Billion Dollar Battle

Hydro-Québec's $1-billion battle

Electromagnetic sensitivity – along with its triggers or causes – is getting a lot more exposure in North America as electric, gas and water utilities move to wireless “smart” meters.

In jurisdiction after jurisdiction, there has been widespread public backlash against these wireless devices that use radio-frequency (RF) signals to communicate with utilities.

Public forums are awash with opinion about the health hazards of smart meters. Some experts contend the public should be alarmed, others dismiss the brouhaha as the toxin-du-jour.

“It’s not the technology, it’s the radiation that is critical and any technology that generates this radiation is generating a Class 2B carcinogen,” [Magda] Havas, an adviser with the International commission on Electromagnetic Safety, said. “And that means smart meters as well.”

In an email to The Gazette, IARC official Robert Baan said that the 2B classification, “possibly carcinogenic,” applies to all types of radiation within the RF part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the radiation emitted by base-station antennas, radio/TV towers, radar, Wi-Fi, smart meters, and so on.

“The symptoms most commonly experienced [with EHS] include dermatological symptoms (redness, tingling, and burning sensations) as well as neurasthenic and vegetative symptoms (fatigue, tiredness, concentration difficulties, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitation and digestive disturbances).