Sufferers like Kate Figes say wi-fi leaves them feeling exhausted, nauseous and sleepless

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Regarding Wi-fi exhaustion, couldn't it be a simple fact that some people are more sensitive too the waves than others?... I believe that the Wi-fi does expell radiation which can effect us, however I believe it can effect different people in different ways.

if you do a slight test and consciously walk into an environment with Wi-fi fully working from being in a natural environment, you do actually notice a slight change in the field, Science aside I certainly feel an oppressive presence within my workplace.

Has anybody thought that work exhaustion is simply the Wi-fi Waves and not the Job??

I feel that all electrical items can effect us, because if you really think about it, we as humans are made out of electrical atoms...so why wouldn't outside electrical forces effect us?

so simply I feel there most certainly is radiation that effects us from Wi-fi, Television, Radio Waves etc.... however my end belief is that some people feel really effected whilst some people don't feel anything at all.... it's just down to sensitivity I feel.

- Paul,, Sussex

This isn't too surprising to me. Some models of consumer microwave ovens have given me instant headaches for years when in use, even at ranges of up to ten feet, and yes, I'm perfectly aware of the inverse square law. Some people are hypersensitive to even very low powered radio frequencies, and that's the way it is.

- Alex, Richmond, VA, USA

Many thousands of scientists, consultants, and doctors believe that radiation from wireless devices (which use broadly the microwave fequencies as mobile phones) are associated with a range of adverse health effects, such as loss of concentration, headaches, fatigue, memory and behavioural problems, as well as more serious illnesses.

In September 2007 the EU's European Environment Agency (EEA) concluded that the UK's safety limits for radiation from wireless devices are 'thousands of times too lenient', and for 'health authorities to recommend actions to reduce exposures'. Our safety limits are only intended to protect against short term heat shock and burn exposures, and so do not protect against long term 'low' level exposure from wireless devices. Indeed, the German Government recently advised its citizens to reduce their exposure to wireless radiation, and to use cabled internet connections.

Yet despite this, no studies have been undertaken to assess the safety of wireless technology.

- Dr Andrew Orr, London

As a person who is a trained Radio Frequency Engineer, one who works with Radio Frequency signals to accomplish communications, I have often heard this type of claim.

While certain types of RF radiation can be harmful in certain circumstances this non-ionized radiation, as opposed to nuclear radiation, has some very interesting properties.

Yes, it has been proven that certain radio frequencies, with certain power levels, can make people sick or their skin tingle. Unfortunately, the frequencies around consumer wi-fi equipment simply does not have this capability unless it is highly amplified. Under those conditions not only would it make you sick but it would kill you.

Cell phones, wi-fi, computers and a plethora of things continuiously emit signals in the same frequency band. So it would be a pretty good trick for someone to be able to detect and discriminate these signals without sophisticated test equipment.

I would put forth the loss of sleep is due to some insidcriminate web crusing late at night instead of sleeping.

The electromagnetic fields in your home, due to it's internal wiring, is much larger and more powerful than anything your consumer wi-fi electronics is capable of creating and the same is true for your computer monitor and or television set.

I will not say these persons are intentionally lying about their problem but am highly skeptical its being caused by the relatively low electromagnetic radiation caused by wi-fi.

- Dave Hardesty, Tracy, USA

This certainly sounds like "Junk Science", but could make for a good "Myth Busters" episode.

- Scott Lytle, Canton, MI USA

I suspect that she felt exhausted, nauseous and sleepless because she spent to much time online when she had her WiFi network set up.

Get away from your computer some time, get some sleep and you will feel much better.

- Lee Yarbrough, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

To address the comment of Marcus from London: While fine to be skeptical of claims, I think it's important to realize that as skeptics and observers, we don't know what's happening any more than do the people who say they experience things like this. While the other electrical items in this woman's house may seem likelier to cause an effect, there's no guarantee that an effect is linked to a plain-vanilla high power level. Many other things could be behind it.

- Anonymous, Los Angeles, CA

I'd like to see these people put in a screened room, blindfolded, with a wi-fi box that can be turned on or off from the outside, then asked if it's on or not. My expectation is that they would be unable to tell, but it would be an experiment worth doing. A slightly crueller experiment would be a room containing a wi-fi box with all its innards removed except for a couple of green lights, and asking them "can you feel it at this distance"!

Ill people can be made to feel better, and sometimes even cured, by placebos - harmless but useless tablets backed by a belief that they'll work. It's just as likely that well people can be made to feel ill by suggestion.

One thing is certain, you get 10,000 times more radiation from a mobile 5cm from your head, than from a base-station five meters away. That's basic physics.

- Nigel, London

I offer a simple test for those who would like to determine how
much of an electromagnetic field is being produced by their equipment.
If you do not have a cheap, unshielded, compact "amplified" set of speakers, buy a set. They are available in almost all discount stores.
Plug it into the main power, without plugging in a sound source.
Touch the audio plug once with your finger and confirm an irritating humm. That will mean it is on and working properly.
Then turn on whatever other device you are concerned about.
You will hear whatever field effect that is transmitted, in your speakers.
It is a simple test, but very effective in getting a grasp on what in your
environment is eminating unseen fields. You will be surprised.

- Gary Jones, Olympia, WA USA

I find this claim highly unlikely. If this woman were as sensitive as she claims, the very wiring in her house would have been making her sick as it puts out about 100X the field strength of her WiFi. And a car would be impossible as well as its alternator puts out about 1000X the field strength. And it is difficult to argue that it is frequency dependent because microwave ovens, cellphones, and cordless home phones all work on the same bands. I would like to see this put to a scientific test, put them in a room with a little red light that comes on and off. Randomly turn a wifi set on and off with that light. Have them indicate when wifi is on and when it is off. I expect they will do no better than chance. If you believe something is harming you, that belief will often manifest itself in the expected physical, non-specific, symptoms. But let's give her the benefit of the doubt and put it to a simple test.

- Joe, USA

"She can instantly tell whether it is installed in a particular room." I guess she doesn't realize that wi-fi can go through walls. I cannot believe these people are blaming their health problems on wi-fi. They could have some serious problems in their homes like carbon monoxide or radon. Instead of being rational they are just blaming it on wifi.

- Jimmy, Birmingham

Perhaps she is feeling the electromagnetic waves from alpha-centauri. I find my tinfoil hat blocks them quite well.

- Michael Gehman, Sayre, USA

Typical liberal crybaby.

- Brian, Birmingham, USA

Soon after installing wi-fi in my home office 18 months ago I started getting a ringing in my ears. I put it down to some form of tinitus that was merely coincidental.
But whenever I went away for a few days, particularly on holiday, the high-pitched ringing disappeared almost to nothing, then came back when I returned to my computer.
I too have been told there is no evidence of any wi-fi linkage but I have to wonder. I am considering a return to old fashioned wires.

- Pete, London

There is no question, in my experience, that is is possible to feel electromagnetic radiation. I can feel it as a tingling/burning on my skin and can easily pinpoint nearby DECT phone, WiFi and lighting installations with my eyes shut. I have no choice about the radiation being present, for example my neighbours all use wireless networks in their flats, but at least it's not making me ill (as far as I can tell).

Not everyone is sensitive, but some are and the effects can in rare cases be quite debilitating. Thankfully only a minority of people are made noticeably unwell by this phenomenon, but some are adversely affected and we should not dismiss their sensitivities out of hand. Street-wide and city-wide WiFi schemes worry me because they blanket an area without regard to its inhabitants.

- Paul, London

Does this woman not realise that the computer itself is pumping out higher levels of power than any wi-fi network? As does her television, hair dryer and just about any other electrical device she may have lying around.

- Marcus, London, UK

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