How to BRAG™ Rate your School
April 28, 2010. The BRAG™ Antenna Ranking of Schools report (Download 7MB PDF), released April 28, 2010, documents the density and proximity of antennas near schools in the 50 State Capitols and in Washington, D.C. The more antennas that are near schools the greater the potential exposure of students and teachers to radio frequency radiation from external antennas.
Studies are beginning to document adverse biological and health effects for people who live near cell phone and broadcast antennas. Some studies show an increased risk of cancers for those living within 350 to 400 meters of cell phone antennas at exposure levels well below federal guidelines in the US and Canada. Other studies show an increase in symptoms that have been classified as “electrohypersensitivity”. These symptoms include difficulty sleeping, fatigue, pain, poor short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability and depression, skin problems, dizziness, nausea, and ringing in the ears. Hence, exposure to microwave radiation may interfere with learning and may not be conducive to a good learning environment. Younger students are more vulnerable than adults to this type of radiation.
For these reasons it is important to minimize exposure of students to microwave radiation. This can be done by placing cell phone antennas at least 1,500 feet away (approximately 460 m) from schools and by using wired rather than wireless (WiFi) connection for internet access within schools.
If your school is not included in the Original BRAG™ Antenna Ranking of Schools Report, this document shows you how to BRAG™ rate your school. The 18-page pdf takes you through the steps required to rate your school. If you decide to rate all the schools in your community/city you can rate your community as well.
This would make an ideal science project and, if properly coordinated, it would provide a snap shot of the distribution of antennas near schools across the U.S.
This activity would raise awareness of the vast number of antennas that have become “neighbors” in our communities. It should also begin to ring warning bells for policy makers. Do we really want to place microwave transmitters near school? Is this sensible policy?
Click HERE to listen to a news release from Public News Service.
Click HERE to listen to WSJM News report.
Click HERE to read article from KSPR radio.
Click HERE to read Our Times Press article.