emfs

[Guest guest]

By David Rider

Thu Feb 23, 10:59 AM ET

 

 

 

TORONTO (Reuters) - A small Canadian university has ruled out campus-

wide wireless Internet access because its president fears the

system's electromagnetic forces could pose a risk to students'

health.

 

 

 

Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has only a limited Wi-

Fi connections at present, in places where there is no fibre-optic

Internet connection. And that, according to president Fred Gilbert,

is just fine.

 

" The jury is still out on the impact that electromagnetic forces have

on human physiology, " Gilbert told a university meeting last month,

insisting that university policy would not change while he remained

president.

 

" Some studies have indicated that there are links to carcinogenetic

occurrences in animals, including humans, that are related to energy

fields associated with wireless hotspots, whether those hotspots are

transmissions lines, whether they're outlets, plasma screens, or

microwave ovens that leak. "

 

Lakehead University published a transcript of Gilbert's remarks on

its Web site. Spokeswoman Eleanor Abaya said the decision not to

expand the university's few isolated wireless networks was

a " personal decision " by Gilbert.

 

But the president's stance has prompted a backlash from students and

from Canadian health authorities, who say his fears are overdone.

 

" If you look at the body of science, we're confident that there is no

demonstrable health effect or effects from wireless technology, " said

Robert Bradley, director of consumer and clinical radiation

protection at Canada's federal health department.

 

He said there was no reason to believe that properly installed

wireless networks pose a health hazard to computer users.

 

Adam Krupper, president of the Lakehead students' union, estimated

about 1,000 of the school's 7,500 students have laptops that could

pick up a wireless signal, and he said students " really, really " want

Wi-Fi on campus.

 

" Considering this is a university known for its great use of

technology, it's kind of bad that we can't get Wi-Fi, " he said.

 

Gilbert is a former vice-provost of Colorado State University who

holds degrees in biology and zoology. He was previously a zoology

professor.