When new technology comes out, there are no long term studies available to show their safety. SO how safe is wi-fi? Complaints about symptoms, disease and lasting damage to the body simply aren't available. History is full of products withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns found 'after' the fact. Asbestos, lead & smoking are three that immediately come to mind. The reformulation of Scotchguard in 2003 and the phase out from May 2000 is another. Prior to 2000, it was sprayed commercially on almost all new carpets & furniture and it was in everyone's homes.

Is Wi-Fi going to be one of these? Time will tell. How much time? We simply don't know.

Adelaide has become the largest 'hotspot' in Australia, in a joint venture between Internode & the state government and Adelaide city council, but one school, concerned about potential side effects, has become a Wi-Fi free zone. The principal has decided that there isn't enough evidence that Wi-FI is completely safe and has wired up the school instead.

WHO (the World Health Organisation) also wonder how safe is wi-fi as they have called Wi-Fi a potential carcinogen. Further study is warranted on long term effects.

Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home Healthy Family, creator of the Abode cleaning products (you can buy her natural cleaning products in store) and founder of the Australian College of Environmental Studies was interviewed by Channel 7 this week in a story on Wi-Fi sensitivity. She is concerned, just how safe is wi-fi?

Dr Magna Havas, an expert on electro-magnetic radiation in Canada, tells us in the interview that the exposure to Wi-Fi radiation is far greater in schools than in the home. In the interview, she goes on to say that children are at great risk of exposure. She says there is evidence of it being linked to cancer, reproductive problems, electro hypersensitivity and heart palpitations.

While radiation exposure is a low dose, it's everywhere. Nicole goes on to explain that more progressive countries like France, Belgium & Switzerland have public exposure guidelines 100 times lower than what our government says it's safe to be exposed to. In the USA, it's far greater. A fascinating visual display of the Wi-Fi mapping over Washington DC shows that it's everywhere. Asking the question of how safe is wi-fi is a valid question worth more research.

The story goes on to say that countries like Italy, France, Russia, China, & Switzerland implemented policy not have have Wi-Fi in day care centres & schools years ago, and these are countries where the acceptable exposure levels are significantly lower than in Australia. Nicole goes on to explain that the Australian acceptable levels are geared towards healthy adults, so what is it potentially doing to our children?

Our Wi-Fi safety guidelines haven't been update in Australia for more than 10 years. Considering the changes in technology and the sheer volume of Wi-Fi available in 2014 as opposed to 2004, it's about time the Australian Government stepped up and did some more research.

The official statement from the government is this:-

"There is no established evidence that the exposure to low levels of radiofrequency electro magnetic energy form wifi adversely affects the health of children."

This is still no reason to keep guidelines in place more than a decade old and not research the effects of so much new technology. Nicole makes a great point, that there is no ethics committee in the world that's going to grant approval for someone to put a mobile phone to a child's head long term and then study the effects.

The only way evidence is going to be established is to wait for children to become sick and then be studied. It saddens me that this topic is getting a 'reactive' approach from the government and not a 'proactive' one. 10 years is a LONG time in technology. Do you remember what computer you were using? Modem? Mobile phone?

It is important to note that many people show absolutely no effects from being around Wi-Fi. For others, they are sensitive and for those, its' a wise idea to 'wire up' your home and not use Wi-Fi devices. Regardless of whether you're using it or not, Wi-Fi modems emit signals. You can minimise your exposure in the home by turning off the Wi-Fi when it's not in use. For children playing on mobile devices, if an internet connection is not required, go in to the Settings and turn the Wi-Fi off.

On top of this, earlier this week, Telstra sent out a warning to it's customers about avoiding electro-magnetic energy from mobile phone use. The official advice given by Telstra can be read HERE. Nicole also has further information about reducing exposure to many household toxics in her book Healthy Home Healthy Family.