WEEP News: Wi-Fi Concerns Should Lead to Updated Regulations / Doctor puts City Hall on notice / EMF-Omega-News

W.E.E.P. News

Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution News

5 September 2010

Wi-Fi Concerns Should Lead to Updated Regulations

Written by Carol Hughes, MP Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

Saturday, September 4th, 2010 Wawa News

http://www.wawa-news.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6949&Itemid=99999999

Last spring I attended the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health meetings that investigated the health effects of microwaves from wireless devices such as cell phones and Wi-Fi. At that time, I was approached by a group from Collingwood who reported an illness cluster in their school that is consistent with microwave exposure.

The Simcoe County District School Board had installed a blanket microwave Wi-Fi system throughout every school, and the parents at Mountain View Elementary School in Collingwood had begun to report an illness trend involving childhood headaches, nausea, vertigo, insomnia, and even tachycardia (a heart condition requiring medical attention). Some parents had spent the last 18 months in and out of doctor's offices with a novel collection of symptoms that disappeared only when the children were in school.

They have documented their concerns and reported them to the Simcoe County School Board, only to be told the Wi-Fi system is perfectly safe according the Health Canada.

While at committee we heard from Health Canada officials who defended the department's Radiofrequency Exposure Guidelines (Safety Code 6), only to have those same guidelines questioned by international research scientists whose research show that people can experience biological changes in the presence of these low-level microwaves. One scientist also warned about an increased prevalence of cancer if Health Canada's "safe" limits for microwave exposure are not lowered.

Health Canada officials confidently stated there is "no cause for concern that Wi-Fi is dangerous."

What they should have said is that Safety Code 6 is sufficient, in their opinion. As we heard in committee, there is no consensus among research scientists that microwave radiation is safe, and Health Canada did know that. In a study by the Royal Society of Canada, commissioned by Health Canada in 1999 and updated in 2001, there is conclusive evidence that potentially dangerous things happen from microwave exposure.

Those things include weakening the blood brain barrier which protects us from disease, increasing certain enzymes known to promote cancer, and changing behaviour. This is hardly promoting a safe learning environment for young children. According to the Royal Society Report, young children are among the most vulnerable when it comes to microwave exposure. The report is clear that these biological changes happen well below the current "safe" limits set by Health Canada.

Health Canada's guidelines are not protecting us. They are outdated and designed for a grown man at 6 minutes of exposure. They don't take into account a 4 year old girl getting microwave exposure for 6 hours a day, five days a week, for 14 years of public school. That is the environment right now in Simcoe County schools, and other school Boards across the country about to roll out microwave transmitters for blanket Wi-Fi coverage because Health Canada tells them it's safe.

Health Canada must tell Canadians the full story when it comes to microwave irradiation of children. What we're doing by exposing them to all day Wi-Fi in school is really a big experiment, with unknowing volunteers.

Carol Hughes, Member of Parliament

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Avon Lake doctor puts City Hall on notice over cell tower health concerns

http://www.avonlakeledger.com/avon-lake-doctor-puts-city-hall-on-notice-over-cell-tower-health-concerns-p1189-1.htm

The small brown buildings are handicapped housing.

Sept. 1 – By Lori E. Switaj

An Avon Lake doctor has put City Council and Mayor KC Zuber on notice that he will be bringing what he considers to be "major health concerns" with a 150-ft. WiFi/cell tower, to the forefront at upcoming meetings.

Dr. Mike Summerfield sent an e-mail to each councilmember and the mayor last week that he will bring up the issue at subsequent council meetings. Several council members, however, dispute the health concerns and say there is misinformation about cell towers, and specifically the placement of that particular tower.

Summerfield is one of numerous Westwind subdivision residents concerned over the tower that Clearwire Wireless LLC, is looking to build behind the Learwood (Giant Eagle) Plaza. Residents are claiming, among other issues, that the tower is unsightly and close to a handicapped residence. Summerfield is taking it one step further and saying he—and other residents—are concerned about potential health issues.

"This email is to inform you that at all of the upcoming meetings I am going to talk about the potential health risks of this tower," Summerfield's e-mail said. "Health risks that will affect my wife, my children, my friends and my neighbors. I didn't sign their gag clause. I believe I am correct in that the US Constitution ensures me the right to freedom of speech. No Telecommunications Act of 1996 is going to tell me otherwise."

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 does not prohibit discussion of health issues; it does however, prohibit government entities from making decisions based on health issues. Avon Lake's own ordinances essentially repeat that decision.

"The ruling says, we can't make a determination based on health issues," Fenderbosch said, adding that council members have taken an oath to uphold the law. "That's a Federal law. I'm not a medical professional and I'm not a scientist; I am a facilitator as a public representative," Fenderbosch added.

Fenderbosch also pointed to the city's own planning and zoning ordinance, 'Wireless Telecommunications Towers and Facilities regulations."

"In that code, it specifically points out what we can and cannot do whether on planning or council can evaluate wireless," she said. The code also states, "A wireless telecommunications facility shall not produce at any time power densities which exceed the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C95.1-1992 standard for human exposure."

Fenderbosch pointed to an American Cancer Society report that noted that towers are not deemed harmful.

"They address what actually is a cell tower and how it works," she said. "They talk about radio frequencies. These are not microwaves (the tower is emitting). Its radio frequencies. It's very different and very low." (See link below.)

Whether that appeases Summerfeld and other residents remains to be seen. Summerfield said he has met with Councilman Dan Bucci and council president Greg Zilka, touring the property with them.

"I have gathered enough information to make an intelligent, rational and well informed decision about the tower," Summerfeld said. "What I've found is that it's not an aesthetic issue. It's not a property value issue. It's not a cheaper Wi-Fi or better cell phone coverage issue, and I pray that nobody on City Council is basing their decision on this. The issue here is that of a major health concern."

Summerfield also brought up the issue that the tower would be in very close proximity to residences that house handicapped individuals.

"This tower is also steps outside of a handicap accessible housing facility, whose residents weren't even given the courtesy of being notified," Summerfield said.

Fenderbosch said city law requires notification to home and building owners within 300 feet of the tower and said management of the handicapped residences were notified. She added that the city went beyond the 300 foot notification and contacted homeowners in a 400 foot radius of the tower.

In response to Summerfield's correspondence, Councilman David Kos responded to other council members that "this cancer scare issue is completely false, citing this link to the American Cancer Society.

"There is no higher or more reputable authority, in my opinion on this matter," Kos responded. "I hope that after reading this, any thoughts or concerns are put the rest. I understand residents not wanting to look at a tower; however this cancer scare issue is completely false. The FM radio in your car and the microwave oven in your kitchen emit as much frequency or more than a cell tower/phone."

Summerfield said he will be providing documentation at upcoming meetings showing "several scientifically sound studies that have found that cell towers are either unsafe or that there currently is a lack of evidence to support the assumption that they are safe."

He is also asking each council member and the mayor to guarantee him that the tower will not have any harmful effects on any of his children "over the next 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 plus years."

A lawyer for Clearwire has publicly stated that since Planning Commission has approved the tower and the plans meet the city's requirements, a "no" vote by council would likely land the city in court.

The next scheduled City Council meeting is Monday, Sept. 13 at 7:30pm in council chambers.

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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Wi-Fi Concerns Should Lead to Updated Regulations / Doctor puts City Hall on notice / EMF-Omega-News