Leader: Why we must know more about wi-fi

While technology has been making its way deeper and deeper into the UK's classrooms, not everyone is happy about the transformation.

This week the Professional Association of Teachers will write to the Education Secretary Alan Johnson to request further research into the effects of wi-fi networks in schools and other educational facilities, fearing wireless could prove harmful to the nation's schoolchildren.

The request for tougher scrutiny comes after one teacher, Michael Bevington, reported side-effects including nausea and headaches when his school installed wi-fi.

Thus far the evidence that wi-fi poses any health risks is anecdotal at best but it hasn't stopped calls for the wireless tech to be put under the spotlight. Like mobile phone connectivity before it, the sudden uptake in wi-fi usage across the country has prompted users to question if we really do know enough about it.

Those who defend wi-fi point out that the levels of radiation that such networks give out are far lower than mobile phone networks, now ubiquitous across the country, and several scientific studies have shown that mobile phone networks are not injurious to public health.

The Health Protection Agency is also standing back from pronouncing wi-fi technology a risk.

For businesses and road warriors, many of whom have been using the technology for years, the reaction to teachers' fears will be a shrugging of the shoulders.

Here, mobile phones are once again a precedent: while the jury remains out on the question of health, dedicated users are unwilling to believe any negative press and just as unwilling to go without their connectivity while it's all worked out.

Wireless networks will only proliferate as time goes on. Today we see the launch of a wi-fi cloud across the City of London and in recent months we have seen deployments of WiMax - similar to a high powered wi-fi. So it's important to tackle the spectre of wi-fi health risks now.

Whether you believe wi-fi or mobiles present a health threat or not, who would argue it isn't wise to fund further research into the possibility? Everyone including the sceptics will win out if minds can be laid to rest on the subject.