A world awash with wireless devices: Radio-frequency exposure issues

Within the past decade, a quiet revolution has occurred in consumer electronics, with a massive shift toward wireless connectivity in household devices. While these open up new possibilities for consumers, the possible harms associated with wireless and Internet technologies-for example, privacy and security issues-have prompted widespread concern among consumers and experts alike. Also, in the public arena, there has been widespread concern about possible health effects of exposure to radio-frequency (RF) energy emitted by wireless-enabled devices, in particular around use of Wi-Fi in schools and wireless-enabled electric utility meters, known as “smartmeters,” in residences. While the RF exposures from such devices are far below U.S. and international safety limits, some aspects of the exposures (their involuntary nature or perhaps the novelty of the technologies) have been particularly troubling to the public. Consequently, political leaders have called for studies on possible health effects of wireless technology.