Is Wi-Fi bad for your health?

Do Wi-Fi signals affect your health? The answer is a firm “NO!” if you ask your favorite wireless hardware manufacturer. Lots of old and new studies have proven that there are very few (if any) health related side effects that arise from using Wi-Fi equipment. And yet, several countries have decided to pass laws that limit the broadcasting power for all their wireless devices, and even ban cell phones and routers in schools.

So, why is that happening? This article will try to tackle both sides of the problem and give a few answers.

Let us begin by stating that these Wi-Fi related concerns aren't new. In fact, they go back almost two decades, when doctors had to deal with the first few people who claimed to be sensitive to electromagnetic fields. The "disease" has even gotten a name then: electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a.k.a EHS. At the moment, EHS is not recognized as a medical condition, though, and people who claimed to suffer from it, and have then been put to tests, failed to detect the presence or absence of electromagnetic fields.

After studying lots of EHS sufferers, researchers' conclusion was unanimous: people claiming to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity had in fact other medical conditions, and were attributing those symptoms to EHS. But truth be told, that was happening back in 2005, when wireless signals had much lower amplitudes, and people weren’t carrying Wi-Fi enabled devices with them all day long.

Most wireless devices broadcast using a signal power of only 100 mW. This will significantly limit their range, of course, and is supposed to make the Wi-Fi signal harmless for humans. And yet, several developed countries, such as Belgium, Spain, France, Finland and many more have passed laws that regulate Wi-Fi usage, setting very tight rules.

Take France, for example; here are some excerpts from their recently passed law, which is supposed to reduce exposures to wireless radiation and other electromagnetic fields.

- Wi-Fi is banned in spaces where children under the age of three may be present;

- Wi-Fi routers must be turned off in schools whenever they aren't needed;

- School boards must be informed whenever new IT equipment is installed;

- Manufacturers must clearly specify the SAR values on the packages of all their phones;

- Cell tower emissions are measured regularly, and citizens have the right to require access to the measured values anytime they want to;

- Much more.

Here's a relevant link that highlights all the requirements, in case that you want to learn more about this.

So, is there a threat? And if the answer is affirmative, how serious is it? The main concern is a possible link between exposure to radio waves and cancer. It is true that adults may be on the safer side when it comes to Wi-Fi radiation, but it has been demonstrated that the children's bone marrow will absorb much more radiation. The same thing happens with a child's brain, which is much more sensitive to radio waves in comparison with the adults’ brains.

Additional problems may include immune system disfunctions, sleep problems, reproductive disfunctions, etc. Also, it has been proven that prolonged exposure to wireless signals will destroy cells from the memory-related centers in the brain.

The problem appears to be very serious, and yet very few governments are doing something about it. So, what can you do to limit the damage?

Begin by reducing exposure to strong radio waves. Keep your smart phone usage to a minimum. You should only use it in areas where the signal is powerful enough, so your phone's broadcasting power is reduced.

Don't sleep with the phone near your head; ensure that it is placed at least 10 inches away from your body at all times. Also, be sure to turn off its Wi-Fi when you go to bed. There are even apps that can do that for you automatically.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on your other wireless-enabled devices as well. Don't utilize cordless phones and microwave ovens, for example. Your microwave isn't a healthy appliance anyway.