Canada

Calgary Herald: Teach your children to be wary of cell phones

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“I am deeply concerned about the experiment we are conducting on our children and grandchildren,” says the author of Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family. “People are putting iPhones that play white noise under the pillows of babies to help them sleep. iPhones and babies are a horrifying combination.”

Original link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/hers/Teach+your+children+wary+cellphones+expert/3878912/story.html

Filed in: Canada, Policy News

Fwix: Cellphones present hidden risks

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There’s growing evidence that cellphones cause damage to other cells besides brain cells in the biological system, said Dr. Devra Davis, who will be speaking about how cellphones hurt their users at a public seminar entitled Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family, at Congregation Machzikei Hadas at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Original Link: http://fwix.com/ottawa/share/afb7e3ddd1/cellphones_present_hidden_risks_doc

Filed in: Canada, Policy News

Trent University: Cancer Research Put Under the Microscope

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The buzz emanated from cell phones and WiFi devices. Or, more specifically, from the current debates – both local and global – surrounding these technologies. Not one to shy away from controversy, Dr. Davis tackled questions regarding the health affects of microwave radiation, cell phone use, wireless technology, as well as the widespread use of carcinogens in our society and around the world. Her tough stance and pragmatic approach garnered several rounds of spontaneous applause.

Original Link: http://www.trentu.ca/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions+Content&WorkflowItemID=DC70E58F-5D33-4668-9BAF-968407E61639

Filed in: Canada, Policy News

Teach your children to be wary of cell phones: expert says slow motion epidemic may take years to manifest

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“I am deeply concerned about the experiment we are conducting on our children and grandchildren,” says the author of Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family. “People are putting iPhones that play white noise under the pillows of babies to help them sleep. iPhones and babies are a horrifying combination.”

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Teach+your+children+wary+cellphones+expert/3875709/story.html#ixzz16nKjcZPt

Original Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Teach+your+children+wary+cellphones+expert/3875709/story.html

Filed in: Canada, Policy News

Devra Davis to promote new book on hazards of cell phones at Toronto event

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“The fact that we don’t know everything about cell phones doesn’t mean that everything is fine,” says Devra Davis in her new book Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It and How to Protect Your Family.

An environmental activist, cancer epidemiologist, author, and advocate for the precautionary principle, Davis maintains heavy cell phone use over many years may threaten one’s health. In an event to be held in Toronto on Monday, November 22, Davis will speak about her new book which is raising some serious issues and garnering much media attention.

Original link: http://www.whsc.on.ca/whatnews2.cfm?autoid=649

Filed in: Canada

Scientist backs bill warning of dangers of cell phone radiation

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Speaking with American epidemiologist Devra Davis might be hazardous to your health — at least if you’re using a cellphone.

Using the speaker mode on her phone, Davis pointed out that the fine print in manufacturers’ warnings that come with cellphones say to keep them up to an inch away from your body.

Not many people heed the warnings. That’s why she’s calling on all parties to support a private member’s bill that would warn Ontarians of potential danger of microwave radiation.

Original Link: http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/895063–scientist-backs-bill-warning-of-dangers-of-cellphone-radiation

Filed in: Canada

Cell Phone Use by Children and Youth

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Summary:

The Board of Health and Toronto City Council recently endorsed a Prudent Avoidance Policy that will help ensure that public exposure to radiofrequencies (RFs) from cell phone towers is 100 times below the current Health Canada exposure standard known as Safety Code 6. This policy does not address public exposure to RFs from the use of telecommunication devices such as cell phones. RF exposure from using a cell phone can be considerably higher than environmental exposure to RFs from local cell phone towers or antennas. Cell phone use has risen consistently in the last decade in Canada. In particular, the number of children who use cell phones has increased greatly. This report responds to the Board of Health’s request for further information on the use of cell phones by children and youth and their consequent exposure to RF energy.
The 2007 Toronto Public Health (TPH) report titled “Update and Review of Research on Radiofrequencies: Implications for a Prudent Avoidance Policy in Toronto” summarized research about RF exposure and potential health impacts in people. Considerable research has been done to explore the health impacts from cell phone use in adults. There are gaps in knowledge however, regarding exposure and health impacts in children. The research that is available suggests that children are likely more vulnerable than adults.
Many international reports and scientific experts in the field view the limitations and uncertainty of current research as warranting precautionary recommendations around children’s use of cell phones. There are currently no specific Canadian recommendations with regard to cell phone use by children. Some jurisdictions in Europe recommend that children decrease their exposure to RF by strictly limiting their use of cellular phones and some have strongly recommended that use be avoided completely. TPH has broadened its precautionary messages and advice on cell phone use. The focus is on messages for
parents and teens to limit use of cell phones by children where possible.

The Board of Health and Toronto City Council recently endorsed a Prudent AvoidancePolicy that will help ensure that public exposure to radiofrequencies (RFs) from cellphone towers is 100 times below the current Health Canada exposure standard known asSafety Code 6. This policy does not address public exposure to RFs from the use oftelecommunication devices such as cell phones. RF exposure from using a cell phonecan be considerably higher than environmental exposure to RFs from local cell phonetowers or antennas. Cell phone use has risen consistently in the last decade in Canada.In particular, the number of children who use cell phones has increased greatly. Thisreport responds to the Board of Health’s request for further information on the use of cellphones by children and youth and their consequent exposure to RF energy.

The 2007 Toronto Public Health (TPH) report titled “Update and Review of Research onRadiofrequencies: Implications for a Prudent Avoidance Policy in Toronto” summarizedresearch about RF exposure and potential health impacts in people. Considerableresearch has been done to explore the health impacts from cell phone use in adults. Thereare gaps in knowledge however, regarding exposure and health impacts in children. Theresearch that is available suggests that children are likely more vulnerable than adults.

Many international reports and scientific experts in the field view the limitations anduncertainty of current research as warranting precautionary recommendations aroundchildren’s use of cell phones. There are currently no specific Canadian recommendationswith regard to cell phone use by children. Some jurisdictions in Europe recommend thatchildren decrease their exposure to RF by strictly limiting their use of cellular phones andsome have strongly recommended that use be avoided completely. TPH has broadenedits precautionary messages and advice on cell phone use. The focus is on messages forparents and teens to limit use of cell phones by children where possible.

Full Report: https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/boh_children_safecellphone.pdf

Filed in: Canada

Update and Review of Research on Radiofrequencies: Implications for a Prudent Avoidance Policy in Toronto

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Executive Summary:
This report is an update to a 1999 Toronto Public Health (TPH) review summarizingresearch on exposure and health effects from radiofrequency (RF) emissions. The recentliterature on RFs leads TPH to conclude that many of the uncertainties in the scienceidentified in the 1999 review remain. Despite limitations in the body of research to date,the possibility of harmful health effects from RF exposures cannot be ruled out.

Current safety standards for RF exposure are based on avoiding tissue damage fromheating effects. The standards do not account for the effects that may occur at exposurelevels that do not involve tissue heating. The public and some scientists have concernsabout the potential for cumulative, whole-body exposure to RFs from their widespreaduse and presence in the environment.

There is agreement that biological (i.e. non-thermal) effects from radiofrequencies areevident from research with animals, cell cultures and in humans. Continued research intothese effects, including potential mechanisms of action and the significance of theseeffects for long-term human health, is warranted.

A great deal of the new research on human health effects from RFs has come fromstudying those who use cell phones. Some recent studies suggest that low-level, long-term exposure to RFs may be linked to leukemia and certain brain cancers, among long-term cell phone users. Studies of the impacts on children from cell phone RFs, whilelimited in number, do not rule out the possibility that children require greater protectionfrom RF exposure.

Research in populations near cell phone base stations in Europe indicates that somepeople living within about 300 metres of a base station are more likely to experiencesymptoms, such as headache, memory changes, dizziness, tremors, depression and sleepdisturbance, that are similar to a condition known as “microwave sickness”. Such studiesare limited and have not yet been conducted in North America. Some scientists concludethere is need to ensure that RFs are kept as low as possible to protect people living closeto cell phone towers.

It is commonly agreed that the cellular and wireless technologies relying on RFs have notbeen in use long enough to adequately assess the potential for all long-term health effects.

The expanding network of cell phone towers, antennas and wireless communicationtechnologies and installations in Toronto, together with the increasing use of theassociated devices by the public, likely translate to increasing rather than decreasingexposure of the public over time. Current data on RF levels measured in Toronto indicatethat with few exceptions, levels of RFs are typically many times below the HealthCanada exposure guidelines.

Despite diverse views on whether exposure limits are adequately health protective, anumber of jurisdictions have moved to adopt more stringent exposure standards. ThePrudent Avoidance Policy previously endorsed by the Board of Health in 1999 requeststhat applicants who wish to install new antennas or modified antennas demonstrate thatradio frequency (RF) exposures in areas where people normally spend time, (that is, workplaces, residences or areas where the public has unrestricted access) will be at least100 times below those currently recommended by Health Canada’s limits for publicexposure, known as Safety Code 6.

The approach of the TPH Prudent Avoidance Policy has been applied successfullyalready to cell tower and wireless antenna sitings and has not placed undue burden onstaff time or on the industry’s ability to comply.

Health Canada has not revised its guidelines to address the concerns raised in 1999. Thisreview indicates that, in the face of uncertain risks, prudent avoidance is still the bestapproach to minimize public exposure from the new and increasing number of RFsources in Toronto. The Medical Officer of Health recommends that the City continuewith a prudent avoidance approach in siting new telecommunication towers and antennasin the City. Initial consultations can be used to collect data from cell phone carriers onpredicted RF levels of proposed towers and antennas. This will allow the City to monitorthe potential impact of proposed telecommunications facilities in Toronto and toencourage voluntary adoption of the Prudent Avoidance Policy.

Full Report: https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/technical_report.pdf

Filed in: Canada