Panel recommends Health Canada continue to research potential health risks
With great power comes great responsibility — and one non-profit is calling on Health Canada to keep up with the times when it comes to the safety of wireless signals.
"Technology is constantly changing, getting more and more powerful," explained Frank Clegg, CEO of Canadians 4 Safe Technology (C4ST). "As these things become more powerful and are used more in society, Health Canada has a responsibility to stay on top of the technology."
C4ST is a not-for-profit organization working to inform Canadians about the potential dangers of exposure to radiofrequency fields emitted by cellphones and other wireless devices. The group is calling for stricter guidelines on wireless technology in light of the Royal Society of Canada’s recent report on Safety Code 6.
The code sets out limits on exposure to the radiofrequency fields emitted by wireless devices — including everything from Wi-Fi equipment to television and radio broadcast antennas — in an effort to protect the health of workers and the general public.
The Royal Society of Canada released its expert panel report, Review of Safety Code 6: Potential Health Risks of Radiofrequency Fields, on April 1, 2014. The eight-member panel found the restrictions put in place by Safety Code 6 provide adequate protection from radiofrequency fields.
The panel — assembled in response to a request from Health Canada, the federal agency responsible for regulations around wireless technologies and related health effects — did suggest Health Canada expand its existing risk communication strategy. Expanding the data that is publicly available would better address the consumer need for information on radiofrequency fields, the types of devices that use radiofrequency energy and the levels emitted, said the report.
"In addition," said the panel, "Health Canada should incorporate additional suggestions into their recommendations on practical measures that Canadians can take to reduce their exposure around cell phone use (for example, using an earpiece)."
More than 250 million wireless devices are estimated to currently be in use in Canada, and that number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. The growing use of these technologies means more needs to be done to educate Canadians, according to Clegg.
"Employers should educate their workers on how to use the technology safely," he said. "Just about every workplace has Wi-Fi installed, and there’s certainly tremendous benefits. The challenge that we see is that the Safety Code limits are so high."
In an effort to achieve the highest performance and coverage possible, he explained, technicians will set wireless networks to the maximum capacity possible under Safety Code 6 regulations. This results in Canadian workers across the country facing levels of exposure C4ST deems excessive.
About three per cent of the population identifies as having electro-sensitivity. Those who consider themselves hypersensitive to radiofrequency fields report symptoms ranging from skin rashes to heart palpitations, ringing in the ears, numbness in the extremities, headaches and/or insomnia.
"Some people are affected so severely they can’t work," said Clegg. "Depending on how sensitive you are, there are people who have had to quit their jobs."
Health Canada said in a statement that Safety Code 6 is designed to protect people of all ages and sizes from all forms of exposure to radiofrequency fields, including the continuous exposure experienced by the majority of working Canadians.
"The limits established in Safety Code 6 incorporate large safety margins to provide a significant level of protection for all Canadians, including those working near radiofrequency sources," the statement read.
But Safety Code 6 doesn’t do enough to protect workers, C4ST argues. Employers have a duty to protect workers from overexposure and to accommodate employees who are especially sensitive, Clegg said.
Wireless networks should be set at lower levels and break areas free from radiofrequency fields should be designated for electro-sensitive workers.
"Know that there are electro-sensitive individuals and accommodate them ahead of time," he said. "We’re not saying don’t use technology, we’re just saying use it safely. It’s about being educated, being aware. I would encourage employers to get in front of this now, be aware now, and they’ll have more
productive employees."
C4ST believes ongoing exposure to radiofrequency fields could cause workers to develop hypersensitivity. According to Clegg, "You can develop sensitivity, so it’s in employers’ best interests to get in front of it because they could be creating more electro-sensitive employees in their workplace, which isn’t good for anyone."
Employees suffering from electro-sensitivity are more likely to take sick leave, and C4ST reports the Canadian Human Rights Commission has identified electro-sensitivity as a recognized condition.
While the Royal Society of Canada panel found no evidence that would indicate negative health effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields below the limits recommended by Safety Code 6, it did recommend Health Canada continue to research the possibility of electro-sensitivity as well as the possible link between cancer and the exposure to radiofrequency fields.
Though the causal association between cancer and exposure to radiofrequency fields is weak — similar to the tenuous connection between radiofrequency fields and the symptoms of electro-sensitivity — the panel’s report conceded that "research on many of these health effects is ongoing."
