• There is no evidence that in-flight WiFi is safe from a health and/or aviation safety perspective.
• There is evidence that even low levels of radio-frequency radiation emitted by WiFi routers and mobile devices can be harmful to human health and adversely effect human performance- even at government allowed levels, as reported in the BioInitiative Report on Government Standards.
• There is no evidence, that we know of, that the accumulated exposures in a WiFi-enabled aircraft with or without crew and passengers online, have been measured or monitored.
HEALTH AUTHORITIES EXPRESS CONCERN WITH WiFi Health Risks:
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine stated recently, “Chronic exposure to wireless radiofrequency radiation is a preventable environmental hazard that is sufficiently well documented to warrant immediate preventative public health action.” (Feb. 25, 2012)
The World Health Organization -International Agency for Research on Cancer stated in May 2011 The Working Group did not quantitate the risk; however, one study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004), showed a 40% increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users (reported average: 30 minutes per day over a 10‐year period)… the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a conclusion … that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk.“
Professor Devra Davis, PhD (Epidemiologist, founder of Environmental Health Trust)
“The epidemiological approach that says the only proof of harm that really counts is enough sick or dead people has to change, particularly with the potential health hazards from WiFi exposure, as health problems may take years to develop. Should we wait? I don’t think so, and neither does the European Parliament that has urged caution with this technology.”
And here is an open letter to the industry, and government aviation regulators, by A4M member, cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, MD.
The heart is a delicate and complex electromagnetic organ that can be adversely affected by exogenous signals from wireless technology and its microwave radiation.
For this reason it is unwise to adopt this popular, but untested technology, in transportation, especially exposing passengers, pilots and other flight crew to onboard WiFi radiation.
As far as we know, no one has tested the accumulated exposures within the aircraft when a good number of passengers, and flight crew, are using their mobile devices.
I would like to tests on pilots for potential cardiac – and cognitive – effects.
Another concern is who will monitor the usage of in-flight mobile devices? For example, a Sat phone could present additional problems.
While pregnant women, infants and children are particularly vulnerable to this radiation exposure, we are all at risk.
This global implementation of WiFi technology is creating a new environmental health hazard, and this electro-pollution is the greatest medical threat of our time.
I know this because I am a board certified cardiologist and have been a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology since 1977. At the Manchester Memorial Hospital in Connecticut, I served in several roles, including Chief of Cardiology, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Director of Medical Education.
1. There are a growing number of people who have become electro-sensitive and develop adverse symptoms when exposed to even low levels of electro-magnetic radiation.
2. Symptoms – usually unrecognized – may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, feeling faint, pulsing sensations or pressure in the head, chest pain or pressure, difficulty concentrating, weakness, fatigue, and a racing or irregular heart accompanied by feelings of anxiety. These symptoms may seem diverse but they indicate autonomic dystonia or dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
3. We know that the heart is sensitive to, and can be adversely affected by, the same frequency used for WiFi (2.4 GHz) at levels a fraction of federal guidelines (less than 1%).
4. In the future, it is quite possible that we may see the need to provide WiFi-free areas in public spaces like airports, schools, offices – and in public transportation.
We do not know the long-term effects of low-level microwave radiation. The safety of this technology on human health has not been properly tested and I would advise that you follow the precautionary principle that states the following:
”In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
(Rio Conference 1992).
The principle implies that we have a social responsibility to protect the public from exposure to harm, when scientific investigations have found a plausible risk. That “plausible risk” exists for microwave radiation at very low levels. These protections can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that provide sound evidence that no harm will result.
In some legal systems the application of the precautionary principle has been made a statutory requirement.
In conclusion it is unwise to install wireless technology (WiFi) in public transportation, especially aircraft.
Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C.
February 28, 2012
