Wicked Wi-Fi Heat and Radiation Waves

by: COMMANDER ENTERPRISE


The heat, radiation, and electro-magnetic energy from Wi-Fi and wireless devices have been a hot topic (no pun intended) of serious debate. There are those who believe that it is generally harmless and has no ill effects on the human body, particularly, the head and upper extremities.

There are also others who strongly caution of its harmful, even cancer-causing properties, making it a possible silent and passive threat to our health and well-being. This applies to both adults and now even kids who are more than ever exposed to a lot of gadgets that use the technology.

Although most devices today meet global safety standards, there are other factors involved. There are also arguments out there backed up by proof.

For those in the latter position, they have backed this up with several tests and experiments proving their argument that the heat and radiation waves found from Wi-Fi devices are enough to cause such conditions such as migraines, cancer, and brain damage, among others, especially for long periods of usage. This can affect anyone using a smartphone, tablet, even Wi-Fi modems and routers, and other wireless devices.

Is there a truth to these claims? The ‘anti’ group says so with undisputable evidence, the ‘pro’ group claims it’s safe and relatively harmless, with levels that reportedly are not harmful.

Authorities are now looking into it, with stern warnings to follow necessary precautions and follow usage balance, despite widespread, unchecked usage. More and more, people are clamoring for its safe use and are checking on specifications to see for themselves.

Everyday devices, unseen (radiation) levels

One key factor here is the level of Wi-Fi radiation, and how much, and how long we are exposed to these unseen energy / heat / radiation waves. This is through the level of SAR or Specific Absorption Rate plus how long and often we actually use these devices on a daily basis. Another one is the EMF or Electromagnetic Field energy levels.

A quick check with the Federal Communications Commission’s website provides insight to this whole issue. And while they do think it’s important to know certain radiation levels (expressed in watts per kilogram or w/kg) it is not a concise indicator of how harmful it is. Rather it only shows if the devices meet their standards, before they are approved for commercial use.

That said, they do have a rough guide regarding the safety of these devices and put the RF (Radiofrequency energy) at 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg) as the allowable limit. For EMF radio frequency levels, the standard is at the 0-300 GHz range, as approved by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection or ICNIRP. As long as the device operates within this range, it is considered safe and allowable.

But even then there are other factors to consider, such as exposure time, additional devices used, age/body build/physical conditions, close distance usage, and other contributing factors that can add to the overall picture.

These different devices are also ever present at home, at work, in businesses, and a lot of major establishments, making them ever present. This is on top of the radiation and energy waves coming from the device. People are exposed daily at many places and we aren’t even aware. Even if the device does meet the standard, these other factors are unquantifiable, and may pose significant risks.

Wicked Wi-Fi Waves (Part II)

For smartphones and regular mobile phones the common range is from a maximum 1.60 to 1.55 Watts per kilogram. This common range is dangerously close to the allowed limit. Even though it is considered within the accepted standard of the FCC, they are constantly used and people are exposed to them on a constant, daily basis, which may already be considered “harmful”. This does not count usage by pre-teens and teens, which is another whole discussion.

We also have other devices such as tablets and laptops, with varying SAR levels. Most operate at a lower level, and there is lesser contact and exposure time involved since they are not used for calls and long-term communication.

However, some speculate regarding the proximity of the devices to the person using them as a possible risk, coupled with those that have higher SAR levels. With these devices, the SAR levels have to be checked and confirmed, depending on the brand and the specifications.

Of special interest are wireless routers / modems and computers, since they are in the immediate vicinity and are also used constantly and daily, more so than phones. The key factors are the levels of radiation and EMF and proximity to the user, and the fact that they are on at a longer period. However, the actual distances of these devices to people using them greatly affect any perceived or actual effects, since the signals from a considerable distance pose no real threats, if any at all.

Possible risks are still being investigated

The FCC does not have any guidelines regarding these factors but do recommend some steps, like having more distance from the device, lessening head contact exposure, and lessening the number of devices used at the same time. The FCC is also currently looking into many types of research that claim all possible harmful and even carcinogenic effects from these independent bodies.

The IARC or International Agency for Research on Cancer, in particular, classifies mobile phone radiation as under Group B, which is – no surprise – labeled as possibly carcinogenic. At highest levels and constant exposure, there are definite health risks involved. They do recommend following some regular safety precautions, despite lower levels that are present in commonly used devices.

While no clear statement has been issued, the FCC is also seriously monitoring these studies in order to determine the validity of the issue to help come up with safety precautions, particularly on smartphones and mobile phones. Again, aside from RF, we have long-term and constant, daily exposure to these devices, sometimes several instances a day, as well as close contact to the head and other vital body parts.

If we take these factors into consideration, and the number of wireless and Wi-Fi devices we use daily, there are a lot of them that are well near the mark. And daily use and length of exposure to the heat and unseen waves can go unchecked or unnoticed.

The FCC recommends entering the FCC ID number of the device, which can be found inside the device (usually beneath the battery) or at the back. They have provided a public page: www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid with instructions for entering them in the correct format. This only shows the measurement, however. The frequency of use is another thing, among other things to consider that mostly go unnoticed and unchecked.

Of greater worry are the kids – especially those around the early years up to pre-teens who are exposed to the internet, computers, wireless routers/modems, tablets, and sometimes even smartphones. While adult use can be quite extended, adult bodies have more resiliency to these waves in general as long as it is within the accepted standards and ranges provided by the FCC. And even that is currently being questioned and investigated for health risks.

Kids naturally have smaller bodies and thinner bones and the levels of Wi-Fi radiation and its effects on them, despite meeting the allowable standard, may be different. While it seems that most of these things might just be speculation, experts have warned about early use and long term exposure for younger users. The same precautions definitely apply as well, and on a more serious level.

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Aside from the dangers of Wi-Fi radiation, your phone or device can explode. Details here.

Here’s our article about going incognito using old mobile phones or burner phones.

And also, be careful when using your phones and devices, you may actually die from its wrong usage.