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

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland did not have the information requested.

Keith Morrison   30 August 2018 
Doing business as Chief Executive Officer
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
83 Ladas Drive
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?

Keith Morrison

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, confirm that there are no such documents, please answer: “The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland 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 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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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, Keith Morrison, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, 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 Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.”  

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

DfE HSENI FOI, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

 

Dear Amy,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

 

Reference: FOI/146/2018

 

I refer to your recent request (30 August 2018) where you asked HSENI
various questions under the above named Act.

 

We are currently working on your request and will be in touch with you
once our response is complete.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please email [1][HSENI request email]
quoting the reference FOI/146/2018 in any communications. 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Laura Donnelly

Information Management Unit

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[HSENI request email]

DfE HSENI FOI, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

Dear Amy Harron,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) ACT 2000 / ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
REGULATIONS 2004

 

I refer to your email request, dated 30 August 2018, to the Health and
Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) in relation to Wi-Fi in
schools.

 

Citing the above legislation you asked HSENI to provide you with 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”

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

 

Following a search of HSENI’s paper and electronic records I can advise
that HSENI does not hold any information falling within the scope of your
request (questions 1-7 above).

 

Although HSENI does not hold information such as scientific studies or
reports within the scope of your specific request the following link to
HSENI’s website topic page may be of interest to you:

 

·         Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) HSENI webpage -
[1]https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/electr...

I trust this is of some assistance however if you are dissatisfied with
the way in which HSENI has handled your request, please go to the HSENI
website at the following link which outlines the options available to you:

 

·         [2]https://www.hseni.gov.uk/information-acc...

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

R Hall
Information Management Unit

[3][IMG] [4][IMG]
[5][IMG]

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/electr...
2. https://www.hseni.gov.uk/information-acc...
3. http://www.hseni.gov.uk/
4. https://www.facebook.com/hseni.gov.uk
5. https://twitter.com/Hsenigov