When it comes to wireless radiation and its impact on the health of our children, the advice from experts is becoming more and more clear.

Our children are constantly surrounded by electromagnetic pollution with schools being one of the the largest sources of exposure. Wi-Fi in schools is now the rule and many schools are even issuing wireless devices to their students for schoolwork. Worse, it is becoming common for schools to allow wireless carriers to install cellular towers on their property because they increasingly need the extra revenue.

Our main purpose is to raise awareness to the unique risks that wireless radiation poses, particularly to children. But what do other experts and national organizations have to say about this?

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)

The AAEM is an international organization of medical doctors that specialize in environmental medicine. Their mission is

to promote optimal health through prevention, and safe and effective treatment of the causes of illness by supporting physicians and other professionals in serving the public through education about the interaction between humans and their environment.

In November of 2013 they came out strongly against wireless radiation in schools, stating that they encourage schools to use wired connections and avoid Wi-Fi, ceullular and mobile phones and towers, and ‘smart meters’. Their letter, titled Wireless Radiofrequency Radiation in School, further states:

The peer reviewed, scientific literature demonstrates the correlation between RF exposure and neurological, cardiac, and pulmonary disease as well as reproductive and developmental disorders, immune dysfunction, cancer and other health conditions. The evidence is irrefutable. Despite this research, claims have been made that studies correlating emissions from WiFi, phones, smart meters, etc. with adverse health effects do not exist.

There is consistent, emerging science that shows people, especially children who are more vulnerable due to developing brains and thinner skulls, are being affected by the increasing exposure to wireless radiation.

With WiFi in public facilities as well as schools, children would be exposed to WiFi for unprecedented periods of time, for their entire childhood. Some of these signals will be much more powerful than would be received at home, due to the need for the signals to go through thick walls and to serve many computers simultaneously. Signals in institutions are dozens of times more powerful than café and restaurant systems

Their position could not be more clear. Wireless radiation is harmful to children and schools should never expose them to it.

The Council of Europe

In May of 2011, the European Parliament adopted Resolution 1815 on the potential dangers of electromagnetic fields. They stressed that electromagnetic radiation was the most common and fastest growing environmental influence, and that all populations are exposed to increasing levels as the technology advances.
In relation to children specifically, the Assembly recommended to member countries the following:

Take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours.

Specifically concerning the protection of children:

Develop within different ministries (education, environment, and health) targeted information campaigns aimed at teachers, parents, and children to alert them to the specific risks of early, ill-considered and prolonged use of mobiles and other devices emitting microwaves.

For children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school premises.

France & Other European Countries

France has led the way in wireless radiation safety, especially precautions for children. In 2015, a national law was passed that banned Wi-Fi from nurseries, limited Wi-Fi in schools, and further protected children with laws on mobile phone advertisement and requirements to provide headsets and other radiation protection.

In 2013 the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety also recommended guidelines for reducing EMF exposure, highlighting the risks to children:

However, limited levels of evidence do point to different biological effects in humans or animals. In addition, some publications suggest a possible increased risk of brain tumour, over the long term, for heavy users of mobile phones. Given this information, and against a background of rapid development of technologies and practices, ANSES recommends limiting the population’s exposure to radiofrequencies – in particular from mobile phones – especially for children and intensive users…

A number of other European countries have issued similar guidance, urging the precautionary principle in regard to children, banning the advertising of mobiles, and pushing schools to limit the use of Wi-Fi.

Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP)

The country taking the highest level of action to protect their population from wireless radiation is Russia. Instead of the precautionary principle based on uncertain evidence, Russian researchers are clear in their assertion that wireless radiation is dangerous. From the most recent 2018 RNCNIRP publication on EMF RF standards:

According to the opinion of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, the following health hazards are likely to be faced by the children mobile phone users in the nearest future: disruption of memory, decline of attention, diminishing learning and cognitive abilities, increased irritability, sleep problems, increase in sensitivity to the stress, increased epileptic readiness.

Expected (possible) remote health risks: brain tumors, tumors of acoustical and vestibular nerves (in the age of 25-30 years), Alzheimer’s disease, “got dementia”, depressive syndrome, and the other types of degeneration of the nervous structures of the brain (in the age of 50 to 60).

The members of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection emphasize ultimate urgency to defend children’s health from the influence of the EMF from mobile communication systems.

The children using mobile communication are not able to realize that they subject their brain to the EMF radiation and their health – to the risk.

Необходимо обратить Ваше внимание на очень важное положение: It is impossible to use data obtained on adults for children.

Additional statements from the RNCNIRP further demonstrate their position on the dangers of exposing children to wireless radiation:

The Russian Federation advises that those under the age of 18 should not use a mobile phone at all; recommends low-emission phones; and requires the following: on-device labelling notifying users that it is a source of RF-EMF, user guide information advising that ‘it is a source of harmful RF-EMF exposure,’ and the inclusion of courses in schools regarding mobile phones use and RF-EMF exposure issues. The advisory committee has issued strong research-based warnings about anticipated short- and long-term health implications from not doing so.

Conclusion

There are many more governmental and non-profit organizations making the same claims and warnings. The evidence continues to mount, but the proof that children are susceptible to wireless radiation is indisputable. More people need to take up the cause to prevent school’s from using Wi-Fi and mounting cell-towers on their grounds. Wireless devices that are marketed to children are even worse.