First, Do No Harm: Leading Medical Associations, Doctors and Scientists Call for Safe Technologies in Schools

Excerpt from the Safe Schools document sent to the DeKalb County School Board and the Superintendent on January 14, 2013, prior to their public meeting.

More Medical Associations, medical doctors and scientists, many of whom work on the biological effects of wireless technologies, have expressed their concerns about the safety of wireless devices for schools. They are asking for wired information and communication technologies to be used in order to safeguard children and young people, protect and promote healthy development and maximize learning and achievement.

These experts do not agree with the health protection agencies which currently support or allow the use of microwave, radio-frequency emitting technologies by children and young people in schools.


For example:  The American Academy of Environmental Medicine approved the following statement on Wi-Fi in schools January 2012:

"The Board of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine opposes the installation of wireless “smart meters” in homes and schools based on a scientific assessment of the current medical literature (references available on request).

"Chronic exposure to wireless radio-frequency radiation is a preventable environmental hazard that is sufficiently well documented to warrant immediate preventative public health action.  

"The Board of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine also wishes to note that the US NIEHS National Toxicology Program in 1999 cited radio-frequency (RF) radiation as a potential carcinogen.

"Existing safety limits for pulsed RF were termed “not protective of public health” by the Radio-frequency Inter-agency Working Group (a federal inter-agency working group including the FDA, FCC, OSHA, the EPA and others)."

An update to its statement was published on June 9, 2012:

"Adverse health effects, such as learning disabilities, altered immune responses, headaches, etc. from wireless radio frequency fields do exist and are well documented in the scientific literature.

"Safer technology, such as using hard-wiring, must be seriously considered in schools for the safety of those susceptible individuals who may be affected by this phenomenon."

This document serves to inform schools, Governing Bodies, Academy Trusts, School Boards, Education Authorities, teachers and parents of the professional, medical and scientific concerns about children using wireless technologies in schools.

The information can be used to implement safe school policies, practices and guidance in order to safeguard the health and development of children and young people and to aid cognitive abilities, learning and achievement.


Other authorities have also called for the protection of children from wireless technologies:

Council of Europe:  Mobile phone use by pupils in schools to be strictly regulated and wired Internet connections to be preferred (Resolution 1815, 2011).

World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio-frequency radiation as a possible human carcinogen, class 2B (2011)

UK Trades Union Congress (TUC): Caution should be taken to prevent exposure to Class 2B carcinogens in the workplace.

European Environment Agency:  All reasonable measures to be taken to reduce exposures to electromagnetic fields, especially radio-frequencies from mobile phones and particularly the exposures to children and young adults. Current exposure limits to be reconsidered.

International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS): Strongly advise limited use of cell phones, and other similar devices, by young children and teenagers.

Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection have recommended the use of wired networks in schools and educational institutions, rather than wireless broadband systems, including Wi-Fi.

 “It is our professional obligation not to damage the children's health by inactivity.”

 German Government and Israeli Parliament recommended wired computer networks for schools or workplaces.

Several countries have advised children and young people to limit their use of mobile/smart/cell phones.  Several medical associations have also taken this precautionary stand:  Austrian Medical Association, American Academy of Environmental Medicine, International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Irish Doctors Environmental Association, Interdisciplinary Society for Environmental Medicine and the Swiss Doctors for Environmental Protection.

For more information, view the entire document sent to DeKalb County's School Board and Superintendent here.

For the latest Get the Cell Out - Atlanta video promoting safe wireless and attendance at Thursday's state BOE hearing, please click here.