Wi-Fi in Schools - What are the known safe levels of exposure for children?
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
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
Ms Harron
Please see attached acknowledgement letter
Regards
Jeff Burns
Information Management Branch
Department of Health (NI)
-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Harron [[1]mailto:[FOI #514062 email]]
Sent: 06 October 2018 18:54
To: DoH PHD Admin <[email address]>
Subject: Re: DOH/EIR-2018-01 Freedom of Information request
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. [2]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
-----Original Message-----
Dear Ms Harron,
Please find attached response to your Freedom of Information request.
Kind regards
PHD Admin
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #514062 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[4]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #514062 email]
2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...
3. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
4. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now