Advice for Health Canada regarding Wi-Fi, cell phone antennas, and other forms of radio frequency emitting devices.

October 8, 2011. On October 4, 2011, Health Canada issued a warning for those under the age of 18 to limit their cell phone use. Click here for document. This warning comes 5 months (May 31, 2011) after the World Health Organization classified radio frequency radiation as a possible human carcinogen and it comes more than a year after cell phone providers issued warnings about the use of cell phones in their user manuals.

If Health Canada truly cared about the health of Canadians, this is what they would do.

1. They would issue a warning (similar to that Council of Europe) that wireless routers be replaced with wired routers for internet access in schools, at home, and at work. No one should be exposed for hours each day to pulsed microwave radiation generated by Wi-Fi routers. For places that need to have wireless routers, they should use the patent issued to Swisscom for their “on demand” routers that radiate only when in use.

2. They would issue an immediate ban on wireless baby monitors that emit radio frequency radiation 24/7 and would insist that only “voice activated” baby monitors be sold in Canada. These are available in Europe. Click here for more information.

3. They would issue an immediate ban on cordless phones that emit radiation 24/7 and insist that only ECO DECT plus phones (or those that emit radiaton only when in use) be sold in Canada. These are common in Europe and are now available in North America.

4. They would ask cell phone providers who have installed cell phone antennas on top of buildings or on the side of buildings to ensure that the radiation does not leak through to the roof or the walls and that nearby buildings are not within the line of radiation. Shielding on the roof or wall can eliminate exposure to occupants. This should be done by the cell phone provider. Levels should not exceed those recommended in Switzerland for “sensitive places.”

5. They would request independent monitoring of antennas placed on or near school property and they would ensure that levels not exceed those recommended in Switzerland for “sensitive places.”

6. They would remove the ban on incandescent light bulbs and insist that compact fluorescent light bulbs be designed so they do not emit UV radiation, dirty electricity or radio frequency radiation and that the bulbs are shatter-proof so that the mercury is not released into the environment during accidental breakage.

7. They would reconsider the deployment of wireless smart meters and determine ways to send the information along wires instead.

8. They would identify and enforce certain places that remain wireless-free (similar to smoke-free environments). This is particularly important in public places (schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, libraries) and on public transit (buses, trains, airplanes).

9. They would reduce their exposure guidelines and base these new guidelines on biological effects rather than just thermal effects.

10. They would establish health clinics to deal with the growing number of people complaining about electrohypersensitivity and provide educational packages for doctors and other health care professionals.