Students Archives - EMFSA https://www.emfsa.co.za/tag/students/ Electromagnetic fields South Africa Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:53:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.emfsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-EMFSA_logo-fv-32x32.png Students Archives - EMFSA https://www.emfsa.co.za/tag/students/ 32 32 San Francisco Educators Pass Resolution Calling for Safer Technology Standards for all San Francisco Schools https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/san-francisco-educators-pass-resolution-calling-for-safer-technology-standards-for-all-san-francisco-schools/ Thu, 16 Aug 2018 22:19:39 +0000 http://www.emfsa.co.za/?p=5691 Statements from individuals and organizations: “Our public health guidance has not been keeping pace with our newest evolutions of telecommunication technologies.   And yet the health science regarding cellular technologies suggests the need for caution.  A very first step would be to apply the California State Health Department Cell Phone Guidelines, particularly in settings where there […]

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]]> Statements from individuals and organizations:

  • “Our public health guidance has not been keeping pace with our newest evolutions of telecommunication technologies.   And yet the health science regarding cellular technologies suggests the need for caution.  A very first step would be to apply the California State Health Department Cell Phone Guidelines, particularly in settings where there may be children or workers whose exposures last their whole work day.”  – Barbara Sattler, Professor, RN, DrPH, FAAN, University of San Francisco, School of Nursing and Health Professions, Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)
  • “Thanks to the United Educators of San Francisco and the Department of Public Health for providing this valuable information to reduce wireless radiation, so children and teachers can be better protected in the classroom and at home.” – Sandi Maurer, Director, EMF Safety Network
  • “Around the world today, school districts are on the front lines wrestling with increasingly distracted youngsters who find it difficult to learn how to learn. EHT applauds California teachers efforts to regain control of the classroom by limiting the use of cell phones and other wireless devices and ensuring that they and their students understand why and how to practice safe technology.” – Devra Davis PhD, MPH, founder, and president of Environmental Health Trust
  • “The United Educators of San Francisco’s leadership will go far to educate and protect students and staff. The California Department of Health’s advice on how to reduce exposure is the first step in addressing this critical public health issue. Children and teenagers have no idea that the phone they love so much exposes them to radiation. Raising awareness in schools is logical, practical and will be life-saving.  The Unions resolution adds momentum to the many educational unions nationwide who are developing safer policies on cell phones and wireless. Around the world, over twenty governments have issued advice to reduce exposure to cell phones. Several hi-tech countries have banned cell phones and Wi-Fi in schools.”– Theodora Scarato  Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust 
  • “The professionals in California’s health department should be lauded for overcoming political pressures by putting public health above corporate profits. The Department’s evidence-based, cell phone safety guidance enacts an important recommendation of the 240 EMF scientists who signed the International EMF Scientist Appeal, namely “the public (should) be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies.”– Joel Moskowitz, Director, Center for Family and Community Health, UC Berkeley School of Public Health
  • “The California Brain Tumor Association thanks Sarah Aminoff and the United Educators of San Francisco for their collaborative work in regard to dissemination of information regarding best practices for reducing wireless exposure for students, teachers and staff. The California Department of Health, based on scientific evidence, published a guideline sheet in regard to this issue in 2017. It contains excellent information as to simple precautions one can take to use wireless technology as safely as possible. It is critical that teachers, parents and students learn of these precautions. Wireless radiation is not only causing brain tumors but other cancers (wherever the phone is kept on the body), damage to fetuses, damage and death of sperm, and electro-sensitivity. The recent $25 million United States National Toxicology Program study states there is now clear evidence that wireless radiation is causing cancer. Children, teens and young adults are at greater risk as they will have a lifetime of exposure and their bodies absorb more of the radiation emitted“. – Ellie Marks, California Brain Tumor Association. The California Brain Tumor Association focuses on the prevention of primary brain tumors and applauds the efforts of UESF.
The resolution became official as of May 23rd, 2018 and the Resolution and press release can be found on the UESF website.

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]]> Does all-day and long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi affect hearing? https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/day-long-term-exposure-radiofrequency-radiation-emitted-wi-fi-affect-hearing/ Fri, 15 Dec 2017 07:07:34 +0000 http://www.emfsa.co.za/?p=3756 Does all-day and long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi affect hearing? Ediz Yorgancilar, Suleyman Dasdag, Mehmet Zülküf Akdag, Zeki Akkus, Mehmet Akdag & Ismail Topcu Pages 1204-1209 | Received 04 Jun 2017, Accepted 25 Aug 2017, Published online: 06 Sep 2017 https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2017.1373033 ABSTRACT We investigated the long-term effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted […]

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Does all-day and long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi affect hearing?
Ediz Yorgancilar, Suleyman Dasdag, Mehmet Zülküf Akdag, Zeki Akkus, Mehmet Akdag & Ismail Topcu

Pages 1204-1209 | Received 04 Jun 2017, Accepted 25 Aug 2017, Published online: 06 Sep 2017 https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2017.1373033

ABSTRACT

We investigated the long-term effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from Wi-Fi systems on hearing. Sixteen Wistar albino rats were divided equally into two groups: sham control and exposure groups. The rats in the experimental group were exposed to 2.4 GHz RFR emitted from a Wi-Fi generator for 24 h/day for one year. The same procedure was applied to the rats in the sham group, except that the Wi-Fi generator was turned off. All groups were kept in Faraday cages during the 12 months to eliminate external electromagnetic fields. The distance between the Wi-Fi generator antenna and the exposure cages was 50 cm. Pre-exposure distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) of all rats were measured at the beginning, 6th and 12th months of the study. The DPOAE values of the sham, baseline and exposure groups were compared statistically. For the 6000 Hz hearing frequency, the DPOAE values in the exposure group were lower than those in the sham group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the 6000 Hz hearing frequency values obtained at the end of the 12th month were also lower than the baseline and 6-month values in the exposure group (p < 0.05). In contrast, the DPOAE values at the 6th and 12th months of exposure for the 2000 Hz hearing frequency were higher than the baseline value (p < 0.05). These results indicated that 12 months of RFR (24 h/day) at 50 cm from a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi source can affect hearing. However, further studies are necessary.

KEYWORDS: Wi-Fi radiation, hearing, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), wireless communication, biological effects

Introduction

The biological effects of alternating electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have long been studied. In recent years, there has been an impressive growth in the number of processes and devices that use or emit radiofrequency (RF) and microwaves in developed countries. Such devices are being increasingly used in industry, engineering, telecommunications, medicine, education and home settings [1 Peyman A, Khalid M, Calderon C, et al. Assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields from wireless computer networks (Wi-Fi) in schools: results of laboratory measurements. Health Phys. 2011;100(6):594–612.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]]. Thus, widespread use of devices generating EMFs has become a major public concern because of findings related to possible hazardous effects of this technology on human health. These technologies include wireless local area networks (WLANs) and Wi-Fi communication systems. Wi-Fi systems, which are used frequently indoors and outdoors, also emit radiofrequency radiation (RFR).

WLANs are networks that operate without physical wires connected to the terminal devices (‘clients’). Wi-Fi is the most common WLAN technology, in which devices and computers are connected to the local area network (LAN) wirelessly. The point of entry to the wired network is termed an ‘access point’ and is typically positioned in the vicinity, at a distance of a few tens of metres. Wi-Fi equipment transmits and receives radio waves to establish the wireless connection. This technology is popular among a wide range of users.

People using or in the proximity of Wi-Fi equipment are exposed to the radio signals emitted from it and will absorb some of the transmitted energy in their bodies. Thus, the recent increase in the popularity of Wi-Fi devices has become a cause of concern in view of the introduction of wireless computer systems in schools and the extent to which the pupils are exposed to radio waves emitted from such sources [1 Peyman A, Khalid M, Calderon C, et al. Assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields from wireless computer networks (Wi-Fi) in schools: results of laboratory measurements. Health Phys. 2011;100(6):594–612.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]].

For the reasons mentioned above, one concern in public opinion is the biological effects of RFs emitted from Wi-Fi systems. Despite the intense public interest, usually focused on any relationship between RFR and cancer, there is not sufficient research on RF emitted from Wi-Fi systems. Another important point to be considered is whether RF emissions from Wi-Fi wireless communications affect hearing. The auditory system is the neural organ most frequently and directly exposed to RFs emitted from mobile phones and other similar equipment.

Otoacoustic emission (OAE) is low-level acoustic signals emitted by the cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) either spontaneously or evoked by an auditory stimulus and recorded via the external acoustic meatus. OAE was originally described by Kemp [2 Kemp DT. Stimulated acoustic emissions from within the human auditory system. J Acoust Soc Am. 1978;64:1386–1391.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]]. OAE signals are evoked because of the motility of the cochlea’s sensory OHCs that make their way outward from the basilar membrane of the cochlea through the middle ear, vibrating the tympanic membrane and propagating into the external auditory canal [3 Kemp DT. Otoacoustic emissions, their origin in cochlear function, and use. Br Med Bull. 2002;63:223–241.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]]. OAE testing is commonly used as a method for evaluation of hearing problems. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) are evoked OAEs produced by the ear in response to two simultaneous pure tone stimuli. DPOAEs give information about the hearing and are frequently used in studies to investigate hearing problems [4 Probst R, Lonsbury-Martin BL, Martin GK. A review of otoacoustic emissions. J Acoust Soc Am. 1991;89(5):2027–2067.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]]. Generally, loss of OHCs or impairment of OHC function results in the attenuation of DPOAE amplitudes and sound/noise (S/N) ratios.

Whether RFR emitted from Wi-Fi systems affects hearing is a major concern in the general public. Thus, we investigated the long-term effects of 2.4 GHz RFR emitted from a Wi-Fi wireless system on hearing in rats using DPOAE. To our knowledge, no reported study has examined the long-term effects of Wi-Fi signals on the OHC function of the cochlea so far.

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