As a result of a number of concerns voiced about possible health risks associated with Wi-Fi use in schools, Bluewater District School Board recently commissioned an independent outside testing lab, LEX Scientific Inc., to measure the radiofrequency levels in two Bluewater District schools.
The schools chosen were Ripley-Huron Community School and St.Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary School. These schools are representative of other elementary schools within the district and have the same Wi-Fi infrastructure as all Bluewater schools.
The testing was conducted in different areas throughout the schools with all computers running and using the Wi-Fi system at the same time.
The final report from LEX Scientific showed peak findings as follows:
Ripley-Huron 0.0072 watts per square metre
St.Vincent-Euphrasia 0.0023 watts per square metre
Canada’s Safety Code 6 has two maximum levels. The first maximum wattage allowed is 50 watts per square metre for certain workers in controlled environment where higher radiofrequency levels may be present. The second, more stringent, maximum wattage allowed applies to people in general in everyday environments such as homes, offices, streets and schools. This level is set to provide an even wider safety margin of 10 watts per square metre.
The findings from the tests at the schools show that the radio frequency levels from Wi-Fi systems in the schools are more than a hundred times lower than the stricter 10 watt per square metre maximum of Safety Code 6.
“We take all issues relating to the health and safety of our students and staff very seriously,” said Interim Director of Education, Alana Murray.
“When there is a health concerned raised in our schools, we test against professionally and scientifically accepted standards. This is consistent with our ongoing practices to test for potential environment concerns such as air quality, heat stress, radon and asbestos. If something does not meet the applicable standards and regulations, we take immediate action to correct it,” Murray concluded.
LEX Industries’ report concluded that there is no health and safety reason to discontinue the use of Wi-Fi in Bluewater District schools. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has recently stated publicly that wireless internet technology poses no threat to children in schools.
