The A to Z of wireless

Y is for Yikes

The growth in wireless networks has led to concerns about whether there are adverse health effects from continued low-level exposure to the electromagnetic fields networks create.

Wi-fi health jitters have even led to wireless networks being removed from schools and universities.

However a 2006 World Health Organisation (WHO) fact sheet reviewing the scientific evidence of any health effects resulting from exposure to both mobile phone base stations and other local wireless networks concludes there is currently no evidence of health risks.

"Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF [radio frequency] signals from [mobile] base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects," the report states.

According to the WHO, the only scientifically proven health effect of exposure to RF signals is a very slight increase in body temperature - and only then from very high field intensity radio frequency waves, more powerful than even those emitted from mobile base stations.

Wireless networks, being orders of magnitude weaker still, should be even less of a worry, the report concludes.

"Since wireless networks produce generally lower RF signals than base stations, no adverse health effects are expected from exposure to them," it states.

However owing to the lack of long-term health impact studies of wireless networks - and the difficulty in conclusively proving there is zero risk from exposure to anything - the debate about health risks is likely to rumble on for a while yet.

silicon.com columnist Peter Cochrane has no such doubts. Writing in a blog post last year he points out: "Radio emissions are not at all like ionising X-rays that can blow cells apart. So, as adequately demonstrated by our overall survival and ability to live with electromagnetic radiation for almost 100 years, there isn't a real problem with wireless radiation anyway."

Click here to read more of Cochrane's views on electromagnetic health risks.