Radiation Exposure of Children in Schools with Wireless Internet
In the last decade, we have seen a significant increase in and reliance on the use of electronic devices in our daily life. When we leave the house every day, we look to see that we have our phones, our e-readers and tablets, our laptop computers, and ensure that wherever we go, we know what the wifi password is. Though there have been back and forth data on the extent to which cellphones and other electronic devices can cause cancer, the effect that these devices have on our children is becoming increasingly apparent.
More Evidence Shows Wifi May be Carcinogenic, Especially to Kids
Not only are children at risk of becoming addicted to the devices that we, ourselves, rely on, but also, there is an increased probability that children who are surrounded by wireless radiation emitted from our wifi devices could be at risk of suffering health complications. Studies are being published regularly that reflect the understanding that we are absorbing radiation as a result of our wireless devices that work as two-way microwave radiating radios. Because of the thinness of children’s skulls, they are more deeply affected and are thought to absorb more radiation than do adults.
The NIH National Toxicology Program Findings
It was originally thought by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that the radiation was only harmful when it produced heat. However, the NIH National Toxicology Program proved these assumptions wrong when they exposed 7000 rats to equivalent radiation that humans experience daily. All the exposed rats experienced rare malignant cancers of the heart and brain, while not a single unexposed rat suffered the same fate.
Technology and the Classroom
Increasingly, our reliance on wifi and technology has us strapped to our devices. Additionally, the importance of technology in our day-to-day life has created a requirement to include it in our curricula, training, and lessons on coding and software, committing billions of dollars to create computer labs and making Maryland’s schools wireless.
Should Maryland Schools be Prohibited from Going Wireless? The CEHPAC’s Report
Because the information surrounding radiation is still new (as there are no long-term studies regarding children and electronics), there is a debate about whether Maryland schools should be permitted to go wireless in a show of progress. In March of 2017, for example, the Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council (CEHPAC) issued a report that showed that all local school districts in Maryland should reduce and limit the exposures of the students within the schools to wireless radiation, stating that until information becomes clearer about the safety of wireless technology, the schools should stay wired.
House Bill Introduced Requiring New Standards Around Digital Devices in Maryland Schools
Additionally, the Maryland House Legislature put forth a bill back in February that would help the Maryland Department of Education collaborate with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish standards, guidelines, and procedures that would limit the use of digital devices in public schools in an attempt to protect the children.
Screen Time Terrible for Kids
Though there are many naysayers and opponents to this who believe this impedes progress and that the people concerned about the radiation are hypochondriacs, there is evidence that a reduction of screen time for children is also important for their development, socially and behaviorally. Limiting screen time in children can have the effect of promoting creativity, individuality, and increasing social awareness because they are required to play games and interact with other non-screen users. Additionallyscreen time has been linked with an increased risk of type two diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in children.
Charles County, MD Personal Injury Lawyers that Fight for You
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of the negligence of another, it is important to consult with an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer. Please call the Law Office of Robert R. Castro at (301) 804-2312 for a confidential consultation.
