A new study suggests that electrical fields from computers, televisions and other everyday equipment can give people asthma, influenza and other respiratory diseases. The research, by scientists at Imperial College London, provides academic backing for one of the more controversial claims of campaigners against the thickening electro-smog from sources such as mobile phones and their masts, WiFi and household electrical devices. The scientists believe that there should now be research into whether electromagnetic radiation from sources such as mobile phone masts and WiFi systems has the same effect. This new study comes in the wake of recent research which concluded that people who believe that the masts are making them ill are deluding themselves. Psychologists at Essex University found that people who claimed to be sensitive to radiation from the masts could not tell when they were being subjected to them. It has, however, been criticised for alleged flaws and for measuring only short-term exposure.

As a result of the study by the Imperial College of London, MPs are now to consider the health effects of the masts and WiFi systems in an adjournment debate called by the Liberal Democrats' local government spokesman, Tom Brake, in October. Suspicion that electrical fields cause respiratory illness dates back to the 1950s when it was found that placing asthmatics in areas with low electrical fields got rid of their symptoms. As the amount of electro-smog has multiplied since then, campaigners have increasingly insisted that it causes a wide range of ailments, from respiratory diseases to difficulties in concentrating, from sleeplessness to cancer.

Keith Jamieson, who led the research, is particularly worried about the effects in hospitals, where already sick people are surrounded by electrical equipment and often have sheets made of synthetic materials that also give off electrostatic charges. He adds, however, that, "there are a number of easy actions which can be implemented in the home and workplace to help reduce the toxic load on our bodies and the risk of illness and infection". He said that people should ensure that electrical equipment, particularly laptop computers, are earthed, to avoid synthetic materials, and unplug equipment when it is not in use.

The German government has advised its citizens to avoid using WiFi wherever possible because of the risks it may pose to health, their official radiation protection body (the Federal Office for Radiation Protection) also advises to use landlines instead of mobile phones, and warns of "electro-smog” from a wide range of everyday items, from baby monitors to electric blankets.

Following these reports and an official British report, which recently concluded that it could not rule out the development of cancers from using mobile phones, Europe's top environmental watchdog is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from WiFi, mobile phones and their masts. It suggests that delay could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking and lead in petrol. The warning, from the EU's European Environment Agency (EEA) follows an international scientific review which concluded that safety limits set for the radiation are "thousands of times too lenient".

Source: Independent News July/Sept 07



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