WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
— 2020 —
Senator Moore letter to MDPH Commissioner Bharel – EMF Fact Sheets 113020 – Inquiry about the release of updated fact sheets concerning RF emissions by the Department of Public Health (DPH) in order to update the current EMF information on the DPH website. Attached were the four facts sheets that were developed by Dr. Robert Knorr, the former DPH Director of Epidemiology, Bureau of Environment Health, concerning EMF exposure from cell towers, cell phones, wi-fi and high voltage power lines.
Here is the timeline of events related to the EMF Fact Sheets:
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- Devra Davis, MPH, Ph.D. and Nobel co-laureate on climate change, brought an expert panel on EMFs to the State House to present “Right To Know – An Environmental Health Briefing” on wireless radiation. You can see her presentation along with retired Microsoft Canada President Frank Clegg’s here (27-minutes).
- Dr. Davis also met with MA DPH Director of Epidemiology, Bureau of Environment Health, Robert Knorr, Ph.D. when she was here. Dr. Knorr was just getting funding back from 9/11 cuts to fill two epidemiology positions, and indicated when those were filled he would create a project to address EMFs.
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- Dr. Knorr confirmed he has assigned epidemiologist Glennon Bereson to the EMF project.
- Dr. Knorr, Ms. Bereson and Cece wrote an EMF guidance sheet. After internal review, Dr. Knorr let Cece know his manager decided to break it into a series of four sheets based on point of RF emissions: cell towers, cell phones, wi-fi, and high voltage power lines which emit another form of harmful electromagnetic field.
- Dr. Knorr told Cece the four guidances went to graphic design and he thought they would be out in about three months.
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- Cece continued to provide Dr. Knorr with evolving science showing harm, including the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s $30M study concluding “clear evidence” of cancerous tumors and DNA damage, and Italy’s Ramazzini study that corroborated the NTP findings.
- Dr. Knorr continued to give Cece assurances that the EMF guidances are still a priority.
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- Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D. and Director of Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request with the MA DPH and was denied access to the EMF guidelines.
- So, he contacted the editor of the Boston Globe, who assigned a reporter to investigate. The article indicates, “Ann Scales, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts agency, said the DPH plans to release the guidelines within six months.”
- Instead, within weeks of the article coming out, the DPH put up an EMF page on the State’s Radiation Control website and bolded the following, ” Low-to mid-frequency EMFs are in the non-ionizing radiation part of the electromagnetic spectrum and are not known to damage DNA or cells directly.”
- When citizens asked when the real fact sheets would be released, DPH’s Jana Ferguson replied, “I’m sorry that you were misinformed about the possibility of draft documents under review by our Commissioner. There are no documents under review.” See attached email thread with this documentation.
- Cece called a meeting with HHS Secretary Sudders’ office, legislators, DESE and citizens to ask what happened to the fact sheets we developed; the meeting went well to educate on the harm from EMFs, but no transparency or information was provided about the fact sheets. HHS has not responded to follow-up attempts.
2020
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- After meeting with several constituents from his district, Senator Moore sends a letter to MDPH Commissioner Monjca Bharel to inquire about the release of updated fact sheets concerning RF emissions by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
— 2019 —
Discussion at BOS Office Hours at the Senior Center on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 122320
BOH Discussion on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 122019
Community Screening and Presentation of Generation Zapped documentary at the Shrewsbury Library on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 102319
Presentation to BOH on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 083019
BealComm Discussion on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 070919
BealComm Discussion on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 060419
Worcester News Story Coverage on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 032519
Community Presentation on Questioning the Safety of Our Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School at the Shrewsbury Library on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 032519
— 2018 —
Presentation to BealComm on Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation in School 022618
— 2012 —
Email Thread with School Administration on Wireless Summer 2012
Top Reasons Why Shrewsbury Should Reduce Wi-Fi Exposure to Children and Teachers in its Public Schools
Microwave radiation from wireless devices in schools has become a hot issue in many areas. It’s a difficult issue to address because of the tremendous push toward screen learning, the popularity of wireless devices and the investment many schools have made in wireless technology.
Nevertheless, researchers around the world are studying the impacts of exposure to wireless radiation, and the results are troubling.
- A recent 10-year, $30 million-dollar study by the National Institutes of Health found “clear evidence” of cancer in the animals that were exposed to the same kind of wireless radiation emitted by devices used in many classrooms today.
- Hundreds of other studies show neurological impairments and cognitive problems associated with exposure to wireless radiation.
- These exposures are particularly concerning for the youngest children, whose physiology is still developing, and who are thus more vulnerable to these kinds of exposures.
The Child Safe School: Wireless in Classrooms
Guidelines for Use of Wired and Wireless Technology in Classrooms
FACT SHEET: Wireless Radiation Exposure in Schools
National Institute for Science, Law & Public Policy (NISLAPP)
Re-Inventing Wires: The Future of Landlines and Networks (May 2018)
QUOTES
So I began to speak to my school district about this, and we have become the first in the nation to put into place Best Practices for Mobile Devices. We want to protect our children and we want to protect our staff by turning off WI-FI in the classrooms, turning off devices with antenna’s that emit electromagnetic radiation, and keeping devices off of our bodies.
–Cece Doucette, Technology Safety Educator,
and former Ashland town employee who ran the fundraising campaigns in the Ashland School District to bring wireless technology into their classrooms
Cece Doucette – Profile – HEALTH in BUILDINGS ROUNDTABLE
RESOURCES
- Wireless customers are close to 800 at present. By 2023, the goal is to have 25% penetration, approximately 3,300 wireless customers.
US-CHPS 2014 Building Criteria- Low-EMF Best Practices
Shrewsbury EMF in Schools Forum 25 March 2019 Slide Presentation
Wireless Education – Safe Schools, Healthy Workplaces
Cece Doucette’s Understanding EMFs Website
Shrewsbury’s Digital Conversion 1:1 Technology Program
December 2011 – , School Committee voted to accept a set of strategic priorities that included having all students in grades 5-12 being educated in 1:1 learning environments by 2016. This goal was achieved in the fall of 2015, when SHS began its 1:1 iPad program.
01/07/15, Technology 1:1 Device Program Policy Vote: the Shrewsbury School Committee voted to accept the recommendations presented to them by Shrewsbury teachers and administrators that would move Shrewsbury into the next iteration of its 1:1 digital conversion initiative.
Colonial Fund Funded Projects
2014-2015
Elementary digital classroom pilot
In January, we piloted a program in select 4th grade elementary classrooms. Each classroom had a ratio of one iPad for every two students. The iPads were used with interactive white board projectors for innovative learning experiences and engagement in the classroom.
Interactive projector installation
We completed the purchase of several interactive projectors (part of an interactive white board system) for our elementary classrooms, two years ahead of schedule. All primary classrooms in grades K-4 now have these valuable, multi-media tools.
WiFi infrastructure at Shrewsbury High School
We were preparing Shrewsbury High School for a 1:1 technology implementation in the 2015-2016 school year. The school’s network infrastructure was enhanced that spring to allow sufficient access for 1600+ students and teachers to connect to the Internet and access online educational content, video, and applications.
2015-2016
Expansion of the 4th Grade Digital Classroom Pilot
In 2014, there was one 4th grade classrooms at each of our elementary schools participating in the Digital Classroom Initiative pilot program. Each classroom was given 1 iPad for every 2 students the previous spring, in an effort to determine how we might enhance the 4th grade curriculum through technology. In 2015, an additional cart with iPads was purchased for each elementary school, to give more access to technology to 4th graders.
Purchase of 24 multimedia classroom projectors for the High School
New projectors were purchased to replace outdated projectors. The new projectors allow for multiple devices, such as iPads, which all High School students and faculty now have, to connect and share students’ work.
10/26/16 – there are two fourth-grade classrooms at Floral and one at Calvin Coolidge, Paton and Spring Street elementary schools participating in the Digital Classroom Initiative pilot program. Each classroom was given one iPad for every two students last spring, in an effort to determine how to improve student access to technology at the elementary level. This year, an additional iPads were purchased for each elementary school.
Shrewsbury 2016 Annual Report – Personal digital device program in grades 5-12, plus the introduction of a 1:2 in-school student to iPad program in grade 4. Over the past few years, Paton has added a 16-iPad shared cart for students in grades K-3 with the support of the PTO.
Shrewsbury School Journal Fall 2016 – Over the past three years, Colonial
Fund dollars helped fund the 4th grade digital classroom pilot, the purchase of interactive whiteboards in our elementary schools and enhancements to the WiFi network at Shrewsbury High School to allow all students and staff to use iPads.
01/31/18 – “Part of the money to address mandated services, $120,000, is for the purchase of iPads for some students in Grade 3. The devices are needed to meet the state’s mandate that all students take the MCAS test online by the spring of 2019.”
VIDEOS
LOCAL EFFORTS
BealComm_EMF_Response_Letter_071819
LOCAL EMF NEWS
06/12/18 – Despite judgment, lawyer believes Fay School case is a win for WiFi safety advocates
06/11/18 – Judge rules in favor of Southboro school in WiFi sickness case
04/30/18 – Fay School seeks dismissal of retaliation counts in WiFi sickness case
She also cited a recently filed affidavit that reported G’s condition has been better at St. John’s, which allegedly has made efforts to reduce his exposure to WiFi, although Mr. Markham said more recently G has had some reccurrence of his symptoms there.
12/13/17 – [Shrewsbury Library] Wireless Education warns of cell phone health hazards
09/29/17 – [Grafton] Cell tower proposed inside steeple of Congregational Church
04/25/17 – Worcester schools draft warning on wireless devices
WORCESTER – The school district could soon warn families to take precautions against exposure to wireless Internet radiation, after a school standing committee this week approved a set of recommendations developed by the administration.
The new guidelines, which still must be approved by the full School Committee at its meeting Thursday, encourage technology users to avoid keeping cellphones, tablets and laptops close to their body, and to turn off the wireless connectivity on those devices when not using the internet.
“We don’t want, 10 years from now, to find out there was something we should have done,” he said. “We live in the 21st century. We know technology will continue to grow … but we can’t be blind to the fact it may cause some problems.”
Hardly any school districts have officially considered electromagnetic radiation an issue, however. In the region, the Ashland schools were the first to implement recommended best practices for mobile devices, which some Worcester school officials have used as a basis to explore developing their own.
06/21/16 – LETTER: Health effects must be acknowledged
08/25/15 – FAY SCHOOL’S STATEMENT ON WIFI LAWSUIT
08/25/15 – Family sues Fay School in Southborough, claims Wi-Fi made son ill
08/25/15 – Parents say school’s Wi-Fi signal making son sick
EMF NEWS
10/15/19 – 5G and Wireless Technology Health Effects
03/29/18 – How Big Wireless Made Us Think That Cell Phones Are Safe: A Special Investigation
10/15/14 – Cupertino, We Have a Problem. Wifi & Kids
Sustainable Shrewsbury 
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