World-News

Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 03:27:14 EDT
to: breakfasttv@bbc.co.uk
CC: chichesterj@parliament.uk

We are hearing today of yet another stabbing involving a teenager, which has sadly resulted in the loss of another young life. The BBC are asking for comments on what we can do to address this rapidly growing problem; experts will be wheeled in to approach the problem from every angle.

It is only a couple of weeks since we were told that many of the young people served with ASBO's are suffering from mental illness and have no comprehension of what is expected of them. Then just a couple of weeks before that we were told that British children are the "unhappiest" in Europe. We can see that borne out by the statistics on the number of young people dependant on antidepressant drugs and - alarmingly, the number of suicides in this age group.

I believe that we are ignoring one major factor in all of these "investigations". Our young people today are having to cope with the highest level of pulsed microwave radiation than any generation before them. They are possily being bombarded 24/7 from a growing plethora of wireless devices - many specifically for the use of children (as in the wireless networking in schools). They will be sitting all day in a level of emissions which would be unlawful in many other countries (many schools have mobile phone masts within the school grounds - or within metres of the perimeter). Many homes now have DECT or mobile phones, instead of a landline - and, of course, we are still witnessing the targetting of young people by the Mobile Phone Operators - despite official DOH advice (in their leaflet "Mobile Phones & Health) that children under 16 should only use these devices for emergency purposes.

My MP, Sir Patrick Cormack, obtained a supply of these leaflets for us when we wanted to distribute them in our village and had trouble accessing them - but they are now seven years old and a replacement is long overdue. There is much independent scientific evidence to warrant action. Expert Government advice has indicated that "we do not know what effect this relatively new technology will have on the developing brains and immune systems of our young people". Despite this, nothing is being done to highlight this risk - neither by the HPA nor any of the childrens' charities who are dedicated to protecting the welfare of this vulnerable group.

It is imperative that a precautionary priniciple is adopted when uncertain technology is introduced - otherwise we are doomed to continue to repeat the mistakes we have made in the past with tobacce, asbestos, thalidomide, BSE (to name but a few).

The BBC, like most other media sources, have firmly hitched their wagon to the wireless star - the preferred option of contact now appears to be text. We are being encouraged to watch the news on our mobile phones, and many of the reports from around the world are brought to our screens via mobile phone. However, I would hope that this "marriage" will not prevent a serious investigation into the growing likelihood of serious health risks of the widespread use of mobile technology.

Cllr Sylvia Wright
Essington

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Paediatricians warn against mobile phones
https://omega.twoday.net/stories/3448983/

My letter appeared in todays Argus letters (Sussex) - though over two thirds of it was cut out and the rest edited heavily.

If anyone wants to follow up using my and Sarahs (below mine) letters below, email the Argus at letters@theargus.co.uk making sure to include full name & address and no more than 250 words.

Gary


Cell damage (The Argus March 12)

Now people have some legal protection from unwanted exposure to cigarette smoke, why do we have absolutely none from passive mobile phone and phone mast radiation?

In 2002, a group of European Doctors launched a global petition, the "Freiburger Appeal" [ https://omega.twoday.net/stories/566350/ ]. They wrote: "We have observed a dramatic rise in serious diseases." They attribute this to "installation of mobile telephone sending stations, intensive mobile telephone use, and installation of cordless phones at home or in the neighbourhood"

Recently, Robert Kane [ https://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Robert+Kane ], an ex Motorola Senior Research Scientist, wrote: "Recent research indicates that even short-term exposure to radiation from cell phones modifies brainwaves, affects short-term memory, and modify a person's ability to perform physical tasks such as driving.."


Wireless library is a health hasard (The Argus March 10)

I was surprised to hear the new eco flagship Jubliee library in Brighton has installed digital cordless DECT phones on every floor.

People don't seem to realise the base unit of these phones emits microwave radiation all the time whether or not one is on a call.

The levels will be higher than from a nearby phone mast - both DECT and Wi-fi use the same technology as mobile phone masts.

It is for this reason that the German Health Protection Agency issued a warning on DECT phones last year.

I was also disappointed to read that East Grinstead library are trialling Wi-fi computer access (The argus March 6).

Before these trials are put in place, those in charge should review the health implications for librarians and users.

There is evidence coming to light these systems are less than safe. The frequency is the same as used in a microwave oven.

The intensity inside the library will be the same or higher than from a phone mast outside.

The Times recently reported that schools which are also installing Wifi are having to dismantle it at the request of parents and teachers who have experienced serious adverse health effects.

Librarians in the USA are resigning over this issue. The Salzburg public health dept warns not to put Wi-fi in schools and nurseries.

There is a lot of research into the effects and many people made ill from exposure to the radiation emitted by these systems. It is possible to cable in computers for internet access. Wifi is not necessary.

Sarah Purdy
Mast Sanity



https://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi
https://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi

Has anyone seen the ITV-1 advertised warning of a Drama named "MOBILE" (coming soon) Tonight? No, I stayed up! I have tried to find out when it will show, but have not been successful.

It tells it is about this guy who has used his mobile many times daily because they were such a great thing, but now his head is splitting
(recognize anyone) and he has been told he has ca. a month left to live. And someone is blowing up masts in the same film. HIM? Please keep a lookout for it. It is not listed in the program for this week. "Coming soon" can mean anything.

Best regards.
Agnes



I could only see the information here:- https://www.wirelessforums.org/uk-telecom-mobile/itv-drama-mobile-bizare-storyline-ot-ott-18320.html

Adrian
GRAM

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Behind the scenes on the Mobile set
https://tinyurl.com/2lnh8h

Thursday 8th March 2007
BBC1 London News

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/default.stm

On the right of the page you will see VIDEO AND AUDIO NEWS NEWS BULLETINS

Click on:

Health worries over WiFi
https://tinyurl.com/237pe5
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm

Comments and feedback to:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4030000/newsid_4032600/4032695.stm

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Dear London News

First of all congratulations on covering the wifi issue. It is particularly concerning since the government are behind a drive to have this technology in all our primary and secondary schools. Over half are reported to already have these systems.

There are safe alternative solutions such as Home Plug (where the internet can be accessed through the mains) or floor boxes which can be put in classrooms and portable laptops simply plugged in and out as required.

Sweden officially recognise electrical hypersensitivity and estimate that up to 5% of the population are sensitive to the radiation emitted by wifi and other devices. This would mean in a class of 30 children that at least one child in each class would be immediately affected in the form of headaches, dizziness, concentration problems, etc Apart from this being unacceptable, this is not even considering the longer term effects of a high risk of cancer and leukaemia already shown up in research. (such as the REFLEX study and others)

I note that in your piece Dr Clark said measurements should be taken in schools! We know what the emission levels from Wifi are. We know they are below the 'guidelines' set by the UK. However we also know, and the HPA will not acknowledge, that these ICNIRP 'guidelines' are set to prevent heating of body tissue over a very short time period. (6 minutes). There are no guidelines to prevent other 'biological' effects (other than heating) that may occur from long term exposure and at lower exposures.

The pulsed microwave radiation emitted from the Wifi transmitters (access points) is still over billions of times higher than the natural background levels that there used to be just 15 years ago! Scientists are saying our bodies do not have repair mechanisms to cope with this new form of radiation now in our environment.

The Wifi transmitters are on all day in our schools. What are we doing to our children?

Yours

Sarah Purdy


ICNIRP guidelines for exposure from electromagnetic radiation
https://www.icnirp.de/documents/emfgdl.pdf

From the paragraph entitled "Basis for Limiting Exposure" (page 3)

"Induction of cancer from long-term EMF exposure was not considered to be established, and so these guidelines are based on short-term immediate health effects such as stimulation of peripheral nerves and muscles, shocks and burns caused by touching conducting objects and elevated tissue temperatures resulting from absorption of energy during exposure to EMF.

In the case of potential long term effects of exposure, such as an increased risk of cancer, ICNIRP concluded that available data are insufficient to provide a basis for setting exposure restrictions, although epidemiological research has provided suggestive, but unconvincing evidence of an association between possible carcinogenic effects and exposure levels of
50/60 HZ, magnetic flux densities substantially lower than these guidelines."

NB. By short term, they mean 6 minutes exposure.

Source: Federal Gazette Nr. 43 dated 03 March 1992, ­ Publications of the Federal Radiation Protection Commission, Germany, Volume 24, Page 6

Specific effects which are not related to heating have been described in the scientific literature for approximately 15 years. If a high frequency radiation is amplitude modulated with another frequency, field effects can occur, which do not exist under unmodulated radiation.

These manifest mostly as changes in the permeability of the cell membranes.

For example, it has been found that with high frequency radiation with a frequency of 147 MHz which was modulated with frequencies between 6 and 20 Hz, the calcium efflux from cell cultures was significantly (by 10 ­ 20%) increased for certain frequencies. Generally, a complex dependency of these effects on intensity and frequency has been observed, showing that certain frequency windows are particularly active. These membrane effects have been replicated many times, so that their existence has become accepted scientific knowledge.

It needs to be noted that the SAR values used in some studies were lower than 0.01 W/kg, and therefore significantly below the threshold of thermally relevant intensities.



https://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi
https://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi

https://www.webcameron.org.uk/blogs/2861-Mobile-phone-masts-health-and-planning


Informant: Frank

I was just sent this by a friend in Plymouth…
https://tinyurl.com/2r6qsf


Simon

Muswell Hill Journal

nlnews@archant.co.uk
1st March 2007

THE article "Radiation fear at schools" (Muswell Hill Journal, February 15) on radiation fears for schools in Muswell Hill is the latest piece of scaremongering from people who should know better. There is no firm evidence that exposure to "wi-fi" networks brings any adverse health effects to children. The educational advantages that this technology brings far outweigh any theoretical risks that might be associated with it. This topic has been repeatedly raised with governors of Tetherdown, the local education authority and the DfES and much valuable management time has been wasted rehearsing the same arguments with the same people every time. Isn't it time that the outstanding headteacher and the governors of Tetherdown were left to get on with running the school rather than having their time repeatedly wasted on this? If parents are so worried about "wi-fi" networks then they should remove their children from the school rather than carry on dredging this up again and again. - Joanna Maude and Robert Richards, Collingwood Avenue, N10.


Anyone who lives in Muswell Hill, close to one of the largest sources of electromagnetic radiation in the UK, the Ally Pally transmitter, should have no fears about their children's school having the far lower-powered wi-fi transmitters. - Thomas Paternoster, Palace Gates Road, N22.


I am seriously concerned about the story "Radiation fear at schools"
(Muswell Hill Journal, February 15). The story simply gives people a soapbox from where they can spout opinion and speculation with not a shred of fact to back up their claims. I think such reporting is irresponsible and scaremongering. Wi-fi networks have a valuable part to play in modern educational establishments. Safety standards for this sort of equipment are set nationally, and we follow Government guidance. Of course if any evidence was produced which indicated that there were safety concerns, then we would look at such evidence and seek expert advice. - Councillor Liz Santry, Members' Room, Civic Centre, High Road, N22.


Previous week's letters below:

WiFi dismay

nlnews@archant.co.uk
21 February 2007

I read with dismay the article regarding WiFi in schools (Muswell Hill Journal, February 15). It is untrue that there is no evidence of adverse health effects. In fact there are dozens of peer reviewed research papers confirming a link. A letter sent by one of the leading scientists in this field can be found, along with several other documents, at www.w-a-r-t.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk May I respectfully suggest that you take a look at them and judge for yourself without the constant stream of lies from this Government and the phone industry in general. - Name and address supplied. In response to your article on the dangers of WiFi in schools, I became electro-sensitive after WiFi transmitters were installed at the school where I teach. I should be sorry if others, especially children, were affected in this way. I am always saddened when I notice people suffering from headaches, nosebleeds, nausea, joint and nervous pains and some types of asthma, all of which can be the effects of radiation, without realising the cause. - Michael Bevington, by e-mail.

https://tinyurl.com/yvpaod

Pupils not at any risk says hi-tech school

nlnews@archant.co.uk
21 February 2007

TETHERDOWN Primary School has refuted claims that pupils could be exposed to dangerous radiation from wireless internet technology. Parents and lobby groups warned last week that the technology should not be used around young children until it had been proved harmless, as it emerged some schools had been using it for years. But Tetherdown hit back at the claims saying it had considered all health concerns and had written to parents explaining its use of the wireless network. Beth Shand, chairwoman of governors, said: "Since their introduction at Tetherdown some five years ago, the wireless laptop computers have become an increasingly invaluable tool for teaching across the curriculum in a more effective and powerful way. "The governors are in no doubt that the flexibility offered by wireless technology has educational benefits for the children and staff which would not be achieved through a more constrained, hardwired setup. "We have considered the health concerns about wireless networks at considerable length and have been guided at all times by the advice of the local authority and by central government guidelines, including those contained in the Stewart Report. Ultimate responsibility for health and safety in community schools rests with the local authority.



https://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi
https://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Wi-Fi
https://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Muswell

Tighter laws on mobile phone antennas

16 February 2007

Brussels' parliament has approved a bill aimed at protecting people and the environment from the effects of electromagnetic rays, notably those produced by mobile phone antennas.

According to the authors of the bill, the proposed law, which should be implemented in two years, would impose standards 47 times more restrictive than the current national law and would apply to a much broader range of frequencies.

The aim is to limit the potential impact of mobile phone antennas on health. This law follows complaints from Brussels citizens about sleep disruptions after the installation of a mobile phone antenna in the vicinity of their homes.

https://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=36647

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ICNIRP (UK, not Brussels) is around 40-55 V/m depending on frequency.

2-3 V/m is typical in houses within 100m of a mast already. I had up to 6V/m where I used to live.

I can't see that there is researched dosimetric reason behind this figure, which is why ICNIRP has hung around so long so securely. So why 3V/m?

Certainly it is not a fix for EHS. Certainly it doesn't challenge the industry a whole lot, but it does have implications for shared sites IF it applies to sites not individual bases. It should also be measured not "as radiated" but "as received/observed" since environments (other than open fields) are complex.

But is this the right measure? Is it equivalent to a limit on power density (measured in W/m^2)? Is energy absorption the issue?

Either way, this limit does not avoid all known EMF effects and I can't see it overturning ICNIRP here in the UK yet.

Andy



Jane

The alignment concerns me. Mast companies will think nothing of this. Each will be "thousands of times below ICNIRP" and no-one is concerned about the combined effect.

Each will also be well within the Brussels suggestion, again for which we have not as yet seen evidence of base that would mean anything to the operators.

Brussels does not apply, and there is no sign that the HPA would adjust its opinion from ICNIRP to this standard without very good reason.

I am currently arguing with council planning and environment about mast numbers 9 and 10 on a small football ground surrounded by dense housing! There are no regulations for ten masts: each is counted on its own. There is no argument that will influence planning in the current state of affairs, I'm afraid.

Sorry

Andy

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Brussels news and cell phone harm

This is an interesting story about harm caused by cell phones, from Iris Atzmon in Israel. Please note, that cordless phones used in the home are just as likely to cause similar problems if they are used for long periods. Iris has also attached a news story from Brussels, where the Government has voted to dramatically lower electro magnetic radiation levels, and introduce a strong monetary fine system for non compliance.

Martin Weatherall



Severe Brussels towards antennas GSM
https://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/brussels_standards.doc

Today I spoke with a 23 years old who suffers from aches deep in the ear and strong pressure in the ear, after examining her on Friday, the conclusion of the doctor from a medical center in Jerusalem was that it had been caused by her cellular phone. He used exaclty these words which she emphasized several times: "YOU TOASTED YOUR EAR". He also told her that lately the doctors received "an internal study" that was not published in the media, which shows that the phone causes terrible damage. When she tried to ask more he didn't want to give her details. He added that he has many patients like her and that the rate of tumors "has increased significantly" lately, and many people come to him with ear and head aches. When she asked him what she can do he told her: "there is nothing that can be done, it is like to be healed from a burn, simply throw your cell phone". He told her of his minimal use of the phone and he always asks people to phone him to the wired phone. She was very shocked from this experience, she has been using the phone since the age of 16 and then she was not aware of possible risk, used to talk 3-4 hours aday. Today she cannot talk more than 5 minutes or else she has strong aches, she suffers all the time from the ear, even in days she doesn't use the phone (but then the pains are less painful) also in the nights it bothers her, it has become a nightmare. Although her awareness of possible damage raised in recent years, she still didn't imagine something like this can happen. Her hearing is still ok, in the past she didn't feel any special symptoms "maybe only a short ear ache". That's the situation. In the clinics the damage is already felt. The public is kept ignorant.

Health to all. Who needs more than that in our crazy world?...

Iris Atzmon.

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From Grahame Blackwell.


David

I agree with Phil - but it's a start. It opens up the debate on 'ICNIRP is clearly not enough - and if not, why not ??' ICNIRP is generally agreed to be adequate for thermal effects - so what is it that Brussels are worried about? It can ONLY be non-thermals - and as soon as that's acknowledged it opens the way to seriously questioning the whole basis of the criteria on which 'safety levels' are determined.

It's interesting to note that NOT ONE minister in Brussels voted against this proposal.

This is a very firm wedge in the door of the 'thermal' argument - and it's not going to go away !! The telcos aren't going to like it - and Blaney and his ilk are going to have to work a lot harder for their money once the implications of this become clear at grass-roots level.

Is this perhaps a time for mass petitioning of MPs on the grounds of a nation state in the EU taking a position which clearly calls into question not only the levels used in the UK, but more significantly the criteria by which those levels are set?

You may wish to push this email round the circuit.

Best regards to all of you

Grahame