Computers with wireless internet should not be placed on children's
laps, says the head of the government's committee on mobile phone
safety research.
Professor Lawrie Challis told the Daily Telegraph children using
wi-fi networks should be monitored until research into potential
health risks is completed.
He says children should keep a safe distance from the embedded
antennas.
The Health Protection Agency has said wi-fi devices are of very low
power - much lower than mobile phones.
Prof Challis, retired professor of physics at the University of
Nottingham, said: "With a desktop computer, the transmitter will be
in the tower.
"This might be perhaps 20cms from your leg and the exposure would
then be around one per cent of that from a mobile phone.
"However, if you put a laptop straight on your lap and are using
wi-fi, you could be around two centimetres from the transmitter,
and receiving comparable exposure to that from a mobile
phone."
'Bigger problem'
Prof Challis added that children are much more sensitive than
adults to dangers such as pollutants like lead and UV
radiation.
"So if there should be a problem with mobiles, then it may be a
bigger problem for children.
"Since we advise that children should be discouraged from using
mobile phones, we should also discourage children from placing
their laptop on their lap when they are using
wi-fi.
Meanwhile, teachers have called for an investigation into whether
there are any health risks from wireless computer networks in
schools.
The Professional Association of Teachers union is writing to the
education secretary for a clarification on wi-fi safety.
Many primary and secondary schools use wi-fi networks - but the PAT
believes there is insufficient long-term evidence to demonstrate
whether such networks are safe.
From BBC NEWS 
