First it was electricity which was thought hazardous - and not the risk
of electrocution.
The it was overhead powerlines supposedly causing depression - or cancer
Then it was fluorescent lamps supposedly causing similar issues
Then it was CRT screens and the flyback transformer supposedly causing
various hazards
Then it was mobile phones supposedly frying brains
Now it's WiFi.
The former National Radiological Protection Board (now part of the
Health Protection Agency - HPA)
http://www.hpa.org.uk/HPA/ProductsServices/Radiation/NonIonisingRadiatio
nServices/
has looked at this 'non-ionising radiation' for many, many years (more
than the span of my career), and come to no proveable conclusion except
in limited special circumstances.
ICT issues such as musculo-skeletal problems (inc thumb problems from
SMS texting...), dry eyes or eyestrain seem to have been demonstrable,
but RF?
Basically, don't stand in front of a powerful radar transmitter or
you'll end up cooked as if you've been inside a microwave - but other
than that?
JU
John Usher
ICT Manager
Library and Heritage Services
Islington Council
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
Tel: 020 7527 6920
Mobile: 07825 098 223
Fax: 020 7527 6926
Alternative contact: Michelle Gannon - 020 7527 6907
www.islington.gov.uk
How to get to Central Library:
http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/Local/Central.asp
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jane Mathieson
Sent: 16 September 2009 15:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LIS-PUB-LIBS] WiFi and risk to children
I have just attended a seminar in Helsinki about library service
development for the future (10-12 Sept). The seminar was attended by a
small number of representatives from UK, France and Spain as well as
Finland. During a presentation about Digital developments in the library
of the Pompidou Centre, Paris, a speaker said that the staff there had
resisited the introduction of Wi-Fi on health grounds. Representatives
from the 3 other countries were all surprised by this and certainly the
presentations from Spain and Finland were of well-developed digital
services, all reliant on Wi-Fi.
Jane Mathieson
Regional Reader Development Co-ordinator Time To Read c/o Central
Library St Peter's Square Manchester
M2 5PD
0161 236 4451
07879496373
http://www.time-to-read.co.uk
Currently promoting NOW that's what I call READING on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/c7aslh
"Cooke, Catherine" <[log in to unmask]> Sent by: "lis-pub-libs:
UK Public Libraries" <[log in to unmask]>
16/09/2009 14:16
Please respond to
"Cooke, Catherine" <[log in to unmask]>
To
[log in to unmask]
cc
Subject
WiFi and risk to children
There has been some debate on the safety of public WiFi in schools
sparked off by a BBC Panorama programme on dangers to children from a
range of devices including mobile phones and WiFi. There does not seem
to have been any official health survey or advice on this but some
schools in the UK and abroad have stopped public WiFi.
We would be interested to hear from anyone who has come across this, has
any views or, indeed, has taken any action as a result.
Many thanks,
Catherine
Catherine Cooke
Projects and Development Co-ordinator
Westminster Libraries
Tel.: 020 7641 1206
Fax: 020 7641 1019
E-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Check out our online film http://www.westminster.gov.uk/librariesfilm
<http://www.westminster.gov.uk/librariesfilm>
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