Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward
(May 24, 2015)
This month there were a couple of very important developments regarding the near constant microwave transmissions of “smart” meters that the utility industry insists are safe.
On May 11th, 190 independent, published scientists who specialize in ElectroMagnetic Field (EMF) research from 39 countries petitioned the United Nations to protect humans and wildlife from electromagnetic fields and wireless technology.
Now, less than two weeks later, the International EMF Scientist Appeal has grown to 205 EMF scientists from 40 countries. Between them all, they have over 2,000 peer-reviewed EMF studies published. Read more→
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3 Comments
Smart Meters, Dumb Science
Posted: 02/28/2013 12:23 pm EST Updated: 04/30/2013 5:12 am EDT
Scientific facts
So what are the scientific facts here?
To begin with, smart meters use basically the same wireless technology as cell phones. The FCC, after reviewing many scientific studies, has set wireless radiation standards, with which all manufacturers of smart meters easily comply. The frequency of cellular technology microwave radiation corresponds to a wavelength of approximately 30 centimeters, or roughly one foot. This wavelength is thousands of times larger than structures in the brain responsible for mental processes, and so claims that wireless radiation can cause maladies such as “dizziness” or “memory loss” are absurd.
But what about other claims of smart meter health effects? What about claims of cancer? Here again, the scientific evidence is quite clear.
In 2010, a 13-nation study commissioned by the World Health Organization found at most a very minimal and partially contradictory link between cancer risk and heavy cell-phone usage. Along this line, concerns that cell phone usage by pregnant mothers endangers their fetuses are wildly exaggerated.
It is also instructive to compare the radiation levels of smart meters with those of other wireless devices. Smart meters only transmit data for roughly 1.4 seconds per day, at very low wattage. And even if one stands less than one meter (3 feet) from a smart meter when it broadcasts its data, the resulting microwave exposure is 550 times less than standing in front of an active microwave oven, and 1100 times less than holding an active cell phone to one’s ear.
need to look at all the data
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-h-bailey/smart-meters-dumb-science_b_2768405.html
The FCC is not a health agency. The FCC is in the business of selling frequency bandwidth and is currently chaired by a former communications industry lobbyist. The FCC guidelines only involve protection against thermal radiation – when human tissue is heated.
Sadly – and negligently – FCC exposure guidelines do not cover non-thermal, low intensity radiation generated by “smart” meters. The FCC exposure guidelines are thus completely inapplicable for the microwave radiation emitted by “smart” meters.
The 2010 WHO finding is old, inaccurate news. Since then the WHO has classified RadioFrequency (RF) radiation as a Class 2B possible carcinogen.
Anyone who believes this — “Smart meters only transmit data for roughly 1.4 seconds per day, at very low wattage” — is a fool. See my YouTube of an APS “smart” meter transmitting practically non-stop here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVjRBEG03hI
And no, the “smart” meter in the video is not broken. “Smart” meters can transmit as many as 240,396 per day depending on their placement in the mesh network in which they operate.
The comparisons with a microwave oven and cell phone are apples and oranges and incorrect.
Obviously a microwave oven is intentionally heating food but it is not intentional that one be exposed to that radiation which is very high in the oven. Industry typically quotes allowed leakage rates for an oven compared with smart meters. However, the actual typical peak RF from a microwave oven is about 10 microwatts per centimeter squared at one meter away, not much different than a “smart” meter.
As for the cell phone comparison, some cell phones when operating at peak level can produce a signal higher than a smart meter but most operate much lower than a smart meter due to adaptive power control and other measures intended to conserve battery power. No such conservation measures are employed for “smart” meters.
Also, exposure to “smart” meter radiation is whole body exposure whereas exposure to cell phone radiation is generally at the head only. Additionally, exposure to oven and cell phone is voluntary and intermittent, not chronic and involuntary as with “smart” meters.
I have an ambient level of microwave radiation in my kitchen of about 7 microwatts per meter squared, mostly from the cell towers on Airport Mesa. When my neighbor’s “smart” meter goes off 25 yards away, I get hit with a signal about 3 times stronger than ambient in my kitchen. The signal also turns my ceiling fan on in my living room.
To see just how strongly “smart” meters transmit compared to cell towers, see my YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_TLCd3Litg
Go away Steve. Please.