Wi-Fi technology and human health impact: a brief review of current knowledge

Author: Ivica Prlić1, Jerko Šiško1, Veda Marija Varnai1, Luka Pavelić1, Jelena Macan1, Silvija Kobešćak1, Mladen Hajdinjak1, Mihovil Jurdana1, Zdravko Cerovac1, Branimir Zauner1, Marija Surić Mihić1, Selma Cvijetić Avdagić1
Affiliation:
1 Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
Conference/Journal: Arh Hig Rada Toksikol
Date published: 2022 Jul 7
Other: Volume ID: 73 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 94-106 , Special Notes: doi: 10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3402. , Word Count: 186


An enormous increase in the application of wireless communication in recent decades has intensified research into consequent increase in human exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiofrequency (RF) radiation fields and potential health effects, especially in school children and teenagers, and this paper gives a snap overview of current findings and recommendations of international expert bodies, with the emphasis on exposure from Wi-Fi technology indoor devices. Our analysis includes over 100 in vitro, animal, epidemiological, and exposure assessment studies (of which 37 in vivo and 30 covering Wi-Fi technologies). Only a small portion of published research papers refers to the "real" health impact of Wi-Fi technologies on children, because they are simply not available. Results from animal studies are rarely fully transferable to humans. As highly controlled laboratory exposure experiments do not reflect real physical interaction between RF radiation fields with biological tissue, dosimetry methods, protocols, and instrumentation need constant improvement. Several studies repeatedly confirmed thermal effect of RF field interaction with human tissue, but non-thermal effects remain dubious and unconfirmed.

Keywords: SAR; e-school; e-škola; exposure to RF fields; izloženost RF poljima; radiofrekvencija; radiofrequency.

PMID: 35792772 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3402

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