More and more rumors about safety concerns of wifi are circulating in the news such as this one, where a “safety” conscious group is demanding that wifi is dangerous for kids. This story is from New Zealand.

WiFi detrimental to health, study suggests – One News | TVNZ.

Many people can’t imagine getting by without WiFi, but one group says it’s coming at a cost more detrimental than people realise. Safe Wireless Technology New Zealand says research confirms the negative health effects of electromagnetic radiation from WiFi, but that the Government is choosing to ignore it. The radiation has the potential to cause headaches, nausea and even cancer SWTNZ chairman Greg Kasper told TV ONE’s Breakfast. “If you get too much of this stuff it’s really bad for you,” he said.

How precise. <sarcasm>

As we’ve seen many many times throughout modern history, people will demonize a new technology as being the source of illness or death – plastic, microwaves, genetically modified food, vaccines, fluoride, electrical lines, cell phones. Geez, let’s go back to television and rock n roll as the downfall of society. Wifi is another in a long line of scare tales.

This article is misleading, as are many others you see in the news, regarding the science. In fact, it appears they are making stuff up and using poor studies to overshadow the facts that we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation and we live longer than ever. People want research but research HAS been done. They just don’t agree with the results – they want it to show what they believe.

Addition: Parents of a New Zealand boy believe that the school wifi caused his cancer.

“We’re not saying that caused it, but it seems like a bit of a coincidence. Most people would be very cautious about giving their 5-year-old a cellphone — well, this is 30 kids in a classroom [being exposed] to the same thing,” said his Ethan’s father, Damon.

Hmm, sounds like you are. There is no evidence for it, either. Kids have been diagnosed with brain tumors long before wifi. It is irresponsible to suggest this when the evidence points out that there is NO connection.

Here is a response from a science blogger also in New Zealand.

Concern about Wifi has been whipped up of late by a New Zealand-based lobby group also opposed to its use in schools. The chairman of the lobby group Safer Wireless Technology New Zealand Incorporated aka Ban the Tower, failed to coherently articulate the group’s concerns about Wifi technology and had to be rescued by sympathetic TVNZ host Raudon Christie several times. Just as well TVNZ hadn’t asked a scientist to sit on the couch and tackle Kasper’s claims – it would have been a bloodbath. Kasper is a semi-retired accountant who lives in Howick and apparently “has had first-hand experience with unwanted cell towers”. If you are wondering where the scientific expertise in this group lies, its in Dr Stuart Reuben, a retired cardiologist and Toa Greening an ICT engineer. Yep, not an electro magnetic field (EMF) expert in sight. What’s interesting about them however is that they have engaged a public relations company Passion PR to gain media exposure for a campaign they are pushing. They are not attempting to have Wifi routers banned, though the more you dig around the Ban the Tower website the more you realise they are determined to get rid of celltowers, smart meters and Wifi in schools.

Why? Because they BELIEVE they are harmful. There is no evidence that they are indeed harmful. Check out that piece in its entirety that links to actual studies and conclusions by health authorities.

This story about kids’ school experiment is going back around. We stomped on it back in May but the idea is so enticing – that even kids can show that wifi is bad – it is recirculating. This is not good science and the conclusion is not valid. MUCH more sound studies have shown that there is no increased risk. But the premise that we are hurting our kids with this new-fangled technological society is a powerful one and stokes unfounded fears. Note: UNFOUNDED.

Stop worrying and enjoy the convenience. Eat healthy, get some exercise, don’t smoke. You’ll be fine. That is, before the next tech scare comes around.

There is an active effort in Canada to stop these unfounded claims: Canadian consumer protection group reports: Wifi hazard claims unsupported by science | Doubtful News.

Cited studies of EMFs Electromagnetic sensitivity – Can’t escape it, but here is the science | Doubtful News.