Just watch what happens to a car driven by a crazed cell phoner.  Just watch,  but do not get anywhere near it.  It can cause death to all those in the vicinity.  I’m glad you gave everyone a chance to learn about the serious dangers of cell phones.  These dangers do decrease with distance.  Like being miles away from anyone with a cell phone in use in car.    Oh you want to know about the dangerous waves?   Sorry,  I am more concerned about the traffic accidents.  Scientists should get their heads on straight,  do something useful,  and measure the right thing for a change.

—Guest Computerist

What do the experts say?

People have been to various parts of the universe (to the moon and elsewhere in space). Where are they now and what is their health condition? Can anyone out there who poses to be a guru or technology or scientific expert shed light on this delicate but serious topic?

—Guest Adamant

It’s not about the network

Yes,  I am sure the electronic soup we are all exposed to daily does affect our health, especially long term.  But guess what?  It pales in comparison to the human stupidity factor. Cell phones have been found to be (you cannot doubt this one) MUCH more dangerous than any wired phone affixed to a wall.  It takes only ONE traffic fatality to prove that.  And there are MANY.  So,  the main danger of cell phones lies in their use on the highway.  And any other place (work) where your attention is drawn from your main activity.  Simply put,  the danger from radiation is there,  but it’s about 10 beelllion times less than the danger from the male/female next to you doing 80 mph while talking (texting?  I can’t believe real people do that) on the cell.  Put them IN a cell.  Thank you for listening.   (Actually, reading.  Hopefully not on your mobile or laptop in your car.)

—Guest Mr. Knowitall

All things in moderation

There are millions of youth using mobiles over extended periods. Maybe this group will be the statistical control group – yes or no?

—Guest acheon

Radiation Is A Concern

In the cell phone studies I have seen, virtually all of the larger, independent ones have found reason for concern, whereas the cell-phone company sponsored studies have found the opposite.   How can that be called inconclusive? That’s like saying that if the members of a gang all said their fellow-gang-member was in Oklahoma during a shooting, when a handful of unlrelated witnesses I.D.’d this gang person at the crime scene committing the crime, just before the body was found, then the court would somehow find this inconclusive.  The court would immediately find the individual guilty so long as several witnesses with no “dogs in the fight” corroborated one-another.  We’ve got to recognize that testimony from a non-biased witness is immensely superior to that of one with a vested interest in a case.  It is possible that such a person could be truthful, but it is much, much, much less reliable, esp. as a means of making an important, life-changing decision.  Use non-biased witnesses.

—Guest john m

Same ole saw

Heard the same about traffic radar when I was a cop.  Ex-cops suing the RADAR manufacturers (and losing).  The radiation from a traffic radar and similar device is equivalent to about 30 healthy fireflies.  Come on people, get out of the 50’s style “atomic age”  fear and stop looking for a reason to complain and sue.

—Guest Arbiter

ssnfuture is correct….

I haven’t seen a single scientifically-valid, peer-reviewed, statistically-significant study posted here for consideration. Opinions and ad hoc speculations are worse than useless; they convey an impression of some authority without any rational basis for it. If you want to avoid wireless based on this lack of evidence, or expose yourselves to as much of it as you wish based on the same lack of evidence, I’d make no effort to stop you. But to do so based on false inferences or rumor or innuendo or suppositions is just plain foolish. Sound evidence rules; anything else is wishful thinking.

—csscouter

Think! (before buzzing off)

Don’t buzz off some random thought or some speculation of yours… Be more accurate and scientific…. more even if you have statistical records…  you can’t say its dangerous because you think it so or you heard it from others….

—Guest ssnfuture

Wireless health effects found worldwide

It’s a condition spreading throughout the world and there is science behind this phenomenon.  There are biological effects even at non-thermal levels of microwave radiation, and you have to be quite far away to meet the Salzburg 2002 guidelines.

—Guest Thinkagain

Some are refusing to listen

It is quite obvious that many will not listen despite the confirmed research and information passed across to people that wi fi is hazardous. That it affects brain memories and flow of the blood in the heart.

—Guest ayodjy

Wireless radiation = no problem!

I have spent over 40 years working on transmitters at all frequencies. I am 78 years old and have no health problems. Been exposed to more microwave radiation than any cellphone user will ever encounter.

Worried about the wrong things

I went to a Cisco CWLS class a few years back. The teacher said (talking about milliwatt exposure)… “5 minutes on a cell phone is the same as 1 year sitting under a wi-fi antenna”.

—Guest Mark

Give it a rest!

I think its absurd.  Those who are worried about this should worry about something else, like, whatever happened to Absorbine Sr.?

—Guest stringalong

Precaution is better than cure

There is one fantastic proverb in English that you can take horse to the the pond but can not force him to drink water. The same is that of Wi-Fi networking to convey that it is hazardous for life.

—Guest Devendra Burad

Just adapt

We cannot survive without wireless technology, so we can try and survive with the effects.

—Guest calvo

Sad that it can cause health problems

Wireless networks are cool in that you do away with cables hanging around your computer. But it’s sad to learn that it can cause serious health problems if used for a long time…. Just like smoking is cool but harmful to your body. Is there anything nice, I wonder?

—Guest Ezra Kwiimba

Is it making us dumber?

Maybe all these signals interacting with our bodies and heads is why students today seem dumber than my dad? Or it’s the school system. Either way, we got stupider.

—Guest unknownchild

21st century version of smoking

I put this in the same category as smoking. In the mid 30s (I was born in 1924) my dad would light a cigarette and say “another nail in my coffin,” and sure enough at age 50 he died of lung cancer. It took some 60-70 yrs for people to be serious about smoking as a hazard. AND PEOPLE STILL SMOKE. I expect the same thing will happen with WiFi and cell phones.

—Guest vink80

Wi-Fi and cellular radios seem similar

Yes, wireless networking affects our body, the radios affect our mind power. Mobile [cellular] networks use the same technique – if those radios affect our body then why not Wi-Fi? What u think buddies? Tell me if I’m right or wrong.

—Guest govind

What about radio, and nuclear radiation?

We have had radio for a long time. It doesn’t appear to have caused any harm. But then, it’s difficult to see the forest when you’re in it. On the other hand, we have been bombarded with radiation since the 1950s, mostly from the testing done in Arizona, the Chernobyl event and other places… You are bombarded with radiation from so many sources!

—nesdave1

Near-field intensity

Some research at Tel Aviv University makes a link between cell phone usage (i. e., wireless in general) and salivary gland cancer as reported recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology.  Could the link be caused in part (or totally) by the electromagnetic near field radiation close to the antenna of the cell phone (of wireless device) that are proportional to the inverse 4th, 6th, etc power of distance from the antenna.  Not all radiation is of the inverse 2nd power that radiates into the distance.  The 2nd power term radiates to long distances but the other higher order terms can be intense right at the antenna.   In optics, energy flows around discontinuities and index gradients in the near field radiation pattern are quite complicated and do not follow the pattern seen in the far field radiation pattern.  What happens at microwave frequencies is the same in principle except the dimensions of the flow patterns is larger as dictated by the proportionally of the wavelengths.

—Guest Ken

Agree there is risk

Being an Electrical Engineer, I know that living under “high voltage” lines does effect your body and mind. This has to go for any energy producing devices as well. Use a “hands free” ear-piece when using any cell or wireless device.

—Guest bigguy821

Who knows?

Nobody knows what the outcome will be till some years later. Will ailments like tinnitis become worse with wireless?

—Guest sp

How safe can it be when… .

We keep hearing so many news on this. You can’t speak on cell phone with your right year since it affects your brain faster than the left one. Sparrows no more roost where we have transmission towers… etc etc.. but can all these come to be without there really being something behind it? When you can cook with microwave, how much of it is safe when speak on phone, use wireless net connection or just use the wireless head set? Methinks, there more harm than is realized or the scientific community is prepared to tell us, since they would have been silenced on matters of commerce?

—Guest barnabas.sam@gmail.com

Horse poo…and lots of it

They said the same thing about Police traffic RADAR…bunch of cops sued…lost. Studies were done…RADAR not at fault.  People will look for boogey men where ever they can.  At the power we are dealing with in home networks, it is silly to think wi-fi could be dangerous, unless one has a 1.21 gigwatt wi-fi transceiver array somewhere in their home….

Mobile and wireless technologies have evolved beyond recognition since the first radio signals  were transmitted by pioneers including Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi in the late nineteenth century. Radio waves have been used since then as a basis for telephony, audio and video broadcast, and navigation and radar systems. More recently, the advent of mobile phones and similar devices has transformed business and social interactions. Today, many of us use mobile access to the internet to communicate in real time across the globe, to access business and government services online, to shop, view, read, search, explore and even simulate physical activities. Internet access no longer depends on a wired system such as a modem connected  to a telephone landline – rather, it can be achieved using a mobile enabled device whenever  and wherever a mobile access point is available. Such access points or hot spots are now widely available in airports, hotels, educational institutions and other public buildings. Increasing numbers  of wireless networks are being installed in commercial buildings and private homes. With increasing mobile access to wireless networks, the demarcation between public and private space is being redefined. This has important implications in terms of security for those who make a mobile access point available and for those who use it. The security and risk factors associated with mobile and wireless technologies need to be understood and addressed to ensure safe and secure business and personal use of mobile technologies.

Toni Makkai Director

Wireless hacking case (Australia)

During March and April 2000, Vitek Boden made 46 attempts using wireless connections to hack into Maroochy Shire Council’s computerised waste management system. He had lost his job in developing the wireless network that controlled the sewage and drinking water system. During the attack his laptop identified itself as Pumping Station 4 and sent commands leading to the release of millions of litres of raw sewage into rivers and parks, with considerable environmental costs. In October 2001, Boden was found guilty on various charges involving computer hacking, theft and causing environmental damage, and sentenced to two years imprisonment. On appeal, convictions on two of the charges were set aside but the sentence was left unchanged: R v Boden [2002] QCA 164 (10 May 2002). A subsequent special leave application to the High Court of Australia was dismissed on 25 June 2003.

Sources: Krone 2006: 34; Smith, Grabosky & Urbas 2004: 205

Wireless hacking case (USA)

Three suspects in Michigan were indicted in November 2003 over a scheme to steal credit card records by hacking into a wireless connection for the Lowes home improvement chain. Using a laptop, they allegedly hacked into the Michigan store’s wireless network late at night from a car parked outside, thereby gaining access to the company’s central data centre in North Carolina and seven other Lowes stores around the country, at one point crashing the point of sale terminals at a California store. Their purpose was to install a data capturing program used to process credit card transactions, thus enabling theft of credit card details. In December 2004, one of the three, Brian Salcedo, was sentenced to nine years in prison while an accomplice received 26 months plus two years court supervised release.

Sources: Poulsen 2003, 2004; United States Department of Justice 2003, 2004a

Wireless war spamming case (USA)

In September 2004, Nicholas Tombros pleaded guilty in a California court to obtaining unauthorised access to wireless computer networks in order to send spam emails advertising pornographic websites. According to the United States Department of Justice, Tombros admitted that he went war driving around the Venice Beach community in California, and sent the spam messages each time his laptop connected to unprotected wireless access points. This war spamming case was the first ever prosecuted under the US CAN-SPAM Act, the United States’ anti-spamming legislation introduced in 2003.

Source: United States Department of Justice 2004b