Zeno Swijtink
04-13-2008, 10:48 AM
This article may draw some more researchers into this discussion - Zeno
***
Making waves in Sebastopol
By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
April 13, 2008
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/front_photos/mich.jpg
In a city the size of Sebastopol, it's not surprising Dane Jasper and Sandi Maurer crossed paths outside Whole Foods, or that an impromptu debate erupted about the health effects of wireless Internet.
The surprising part is the amount of attention their ongoing disagreement has attracted from people around the world.
Sebastopol's City Council made international news last month after rescinding an agreement to allow Jasper's company, Sonic.net, to install free Wi-Fi in the town. The city cited health concerns raised by Maurer, who says she suffers from a condition called electromagnetic sensitivity. She and others believe invisible microwaves coursing through the air make people sick.
The high-tech rebuff turned up in the pages of the New York Times, newspapers in Europe and blogs read across the world.
For many, life without wireless communication would be unimaginable, a denial of the ever-present connections that travel along radio frequencies to cell phones, BlackBerrys and laptops. But the universal presence of wireless devices has carried with it a nagging concern, leaving many wondering about long-term health effects.
Sebastopol took a symbolic stand on the side of caution, even as the city -- just like every other city in Sonoma County -- is surrounded by man-made waves of electromagnetic energy.
Critics of the decision say the City Council should not have put itself in the position of dismissing a preponderance of international standards that have deemed Wi-Fi equipment safe.
And they question how denying residents free Wi-Fi is going to significantly reduce the amount of radio frequency radiation already emitted by TV and radio stations, cell phones and about 250 private Wi-Fi networks already in Sebastopol.
"It outraged me when I heard about it," said Jeff Mich, an Analy High School student, who like many of his peers uses wireless Internet every day. "The World Health Organization says there is no convincing scientific evidence of adverse health effects."
He is part of an online network that has collected more than 1,000 signatures calling on the City Council to reapprove its contract with Sonic.net. Organizers of the petition expect more than 50 people to attend Tuesday's City Council meeting in support of free Wi-Fi. However the issue is not on the agenda, and no action can be taken.
On the other side of the debate is a small but vocal group of Sonoma County residents who believe radiation emitted by TVs, cell phones, Wi-Fi and other devices is causing illnesses ranging from depression to cancer.
Their efforts have included stopping the deployment of free Wi-Fi in Sebastopol and collecting signatures to restrict a cell phone tower near Camp Meeker. Jeff Fawcett, who cohosts a one-hour health program that is broadcast by KPFA radio every Tuesday, has been involved in both efforts.
"I'm not a Luddite," Fawcett said. "But given our experience with other technologies, such as pesticides, we should be very cautious about adopting these new technologies."
Fawcett and others emphasize a precautionary approach to deploying new technology. They want new inventions proved safe before being widely introduced.
However, critics point out that the radio station that broadcasts Faw-cett's program has an antenna located on Grizzly Peak above the UC Berkeley campus that pumps out far more electromagnetic radiation than Wi-Fi hubs.
KPFA's tower transmits about 59,000 watts at its source, and covers about one-third of the state, according to its Web site. In contrast, the Wi-Fi hubs that Sonic.net has proposed building would output about one-tenth of a watt from its source atop light poles.
The strength of both signals fades fast.
Still, the human body more easily absorbs radiation from the FM frequency than it does from microwaves. The reason is that FM waves are about twice as tall as humans, making bodies good receiving antennas. Microwaves are only a few inches tall, and are not readily absorbed by the human body, scientists say.
Many of today's safety standards were once considered unnecessary but are now commonly accepted for drugs, pesticides and household products. The question remains whether science will find compelling evidence that would tighten standards for wireless devices.
For people who support free Wi-Fi, it is the role of international scientists and not city councils to establish safety standards for new technology.
Robert Porter, a former SSU physics instructor who has a Ph.D. in electrophysiology, said the City Council erred in overruling the international safety standards set for Wi-Fi.
"Politicians shouldn't be making decisions about how to interpret the science," Porter said. "Scientists should determine what is safe."
The science
Electromagnetic radiation is everywhere -- both natural and manmade.
Visible light emanating from the sun is considered electromagnetic radiation. It allows photosynthesis to take place, and helps our bodies create Vitamin D. It also fuels solar panels. We live in constant radiation -- without it life would end.
The debate being raised by Maurer and others, such as the group Bioinitiative.org, is that excessive man-made radiation -- particularly from the radio frequency spectrum -- is doing damage to the human body.
Radio frequency radiation is created by antennas used to transmit radio and TV stations, and wireless data and phone calls. It includes radio waves and microwaves.
Both sides of the issue can point to scientific studies that show radio frequency radiation is either harmful, or safe, at current standards.
But the preponderance of evidence available now indicates that Wi-Fi is not dangerous, according to organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which sets safety standards for many nations including the United States.
But that does not satisfy the critics, especially those who identify themselves as being electromagnetically sensitive.
"More research is needed. That is the bottom line," Maurer said. "The health implications of increasing our exposure is unacceptable."
A study conducted in the United Kingdom found that 1 in 20 people claimed to suffer from electromagnetic sensitivity, with symptoms ranging from depression, fatigue, hair loss and a weakened immune system.
However, scientists question the source of their symptoms. The World Health Organization concluded there was no scientific evidence to link their symptoms to exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
The city council
By backing out of its contract with Sonic.net, the city can be held liable for any damage incurred by Sonic, said Bob Berring, a Berkeley law professor.
Jasper said he did not plan to file a lawsuit.
"We want to go where the city council and public want us," he said. "If they want to do it, I'm certainly still open to doing it. But I'm not going to take the stance they should or must do it."
Mayor Craig Litwin said he would consider working with Sonic.net if it meant the amount of Wi-Fi radiation in Sebastopol could be reduced.
That might happen if private residents cancel paid Internet accounts, shut off their Wi-Fi hubs, and take advantage of the free Internet.
"I would like to see that through providing free access there is a reduction in Wi-Fi exposure," Litwin said.
However, the city has not done a survey to determine how many wireless networks exist in the city and how much radiation they produce.
Litwin declined to comment on what would constitute a safe level of Wi-Fi radiation or if the FCC's guidelines were adequate.
"I'm not an expert," he said.
The generations
When Jasper and Maurer ran into each other at the entrance to Whole Foods last Sunday, it was in front of Mich and other Analy High School students who were gathering petition signatures in support of free Wi-Fi.
Maurer told the students they didn't need free Wi-Fi, Mich said.
"We might not exactly need it, but it is one of the main ways our generation communicates. And when that feels threatened, we get mad," Mich said. "We like to stay connected."
Even without free Wi-Fi, Mich could browse the Internet from his cell phone while sitting in front of Whole Foods.
And Jasper took a photo with his iPhone of Maurer posing with the Analy High School students and uploaded it via a wireless Internet connection.
Maurer knows she cannot eliminate radio frequency radiation -- her neighbor has a Wi-Fi network -- but she is working to reduce her exposure, she said.
After Maurer and Dane exchanged opposing ideas for a bit, they agreed to disagree. And then in a truly West County moment, Dane Jasper put his arms around Sandi Maurer, and the two steadfast opponents embraced in a hug.
You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or [email protected].
***
Making waves in Sebastopol
By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
April 13, 2008
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/front_photos/mich.jpg
In a city the size of Sebastopol, it's not surprising Dane Jasper and Sandi Maurer crossed paths outside Whole Foods, or that an impromptu debate erupted about the health effects of wireless Internet.
The surprising part is the amount of attention their ongoing disagreement has attracted from people around the world.
Sebastopol's City Council made international news last month after rescinding an agreement to allow Jasper's company, Sonic.net, to install free Wi-Fi in the town. The city cited health concerns raised by Maurer, who says she suffers from a condition called electromagnetic sensitivity. She and others believe invisible microwaves coursing through the air make people sick.
The high-tech rebuff turned up in the pages of the New York Times, newspapers in Europe and blogs read across the world.
For many, life without wireless communication would be unimaginable, a denial of the ever-present connections that travel along radio frequencies to cell phones, BlackBerrys and laptops. But the universal presence of wireless devices has carried with it a nagging concern, leaving many wondering about long-term health effects.
Sebastopol took a symbolic stand on the side of caution, even as the city -- just like every other city in Sonoma County -- is surrounded by man-made waves of electromagnetic energy.
Critics of the decision say the City Council should not have put itself in the position of dismissing a preponderance of international standards that have deemed Wi-Fi equipment safe.
And they question how denying residents free Wi-Fi is going to significantly reduce the amount of radio frequency radiation already emitted by TV and radio stations, cell phones and about 250 private Wi-Fi networks already in Sebastopol.
"It outraged me when I heard about it," said Jeff Mich, an Analy High School student, who like many of his peers uses wireless Internet every day. "The World Health Organization says there is no convincing scientific evidence of adverse health effects."
He is part of an online network that has collected more than 1,000 signatures calling on the City Council to reapprove its contract with Sonic.net. Organizers of the petition expect more than 50 people to attend Tuesday's City Council meeting in support of free Wi-Fi. However the issue is not on the agenda, and no action can be taken.
On the other side of the debate is a small but vocal group of Sonoma County residents who believe radiation emitted by TVs, cell phones, Wi-Fi and other devices is causing illnesses ranging from depression to cancer.
Their efforts have included stopping the deployment of free Wi-Fi in Sebastopol and collecting signatures to restrict a cell phone tower near Camp Meeker. Jeff Fawcett, who cohosts a one-hour health program that is broadcast by KPFA radio every Tuesday, has been involved in both efforts.
"I'm not a Luddite," Fawcett said. "But given our experience with other technologies, such as pesticides, we should be very cautious about adopting these new technologies."
Fawcett and others emphasize a precautionary approach to deploying new technology. They want new inventions proved safe before being widely introduced.
However, critics point out that the radio station that broadcasts Faw-cett's program has an antenna located on Grizzly Peak above the UC Berkeley campus that pumps out far more electromagnetic radiation than Wi-Fi hubs.
KPFA's tower transmits about 59,000 watts at its source, and covers about one-third of the state, according to its Web site. In contrast, the Wi-Fi hubs that Sonic.net has proposed building would output about one-tenth of a watt from its source atop light poles.
The strength of both signals fades fast.
Still, the human body more easily absorbs radiation from the FM frequency than it does from microwaves. The reason is that FM waves are about twice as tall as humans, making bodies good receiving antennas. Microwaves are only a few inches tall, and are not readily absorbed by the human body, scientists say.
Many of today's safety standards were once considered unnecessary but are now commonly accepted for drugs, pesticides and household products. The question remains whether science will find compelling evidence that would tighten standards for wireless devices.
For people who support free Wi-Fi, it is the role of international scientists and not city councils to establish safety standards for new technology.
Robert Porter, a former SSU physics instructor who has a Ph.D. in electrophysiology, said the City Council erred in overruling the international safety standards set for Wi-Fi.
"Politicians shouldn't be making decisions about how to interpret the science," Porter said. "Scientists should determine what is safe."
The science
Electromagnetic radiation is everywhere -- both natural and manmade.
Visible light emanating from the sun is considered electromagnetic radiation. It allows photosynthesis to take place, and helps our bodies create Vitamin D. It also fuels solar panels. We live in constant radiation -- without it life would end.
The debate being raised by Maurer and others, such as the group Bioinitiative.org, is that excessive man-made radiation -- particularly from the radio frequency spectrum -- is doing damage to the human body.
Radio frequency radiation is created by antennas used to transmit radio and TV stations, and wireless data and phone calls. It includes radio waves and microwaves.
Both sides of the issue can point to scientific studies that show radio frequency radiation is either harmful, or safe, at current standards.
But the preponderance of evidence available now indicates that Wi-Fi is not dangerous, according to organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which sets safety standards for many nations including the United States.
But that does not satisfy the critics, especially those who identify themselves as being electromagnetically sensitive.
"More research is needed. That is the bottom line," Maurer said. "The health implications of increasing our exposure is unacceptable."
A study conducted in the United Kingdom found that 1 in 20 people claimed to suffer from electromagnetic sensitivity, with symptoms ranging from depression, fatigue, hair loss and a weakened immune system.
However, scientists question the source of their symptoms. The World Health Organization concluded there was no scientific evidence to link their symptoms to exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
The city council
By backing out of its contract with Sonic.net, the city can be held liable for any damage incurred by Sonic, said Bob Berring, a Berkeley law professor.
Jasper said he did not plan to file a lawsuit.
"We want to go where the city council and public want us," he said. "If they want to do it, I'm certainly still open to doing it. But I'm not going to take the stance they should or must do it."
Mayor Craig Litwin said he would consider working with Sonic.net if it meant the amount of Wi-Fi radiation in Sebastopol could be reduced.
That might happen if private residents cancel paid Internet accounts, shut off their Wi-Fi hubs, and take advantage of the free Internet.
"I would like to see that through providing free access there is a reduction in Wi-Fi exposure," Litwin said.
However, the city has not done a survey to determine how many wireless networks exist in the city and how much radiation they produce.
Litwin declined to comment on what would constitute a safe level of Wi-Fi radiation or if the FCC's guidelines were adequate.
"I'm not an expert," he said.
The generations
When Jasper and Maurer ran into each other at the entrance to Whole Foods last Sunday, it was in front of Mich and other Analy High School students who were gathering petition signatures in support of free Wi-Fi.
Maurer told the students they didn't need free Wi-Fi, Mich said.
"We might not exactly need it, but it is one of the main ways our generation communicates. And when that feels threatened, we get mad," Mich said. "We like to stay connected."
Even without free Wi-Fi, Mich could browse the Internet from his cell phone while sitting in front of Whole Foods.
And Jasper took a photo with his iPhone of Maurer posing with the Analy High School students and uploaded it via a wireless Internet connection.
Maurer knows she cannot eliminate radio frequency radiation -- her neighbor has a Wi-Fi network -- but she is working to reduce her exposure, she said.
After Maurer and Dane exchanged opposing ideas for a bit, they agreed to disagree. And then in a truly West County moment, Dane Jasper put his arms around Sandi Maurer, and the two steadfast opponents embraced in a hug.
You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or [email protected].