Queenstown community to hear wifi concerns
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Computers in classrooms are great but what are the possible health effects for children?
Nelson lawyer Sue Grey will speak in Queenstown on the possible health effects of the widespread use of technology, including wifi, in our community.
She was invited by a small group of concerned Queenstown parents, spokeswoman Lucy Emerson said.
"With Wi-Fi being almost everywhere and being used by children from an increasingly early age...there is a need for public awareness about what we are using and how we are using it."
Penny Wardle
Lawyer Sue Grey of Nelson will speak in Queenstown on raising awareness around the health effects of technology including cell phones and wifi.
Grey has a background in science, environmental management and environmental and public rights law and became involved in radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF EMR) issues in 2008 when a 22m cell tower was proposed 5m from the sandpit at the playcentre her children attended.
Since then she has developed expertise on related topics including cellphones, encouraging safer use of technology in schools and raising public awareness over the effects of RF EMR.
The main problem in New Zealand was that the current NZ Standard, which dictated the Government's approach to these type of radiation issues protected only against the "heating" effects of RF EMR such as instant death, burns and electric shocks, she said.
"It offers no protection for the longer term 'biological effects' on our cells, cell membranes, DNA and stress and other hormones."
In May 2011 the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classed RF EMR as a possible carcinogen. Many European states have imposed restrictions or issued warnings around the use of wifi use in schools, libraries and other public places.
It had also been shown about three to 10 percent of the population were electrosensitive and suffered allergic type reactions to various frequencies of RF EMR causing headaches, irregular heartbeat, nosebleeds, difficulty concentrating, memory loss and a sense of confusion and a foggy brain, she says.
Safer ways of using RF EMR including limiting the use of cellphones or using the speaker/headphone so it is away from the head, use a hardwired phone instead of cordless, reject smart meters, use hard wired ethernet instead of wifi whenever possible and turning phones and computers to "flight mode" with wireless off except when it is needed, she said.
The MInistry of Health advises that wifi signals won't harm your health and wifi in schools does not pose a health risk to children or staff.
- Grey speaks at Queenstown Memorial Centre from 7pm on November 3. Entry is $5, cash only.
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