Industry News
Schools warned over wireless network risk
Posted on 19th May 2007
An investigation into the health effects of wireless networking between computers in schools has found that they produce up to three times as much radiation as mobile phone masts
While this figure is still well within safety guidelines, some campaigners have previously claimed that the way in which these regulations are calculated needs to be reassessed.
The findings, produced as part of an investigation for the BBC's Panorama programme, also revealed that 70 per cent of secondary schools in the UK currently use wireless networking systems.
"I believe there is a need for a review of Wi-Fi [wireless networking] and other areas," Health Protection Agency (HPA) chairman Sir William Stewart told the BBC.
"Current evidence does not suggest that there is a health problem with Wi-Fi but we look to the HPA to advise government on these issues," commented a spokesman for the Department of Health.
There are currently more wireless networks in Europe – an estimated 70,000 – than anywhere else in the world. Around 180,000 networks are forecast to be in place across the globe by the end of 2007.