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

The request was partially successful.

Koulla Yiasouma 30 August 2018
Doing business as the NI Commissioner for 
Children and Young People (NICCY) 
Equality House 
7-9 Shaftesbury Square 
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?

Koulla Yiasouma

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), confirm that there are no such documents, please answer: “NICCY 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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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, Koulla Yiasouma, acting as the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), 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 NICCY.”  

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

Jennifer Bell, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

3 Attachments

For attention of Amy Harron.

 

Many thanks for your request for information which was received by NICCY
on 30th August 2018, and which was made under the Freedom of Information
Act.

 

Please see below a response from NICCY:-

 

The information you have requested is classified as research. This
research has not been conducted by NICCY, and NICCY is not an expert in
this area, however we are happy to share articles which were sent to us
when representation was made to the office on this subject. NICCY is also
content to share correspondence which we have had with relevant
organisations on this subject.

 

I have attached a document which details all of the titles and authors of
the research which NICCY received in relation to the issue of technology
in schools.

 

NICCY has also been involved in issuing letters to a number of relevant
organisations in relation to the potential impact of technology in
schools.

 

Again, I have attached for you details of letters which NICCY has sent to
the relevant authorities in relation to this subject matter.

 

If you have any queries regarding this email or the attached documents, or
would wish for NICCY to send through any of the individual documentation
which has been referenced in the attached documents, please do not
hesitate to let me know.

 

Kind Regards

 

Jennifer Bell  BA PGCE MCIPD

Human Resources Officer

 

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Northern Ireland Commissioner for 

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Equality House

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