Techies split over wi-fi health fears

When it comes to wi-fi, silicon.com readers are divided over whether they should be concerned about potential health risks, according to our latest exclusive poll.

Readers were asked whether they are worried about the health implications of the increasing use of wi-fi and 41 per cent admitted they have concerns about the tech.

But 59 per cent said they're not worried at all, meaning people are pretty much split over the issue.

Concerns about the health implications of wi-fi surfaced this week following a BBC Panorama investigation into wireless networks in schools.

The silicon.com A to Z of wireless

Click on the links below to find out more on each of the entries in the list.

A is for Antivirus
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H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
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O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee

The programme visited a school in Norwich where levels of radiation from the classroom wi-fi were measured.

The radio frequency radiation levels were up to three times the level transmitted from the main beam of a mobile phone mast, according to the programme.

Panorama went on to claim children are more susceptible to absorbing radiation as they have thinner skulls than adults.

But the levels recorded were well below government limits and there has been little scientific evidence supporting the argument that wi-fi can be harmful.

The issue will remain a talking point with wireless networks continuing to spread across cities and rural areas.

Companies such as The Cloud are rolling out citywide wireless networks, while a number of local authorities are working with BT on the telco's Wireless Cities programme.