Here is a great amount of information about the
City of Toronto Board of Health and their recommendations involving
cell phone use by children and public exposure to electro magnetic
fields. It is a brave and very welcome first step but is unlikely to
save many people from severe harm from exposure to electro magnetic
radiation (EMR). The reason for this, is that Toronto is already
greatly polluted by EMR and the safety levels used by the federal
government are so dangerous, that these recommendations will
likely have little impact.
It is refreshing to know that a group of people who are trusted with
the health of many, recognize the extreme dangers of EMR and are
willing to make safer recommendations. This is contrary to the Canadian
Ministry of Health (EMR division), where it appears that their main
purpose is to protect the interests of large corporations who are
harming the health of Canadians.
I applaud the Toronto Board of Health for their
efforts so far. I hope that they continue to scan the scientific
evidence that EMR is significantly harming health and continue to make
safer recommendations. I would also suggest that cordless telephones
and WiFi and wireless games should be included in their recommendations
for avoidance by children and that these devices should not be used in
close proximity to children.
Martin Weatherall
Director WEEP - Wireless Electrical and
Electromagnetic Pollution.
-----
Original Message -----
From:
Linda Sepp
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 3:56 AM
Subject: Cell Phone Use by Children and Youth / Prudent
Avoidance Policy
Cell Phone Use
by Children and Youth
(May 29, 2008) Report from the Medical Officer of
Health
http://www.toronto.ca/health/boh_reports.htm
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.
Background Information
Cell Phone Use by Children and Youth -
Staff Report (PDF
file size 40KB)