Wi-Fi in Schools - What are the known safe levels of exposure for children?

Mae'r ymateb i'r cais hwn yn hwyr iawn. Yn ôl y gyfraith, ym mhob amgylchiad, dylai Department of Health (Northern Ireland) fod wedi ymateb erbyn hyn. (manylion). Gallwch gwyno drwy yn gofyn am adolygiad mewnol.

Richard Pengelly
Doing business as the Permanent Secretary 
Department of Health
C5.20
Castle Buildings, Stormont
Belfast

30 August 2018

NOTICE TO THE PRINCIPAL IS NOTICE TO THE AGENT; NOTICE TO THE AGENT IS NOTICE TO THE PRINCIPAL

Wi-Fi in Schools - What are the known safe levels of exposure for children?

Richard Pengelly

NOTICE OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST 

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified wireless radiation (RF/EMF) as a Group 2B ‘Possible Human Carcinogen’ from 2011 onwards, based on scientific evidence that linked wireless exposure with increased risks of brain or head tumours, damage to DNA and other types of genotoxicity, increased oxidative stress and evidence from animal studies.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) IARC 2B ‘Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans’ classification includes wireless RF/EMF radiation from any transmitting source in the range of 30 KHz to 300 GHz emitted from any device. This includes mobile phones, tablet computers/iPads, Wi-Fi devices, etc. https://ehtrust.org/science/whoiarc-posi...

The 2013 World Health Organisation’s IARC published their full report or monograph ‘The evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans’. Vol 102 outlines that children absorb wireless (RF/EMF) radiation deeper into their bodies than adults and also states that the classification includes exposure to all radiofrequency radiation [RF] and not just mobile phones, pages 34 & 33 of http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs....

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [UK] is a member state and also participates in the Governing Council of the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. The UK was also a founding member of the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1965. https://www.iarc.fr/en/about/membership....

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, you are requested to provide the following:

1.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, or any other form of evidence in which it is stated that “Wi-Fi exposure is safe and poses no risk to children’s health, including cancer”.

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of The Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents, please answer: “The Department of Health do not hold any documents, written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, or any other form of evidence stating that Wi-Fi exposure is safe and poses no risk to children’s health, including cancer".

2. All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 0-4 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children aged 0-4 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

3.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 4-11 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children aged 4-11 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

4.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 12-18 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children aged 12-18 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

5.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 0-4 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 0-4 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

6.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 4-11 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 4-11 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

7.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 12-18 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents please answer: “No known safe levels of exposure to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi, for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 12-18 years are held by the Department of Health.”  

Please number your responses. This Notice will be used in evidence.

I require written receipt of this Freedom of Information Request.

Sincerely and without ill will, vexation or frivolity,

by Amy Harron

Cc: To All Whom It May Concern

DoH PHD Admin, Department of Health (Northern Ireland)

2 Atodiad

Dear Ms Harron,

 

Please find attached response to your Freedom of Information request.

 

Kind regards

PHD Admin

 

 

 

Richard Pengelly 6 October 2018

Doing business as the Permanent Secretary  

Department of Health 

C5.20 

Castle Buildings, Stormont 

Belfast

NOTICE TO THE PRINCIPAL IS NOTICE TO THE AGENT; NOTICE TO THE AGENT IS NOTICE TO THE PRINCIPAL 

NOTICE OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION

Richard Pengelly, 

I hereby give notice that you, Richard Pengelly, as the living man and acting as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, have failed to respond to my Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request and provide the requested information. 

I have received correspondence from Lynsey Lauder, Population Health Directorate, alleging to be a response to my 30 August 2018 request.  Lynsey Lauder has failed to provide me with the information I requested.

Lynsey Lauder wrote, “The Department of Health does not hold any information containing the statement included in your request.” 

It is your duty “to confirm or deny” each individual item requested. This is outlined in Part I ‘Right to Information’ Section I of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...
  
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you were requested to provide responses to the following seven (7) items:

“1.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, or any other form of evidence in which it is stated that “Wi-Fi exposure is safe and poses no risks to children’s health, including cancer”.

2. All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 0-4 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

3.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 4-11 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

4.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children aged 12-18 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

5.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 0-4 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

6.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 4-11 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi. 

7.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, etc. in which it is stated the known safe level of exposure for children with Down’s Syndrome aged 12-18 years to wireless RF/EMF radiation, including Wi-Fi.” 

Please number your responses and clearly respond to each question in turn and in the format requested (questions 1-7).

For example:

1.  All documents written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, or any other form of evidence in which it is stated that “Wi-Fi exposure is safe and poses no risks to children’s health, including cancer”.

If you, Richard Pengelly, acting as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, confirm that there are no such documents, please answer: "The Department of Health do not hold any documents, written or electronic, scientific studies or reports, World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs and classifications, or any other form of evidence stating that that Wi-Fi exposure is safe and poses no risks to children’s health, including cancer".

If you do not intend to provide this information in the requested format, please provide your reasons.

Please number your responses 1 through 7.

You have seventy-two (72) hours to respond from receipt of this notice.

Implied admission by absence of response.

This correspondence will be used in evidence.

Sincerely and without ill will, vexation or frivolity

By Amy Harron
All rights reserved

cc To All Whom it May Concern

Burns, Jeff, Department of Health (Northern Ireland)

1 Atodiad

  • Attachment

    Request for Information Environmental Information Regulations EIR 2004 Reference Number EIRDOH2018 01.DOCX.docx

    216K Download View as HTML

Ms Harron

Please see attached acknowledgement letter

Regards

Jeff Burns
Information Management Branch
Department of Health (NI)

dangos adrannau a ddyfynnir