Children in classrooms with WiFi are in very close proximity to this form of irradiation for 6 hours a day, 180 days a school year for 13 years. School WLAN systems are commercial grade working off of 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies which are much higher than what you find in homes and small stores. The current FCC maximum RF exposure threshold for adults is 30 minutes while children are known to be more vulnerable to radiation, capable of absorbing up to ten times more radiation than an adult. Long term chronic exposure is cumulative. There are currently thousands of peer reviewed studies and scientific papers with findings on the many adverse health effects, such as; headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nose bleeds, skin rashes, disruptive sleep, oxidative stress, melatonin disruption, immune impairment, elevated blood sugar levels, cognitive impairment, memory loss, birth defects, fertility issues, cancer, ADHD, links to Alzheimer’s and Autism. Devices which emit these radio frequencies work as two way microwave radios, common devices used today with this technology are cellphones, WiFi systems, laptops, computers, Bluetooth devices, smart boards, smart utility meters and the like. What we already know form the science is that the radio frequencies currently being used in the 2G, 3G and 4G range for the previously listed devices, cause adverse health effects. WiFi is actually a considerable threat to children’s well being.
There are very simple solutions to maintain internet connection and eliminate the risk of radio frequency radiation exposures. The best way is always a wired connection, where wired connections are not possible one of the easiest solutions is to turn off the WiFi or Wifi reliant device when not in use. These are what many like the NYSUT and Grassroots collaboration, Maryland State Children’s Health Department, Ashland Public School District of Massachusetts, New York State PTA, New Jersey Educators Association, United Teachers of San Francisco, Los Angeles Teachers Union, CHIP’s schools and many other Waldorf schools are calling ‘better practice use’ methods. Currently, many states have bills addressing limitations on WiFi in schools. Countries like France, Israel and Cyprus have banned WiFi entirely from preschools and elementary schools and only using limited access in higher grades because they are taking precautionary measures based on what the science has shown thus far. The European Union has issued the precautionary principle on RF devices with particular emphasis to protect children from RF exposures.
Here’s an article in Creations Magazine that addresses concerns: Long-Term Wireless Exposure at School
1. Letter on Health Risks of Wi-Fi in School for Principal and School Administrators
This letter has the latest research on the health risks of Wi-Fi in school and you can send it to the administrator to begin this important conversation on safe technology. Click here for the Template Letter to Administrators
List of Schools that have banned Wi-Fi
2. Arm Yourself with ‘SCIENCE’
-World Health Organization’s type 2B classification of non-ionizing radiation.
– 2000 T-Mobile Ecolog Study
– 136 published scientific studies on adverse health effects associated with Wi-Fi.
– Dr. Martin Pall published scientific paper which found VGCC blockage titled, ‘WiFi is an Important Threat to Human Health’
– 2003 Study, ‘Exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to electromagnetic fields associated with cellular phones leads to chromosomal instability.’
– Wirelessly connected Laptop infertility study.
-2014 Study, ‘Why Children Absorb More Microwave Radiation Than Adults’
-2009 Study reports on ‘Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Behavioral Problems in Bavarian Children and Adolescents.’
–2011 Study, ‘Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of childhood cancer: Update of the epidemiological evidence
– 2015 NIEHS EPA Children’s Center Report, “Potential Health Hazards of Increasing
Cellphone Use”, page 78.
– IEEE 2016 DocumentConcludes “We think that there are now both the theoretical bases and sufficient experimental results for further consideration of the possibility that long-term exposures to magnetic fields can lead to both useful applications in treating diseases and to undesired health effects”
-2018 National Toxicology Program Study ‘Clear Evidence of Cancer.’
– 2017 Ramazzini Study
– 2007 Interphone Study
-2017 Kaiser-Permanente Study ‘Health Risks from EMF.’
-2012 Bioinitiative Report
– Children Melatonin ELF Study, University of Bristol
3. Educational Hand-Outs
This graphic quick fact sheet addresses RF facts, studies and professional recommendations all in one.
Recommendations of limited use of wireless devices by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Grassroots Environmental Education fact sheet; a helpful tool loaded with fundamental information and great talking points.
Radio-Frequency Exposure fact sheet from the California Office of Environmental Health and Safety which includes recommendations for schools.
The Environmental Health Trust has many informational flyers available for FREE use on all aspects of radio frequency risks and solutions here.
Schools and Wireless: A Short Introduction
This is a short printable introduction to the health issues related to Wi-Fi so that you can start a dialogue in your community- From the Environmental Health Trust
This longer document, Schools, Wireless and Health: The Full Briefing with Research is an excellent follow-up document to share with schools by email. It provides information and links to sources that discuss the critical issues regarding school technology, including: Health Issues, Best Practices for Technology, and International Actions. The second half of the document contains internet-linked research studies: a scientific rationale for a precautionary approach with children. Environmental Health Trust
Safe Schools 2012 is a comprehensive international document by WIFI in Schools UK detailing the scientific rationale for caution with wireless.
iPad fact sheet guide provides useful facts on the exposures, risk factors and fine print warnings of iPads and tablets.
The Baby Safe Project short fact sheet is a helpful tool when addressing pregnant teachers.
The FCC E-Modernization Rate was a 2013 revised rule which drove high-speed broadband into 99% of schools across the U.S. This fact sheet lists the fundamental elements of this rule. Further information on this topic; the technology funding initiatives for schools is provided through the SMART School Bond Act.
4. Get Your School Community Involved
Get parents involved in the important decisions that will shape their children’s futures.
Set up a meeting with your administration to start a dialog. Don’t go empty handed. Be prepared with some of the resources in this kit, ie: fact sheets, expert letters and recommendations, scientific studies and more!
Speak at school board meetings. Have a prepared speech that touches on valid points with solid evidence as to why your school should take precautionary measures.
Here are examples:
Half Hollow Hills District, NY:
24:36 to 41:35 Half Hollow Hills ~ Sept 17, 2018
34:39 to 45:32 Half Hollow Hills Dec 17, 2018
Youtube: 2 minutes ~ Phoenicia District, NY Oct 27
Youtube: Woodstock, NY March 15
Youtube: Davis Joint Schools, CA June 14
Get your PTA/PTO involved, seek support in bringing community awareness to the topic. Investigate your state PTA resolutions on Cell Towers and/or Radio Frequency devices (see below).
New York State PTA 2014 Resolution ‘Cellular Phone Towers’
Speak with your Teachers Association (TA) President about addressing this issue with teachers. Offer simple solutions the teachers can use in the ‘best practices’ method. Investigate whether your TA/Union has a stance on wireless technologies, see our links for ‘useful resources’ under School Too Kit.
Start a Petition in your school. Click here for a starter template.
Send out a social media notice advising the school community with an informed and educational approach that keeps an inviting tone. Great social media outlets are: Facebook, town moms page on Facebook.
5. Show ‘Generation Zapped’ at Your School
Offer your PTA or school staff, a screening of the informative documentary entitled: ‘Generation Zapped’. This award-winning film investigates the potential dangers from prolonged exposures to all types of radio frequency technologies while examining its effects on the health and well-being of our children and ourselves. The film explores the links of RF exposure to breast and brain cancer, its associations with increased infertility and genetic mutations related to Autism and ADHD and developed illnesses called “Electrical Hyper-Sensitivity” (EHS).
A ‘Generation Zapped’ screening can be offered to older students in order to educate them on the dangers of overuse of wireless devices as well as suggesting simple protective solutions.
6. Useful Articles in the Media
Epoch Times: Wifi in Schools: Experimenting with the next Generation
Patch.com: Long Term Exposure in School: Should Parents Be Worried?
The Baltimore Sun: ‘WiFi in Md. Schools May Put Your Kid at Risk for Cancer’
ABC – 7 NY, Eyewitness News: ‘Safeguard Your Family from Wireless Radiation’
Time Magazine: ‘Screens in Schools Are a $60 Billion Hoax’
CBS Sacramento: ‘Parents Blame Elementary Schools’ Cell Tower After 4thStudent Diagnosed with Cancer’
The Voice of San Diego: ‘Can You Figure Out if SDSU Has a Coincidence or Cancer Cluster’
Parents.com: ‘How Wireless Devices Can Be Dangerous For Your Family’
CBS News, 60 Minutes: ‘Ground Breaking Study Examines Effects of Screen Time on Kids’
Collective Evolution: ‘Multiple Countries Ban WiFi & Cell Phones Around Schools, Young Children & Fetuses’
The Atlantic: ‘Teachers Give Failing Grade to Obamas Push for Tech in Schools’
Consumer Reports: ‘Does Cell Phone Use Cause Brain Cancer? What the New Study Means’
Additionally Screen Time is an issue in schools: See this Youtube presentation of Screen Time
Or this video on Screen Time and Wifi with Dr. Drunkley and Dr. Devra Davis.
If your school uses “Google Classroom.” Google Data Mining You can point out the data mining scam..
6. Simple Solutions For Your Family
Eliminate Radiofrequency radiation by changing all wireless connections to wired connections.
Limiting use. Where wireless connections are unavoidable, use ‘best practice’method. Post notice and educate both teachers and students that WiFi routers, access points, wireless devices should only be turned on when needed and turned off when not in use.
Where wireless routers/access points are needed, encourage schools to use electrical power switches to allow WiFi to be turned off.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendscontent be downloaded onto wireless devices, then placed into airplane mode to stop RFR transmission and allow for safer use of such devices.
Make sure to adhere to the manufacture’s recommended safe distance for devices such as cell phones, tablets, laptops and smart boards.
Website – Wifiinschools.com
