..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
In this section we present original, sometimes flawed, news stories followed by our own science based analysis.
Quebec Energy Board: Smart Meters Are Safe
The Quebec Energy Board (Régie de l'Energie de Québec) has ruled that smart meters are safe and that Hydro Quebec can proceed with its plan to install more than 3 million such devices for homes and businesses. This is satisfying since we had collaborated with Thomas Gervais of the Ecole Polytechnique to write an open letter on this issue which was signed by more that 60 leading Quebec scientists and which was published in Le Devoir.
The following quote is a translation from French from P 2 of the Summary of the Energy Board ruling: "The views presented by the public health authorities and the evidence heard by la Régie on the state of scientific research on the impacts of non thermal RF on health demonstrate that the emissions from the new generation of smart meters do not present a health risk".
Furthermore the complete report contains the following additional statements (P 27):
"These organizations, such as the World Health Organization, or Health Canada consider that up to the present, research has not found any proof of significance that exposure to RF at levels below those that produce heating of tissue can cause negative health effects, the distributor (Hydro Quebec) notes that this applies whether it is electrical activity in the brain, cognitive functions, sleep, cardiac rhythm, blood pressure etc. Furthermore, studies have not demonstrated a cause and effect relationship between exposure to RF and the symptoms reported by individuals who claim to suffer from "electromagnetic hypersensitivity".
In the light of current scientific knowledge concerning RF and health, and considering the extremely low exposures from RF from the new generation of smart meters from Hydro Quebec, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the directors of public health and the Agencies of public health and social services, would like to inform the public that the RF emitted by these devices do not present a health risk".
The Quebec Energy Board (Régie de l'Energie de Québec) has ruled that smart meters are safe and that Hydro Quebec can proceed with its plan to install more than 3 million such devices for homes and businesses. This is satisfying since we had collaborated with Thomas Gervais of the Ecole Polytechnique to write an open letter on this issue which was signed by more that 60 leading Quebec scientists and which was published in Le Devoir.
The following quote is a translation from French from P 2 of the Summary of the Energy Board ruling: "The views presented by the public health authorities and the evidence heard by la Régie on the state of scientific research on the impacts of non thermal RF on health demonstrate that the emissions from the new generation of smart meters do not present a health risk".
Furthermore the complete report contains the following additional statements (P 27):
"These organizations, such as the World Health Organization, or Health Canada consider that up to the present, research has not found any proof of significance that exposure to RF at levels below those that produce heating of tissue can cause negative health effects, the distributor (Hydro Quebec) notes that this applies whether it is electrical activity in the brain, cognitive functions, sleep, cardiac rhythm, blood pressure etc. Furthermore, studies have not demonstrated a cause and effect relationship between exposure to RF and the symptoms reported by individuals who claim to suffer from "electromagnetic hypersensitivity".
In the light of current scientific knowledge concerning RF and health, and considering the extremely low exposures from RF from the new generation of smart meters from Hydro Quebec, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the directors of public health and the Agencies of public health and social services, would like to inform the public that the RF emitted by these devices do not present a health risk".
Barrie Ontario parents demand schools turn off WiFi
There have been a couple of recent incidents in Ontario in which small vocal groups parents and teachers have attempted to have Wi-Fi banned from public schools and libraries. These incidents attracted a fair bit of media attention. We are including several links below to articles that have appeared in the media and on the web in connection with this. Click on each link to access the full text of the original article. Fortunately in both recent instances, reason prevailed and students were not denied the tremendous benefits of wireless Internet access.
There have been a couple of recent incidents in Ontario in which small vocal groups parents and teachers have attempted to have Wi-Fi banned from public schools and libraries. These incidents attracted a fair bit of media attention. We are including several links below to articles that have appeared in the media and on the web in connection with this. Click on each link to access the full text of the original article. Fortunately in both recent instances, reason prevailed and students were not denied the tremendous benefits of wireless Internet access.
The Interphone Study Press Coverage
The long awaited Interphone Study has just been released. The Interphone Study is an international 13 country case control study that was coordinated by the IARC/WHO. Interphone is a case control study in which patients who had been diagnosed with brain cancer were interviewed concerning their past cell phone use. From the conclusion: "Overall, no increase in risk of glioma or meningioma was observed with use of mobile phones. There were suggestions of an increased risk of glioma at the highest exposure levels, but biases and error prevent a causal interpretation. The possible effects of long-term heavy use of mobile phones require further investigation."
See our page on the varied press coverage of the Interphone Study
The long awaited Interphone Study has just been released. The Interphone Study is an international 13 country case control study that was coordinated by the IARC/WHO. Interphone is a case control study in which patients who had been diagnosed with brain cancer were interviewed concerning their past cell phone use. From the conclusion: "Overall, no increase in risk of glioma or meningioma was observed with use of mobile phones. There were suggestions of an increased risk of glioma at the highest exposure levels, but biases and error prevent a causal interpretation. The possible effects of long-term heavy use of mobile phones require further investigation."
See our page on the varied press coverage of the Interphone Study
European Parliament Criticizes Own Scientists
The European Parliament recently voted by the lopsided margin of 559 vs. 22 to adopt an alarmist and highly unscientific motion calling for a series of measures to greatly increase restrictions on EMF emissions. This motion is filled with unscientific claims and contains veiled criticism of the WHO, the world's most prestigious scientific body, as well as Europe's own scientific advisory body the SCENIHR. Apparently, the European Parliament wants its scientists to keep studying "the problem" of EMF until they find a problem. The fact that no health effects have been found after 30 years and tens of thousands of scientific studies is not sufficient to calm these politicians. See our complete analysis of the European Parliamentary Motion.
Canwest News service picked up this story from an alarmist angle. See the following story.
The European Parliament recently voted by the lopsided margin of 559 vs. 22 to adopt an alarmist and highly unscientific motion calling for a series of measures to greatly increase restrictions on EMF emissions. This motion is filled with unscientific claims and contains veiled criticism of the WHO, the world's most prestigious scientific body, as well as Europe's own scientific advisory body the SCENIHR. Apparently, the European Parliament wants its scientists to keep studying "the problem" of EMF until they find a problem. The fact that no health effects have been found after 30 years and tens of thousands of scientific studies is not sufficient to calm these politicians. See our complete analysis of the European Parliamentary Motion.
Canwest News service picked up this story from an alarmist angle. See the following story.
Sarah Schmidt, a reporter for Canwest News Service filed the above story on the motion by the European Parliament "Canada offside with world on cell tower issue". The story implied that Health Canada should adopt the same alarmist policy as the European Parliament. This story was carried in newspapers across Canada: Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen, Winnipeg Free Press, and Star Phoenix. In Montreal, the French language newspaper La Presse recently carried a series of stories on concerns by alarmist groups over cell phone towers.
The US
Public alarm over cell phone towers is also rampant in the US. There have been hundreds of protests in communities across the US against proposed sites for new cell phone towers. Concerns about potentially harmful health effects based on flawed alarmist studies have played a major role in stirring up these protests. The following is a link to a sampling of some of these stories on protests over cell towers. A series of Congressional hearings have also been held on the issue cell phones and cancer. There have been a number of alarmist reports on television such this one from ABC's 20/20, as well as a number of Larry King episodes. More are sure to follow.
The US
Public alarm over cell phone towers is also rampant in the US. There have been hundreds of protests in communities across the US against proposed sites for new cell phone towers. Concerns about potentially harmful health effects based on flawed alarmist studies have played a major role in stirring up these protests. The following is a link to a sampling of some of these stories on protests over cell towers. A series of Congressional hearings have also been held on the issue cell phones and cancer. There have been a number of alarmist reports on television such this one from ABC's 20/20, as well as a number of Larry King episodes. More are sure to follow.
Montreal Gazette & National Post: Kids & Cell Phones
The Montreal Gazette and the Toronto based National post both carried the same story about a new paper by Hardell et al. that purports to show an increased risk for certain brain tumors from long term use of cell phones. The study claims the risk is particularly acute for children. A follow up story appeared the next day in the Gazette.
See more about this story on our Gazette cell phone story page.
The Montreal Gazette and the Toronto based National post both carried the same story about a new paper by Hardell et al. that purports to show an increased risk for certain brain tumors from long term use of cell phones. The study claims the risk is particularly acute for children. A follow up story appeared the next day in the Gazette.
See more about this story on our Gazette cell phone story page.
Except where noted all images on this web site are taken from the Wikipedia commons
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Copyright 2009 EMF & Health
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Copyright 2009 EMF & Health