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

The request was successful.

Gavin Boyd         30 August 2018
Doing business as Chief Executive
The Education Authority (NI)
40 Academy Street
Belfast

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?

Gavin Boyd

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 risks to children’s health, including cancer”.

If you, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, confirm that there are no such documents, please answer: "The Education Authority 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".

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

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, Gavin Boyd, acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, 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 Education Authority.”  

The health, safety and wellbeing of all the children and staff within grant aided schools is of paramount importance to us all.  As this request addresses the health, safety and wellbeing of all children and staff within grant aided schools and is in the public interest, I would ask that you undertake to answer these questions with the utmost urgency and please respond as soon as possible.
   
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

Aileen Donnelly, Education Authority, Northern Ireland

Dear Amy

I acknowledge receipt of your information request below ref FOI2210.

Your request is currently receiving attention and I will be in touch again as soon as possible, within the 20 working days required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Kind regards

Aileen Donnelly | Assistant Corporate Information Officer
 
Corporate Information | 1 Hospital Road | Omagh | BT79 0AW | : 028 8241 1523 | f: 028 8241 1273 | e: [email address]  | www.eani.org.uk
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06 October 2018 
Gavin Boyd 
Doing business as Chief Executive 
The Education Authority (NI) 
40 Academy Street 
Belfast [BT1 2NQ]

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

NOTICE OF FAILURE PROVIDE INFORMATION

Gavin Boyd, 

I hereby give notice that you, Gavin Boyd, as the living man and acting as Chief Executive of the Education Authority, have failed to respond to my Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request and provide the requested information. 

You are now in breach of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and your duty “to confirm or deny”, as outlined in Part I ‘Right to Information’ Section I of the Act. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...
  
My Freedom of Information request’s twenty-day (20) day deadline ended on Thursday 27 September 2018.

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.” 

If you do not intend to provide this information, please provide your reasons.

Please number your responses and clearly respond to each question in turn, 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

Aileen Donnelly, Education Authority, Northern Ireland

Dear Amy

Thank you for your email. I apologise for the delay in your response being issued. The Information Governance team is processing a large number of information requests. Your request is currently receiving attention and I will have your response issued to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Aileen Donnelly | Assistant Corporate Information Officer
 
Corporate Information | 1 Hospital Road | Omagh | BT79 0AW | : 028 8241 1523 | f: 028 8241 1273 | e: [email address]  | www.eani.org.uk
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Barry McAleer, Education Authority, Northern Ireland

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Harron

Thank you for your information request. Please find attached response from the EA. I apologise for the delay in your response being issued.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this response or the handling of your request you have the right to appeal it by writing directly to the EA Head of Communications at the address below, within two calendar months of the date of this response.

EA Head of Communications
40 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2NQ

In the event that you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to complain further to the Information Commissioner’s Office at the address below:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Kind regards
Barry

Barry McAleer
Information Governace | Education Authority Omagh Office | 1 Hospital Road | Omagh | BT79 0AW | : 028 8241 1533 | f: 028 8241 1273 | e: [email address] | www.eani.org.uk
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