UK schools pull the plug on WiFi for alleged health reasons

Back in February, we told you about how Lakehead University in Canada was restricting WiFi usage for health concerns. Well, not to be outdone by a former colony, similar issues have cropped up in the UK at a handful of schools in Chichester, Carmarthenshire, and Buckinghamshire, which have turned off their WiFi citing parental lobbying. One parent, Judith Davies, whose daughter attends a school in Carmarthenshire, told The Times: "Many people campaign against mobile phone masts near schools, but there is a great deal of ignorance about wireless computer networks. Yet they are like having a phone mast in the classroom and the transmitters are placed very close to the children." Ms. Davies, we don't mean to be rude, but have you ever seen a WiFi router? They're really small, use much less power, have a much shorter range, and give off way less radio frequency radiation than your average cell phone tower. Put into technical terms, most WiFi routers have a peak power output of 100 mW (compared to most cellphones, which output at around 2 W). So, assuming that your child isn't sitting right on top of said router, she'll most likely be perfectly fine. And even if she is sitting on top of a router, aside from being somewhat uncomfortable she'll still probably be perfectly fine.

[Via TechDirt]

Read - The Times

[sideshowRaheem @ Nov 24th 2006 5:43PM]

God whats next no more camras in school because if someone takes a picture of your kid it will steal there soul. I guess Americans aren't the only people in the world with the killer combination of alarmest and stupid.

[alex @ Nov 24th 2006 6:39PM]

I'd be willing to try that argument if it could get us away from this culture of surveillance

[chezzo @ Nov 24th 2006 5:44PM]

I go to school in Buckinghamshire and in September when we came back after the holidays we found they'd got rid of the wifi network... its rather annoying to say the least.

[Patsy @ Nov 24th 2006 5:45PM]

I go to the university of connecticut and my dorm bulding is literally no more then 100 yards from several cell phone towers...a lil radiation never hurt anyone...seriously when did people become such wimps in 20 years im gunna be telling my grandkids...you know when iw as young we didnt have safety, i lived next to a cell phone tower, and they are gunna be like OMG A CELL PHONE TOWER GRAMPS YOURE CRAZY... I LIKE YOU... BUT YOU'RE CRAZY

[suntiger @ Nov 25th 2006 11:45AM]

People who type like you are why I'm not currently attending UConn. That will be all.

[Brent @ Nov 24th 2006 5:48PM]

LOL! Smart people have no common sense...People who ever would have even imagined having too much radio frequency from a wireless router should really learn to study more instead of trusting their brain as if they created the technology and know it from front to back. These people are teaching our children to! What does that say for the common sense and knowledge based on facts that are being taught to our children. Wait a minute, I forgot after 2 weeks of 90% of every child being in school teachers tell the parent the child has A.D.D. and put them on an amphetamine as the like of Coaine & Crystal Meth and then everyone wonders why kids are suddenly all addicted to amphetamines when they get older...Same goes for the Dr.s that you trust to prescribe this medication and while I have your attention I would like you to goto Yahoo.com and type "Cocaine Ritalin Comparison"...Ritalin is what is known as pur Methylphenidate...Ring any bells? Study the similarities & be sure to study everything before trusting a Dr. or teacher and bring your Bible to church and do the same with your preacher as it's better to be safe than sorry. Normally, the one who speaks with authority has no understanding of what they speak so always be sure to do your own homework as most Dr.s do not.

[David @ Nov 24th 2006 5:55PM]

I'd rather sit on a wifi router than have taken all the pills I was prescribed over the years. Drs prescribed meds because they get free vacations and presents from the drug companies. If you look around an office you will see clipboards, clocks, notepads, tissue boxes, all from drug companies. These legal "drugs" are what should be considered a health risk not wifi. Maybe all the radio stations should be shut down as well??? I hope someday the people will go after drug companies so kids stop getting so messed up!

[abib @ Nov 24th 2006 5:57PM]

haha.. crazy brits.

[Mark @ Nov 24th 2006 5:58PM]

What is the world comming too, this is just plain stupid.

[luca @ Nov 24th 2006 6:02PM]

who knows

[plchabot @ Nov 24th 2006 6:04PM]

Yeah, maybe one day will get rid of cigarettes in schools but it seems we'll have get rid of thoses evil killing children router first.

[Elmer @ Nov 24th 2006 6:09PM]

To put things in perspective, a Wifi router puts out 100 milliwats of RF power. The cellphone in your pocket will put out from 200 milliwatts to a maximum of 600 milliwatts.

[Oliver @ Nov 24th 2006 6:09PM]

Wow... This is moronic. My school has WiFi and I went to computing pretty much every day so far. Heck my friend has a router IN HIS HOUSE! There is no way you could compare a cellphone tower to a tiny little router T.T

[Roy @ Nov 24th 2006 6:18PM]

AHHH... NO WIFI? I WOULD KILL MY SELF... wait, if im next to my WIFI router, wouldn't i be dead by now? take a break, WIFI is harmless...

[ran93r @ Nov 24th 2006 6:22PM]

Doris, fetch me the tin foil.

[Leslie J. Hartley @ Nov 24th 2006 6:33PM]

the wattage may be low, but what of the freq and possible nervous system interference? The 2W from a cellphone is over a short duration, but the wifi is all say at a constant rate. Towers emit from a hundred feet in the air, and routers from 8-10 ft away. None of this worries me, but the net effect is under-studied, and it's wrong (and small-spirited) to trivialize these parents' concerns.

[Grey Acumen @ Nov 24th 2006 7:44PM]

Oh my god. Do you even understand the basic biological operations of the human brain? It's all chemical it's not all electical, it's chemical/bioelectrical. We are not going to suddenly grow cancer because we have a few radio waves, I don't care what frequency.

You know what I think causes cancer? DNA vs Stress. If you're under stressful conditions, your the replication of your cells starts drawing on junk DNA in order to try to cause a rapid adaptation, some people have less helpful pools in their junk DNA sections, which is why it can be hereditary.
The reason why people with cellphones might have an increased risk for cancer is because when you have a cellphone, you're under more stress trying to keep up with the payments on it, trying to hear people through it and trying keep up with the calls that you're getting that the only reason you pick up is cause you don't have the excuse of not being near the phone.

Either way, WIFI does not cause cancer. Even if it does, I don't care. I'll risk the .0000036% chance of getting cancer if I can access my internet from my own laptop without having to be home. What the hell is the point of living for 100 years if you take away every basic convenience?

[Neebs @ Nov 24th 2006 6:35PM]

Don't CRTs emit some gamma radiation? They should get HDTVs for every classroom!

[plchabot @ Nov 24th 2006 6:38PM]

Just don't invent some bad excuses to stop children from watching porn in class.

[Aaron @ Nov 24th 2006 6:39PM]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't routers, cell phones, flourescent lights, (insert electronic product here) output radio waves that are too big to damage cells and possible cause cancer or other harms? It was my understanding that the likelyhood of the radiaton from most of these devices is about as likely as fitting your hand through the eye of a needle.

[Jeramy @ Nov 25th 2006 10:09PM]

yeah i was under the impression of the same thing. electromagnetic waves don't really cause harm until you start getting up into the relatively higher frequencies of the spectrum. otherwise we would all stay indoors in order to aviod light and would use conventional ovens for quick reheats instead of microwaves.

but i'm no physicist so i'm likely to be wrong. it just seems to me that everyone's much too paranoid.

[ChronoZaga @ Nov 24th 2006 6:39PM]

"Many people campaign against mobile phone masts near schools, but there is a great deal of ignorance about wireless computer networks."

Do you think she knows how ironic that quote is? She pretty much hit the nail on the head about her own ignorance.

[chaz @ Nov 24th 2006 6:49PM]

I work as an IT geek in a school in england and i can assure you that hardly any schools here actually have a 'WIFI' network so to speak - most of them have like one access point in the staffroom so the staff can use their laptops and think they are on the verge of some kinda technological breakthrough.

That said, i dont see this being a wide spread problem, we are still planning on rolling out wifi and my management are particularly anal when it comes to complying with any 'hocuspocus' health issue/political correctness crap that is sprouted.

To be honest, we have much more trouble trying to prevent the kids pimping themseleves out on myspace and bebo with 'exotic' photos of themselves, we get blamed cos some parent dosnt montior their kids at home and they upload inappropriate content and so on - to be honest next week the parents will have some other reason to blame schools for their kids being : retarded/molested/shot/warped/stressed - its not their lack of parenting / interaction at all

[bakumatsu @ Nov 24th 2006 7:06PM]

Wasn't Canada a colony of France, not Britain?

Wasn't the U.S. the former British colony?

[Benjamin @ Nov 28th 2006 9:01PM]

Hey dummy,

Your body produces a stress response to deal with the foriegn EMF caused by cell phones, wi-fi, etc.

So YES they cause cancer and f'ck you up in general.

[nathan @ Nov 24th 2006 8:26PM]

In response to the lack of wifi in UK schools by Chaz, actually most UK schools now have wifi, i know all the schools in my town do. Somthing to do with an associated grant, and of course bragging rights over less up-to-date schools!

in a seperate point why is it always middle aged women that are doing the complaining... not to be sexist but has anyone else seen the trend?

[124C41 @ Nov 24th 2006 8:48PM]

Maybe that's my problem! I have a WiFi transmitter within 20 ft of my bed! And here I've been blaming the 4 neuroblockers and fentanyl patches for my brain being like mush!

Seriously, I used the schools as warehouses to hold my kids while I was working, and spent the hour a day taking them back and forth to talk to them and undo what the schools had taught them and maybe get a little reaching in myself. Now my daughter is on a first-name basis with all these drug dealers and guess what? None of them use the drugs they're selling. [Of course, neither does she.] And my son is almost freaky about anything that affects his nerves--he doesn't even allow the shots they try to give him for dental work. Meanwhile, the schools go on trying to find reasons for turning out kids that don't pay any attention. It may be because the schools do things like blocking WiFi. The kids are a lot smarter than the schools give them credit for, and they see what the schools do. No wonder they ignore everything the schools try to teach them.

25 years ago I left teaching after being raked over the coals for allowing a curve-breaker student in Physics to skip class and just grade him on his test grades, and for flunking kids who scored under 20% on tests. I couldn't face the kids after that. And schools haven't gotten any better since.

[Keaton @ Nov 24th 2006 8:50PM]

This is just a prime example of parents being boo busy to be parents.

Obviously the parents doing the "lobbying" are not involved in their kids lives at all... So when something like this happens parents feel guilty and then "feel" they have to do something...

How about you spend all that time "lobbying" against WIFI in schools (WTF!) talking to your kids. Talk to your kids about sex, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc. and know where they are... Adults shouldn't have kids if they are not willing to spend time to be involved in there kids lives... And trust me kids don't mind parents being active in there lives... I have parents who are very involved in my life and I might bitch about at times but you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...

Just my 5 cents...
http://www.soggycowdesigns.com

[brian potopowicz @ Nov 24th 2006 9:48PM]

First of all don't act like you are all experts on radio waves, because most of you have no idea what you are talking about. The fact is that electromagnetic radiation is harmful even in small doses. These type of radio waves interfere with the DNA/RNA connection from the brain to the body. We are not talking about a little home wifi router here. The type of wifi that is used to cover a whole campus is very powerful! If you think its less harmful than a cell tower, you are not very smart. You people use microwaves, cellphones, wifi, eat toxic food, get vaccinated, and wonder why everybody around you has cancer. Cancer rates are higher than ever before, all across the US. Before we go and blanket our cities with Wifi more studies need to be done on the harmful effects of this action. Until then, don't say that it is safe if you have no idea!

[Lonnie McClure @ Nov 25th 2006 2:33AM]

"The type of wifi that is used to cover a whole campus is very powerful!"
- brian potopowicz

There is no different "type of WiFi". These schools aren't using WiMax. They are using the same WiFi as any basic router, which is limited by law to 200mw in the United States (and as noted in the article most are 100mw). I doubt the UK provides for a higher power limit, as the limit is in place to reduce interference.

The only way a single Wifi router or access point could come close to covering an entire campus would be if the antenna were mounted up high, and then such long range coverage would only apply in open air with no significant obstructions.

[Tito @ Nov 25th 2006 7:49PM]

"These type of radio waves interfere with the DNA/RNA connection from the brain to the body."

Whaaaaatttt? Like you so well said, first of all don't act like you are an expert (of biology), because you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

[Cosmos @ Nov 24th 2006 9:50PM]

Forget radio waves, I say we campaign to keep stupid people away from the children.

[Kevin K @ Nov 25th 2006 2:36AM]

okay, I actually saw a few smart comments on here.
I for one am extremely senesitive to forms of RF radiation. I can tell you for EXPERIENCE, if I use a mobile phone for more then 2 minutes I start to get headaches. I once bought a wireless N router, returned it the same night too. I plugged it in and within mere minutes I was in pain.

I turn off my bluetooth, I turn off my WiFi, I dont use my phone for anything other than texting and I have DND on so I can't even recieve a call if I wanted to.

I dont care what some of you people here may say or think. I live from experience and these devices are harmful to human health.

[Nate @ Nov 25th 2006 5:39AM]

Hi I'm a brit, and we use WiFi at our school, the thing is though we use many routers which is probably the problem?

I don't care! LMAO

[Ubuntu @ Nov 25th 2006 7:12AM]

"Michael Bevington, a classics teacher for 28 years at the school, said that he had such a violent reaction to the network that he was too ill to teach.

I felt a steadily widening range of unpleasant effects whenever I was in the classroom,� he said. �First came a thick headache, then pains throughout the body, sudden flushes, pressure behind the eyes, sudden skin pains and burning sensations, along with bouts of nausea. Over the weekend, away from the classroom, I felt completely normal."


Is he serious i've had a wifi router in my house only meters away from me for a year or so and I have never had any of this crap. Its all in his mind idiot.

[Benjamin @ Nov 28th 2006 9:02PM]

your mind and body must not be adequately sensitive

do you eat processed foods?

[nicholas @ Nov 25th 2006 7:36AM]

ulrich beck probably has a decent law of stupidity about this sort of thing

[Matthew @ Nov 25th 2006 8:34AM]

I don't want to say anything, but maybe these people should read the studies done on this stuff before hand. Of course only those done by serious scientists/organisations. The result, to receive any damage is almost impossible. They had some note about having to increase single strength, head right next to it for a certain time and even then effect was minimal enough to be ignored. It's like wtf these people got no clue and should just stfu when they ain't know shit at all about this technology. I mean it's even been proven that mobile phones do close to no harm (depends on usage if I remember correctly)

[Bav @ Nov 25th 2006 10:31AM]

Next they'll be telling us its dangerous to cook food in the nuker..err..microwave!

[Mjf @ Nov 25th 2006 12:54PM]

people always need something to bitch about.

[Al Wilkes @ Nov 25th 2006 4:31PM]

I'm still trying to figure out why public schools (non-university) need wireless internet access to make their education process any better.

Students don't have any time off in public school, so what's the point? The only reason we have it at my university (Texas) is because students have so much time off on campus. You don't need WiFi in class.

Anyone want to justify the actual _inclusion_ of WiFi in public schools?

[J Waldner @ Nov 25th 2006 11:40PM]

Isn't it true that the sun emits radio waves across the spectrum. hummmmmm I wonder.

[Sean DL @ Nov 26th 2006 7:39PM]

Well this reminds me of many things, mostly of what they will think of us in the future...

Like we think of houses with asbestos and paint and pencils with lead.


Crazy, but hey...like they knew...

[3.141592653 @ Nov 27th 2006 1:10PM]

Hello my name is Pi. I have been sitting next to a wifi router for the past 3 years and I now suffer from lucimia, brocolitus, cancer, aids, and my blood turned into citrus acid. I also now have a problem with spelling. Think of me, and think of the children. We must protect our selves from the radiation even though standing next to a microwave for 10 seconds is worse then a lifetime supply of wifi.

Let us sue the american wifi networks for giving us aids!

[jared @ Nov 27th 2006 11:25PM]

My high school has a wifi router in every class room and 2 in the library 2 in the lunch room and some in the hallways lol thats at least 200 routers

[Benjamin @ Nov 29th 2006 11:36PM]

Thats frightening jared.

Research this issue you will discover that microwave radiation is detrimental to health.

Now you know, it is your duty to inform others.

[sbjakkdls @ Jul 21st 2007 4:33PM]

I remember when i worked on wifi networks pointing 1w worth of 2.5 ghz Electromagnetic radiation at my face while i aligned and tightened up the brackets.. Never felt a thing. I've had a 100mw wifi router and a 10 db omni near my desk for nearly 10 years.

And yes, i used CRT tube monitors since i was 4.

What is up with you people? did you know that some people when they drink diet drinks it causes them to have a seizure from the Aspertame?

I think Problems in this area are far and few between, and any futher "proof" should be by double blind studies so we can find some real results. Untill then, its inconclusive :)

[Lori @ Aug 25th 2007 1:05AM]

The schools ban wireless internet already! Why in the world did it take the UK so damn long to ban smoking in restaurants? Were there children dining in these restaurants do you think?

[Lloyd Harrington @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:44AM]

I work for a specilaist Wi-Fi company here in the UK, responsible for the infrastructure of wi-fi at 90% of all the major UK music festivals, O2, oxygen, glastonbury etc and have countless installations across schools, hospitality etc It's typical for the nation that has the 'lowest' power output laws on wi-fi networks in the world to also be the biggest moaners and worry warts. Both Japan and the US output MUCH more power than we ever do. They are even allowed 'amplifiers' in these countries, something again isn't legal here in the UK. 100mw it's the maxium output power allowed to transmit over a 2.4Ghz wave, HOWEVER this DOES NOT MEAN that people don't break the law. You can buy a 12dbi gain antenna, as soon as you wack it onto your router, your now emitting nearer to 2 WATTS of power rather than 100mw with the deafult antenna. Panorma went around select schools that were breaking the law in terms of output power, Why? Because the COMPANY they hired to carry out the installation simply WASN'T AWARE!! So they are 'safe' under the regulations applied, which is not to exceed the 100mw/20dbm output powers.

If your a school, or any other I urge you to speak to a 'wifi' specialist. Just beacuse they are a multi-billion pound networking company doesn't mean they are 'experts' in RF? DO not believe for one second just because a company is a 'network specialist' means they are also an 'RF specialist'.

Also, did you know you could sit your head next to a router for 12 months and you'd take in the same amount of power as a 20minute call on a cell phone?

Yeah..So maybe the question should be "are cell phones dangerous" before we even consider wi-fi!!!