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Wireless Technology: A review of the Science

This review explores the science behind wireless technology and the causation proof for potential health effects. It examines the temporal relationship, strength, dose-response relationship, consistency, biological plausibility, alternate explanations, experimental evidence, specificity, and coherence. The origins of WiFi, RF energy, and the safety limits are discussed, as well as outcome research on genotoxic effects, gene expression, cellular effects, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and cancer risks. The importance of a weight of evidence approach and the need for further research are highlighted.

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Wireless Technology: A review of the Science

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  1. Wireless Technology: A review of the Science

  2. How Do we Prove Causation? Temporal Relationship Strength of the Association Dose-Response relationship Consistency of the association Biologic plausibility Consideration of alternate explanations Experimental evidence Specificity Coherence

  3. What is WiFi? Originated as a marketing term for wireless computer technology, “Wireless Fidelity”, or “WiFi” as a play on “Hi-Fi” Radiofrequency (RF) energy is a form of electromagnetic energy generated by a source transmitter and emitted in waves Radio and TV broadcasting, cell phones, emergency radio communications, weather radar and satellite communications all use RF energy

  4. The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  5. Safety Code 6 Limits: The “What” and the “Why”

  6. Comparison of measured RF fields with Wi-Fi

  7. Outcome Research Review of cellular and animal studies in 2009 found no evidence of genotoxic effects of RF Some cellular studies provided evidence that gene expression is affected at RF exposure levels close to current safety limits but it is possible that small temperature elevations may have accounted for some of the observations Little evidence of cellular effects of RF fields below current safety limits Would be of interest to study modulation patters and intensity variations corresponding to actual mobile phones

  8. Outcome Research Review of clinical human trials found no evidence for an association between reported symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity and exposure to EMFs Results from epidemiological studies do not provide sufficient evidence to support a clear association between mobile phone use and an increased risk of cancer

  9. Conclusions Research on potential health effects from exposure to radiofrequency energy is an active field of investigation Given inconsistent results, it is possible to cherry pick the results of individual studies to support a variety of opinions Using a “weight of evidence” approach is more useful for informing policy making than reliance on individual studies

  10. Conclusions There is general agreement that the exposure limits in Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 are protective Recently published literature demonstrates that Wi-Fi RF exposures are far lower than with cell phone use It is unlikely that all controversies will be resolved even after decades of additional research

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