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Can wi-fi damage health?

Are wi-fi products safe or do they pose a risk to health?

An investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme suggests the risks posed by wi-fi computer networks may be greater than previously thought, but scientists say the health fears are unproven.

Research carried out for the programme revealed that radiation levels from wi-fi in one school was up to three times the level of mobile phone mast radiation.

Do you think that wi-fi products pose a risk to health? Should more research be carried out? Send us your comments and experiences.

Click here to read the main story

Published: Monday, 21 May, 2007, 14:41 GMT 15:41 UK

All comments as they come in

Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:37 GMT 13:37 UK

Most of these sarcastic comments would be very entertaining - were they not an indication of a worrying lack of knowledge and common sense.

The highest authority on this subject, Sir William Stewart, has spoken. Any sensible adult, whether a parent or not, would be backing a call to halt the rollout of wi-fi - especially in our schools - until we know for sure that the health of our children is not being compromised.

Any contrary view is rash in the extreme - and prompts one to ask why?

Cllr Sylvia Wright, S Staffordshire

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:30 GMT 13:30 UK

Your the BBC not Channel 5. The Topic has been highly sensationalised for what ! Wifi is being promoted around the world and has a lesser carbon footprint than installation of cable based services to each home. The radiation levels are less than your home microwave....What about all the signals the BBC generates !!!!!

Davinder Hunjan, Cambridge

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:22 GMT 13:22 UK

I do not know. Anyone who is familiar with quantum physics and biochemistry will understand why I do not know. If anyone is claiming that they do know, I'd be fascinated to learn how they know.

anon.

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:09 GMT 13:09 UK

Appalling, irresponsible, sensationalist and unscientific claptrap forming a baseless scare-story. All of the goodwill generated by the much needed investigation into Scientology has been evaporated, and more, by this ill-conceived programme on Wi-Fi emissions.

You need to learn about relative risk, and understand that just because something is published in an apparently scientific journal, it is not necessarily scientific, and not all journals are reputable.

I expected better of the BBC, and condemn the utter waste of licence payers' money in making and transmitting this programme. The people responsible for the commissioning and transmission of this programmed should be ashamed.

Gerald Enderby

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:08 GMT 13:08 UK

judging from the indignant tone many posters submit one might get the impression that the Panorama programme is unjustly attacking this technology! There are problems around the big masts too and that might be the next issue to follow. Wifi like the internet is not going to go away and health effects manifest themselves with cumulative exposure. This has been known for over 75 years look up Moscow Signal Schwarzenberg etc etc. Sir William Stewart voiced concerned in the 2000 IEGMP. He is still staying the same 7 years on except more so. Does this not tell you something. Safety experts are there to protect people who might not be familiar with the nitty gritty of the latest development.

panayis zambellis, luton

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:03 GMT 13:03 UK

I love it. Is wifi safe? Are mobile phones safe?

The questions themselves bring out some very strong arguments from people as we can see here. Especially from those that doubt if there are any effects.

Could it be these people work in the very highly paid industry?

Shareholders in certain companies?

When a few people questioned whether tobacco was dangerous I believe a lot of the views on here today were very much the same. And of course tobacco proved to be a wonderfully healthy drug.

ashley, Lichfield

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:02 GMT 13:02 UK

Can someone tell me how many die of wi-fi based illnesses? No!

3000 people die on the roads every year - not all are drivers, yet we don't ban cars!

People are far too risk averse about things of which they have no knowledge.

If I was to describe an automobile as a metal carriage perched on a tank of highly explosive liquid that could exploded wtih smallest of sparks, the car would never make it out of the drive.

We can only act on evidence not speculation, if we don't we won't get anywhere. Grow up Britain and show some courage, there will always be risks in life!

paul, louth

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:02 GMT 13:02 UK

Wi-fi should not be installed into any school until it is proved to be 100% safe. At this stage there is evidence to suggest that the radiation level output is dangerously high and our children should not be used as guinea pigs and subjected to this. This should be implemented at the highest level.

Lisa Richards, Liverpool

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 12:00 GMT 13:00 UK

Ignorant, incoherent embarrassing drivel from Panorama. Do the journalisst feel any need to ground there scaremongering in facts? This is the exact opposite of what the BBC should be about unprincipled exploitative nonsense.

I usually defend the BBC but if this is what our money goes on then lest cut the money the BBC gets.

Alan Johnson, Slough

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:55 GMT 12:55 UK

It was nearly as one sided as the documentary attacking Scientologists, the only difference is Joe Public saw through the WiFi one.

alicia shepherd

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:53 GMT 12:53 UK

I once walked into a lamp post whilst surfing the net on my wireless enabled handheld PC - so yes I guess it can damage your health - just like all of the other radio waves dashing about everywhere!

J Davies, Fleet

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:52 GMT 12:52 UK

These are the same "scientists" I suppose who siad the small aerials used in these new products could never work when they were designed by engineers a few years ago. If these "scientists" got the theory of aerials so wrong then why on earth should we believe them now? There has been an epidemic of ear cancers around the world wherever mobile technology has been used, ... on the phone ear. Are men's genitals now to be similarly sacrificed on the alter of dodgy and completely untested "science".

John Sinclair, Dundee

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:51 GMT 12:51 UK

So Prof. Sperrin & Co are happy for our children to be used as guinea pigs...just who has given him that divine right?

Cllr Sylvia Wright, S Staffordshire

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:49 GMT 12:49 UK

It is surprising that there are so many people choosing to ignore the potential risks. I was a senior manager, in charge of the radio network, for a large wireless operator (some where in Europe) and was presented with such overwhelming evidence of biological effects, such as 100% correlation between base stations being powered (during commissioning) and epileptic fits from people near the masts. The company set up a committee, of which I was a member, to discredit the evidence and make sure it never reached the public domain.

I’m worried about wifi, we all should be !

Anon, Europe

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Added: Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, 11:48 GMT 12:48 UK

Accurate, balanced reporting ?
The BBC is getting sloppy. More junk pseudo-science. You'll be telling me that Carbon Dioxide causes global warming next...oh wait....

DavidG, London

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