RF Safety and Risk Communications – The Wi-Fi industry perspective

There has been a significant amount of scientific study over the past fifteen years regarding whether there are health hazards associated with the use of RF based technologies.  Scientific panels from more than 16 countries have reviewed the data and have made consistent findings: that there are no health hazards associated with RF based technologies when used within established safety guidelines.  

The RF safety standards referenced in these reviews and used in much of the world are those drawn from ICNIRP (The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).  These standards are science based and impose conservative limits with a fifty fold additional safety margin for public exposure to radio signals. A recent statement by the World Health Organization concludes “Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.”   Nonetheless some of the public remain unconvinced and have raised personal concerns about products using radio signals.  The reasons are varied but whatever they are it is incumbent upon the government, industry and others to address these concerns through a communications plan. 

The Member companies of the Wi-Fi Alliance  have chosen to address the topic through a two pronged approach:  a compliance regimen for meeting the required rules and an outreach program of information and education to the public so they can better understand the science and rules associated with questions about RF based technologies and health.

Wi-Fi Alliance

Representing the rapidly expanding WLAN industry is the Wi-Fi Alliance (www.wi-fi.org) a global, non-profit industry association of more than 200 member companies devoted to promoting the adoption of a single world wide standard for wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). The Wi-Fi Alliance's testing and certification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.  Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in 1999, more than 2,200 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across global consumer and enterprise markets.

Throughout this growth, the industry has openly embraced its corporate responsibility of meeting the required safety standards for electro-magnetic frequencies.  The WiFi Alliance has further defined their corporate stewardship to include an outreach strategy that will keep its customer’s informed in an open and transparent manner about what the latest scientific experts have to say about the safety of RF based technologies.

Wi-Fi Alliance Health and Science Task Group

The twin goals – a robust compliance regimen and outreach/education -- are reflected in the agenda of the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Health and Science Task Group.  Formed in 2004, the Task Group’s major responsibility is to be a central information repository on RF Health for its membership. The Task Group now comprised of over 50 members, is chartered to:

• provide member awareness of the latest science, standards and news about EMF

• be responsive to customers and policymakers about their question on EMF and WLAN

Since its inception, the Task Group has:

• developed a brochure on Wi-Fi and health (http://www.wi-fi.org/files/uploaded_files/kc_13_WLAN%20and%20Health_7-20-05.pdf);

• supported an independent scientific exposure assessment of Wi-Fi;

• participated in RF safety forums

• worked with other industry organizations with similar interests, for example the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), WiMAX forum, and GSM Association.

The latest CITEL conference on Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) offers a good example of positive information exchange among the science and public health community, government policy makers and the industry.  Forums such as this offer a beneficial platform for open dialog among interested parties, an opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from the scientific community, and reinforce for the public that decisions about RF and public health are important and considered in an open and transparent manner among the experts.

Harmonization of RF safety standards

The Wi-Fi Alliance has embraced the goal of a global, harmonized RF safety standard based on sound science.  A harmonized standard provides benefits from a public health and safety perspective, in addition to the lower product costs derived through economies of scale.  A harmonized standard ensures consistency in protection for the public, and protection limits that reflect the consensus of the global scientific community, helps to reduce the public confusion The World Health Organization’s International EMF project has made harmonization a principle goal for their organization.

Conclusion

There is a growing understanding of the scientific consensus related to RF and health among governments and policy leaders.  This reflects the priority over the last fifteen years in supporting the scientific studies necessary to reach that consensus.  Now what is needed is to translate this consensus into sound public policies and outreach to the public.  The Wi-Fi Alliance and its member companies are committed to maintaining high standards in complying with RF safety and health requirements.  The Alliance and its membership are also committed to reaching out to its customers and the public so they better understand RF, the standards in place for protection, and the benefits of the technology.  Partnering with governments and others to get information to the public is integral to any outreach plan.  The CITEL conference on NIR has provided a great opportunity for advancing these goals.  It is our hope that others will follow this lead.

John Roman
Chair, Task Group on Health and Science
Wi-Fi Alliance
Manager, Global Spectrum Assessment and Policy
Intel Corporation
([email protected])