Abstract

Overview

Wireless Internet access is commonplace in schools, leading to concerns about the potential long-term adverse effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation on children's health. This study aims to measure RF exposure to assess the safety of Wi-Fi environments in educational settings.

Methodology

Using a body-worn exposimeter, the study sampled RF radiation exposure by measuring the exposure levels of teachers, which would approximate the students' likely exposure. Measurements were taken in various school settings across seven schools and included teachers from grades 7-12. The device used could monitor 20 different frequency bands ranging from 87 to 5,850 MHz.

Findings

• Average exposure rates ranged from 1.1 to 396.6 µW/m2, increasing significantly during activities like streaming video content.
• Peak radiation exposure reached up to 82,857 µW/m2 from mobile phone uplinks.
• Exposures varied significantly based on the Wi-Fi system used and whether personal smartphones were connected to the school's network or external GSM/3G/4G networks.
• Although these levels were below international safety guidelines, they exceeded the precautionary target levels suggested for long-term exposure, raising concerns about potential non-thermal biological effects.

Conclusion

To reduce exposure to RF radiation, the study suggests using wired Internet connections where possible, encouraging the use of devices in flight mode, and turning off Wi-Fi when not needed. Notably, the existing ICNIRP guidelines focus on short-term thermal effects and may not adequately address the risks associated with long-term RF exposure.