Environmental Health Trust

Experts Call for Public School District to Correct Inaccurate Website on Wireless Radiation Safety

Parents raising Wi-Fi health concerns lead Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools to issue information about Wi-Fi cancer links resulting in a worldwide response.

 

Teton Village, WY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2016 -- Fox News reported that Environmental Health Trust (EHT) experts identified numerous false and misleading claims about radiofrequency radiation and children's health on the Montgomery County Public School Maryland (MCPS) School District website. In a letter to MCPS, Lloyd Morgan, senior EHT advisor, detailed extensive errors, adding, "I am appalled that a public agency would rely on and relay outright falsehoods."

Contrary to what MCPS asserts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, of the World Health Organization, classifies wireless radiation from cell phones as well as wireless radiation from other devices as a possible human carcinogen, Morgan noted.

EHT President Devra Davis PhD MPH commented, "The County assertion that the 20-year old FCC radiofrequency standards 'are not outdated' is wrong. The Government Accountability Office in 2012 reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 'RF energy exposure limit may not reflect the latest research.' This prompted the FCC to begin a formal reassessment which remains incomplete. In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics asked the FCC to update its standards in light of children's growing exposures."

"The erroneous information provided by Montgomery County Public Schools on its website is emblematic of a nationwide problem. Local schools and policymakers are not provided adequate information about the possible health risks of wireless radiation from the federal health agencies on which they rely. The EPA, the CDC and the FDA have not reviewed current science and determined US exposure limits to be safe. Most people assume that the federal government has radiofrequency regulations that protect children from health effects from long-term exposures, but that is a myth. We have no proof of safety," stated Davis.

"Any government agency, in my opinion, that has done a review in the last two or three years and hasn't made a significant change to their safety standard has not done a proper thorough review of the science," stated former President of Microsoft Canada, Frank Clegg, in a Tuesday, February 16, 2016 ABC Catalyst documentary broadcast, which also featured Davis who cautioned, "Children today are growing up in a sea of radiofrequency microwave radiation that did not exist five years ago."

"MCPS extols the virtues of 21st century learning as a wireless classroom, yet the County has yet to consider 21st century best available science that shows wireless may not be such a smart technology after all," stated mother Thea Scarato in the February 9, 2016 MCPS Board of Education meeting. In a letter posted on a local blog started by concerned parents, Scarato detailed the "over 32 false facts" given by the County on wireless radiation health issues. Fifteen letters were also sent by by scientists, doctors and researchers to MCPS calling for minimizing wireless exposures in schools.

In January, Dr. Devra Davis wrote a letter to MCPS raising concerns about the use of Google's Wireless Expeditions Program in classrooms. Davis presented preliminary imaging showing the radiation absorption into the brain of a child from the virtual reality "cardboard" viewer that is a smartphone held up at the eyes of children, and Davis called on the County to reduce such exposures. Environmental Health Trust scientists also wrote to the US Secretary of Education in October 2015, calling for the implementation of both "safe technology" and a national educational awareness program in schools, in order to reduce cell phone and other wireless radiation exposures.

Montgomery County Public Schools is the largest school district in Maryland and the 18th largest in the United States. For three years, parents have been advocating for safe technology in the classrooms. However, the District continues to implement its Strategic Technology Plan, which includes high-density radiofrequency radiation wireless networks in all classrooms and a Bring Your Own Device Policy so that cell phones and other wireless devices are also used as classroom tools.

About Environmental Health Trust
Environmental Health Trust (EHT) educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. Currently, EHT is raising health concerns about wireless in schools and recommending safer hardwired internet connection installations. EHT maintains a database of the over 20 countries and municipalities taking precautionary action worldwide to reduce wireless exposures.

Please visit http://www.EHtrust.org and on Facebook.

FOX 5 News Report on Wifi In Schools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk17yuFwy7M&feature=youtu.be

ABC Catalyst Documentary: Wi-Fried
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4407325.htm

Lloyd Morgan's Letter to MCPS
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Oub2Nx5eSLY0tBdUd2U09naUE/view

Dr. Devra Davis' letter to MCPS on Google Expeditions
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Oub2Nx5eSLenRqcmFfMEFRSTg/view

EHT Press Release on Google Expeditions
http://ehtrust.org/stop-untested-microwave-radiation-of-childrens-brains-and-eyes-eht-scientists-urge-google/

Concerned parent's 40-page letter to MCPS itemizing false statements.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Oub2Nx5eSLUE9OelpNV3NLdEU/view?usp=sharing

Testimony to the MCPS Board of Education by Concerned Parents
http://safetechforschoolsmaryland.blogspot.com/2016/02/wi-fi-tech-in-schools-violations-of.html

EHT Letter to US Secretary of State Recommending Safe Technology in Schools
http://ehtrust.org/expert-docs-urge-u-s-secretary-of-education-play-it-safe-with-kids-go-wired-not-wifi/