Physicians for Safe Technology – 03aug2023.
March 2023 the Santa Clara County Medical Association, in California, adopted comprehensive Recommendations for Best Practices for Safe Technology in Schools in order to educate physicians, school officials and teachers of the complex health risks and potential health hazards of digital and wireless technology in schools. The group examined research on the broad impacts of digital technology including health effects of exposure to wireless radiation, eye effects, mental health effects, and impacts on academic performance. Recognizing the importance of protecting children’s health in all environments, including schools, several recommendations for best practices were advised.
SCCMA Best Practices Recommendations include
- Creating a “Safe Tech in Schools Program” to educate students and staff on how to use devices safely and reduce wireless use in the classroom
- Using blue light reduction methods to reduce eye strain
- Establishing and promoting school cell phone-free policies
- Preferring and installing hard-wired ethernet devices instead of wireless wherever possible
- Consulting with an RF professional who can measure radiofrequency radiation
- Avoiding installation of smart meters on school premises
- Considering a policy to restrict installation of cell towers on school property
(LVsA extracted intro from the SCCMA report)
Purpose: To educate physicians, school officials and teachers of the complex health risks and potential health hazards of digital and wireless technology in schools, highlighting precautionary measures and recommendations for safer use of this technology.
The support of preventative environmentally-related diseases and public health measures are prime goals and objectives of the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA). The SCCMA encourages and supports initiatives that promote the health and safety of both students and staff in the school environment. We have previously endorsed healthy school policies to reduce pesticides and protect children from toxic exposures. In 2014 we supported the CMA Resolution CMA Resolution 107-14 “Wireless Communications Safety Standards Reevaluation” to update public standards for exposure to wireless radiofrequency radiation such that it does “not cause human or environmental harm based on scientific research.” In 2016 the SCCMA reprinted a 2014 Sonoma County Medical Association article, “What’s the Diagnosis Doctor?” by hospice physician Dr. Scott Eberle about his electrosensitivity.
Recently we have examined the impacts of wireless and digital devices in the school setting with an SCCMA Webinar “Children and Technology” in 2021, highlighting the psychosocial impacts of social media including learning, addiction and mental health. In 2020 the CMA passed Resolution 105-20 “What is the Internet Doing to Us? Digital Wellbeing in the Modern Age”, supporting research of internet and social media usage to address the “impacts on physical and mental health.” Because of the now ubiquitous and expanding use of digital devices in both informal and formal learning environments, and with new scientific evidence of negative health outcomes and mechanistic links, there is valid concern that this could have significant real-world implications on students in the short and long term, especially neurobiologically (Hu 2021; Hutton 2020; Li 2020; Hutton 2019; Kim 2019; Belpomme 2018; Meo 2018)
Health
Our organization has studied the issue of wireless technology with regard to potential adverse human health impacts of radiofrequency radiation emissions, including neurologic, genotoxic, immunologic, reproductive, hormonal and blue light eye effects, in addition to mental health and psychosocial issues surrounding excessive digital media screen time. Scientific literature indicates that the mechanisms of harm include oxidative injury to critical molecules such as DNA/lipids/proteins (Gerner, XIie), membrane disruption, blood brain barrier disruption, and mitochondrial injury with much of the resultant cellular injury occurring at non-thermal levels which are well below current standards (BioInitiative Report 2022). We have become especially concerned with the dramatic increase in the use of this technology in schools resulting in exponentially higher levels of non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by these wireless devices. This results in increased long-term exposures in children who spend much of their formative years in school environments (Moon 2020). There is little to no regulation or monitoring of this technology for health effects in children.
Although wireless devices are convenient, this growing robust body of peer-reviewed research has shown that this radiofrequency radiation poses significant short and long-term health risks. (Attah 2022; Butler 2020; Miller 2019). Like tobacco or toxic chemical exposures, it takes decades of exposure, as well as decades of research, to strengthen the link between exposure and harm. Therefore, it takes decades to realize the magnitude of the public health threat before action is taken (NAS 2015). Conversely, considering so many lessons learned late with regards to toxic exposures, science, policy and political will (DDT, endocrine disruptors, flame retardants, BPA, nanotechnology and pesticides), a precautionary approach plays a critical role to manage public health hazards from rapidly emerging environmental exposures from modern innovations. (Gee 2013; EU 2017)…….Continue reading the SCCMA REPORT
The SCCMA now joins many other organizations who have researched this issue and who also recommend precautionary measures to reduce exposures to wireless emissions and distraction from digital devices including:……. Continue reading on Physicians for Safe Technology
Source – Physicians for Safe Technology – Medical Association Adopts Recommendations for Best Practices for Safe Technology in Schools
