Is Wi-Fi safe?

superscaper

peterbaker wrote: »

What bit don't I understand, NMM? Are you telling me that the enhance risk of cancer to my big toe is the same as the enhanced risk of cancer of the jawbone when I let the dentist do an X ray? I don't think so...but I stand to be corrected.

One average airflight (whatever that is) gives you the same as about two full body X-Rays. Interpret that whatever way you wish in terms of risk. I think cancer is more likely to be caused by UV, cosmic rays and carbon-14 decay just because the energies involved are significantly higher (and we know for certain those types of radiation damage cells) and they are bombarding you all the time.

Need_More_Money_2

peterbaker wrote: »

What bit don't I understand,

You seemed to think the effect of the radiation from flying was premature aging. I was pointing out that the radiation you are exposed to during a flight is essentially the same as the type from a dental x-ray, therefore the effects are the same. Radiation doses are frequently given as "effective doses" which takes into account the radiosensitivity of the organs irradiated. During a flight, your whole body is irradiated, but during a dental x-ray the radiation is more localised (there will be some degree of scattered radiation).

peterbaker wrote: »

NMM? Are you telling me that the enhance risk of cancer to my big toe is the same as the enhanced risk of cancer of the jawbone when I let the dentist do an X ray? I don't think so...but I stand to be corrected.

Not sure what your big toe has to do with it
But for the same dose, your theoretical increased risk of cancer is the same whether from a dental xray or a flight.

peterbaker wrote: »

The dental X-ray does me no good. Dentists are like scientists. A mixed bunch with incredibly varied agendae (or maybe not so varied in dentistry!).

I can't speak for dentists, but it is illegal or perform a medical exposure to ionising radiation without medical justification.

peterbaker wrote: »

I really don't know where you get your phrases like:

"incredibly small" "probably zero" "very small ....compared to the natural risk of cancer"
And what are these numbers, actually?

The risks are so small that they are impossible to measure accurately. Risk estimates based on highly theoretical models suggest a worse case scenario for a dental x-ray of somewhere around 1 in a million to 1 in 200000 for the induction of cancer.
The natural risk of cancer in your lifetime is something like 1 in 3.

peterbaker wrote: »

How do you define natural risk of cancer? Is that natural risk of cancer as in standing in an English field downwind of Sir Walter Raleigh in way-back-when, or post Los Alamo 1943? Post Turner&Newall's WW2 led Asbestos boom? Or post Chernobyl 1986? Post Bluetooth perhaps? Or maybe post Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/whatever?

In terms of ionising radiation, none of these have made much of a difference to the background radiation levels in the world as a whole. It is a commen misconception that there was an increase in cancers following Chernobyl. Apart from an increase in thyroid cancers in children, there has been not yet been any detectable increases (despite predictions to the contrary). There were however lots of problems due to psychological problems related to unnecessary worry about radiation.

Need_More_Money_2

superscaper wrote: »

One average airflight (whatever that is) gives you the same as about two full body X-Rays. Interpret that whatever way you wish in terms of risk. I think cancer is more likely to be caused by UV, cosmic rays and carbon-14 decay just because the energies involved are significantly higher (and we know for certain those types of radiation damage cells) and they are bombarding you all the time.

Depends what you mean by full body x-rays. This isn't something widely done. A Chest x-ray gives a dose of about 0.02mSv. A flight from the UK to New York (say taking about 7 hours) would give you a dose of about 0.04mSv, so about two chest x-rays.

Freddie_Snowbits

Personally when I have finished with my body, I want to rest in a old oak coffin that is lead lined. This is to prevent me from you lot from coming in, not me getting out!

peterbaker

You missed a question NMM! But thanks for also clarifying ss's average exposure in flight bit too ... he had me worried. I only ever did long haul once, but will get a big roll of foil, and butter for basting for next time!

Need_More_Money_2

peterbaker wrote: »

You missed a question NMM!

Which one?

peterbaker

What do you do?

peterbaker

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Personally when I have finished with my body, I want to rest in a old oak coffin that is lead lined. This is to prevent me from you lot from coming in, not me getting out!

Exactly! Peace and respite from the crescendo of the ether! St Peter doesn't use a Wireless Access point yet AFAIK! Just a pearly gate! And unless your idea of heaven includes streamed entertainment, you won't need anybody's wireless broadband where you're going Freddie so I totally agree with you!

Need_More_Money_2

peterbaker wrote: »

What do you do?

I am a medical physicist. However, it is not in my interests to promote safety of radiation or else there would be less of a need for medical physicists! :rolleyes:

superscaper

peterbaker wrote: »

You missed a question NMM! But thanks for also clarifying ss's average exposure in flight bit too ... he had me worried.

Well I'm not the medical physicist.