In a first-of-its-kind study published in Journal of Microwaves, Optoelectronics and Electromagnetic Application, researchers simulated Wi-Fi-connected laptop use in a classroom and measured both childrens’ and adults’ cumulative exposure to wireless radiation.
In short:
- Wireless radiation exposure to a child's head and back increased up to 40-fold when surrounded by other children with laptops, due to cumulative emissions from all the nearby devices.
- Wi-Fi absorption rates into children’s hands increased by 3-fold in the group setting.
- In adults, the Wi-Fi absorption rate at the head was 10 times higher when seated in tightly packed classroom rows compared to when using a laptop alone.
Key quote:
“Wireless communications should be avoided in places where people could stay for long time, such as in the classrooms, libraries, offices, homes, etc., and the devices should then be connected using cables (e. g., ethernet or fiber optic), increasing therefore the bandwidth and reducing energy consumption."
Wireless Radiation Exposure in a Classroom with Wireless Computers - Soares et al. youtu.be
Why this matters:
Everyday exposure to wireless radiation — emitted from devices such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi routers — is steadily increasing. With the incorporation of wireless devices in classrooms, children often spend several hours each day surrounded by sources of wireless radiation. Current safety limits for wireless radiation exposure are based only on short-term exposures and premarket safety testing that only considers exposure to a single device. This study highlights that real-world classroom conditions involve cumulative exposures, with Wi-Fi signals from multiple laptops interacting and increasing the total amount of energy absorbed by the body. These exposures are likely further increased by additional devices, like smartphones in pockets or backpacks.
Expert groups, such as the Santa Clara Medical Association, recommend reducing children's exposure to wireless technology in schools to mitigate health risks, and researchers have outlined how to design safer technology within buildings.
Related EHN coverage:
- Missouri school faces cancer inquiry as parents question health risks from cell tower
- San Diego families protest 5G cell towers planned for children’s park
More resources:
- Learn what medical and scientific experts say about wireless and how to protect children.
- Visit Schools That Ban Cell Towers for more resources on how local communities fight childrens’ exposure to cell tower radiation on school grounds.
