Reykjavik Appeal on Wireless Technology in Schools

Reykjavik Appeal on Wireless Technology in Schools 

Dr. Leszczynski presenting on children and wireless
in Iceland February 2017 where this Appeal was presented. 

We, the signers, are concerned about our children's health and development in schools with wireless technology for teaching. A vast amount of scientific studies have shown considerable medical risks with long-term exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation (RFR) from wireless devices and networks well below the recommended reference levels from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). We ask the authorities to take their responsibility for our children's future health and wellbeing.

In May 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at WHO classified RFR as a Group 2B carcinogen, i.e., ‘possibly’ carcinogenic to humans. Since then more scientific studies on exposure to RFR in humans, animals and biological material have strengthened the association of an increased risk for cancer, especially brain tumors. Several laboratory studies have shown mechanistic effects in carcinogenesis such as oxidative stress, down regulation of mRNA and DNA damage with single strand breaks. The IARC cancer classification includes all sources of RFR. The exposure from mobile phone base stations, WiFi access points, smart phones, laptops and tablets can be long-term, sometimes around the clock, both at home and at school. For children this risk may be accentuated because of a cumulative effect during a long lifetime use. Developing and immature cells can also be more sensitive to exposure to RFR.

No safe level of this radiation has been determined by any health agency and therefore we have no safety assurances.

Besides the cancer risk, RFR may also affect the blood-brain barrier to open and let toxic molecules into the brain, hurt neurons in hippocampus (the brain centre for memory), down or up regulate essential proteins in the brain engaged in the brain's metabolism, stress response and neuro-protection and affect neurotransmitters. Sperms exposed to Wi-Fi have been seen with more head defects and DNA damage. RFR can increase oxidative stress in cells and lead to increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lower capacity to repair DNA single and double strand breaks.

Dr. Morris of Environmental Health Trust presenting at Conference

Cognitive impairments in learning and memory have also been shown. Results from the OECD's PISA performance surveys in reading and mathematics show decreasing results in countries that have invested most in introducing computers in school. Multitasking, too many hours in front of a screen, less time for social contacts and physical activities with risk for aches in neck and back, overweight, sleep problems, and information technology (IT)- addiction are some of the known risks and side effects of IT. They stand in marked contrast to the often claimed, but largely unproven possible benefits. We ask the school authorities in all countries to acquire knowledge about the potential risks of RFR for growing and developing children. Supporting wired educational technologies is a safer solution than potentially hazardous exposures from wireless radiation.

We ask you to follow the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle and Council of Europe Resolution 1815 to take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to RFR.

Practical rules for schools concerning children and wireless technology. 
 No wireless networks in preschool, kindergarten and schools.
 A hard wired direct cable connection is recommended to each classroom for the teacher to use during lessons.
 Prefer wired telephones for personnel in preschool, kindergarten and schools.
 Prefer cabled connection to Internet and printers in schools and turn off Wi-Fi settings in all equipment
 Prefer laptops and tablets that can be connected by cable to Internet.
 Students should not be allowed to use cell phones in schools. They can either leave them at home or the teacher collects them in turned off mode before first lesson in the morning.

Children, Screen time and Wireless Radiation – International Conference Reykjavik February 24, 2017

Signed by 
Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
Tarmo Koppel, PhD candidate Department of Labour Environment and Safety Tallinn University of Technology, SCO351 Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Lena Hedendahl, MD, Sweden Johan Wilhelmson, MD, Sweden
Michael Carlberg MSc, Sweden Mona Nilsson, Chairman Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, Sweden
Rainer Nyberg, EdD, Professor emeritus, Finland
Franz Adlkofer, Professor, Germany
Peter Ohnsorge, Dr Med, Germany
Peter Hensinger, M.A., diagnose:funk, German consumer-rights organization
David Carpenter, MD, Professor, USA James Huff, PhD, USA
Cindy Sage, MA, Sage Associates, Co-Editor, BioInitiative Reports, USA

Click here to see the 133 signers from 24 countries 
Download the Appeal Here with References

Students in Peel School District Raising Awareness on Wireless Health Risks

Please watch this interview with two eleventh graders sharing their work with their youth organization in raising awareness about the health risks of wireless radiation.

Maryland State Superintendents Oppose Bill Protecting Children

All 24 public school superintendents in the state of Maryland, including oMontgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack R. Smith, are opposed to legislation to protect children from computer vision syndrome and other consequences of unrestricted screen time in public schools.   
See this document obtained by the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County. 

This document curiously focuses on the radiation issues, rather than the myriad of other health issues related to screen use such as ergonomics, addiction, eye health and the lack of educational benefit.

HB 866 Health & Safety Digital Devices - W&M 2-24 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

Maryland Department of Health States no Health Guidelines Exist for Digital Device Use in Schools.

Maryland Department of Health Writes Letter to Maryland Congress stating that there are no health and safety guidelines on digital device use. This counters statements by MCPS about how State and Federal laws already protect children.
2017 Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd



The Montgomery County Board of Education is opposed to legislation that would authorize the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop safety guidelines for the use of computer screens in public school classrooms. 

The Montgomery County Board of Education "thinks" that the federal government has already regulated the use of computer screens in classrooms.  If such regulations exist, they apparently permit unlimited screen time for students of all ages while in school.  See below. 

Queensland Department of Education Informs Students To Keep Laptops and Digital Devices OFF Their Lap

Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment has issued Your Guide to Safe Technology guide in 2015 to all schools that states:

It’s not only physical hazards you need to consider when thinking about health and safety issues at work or home — you should also think about how you use technology. When using a computer, you need to think about:

• ergonomics and posture
• radiation
• vision impacts
• harmful lack of exercise (DVT).

“Wireless devices — smart/mobile phones, tablets, slates, monitors etc — all emit low levels of electromagnetic radiation and should be used correctly. When using electronic devices, the department recommends you follow WiFi/3G/4G best practice:

• follow the manufacturer’s usage guideline operate from a table or bench — not on your lap  
• use ‘hands-free’ devices to keep smart/mobile phones away from your head and body during phone calls  limit the number and length of calls  
• position the device antenna away from your body  
• do not sit within 0.5 m of a wireless router  use smart/mobile phone in areas of good reception to reduce exposure.”
• Watch a video on these recommendations here.
  
  
  
  

One Smart Montgomery County Elementary School is Reducing Wireless Exposure with Chrome Book Policy

A MCPS Elementary School Chromebook Guideline states that "the Chromebook should be kept on a hard surface, not your lap".  These are instructions to children at one smart Montgomery County Maryland Public School Elementary School.

Are all Montgomery County Schools advising students and staff to keep Chromebooks on the lap?

Baltimore County Public Schools needs to be sharing this Montgomery County information with it's students. See below this video of Baltimore County students with wireless digital devices on their lap.  Why is Baltimore County allowing such hazardous use of these devices. 

Laptops emit radiation. Keep them off laps. 

Use a wired- not wireless- internet connection for safety.

Cyprus Removes Wi-Fi from Kindergartens and Halts Wireless Deployment Into Public Elementary Schools

Cyprus Minister of Education issues new Decree to minimize wireless radiation exposure to children in schools and require parental consent.

Online Press Release from Environmental Health Trust 

Breaking: The Cyprus Minister of Education and Culture issued a Decree on January 31, 2017, marked “urgent” to all Directors of Kindergartens and Primary Schools, with specific measures to eliminate and minimize wireless radiation exposure to children in schools. 
“We have taken the decision to have the wireless network Wi-Fi disabled in all Public kindergartens in Cyprus,” reads the Decree. Wireless is to be removed from all Cyprus kindergartens, and wireless installations have been halted in elementary schools and limited to administrative offices.

“The Ministry of Education does not intend to proceed with the installation of wireless points and Wi-Fi access classrooms in elementary schools.”

The Decree reminds teachers that wired internet is already available in all classrooms if the internet is needed for educational purposes. Wireless is only to be used, if needed, in the administrative areas of elementary schools, and wireless is not to be used in the classrooms.  

However, if the use of Wi-Fi is deemed necessary for a specific educational program, the Decree stipulates that, “necessary measures to protect children should be taken, and wireless access points should remain inactive when not in use for teaching purposes.” Furthermore, “the consent of parents should be ensured in advance.” The Decree instructs the School Directors to assure parental consent and send a letter to the parents of children who will participate in programs involving wireless technology - informing the parents of the reason and duration of Wi-Fi usage.           

                                                                                      

Alongside their other campaigns about tobacco smoke and toxic chemicals, The Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Child Health initiated a nationwide campaign several years ago to raise awareness about cell phone and wireless radiation exposures to children. The multimedia public awareness campaign was lauded at an international conference on Wireless and Health held at the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at Hebrew University in January of 2017, and organized in cooperation with the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Environmental Health Trust (EHT).

Dr. Stella Michaelidou, President of the National Committee on Environment and Child Health shared public service video announcements and brochures about children and pregnancy at the conference. “This Committee has developed tools that are a model for other countries to follow,” stated Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, of the Environmental Health Trust at the conference.

Several countries already have health policies in place to reduce school children's exposure to wireless. Cypress now joins France, Ghent in Belgium, and Israel in banning wireless in kindergarten classrooms and enacting strong measures to minimize wireless exposures in elementary schools. France passed comprehensive new legislation in 2015 and has developed tools to inform the public about how to reduce exposure, similar to the efforts underway in  Cyprus. Canada’s Standing Committee on Health of the House of Commons also issued a report recommending a public education campaign.

In the United States, the Maryland State Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council recently issued a Report advising the Department of Education to recommend all school districts in the State of Maryland install wired—rather than wireless—internet connections for classrooms. This action represents the first action of a state advisory body to issue guidance on wireless exposures. In Massachusetts and Oregon, several Bills have been proposed to address the health issues posed by electromagnetic radiation in schools and raised by consumers, researchers and medical professionals as concerns about school wireless exposures gains momentum in the United States.

From Environmental Health Trust

LINKS

Decree from the Cyprus Minister of Culture and Education

http://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Egkyklios-Jan-17.pdf

National Committee on Environment and Children's Health of Cyprus

http://www.cyprus-child-environment.org/easyconsole.cfm/id/12/lang/en

Maryland State Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council Recommendations

Local/State/National and International Policy action on Wireless and Children