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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wi-fi laptop fears for children | Wi-fi laptop fears for children |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Computers with wireless internet should not be placed on children's laps, says the head of the government's committee on mobile phone safety research. | |
| Professor Lawrie Challis told the Daily Telegraph children using wi-fi networks should be monitored until research into potential health risks is completed. | |
| He says children should keep a safe distance from the embedded antennas. | He says children should keep a safe distance from the embedded antennas. |
| The Health Protection Agency has said wi-fi devices are of very low power - much lower than mobile phones. | The Health Protection Agency has said wi-fi devices are of very low power - much lower than mobile phones. |
| Prof Challis, retired professor of physics at the University of Nottingham, said: "With a desktop computer, the transmitter will be in the tower. | |
| "This might be perhaps 20cms from your leg and the exposure would then be around one per cent of that from a mobile phone. | "This might be perhaps 20cms from your leg and the exposure would then be around one per cent of that from a mobile phone. |
| "However, if you put a laptop straight on your lap and are using wi-fi, you could be around two centimetres from the transmitter, and receiving comparable exposure to that from a mobile phone." | "However, if you put a laptop straight on your lap and are using wi-fi, you could be around two centimetres from the transmitter, and receiving comparable exposure to that from a mobile phone." |
| 'Bigger problem' | 'Bigger problem' |
| Prof Challis added that children are much more sensitive than adults to dangers such as pollutants like lead and UV radiation. | Prof Challis added that children are much more sensitive than adults to dangers such as pollutants like lead and UV radiation. |
| "So if there should be a problem with mobiles, then it may be a bigger problem for children. | "So if there should be a problem with mobiles, then it may be a bigger problem for children. |
| "Since we advise that children should be discouraged from using mobile phones, we should also discourage children from placing their laptop on their lap when they are using wi-fi. | "Since we advise that children should be discouraged from using mobile phones, we should also discourage children from placing their laptop on their lap when they are using wi-fi. |
| Meanwhile, teachers have called for an investigation into whether there are any health risks from wireless computer networks in schools. | Meanwhile, teachers have called for an investigation into whether there are any health risks from wireless computer networks in schools. |
| The Professional Association of Teachers union is writing to the education secretary for a clarification on wi-fi safety. | The Professional Association of Teachers union is writing to the education secretary for a clarification on wi-fi safety. |
| Many primary and secondary schools use wi-fi networks - but the PAT believes there is insufficient long-term evidence to demonstrate whether such networks are safe. | Many primary and secondary schools use wi-fi networks - but the PAT believes there is insufficient long-term evidence to demonstrate whether such networks are safe. |