Putting laptops on laps while using wireless internet connections can pose potential health risks to children, according to Professor Lawrie Challis, who leads the committee on mobile phone safety research. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he emphasized the need for monitoring youngsters as concerns about emissions from Wi-Fi networks persist.
To minimize exposure, Professor Challis advises that children maintain a safe distance from the embedded antennas on Wi-Fi enabled laptops. He compares the risk levels to those of mobile phones, where desktop computers with transmitters in the tower have minimal exposure (around one percent), while Wi-Fi enabled laptops placed directly on laps have comparable exposure to mobile phones.
Given the precautionary measure to discourage children from using mobile phones, Professor Challis recommends extending this discouragement to placing laptops on laps while using Wi-Fi. He believes that this potential risk may be greater for children who are more sensitive to certain dangers, such as UV radiation.
Contrary to the concerns about localized tissue heating, Jeff Hands, professor of imaging physics at Imperial College London, believes that the power levels associated with Wi-Fi emissions are insignificant for causing health issues. Alasdair Philips, director of consumer group Powerwatch, however, highlights the possible interference that Wi-Fi radiation can have on electrical signals in the brain and nervous system.
This information is a reminder that even the most convenient technological advancements may come with unseen consequences.
SOURCE: telegraph
This is absolutely based on non-science. As a wireless engineer and assisting in the development of several WiFi standards, I can assure you that RF energy can have adverse effects. However, as stated in this article, WiFi will NOT interfere with the neural impulses of the central nervous system. It is funny that the stated scientist is disclaimed and the watchdog group member’s uneducated opinion is taken as scientific evidence in this article. No long term scientific study today has shown that 2.4ghz or 5ghz exposure has been proven to be unsafe especially to neural impulses. To the contrary, almost all major health care solutions providers are now using wireless connectivity to enhance patient care. Devices such as pulse oximeters, IV infusion pumps, medical telemetry devices, and EKG machines all operate in the 2.4ghz and 5ghz spectrum without negative patient effect. These devices go through rigorous evaluation and trial criteria as required by the FDA before use in a hospital environment. I am a parent of seven (yes that is 7) children. All of these children have been exposed to long term wireless RF radiation and none have shown any adverse health issues except for the occasional getting grounded for improper use of the internet. Think about this folks, you wireless baby monitor operates on the same frequency as WiFi. Seen any major recalls of baby monitors because of RF energy?