Wi-Fi Presentation

RADIO FREQUENCY RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATIONRADIATION

DR THOR TEONG GEEDR THOR TEONG GEE MD(USM)MD(USM)

PENANG EMFs ALLIANCEPENANG EMFs ALLIANCE

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONEveryone is exposed to 2 types of Everyone is exposed to 2 types of ElectroMagnetic ElectroMagnetic

RadiationRadiation ((EMREMR):):

1. 1. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) EMFExtremely Low Frequency (ELF) EMF from from i. electrical & electronic appliancesi. electrical & electronic appliances ii. power linesii. power lines

2.2. Radio Frequency (RF) RadiationRadio Frequency (RF) Radiation from wireless devices from wireless devices i. cellphonesi. cellphones ii. cordless phonesii. cordless phones iii. iii. cellular antennas and towerscellular antennas and towers iv. iv. Wifi & WimaxWifi & Wimax

WiFiWiFi

Wifi = Wireless FidelityWifi = Wireless Fidelity Computers can connect to a network without the Computers can connect to a network without the

need for cablesneed for cables The connection is made The connection is made using RF radiationusing RF radiation Early 1990sEarly 1990s, 1, 1stst wireless system was developed wireless system was developed After 1999After 1999, wireless technologies gradually widely , wireless technologies gradually widely

acceptedaccepted Using frequency of Using frequency of 2.4gHz2.4gHz (mobile phones use a (mobile phones use a

frequency of frequency of 0.9-2.1gHz0.9-2.1gHz))

HUMANHUMAN

Human beings are Human beings are bioelectrical systemsbioelectrical systems

--ECGECG (electrocardiogramme) (electrocardiogramme)

--EEGEEG (electroencephalogramme) (electroencephalogramme)

--NerveNerve impulses impulses

ECGECG

EEGEEG

NERVOUS SYSTEMNERVOUS SYSTEM

HEALTH EFFECTS of RFRHEALTH EFFECTS of RFR

NeurologicalNeurological: :

- headache, dizziness, nausea, memory and - headache, dizziness, nausea, memory and concentration difficulties, insomnia, concentration difficulties, insomnia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, numbness, depression, anxiety, fatigue, numbness, tingling, muscles and joints pains.tingling, muscles and joints pains.

CardiacCardiac::

- palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias, - palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias, shortness of breath and hypertensionshortness of breath and hypertension


EyesEyes::

- pain & discomfort, deteriorating vision and - pain & discomfort, deteriorating vision and cataracts. cataracts.

EarsEars::

- hearing loss, ringing in the ears.- hearing loss, ringing in the ears.


Miscellaneous:Miscellaneous:

--skinskin problems problems

--genetic effectsgenetic effects eg: male sterility, eg: male sterility, miscarriage and birth defects.miscarriage and birth defects.

--asthmaasthma

SAFETY LIMITSSAFETY LIMITS

Most of the countries are using the safety Most of the countries are using the safety limits recommended by limits recommended by ICNIRPICNIRP (International Commission of Non Ionising (International Commission of Non Ionising Radiation Protection) in Radiation Protection) in 19981998

The safety limits were based on The safety limits were based on short term short term thermal effects thermal effects on adultson adults

Long term thermal effectsLong term thermal effects and and non thermal non thermal effectseffects are not taken into consideration are not taken into consideration

WHO WHO PRECAUTIONARY APPROACHESPRECAUTIONARY APPROACHES Strict adherence to existing national or Strict adherence to existing national or

international safety standardsinternational safety standards: such : such standards, based on current knowledge, are standards, based on current knowledge, are developed to protect everyone in the population developed to protect everyone in the population with a large safety factor. with a large safety factor.

Simple protective measuresSimple protective measures: barriers around : barriers around strong electromagnetic field sources help strong electromagnetic field sources help preclude unauthorized access to areas where preclude unauthorized access to areas where exposure limits may be exceeded. exposure limits may be exceeded.

WHOWHOPRECAUTIONARY APPROACHESPRECAUTIONARY APPROACHES

33. Consultation with local authorities and . Consultation with local authorities and the publicthe public in siting new power lines or in siting new power lines or mobile phone base stations: siting decisions mobile phone base stations: siting decisions are often required to take into account are often required to take into account aesthetics and public sensitivities. Open aesthetics and public sensitivities. Open communication during the planning stages communication during the planning stages can help create public understanding and can help create public understanding and greater acceptance of a new facility. greater acceptance of a new facility.

WHOWHOPRECAUTIONARY APPROACHESPRECAUTIONARY APPROACHES

4.4. Communication Communication: an effective system of : an effective system of health information and communication health information and communication among scientists, governments, industry among scientists, governments, industry and the public can help raise general and the public can help raise general awareness of programmes dealing with awareness of programmes dealing with exposure to electromagnetic fields and exposure to electromagnetic fields and reduce any mistrust and fears. reduce any mistrust and fears.

BENEVENTO RESOLUTIONBENEVENTO RESOLUTION By the International Commission for Electromagnetic By the International Commission for Electromagnetic

Safety (Safety (ICEMSICEMS) in 2006) in 2006

More evidence has accumulated suggesting that there More evidence has accumulated suggesting that there are are adverse health effectsadverse health effects from exposure to EMF from exposure to EMF

There is evidence that present sources of funding bias There is evidence that present sources of funding bias the analysis and interpretation of research findings the analysis and interpretation of research findings

Based on scientific review, Based on scientific review, biological effects can occurbiological effects can occur from exposures to RF radiation from exposures to RF radiation

Studies demonstrates that exposure to RF radiation Studies demonstrates that exposure to RF radiation can can increase cancer riskincrease cancer risk in children and increased in children and increased brain tumor riskbrain tumor risk from long term use of mobile phones from long term use of mobile phones

BENEVENTO RESOLUTIONBENEVENTO RESOLUTIONICEMS encourages governments to:ICEMS encourages governments to:

Promote alternativesPromote alternatives to wireless communication systems, to wireless communication systems, Inform the populationInform the population of the potential risks of wireless of the potential risks of wireless

use. use. Advise consumers to Advise consumers to limit wireless callslimit wireless calls and use a land line and use a land line

for long conversations. for long conversations. Limit cell phone and cordless phone used by Limit cell phone and cordless phone used by young young

childrenchildren** and teenagers and teenagers Proposals for city-wide wireless access systems (e.g. Wi-Proposals for city-wide wireless access systems (e.g. Wi-

Fi, WIMAX) should Fi, WIMAX) should require public reviewrequire public review of potential EMF of potential EMF exposure exposure

Designate wireless-free zonesDesignate wireless-free zones in cities, in public buildings in cities, in public buildings (schools, hospitals, residential areas) and, on public transit, (schools, hospitals, residential areas) and, on public transit, to permit access by persons who are hypersensitive to to permit access by persons who are hypersensitive to EMF.EMF.

RESEARCHES & STUDIESRESEARCHES & STUDIES

Henry Lai PhDHenry Lai PhD Research Professor of BioEngineering Research Professor of BioEngineering

University Of Washington in SeattleUniversity Of Washington in Seattle 35 years35 years of experience in the field of of experience in the field of

electromagnetic radiation and its electromagnetic radiation and its health effectshealth effects

Conducted Conducted 300300 researches researches

HENRY LAIHENRY LAI

Of the Of the 300300 researches researches ：：

– 70%70% are not industrial funded are not industrial funded– 68%68% show adverse health effects show adverse health effects– 47%47% show evidence of cancer show evidence of cancer– 69%69% cause cellular and mollecular cause cellular and mollecular

damages damages– 77%77% cause electrophysiological cause electrophysiological

damages damages– 83%83% confirm the alteration of physiological and confirm the alteration of physiological and

behavioural functionsbehavioural functions

HENRY LAIHENRY LAI

One of the studiesOne of the studies Exposed the Exposed the brain cellsbrain cells of guinea pig to the of guinea pig to the

electromagnetic radiation from cellular electromagnetic radiation from cellular phonephone

It showed It showed genetic damagegenetic damage

NAILA STUDYNAILA STUDY Initiated by: The President of Initiated by: The President of Federal Agency for Federal Agency for

Radiation Protection of GermanyRadiation Protection of Germany

1994-20041994-2004 ：： studied studied 1,000 residents1,000 residents who lived who lived within and outside the within and outside the radius of 400mradius of 400m of cellular of cellular transmitter sitetransmitter site

Residents who lived within the radius of 400m, the Residents who lived within the radius of 400m, the incident of cancer was incident of cancer was significantly highersignificantly higher

1999-2004( after 5 years of exposure), 1999-2004( after 5 years of exposure), risk of risk of getting cancer x3getting cancer x3 for the residents of the area in for the residents of the area in the proximity of the cellular transmitter sitethe proximity of the cellular transmitter site

those patients who had lived during the past 10 those patients who had lived during the past 10 years at a distance of up to 400 m from the cellular years at a distance of up to 400 m from the cellular transmitter site, compared to those patients living transmitter site, compared to those patients living further away, the patients further away, the patients fell ill on average 8 fell ill on average 8 years earlier.years earlier.

BioInitiative Report BioInitiative Report （（ 20072007 ））

A group of scientists, researchers, public A group of scientists, researchers, public health policy professionals reviewed over health policy professionals reviewed over 20002000 studies studies about the effects of EM about the effects of EM radiationradiation

Believed EM radiation Believed EM radiation causes adverse causes adverse health effectshealth effects

Must adopt a Must adopt a more conservative and more conservative and stringentstringent safety limits safety limits

Recommended the Recommended the usage of wired usage of wired internet connectioninternet connection esp in schools and esp in schools and librarieslibraries

RECENT PROGRESSRECENT PROGRESS

20052005: Austrian Medical Association : Austrian Medical Association recommendedrecommended to use wired internet to use wired internet connection instead of WiFiconnection instead of WiFi

20052005: Frankfurt Local Education Authority & : Frankfurt Local Education Authority & German Teachers Union German Teachers Union banned or banned or advised againstadvised against the use of WiFi in schools the use of WiFi in schools


2007:2007: European Environment AgencyEuropean Environment Agency advise public regarding advise public regarding

exposure to WiFi networks until more is knownexposure to WiFi networks until more is known German GovernmentGerman Government warned citizens to avoid using WiFi warned citizens to avoid using WiFi

in workplace or at home, suggested cabled connections in workplace or at home, suggested cabled connections insteadinstead

Several schools in Several schools in England and FranceEngland and France dismantled their dismantled their WiFi system after concern from teachers and parentsWiFi system after concern from teachers and parents

French National LibraryFrench National Library removed all WiFi system in Paris removed all WiFi system in Paris due to health complaints from staffs.due to health complaints from staffs.


20082008: : European ParliamentEuropean Parliament voted 522 to voted 522 to 16 to urge ministers across Europe to bring 16 to urge ministers across Europe to bring in stricter radiation limitsin stricter radiation limits

20092009: : French GovernmentFrench Government bans advertise bans advertise of mobile phones to children and will also of mobile phones to children and will also introduce new limits for radiation from introduce new limits for radiation from phonesphones

WE URGEWE URGE

Be more Be more selectiveselective when installing the when installing the wireless online transmitters and access wireless online transmitters and access points (AP)points (AP)

Provide Provide Wifi Free ZoneWifi Free Zone esp schools, esp schools, nursery, residential areas and recreation nursery, residential areas and recreation parks.parks.

Avoid 24 hoursAvoid 24 hours radiation exposure radiation exposure

Together We Build Together We Build

A Healthy And A Healthy And Harmonious Harmonious

Living EnvironmentLiving Environment

Wi-Fi Presentation

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