[LINK] Europe issues alert over "more or less potentially harmful" cell phone radiation

[Kim Holburn]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/council-of-europe-to-consider-ban-on-wifi-and-mobiles-in-classrooms.ars

> Europe issues alert over "more or less potentially harmful" cell phone radiation


> The global movement for governments to err on the side of electro-magnetic caution got a huge boost this month. The Council of Europe has issued a new draft resolution and report on device radiation safety that urges its 47 member nations to adopt a "precautionary principle" when it comes to cell phone safety. Such a principle would apparently include banning all mobile phones, DECT phones, WiFi and WLAN systems from classrooms as a measure to protect children.
> 
> Yes, you read that right. Here's resolution 8.3.2 of the draft: "ban all mobile phones, DECT phones or WiFi or WLAN systems from classrooms and schools, as advocated by some regional authorities, medical associations and civil society organisations."
> 
> The document will be discussed by the Council's Parliamentary Assembly at their meeting in Kyev, Ukraine on Friday. Authored by Luxembourg MP and Green Party activist Jean Huss, it contends that even if science isn't certain about low frequency radiation emanating from mobile phones and power lines, its member states should recognize that these devices "appear" to have "more or less potentially harmful, non-thermal, biological effects on plants, insects and animals, as well as the human body when exposed to levels that are below the official threshold values."
> 
> Despite the tentative conclusions of extant research on this problem, the report urges governments to "respect the precautionary principle" and revise their estimates of the levels at which non-ionising radiation can be regarded as unsafe.
> 
> "Waiting for high levels of scientific and clinical proof can lead to very high health and economic costs, as was the case in the past with asbestos, leaded petrol and tobacco."

.....


-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request