I’d like to express my appreciation for Martha Wickett’s front page coverage of the Smart Meter installation issue in the Feb. 6 issue of the Observer.
However, Rich Coleman’s statement that “B.C’s Provincial Health Officer and Health Canada have confirmed that smart meters pose no known health risk or reason for concern” causes me great concern.
In May 2011, 31 research scientists representing the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified “Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields” (EMF) emitted by wireless communication devices” as Type 2B Possible Carcinogen (possible cancer risk to humans.) Could it be the word “possible” that Mr. Coleman has translated to “no known?”
Another thing that concerns me is that Health Canada’s own exposure limits as set out in Safety Code 6 are amongst the highest (translate accurately as “most hazardous”) in the world. The information is available; we are just not paying attention at the government level.
“Non-thermal effects of microwaves depend on [a] variety of biological and physical parameters that should be taken into account in setting the safety standards.” (www.bioinitiative.org/conclusions) According to David O. Carpenter, MD, and co-editor of the BioInitiative 2012 report, there is now, “much more evidence of risks to health affecting billions of people world-wide. The status quo is not acceptable in light of the evidence for harm.”
Well over a billion people in Europe – governments including those of Switzerland, France, Germany and Russia – are warning against unnecessary exposure to any and all wireless signals and recommend the preferential use of wired technology.
We don’t need to be ‘educated’ by Mr. Coleman and B.C Hydro; what we need are new safety standards to protect against EMF and wireless radiation. Regulatory and health agencies should act now.
Shelley Corbin for Shuswap-North Okanagan Smart Meter Awareness Initiatives
