Wi-Fi and Health   

The use of Wi-Fi has gained tremendous popularity as there is an ever-increasing demand for wireless access to the local area network (LAN).  The term Wi-Fi is developed and used by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standards.  With the help of these products, consumers will be able to access internet, cable free, in public places like airports, hotels, shopping centers and especially in places where cables cannot be run.  Since Wi-Fi certified products comply with a unified global standard, devices equipped with standard Wi-Fi components will work anywhere in the world offering conveniences that even mobile phone is unable to match up with.  Connection to the WLAN is achieved through transmission and reception of data over the air by radio waves operating at 2.4 and 5 GHz range.  The 2.4 Wi-Fi frequency is the same frequency that is used by typical microwave ovens used at home.  As we have heard frequently the concerns about the safety of electric magnetic fields (EMF), the increasing demand for Wi-Fi will definitely bring unease to many critics.

It has been well established that overexposures to EMF will cause thermal heating of the human body.  Many biological effects induced by EMF have been reported, but no adverse health effects have ever been substantiated.  The use of Wi-Fi products is subjected to the same standards that are applied to other EMF generating devices such as microwave oven, mobile phone antenna, induction heater, etc.  The exposure guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) have been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as guidelines for EMF protection.  These exposure guidelines are designed to offer protection against all known health effects from EMF with a wide margin of safety.   Although some scientists remain skeptical about the health impact on exposure to EMF, it is currently accepted by the scientific community that there is no established scientific evidence of any adverse health effect from repeated exposures to EMF present at or below the recommended limits. 

Health, Safety and Environment Office (HSEO) has recently conducted an EMF survey to monitor the emission from the Wi-Fi systems installed on campus.  These systems were generally installed on the false ceiling.  Depending on the area covered, more than one access points may be required in some places.  The survey locations included public corridors, classrooms, lecture theaters, library and a number of selected locations where Wi-Fi antennae were installed.  It was found that none of the antenna had emission higher than the current limit allows and the Wi-Fi antennae were installed at locations where direct contact of the antenna by the public is restricted.  In addition, the power emitted by the Wi-Fi products commercially available is much lower than the microwave oven or mobile phone.  Public exposures to EMF generated by these devices at levels exceeding the limits recommended by the ICNIRP standard are highly unlikely.  HSEO will continue to monitor these Wi-Fi antennae to ensure they satisfy the applicable standards currently available and to implement amendment adopted in these standards or regulatory requirements as needed.