By Arjun Walia
There are thousands of peer-reviewed studies that have come out, and continue to come out, raising some alarming facts about our favourite gadgets such as cell phones, tablets, our use of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi radiation) and more. But the main focus lately seems to be on Wi-Fi and cell phones, and a number of countries around the world have set severe limits with regard to the use of Wi-Fi and cell phones around children in schools.
Take France for example, who passed a law in 2015 banning Wi-Fi from all nursery schools. In addition to that, the law states that Wi-Fi must be turned off in all elementary schools when it’s not in use. A wired connection, if possible, is preferred. When it comes to cell phones in France, all advertisements must recommend headsets to reduce the phone’s radiation exposure to the brain. Furthermore, advertisements directing cell phone use towards young children are banned.
And it’s not just a concern for children. The French National Library and many other libraries in Paris, along with several universities, have completely removed all Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi is also banned in many municipal buildings.
Can you believe that? Based on their research, health authorities in France are saying no to Wi-Fi and cell-phones.
Other countries who are starting to say no include Belgium, Spain, Israel, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, India, Finland, Cyprus.
Namibia’s atomic energy review states quite clearly that current so called “safety” standards don’t protect citizens from long term health effects, and that the guidelines governing their use do not guarantee adequate protection against the effects of long term exposure.
The list goes on, and all of them have varying levels and degrees of limitations and bans.
The Science
These countries are not banning Wi-Fi for nothing. The science is quite clear and there are now thousands of peer-reviewed studies showing multiple concerns, links to cancer, and more. And, it’s especially concerning for children because the bone marrow of a child’s head absorbs 10 times more radiation than that of an adult.
Cell phones and wireless expose everyone to a type of microwave radiation also known as radiofrequency radiation or RF-EMF. Peer reviewed research has demonstrated a myriad of adverse biological effects from wireless radiation including reproductive dysfunction, the single and double-stranded DNA breaks creation of reactive oxygen species, immune dysfunction, stress protein synthesis in the brain, altered brain development, sleep and memory disturbances, and increased brain tumours.
“Waiting for high levels of scientific and clinical proof before taking action to prevent well-known risks can lead to very high health and economic costs, as was the case with asbestos, leaded petrol and tobacco.”
“Scientific data on the biological effects of radio-frequency indicate the immediate need for a precautionary approach to protect the public. Conclusive proof is not necessary. The research has accumulated enough to provide strong evidence that low levels are not safe.” Environmental Health Trust
Dr. Martin Blank, Ph.D., from the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Colombia University, has joined a group of scientists from around the world who are making an international appeal to the United Nations regarding the dangers associated with the use of electromagnetic emitting devices like cell phones and Wi-Fi. He and hundreds of other scientists around the world are currently petitioning the UN, and have been for quite some time, regarding the dangers associated with these devices. “Putting it bluntly they are damaging the living cells in our bodies and killing many of us prematurely.”
A great place to find some more research is the Bioinitiative Report 2012 which is a good documentation of the peer reviewed science.
Experimental research shows chronic exposure to wireless reduces brain cells and causes brain cell death in the memory and learning centres of the brain. Cell phone radiation has also been shown to alter brain activity in humans. In 2011, NIH research found just 50 minutes of a wireless transmitting device (cell phone) next to the brain increases glucose in the part of the brain most exposed. Preliminary 3G and 4G research has further shown that non-thermal levels of this radiation alter the brain’s electrical activity.
It’s not only neurotoxic effects, it’s fertility and reproduction, cognition and impaired memory, behavioural issues, hearing loss, headaches, sleep issues, oxidative stress, and more.
Genotoxic effects are also an issue. A 2015 experimental study found that 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi radiation) can alter expression of some of the miRNAs, and the study’s authors concluded that “long-term exposure of 2.4 GHz RF may lead to adverse effects such as neurodegenerative diseases originated from the alteration of some miRNA expression and more studies should be devoted to the effects of RF radiation on miRNA expression levels.”
Research has also shown damage to the pineal gland, adrenal gland, and thyroid gland from low levels of microwave exposure which can reduce melatonin. Melatonin is not just critical to maintaining our sleep rhythm. It is also an antioxidant that helps to repair damaged DNA and reduces the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, research shows thyroid hormone levels can be impacted by wireless radiation. It has been established that even a small change in thyroid hormones can alter the brain.
It’s Not Just Humans
And it’s not just humans. Research is showing that the growth and development of plants and trees is being altered by electromagnetic radiation.
As the Environmental Health Trust points out (one of the best resources of information on this subject), studies on wireless EMF frequencies have found physiological and morphological changes, increased micronuclei formation, altered growth as well as adverse cell characteristics such as thinner cell walls and smaller mitochondria.
What’s interesting is that they point out how electromagnetic exposure creates biochemical changes. Research shows that plants perceive and respond to electromagnetic fields and are a good model to study the biological effects of exposure.
“Documentation of tree damage from base stations is made visible in the Report “Tree Damage Caused by Mobile phone base stations” in which he states, “RF radiation effects on plants have not been considered. In the Explosive Proliferation of the diverse wireless communication technologies across the entire environment and almost all areas of life, this represents an uncovered risk.”
(Breunig, 2017)
With All of this science, why haven’t we heard a peep?
We’ve seen this across all scientific literature in general. A lot of research out there is industry research, and it conflicts greatly with a lot of other research. Industry corruption has kept these facts in the dark, and they continue to do so, as these companies have amassed a wealth of power. It’s not much different from tobacco and what we saw the industry do to the conclusive science that was emerging. Extreme amounts of fraud and advertising dragged out the process over years, until finally, it became public knowledge that smoking can kill you.
The bottom line is, we live in a corporatocracy, not a democracy, and when it comes to the products and services that surround all aspects of human life, they are controlled by the very few and very powerful. Year after year it becomes increasingly evident that our health is not really their priority nor their concern, and they will lie, deceit, and cheat in order to accomplish whatever their goals are.
