New Jersey Education Association: "Minimize health risks from electronic devices"

Minimize health risks from electronic devices

Published in the September 2016 NJEA Review
by Adrienne Markowitz and Eileen Senn

Desktops, laptops, tablets, eBook readers, printers, projectors, smart boards, smart TVs, cellphones, cordless phones and wireless networks (WiFi) have become ubiquitous in schools. At their best, they are powerful tools for education. At their worst, they threaten the physical and mental health of teachers, paraeducators, secretaries, librarians and other school staff members and students who spend numerous hours using the devices.

Physical health risks from electronic devices include pain and tingling from repetitive strain injuries to the hands and wrists; pain in the neck, shoulders and back; dry, burning, itchy eyes, blurred vision and headaches; altered sleep patterns and next-day fatigue from exposure to blue screen light; distracted driving; and various health problems from exposure to radiation.

Mental health risks arise from stress due to raised expectations for multitasking, productivity and proficiency with devices; dealing with malfunctioning devices; student and colleague distraction from and addiction to devices; and intrusion of devices into nonwork time.

WiFi devices emit radiation

Radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation is sent and/or received by the antennae of phones, routers and other wireless devices. RF radiation is capable of causing cancer, reproductive, neurological and ocular effects. The amount of radiation exposure received depends on the amount of time exposed and distance from the source. Radiation levels fall off exponentially with distance from antennae. If you double the distance, the radiation is four times less. If you triple the distance, it is nine times less, and so on. Children and developing fetuses are particularly at risk because their bodies are still growing. People with implanted medical devices are at risk for device interference.
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For radiation exposure

• Keep devices away from the body and bedroom.
• Carry phones in briefcases, etc., not on the body.
• Put devices on desks, not laps.
• Hard wire all devices that connect to the internet.
• Hard wire all fixed devices such as printers, projectors and boards.
• Use hard-wired phones instead of cell or cordless phones.
• Text rather than call.
• Keep conversations short or talk in person.
• Put devices in airplane mode, which suspends EMF transmission by the device, thereby disabling Bluetooth, GPS, phone calls, and WiFi.
• Use speaker phone or ear buds instead of holding the phone next your head.
• Take off Bluetooth devices when not using them.

Read the full article online here http://www.njea.org/issues-and-political-action/health-and-safety/reporter-articles

Download A PDF of the Magazine Article HERE.