WiFi

General position

There is no consistent evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within internationally accepted (ICNIRP) guidelines. Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency (RF) exposures from WiFi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones. Also, the frequencies used in WiFi are broadly the same as those from traditional RF applications.

On the basis of the studies so far carried out in house, the Agency sees no reason why WiFi should not continue to be used in schools. However with any new technology it is a sensible precautionary approach, as happened with mobile phones, to keep the situation under ongoing review so that parents and others can have as much reassurance as possible. That is why our Chairman, Sir William Stewart, has stated it would be timely to carry out further studies as this new technology is rolled out. The Health Protection Agency is discussing this with relevant parties.

Basics

WiFi is short for Wireless Fidelity and is a particular type of wireless local area network (WLAN) - i.e., you don't need to plug your computer into a phone network via a cable. There are many types of WLAN but all of them allow two or more computers to form a network using radio frequency (RF) signals. They allow users to access and share data, applications, internet access or other network resources in the same way as wired (cable) systems. For more information, view the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) page

ICNIRP is the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. See http://www.icnirp.org

Key Points

• There is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to RF signals from WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population
• The signals from WiFi are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the mast (or router) and resulting exposures should be well within internationally accepted guidelines
• The frequencies used are broadly the same as those from other RF applications such as FM radio, TV and mobile phones
• Based on current knowledge, RF exposures from WiFi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones
• On the basis of current scientific information, exposures from WiFi equipment satisfy international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and no reason why schools and others should not use WiFi equipment

Last reviewed: 8 January 2008