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Margaret's fear of wi-fi 'brain fog'
A one-woman campaign is halting plans to introduce free wireless Internet access in a Lancashire town.
Margaret White says South Ribble Council has not considered the health risks before steaming ahead with setting up a wi-fi network across Leyland.
The council believes providing the service will give Leyland a competitive advantage over other towns by making it a "more productive, higher value local economy".
But Mrs White says the electromagnetic emissions can affect people's health, with children particularly vulnerable to radiation.
She said: "The sudden symptoms that have accompanied the wi-fi exposure are headaches, dizziness, nausea, severe tiredness, brain fog, disorientation and loss of appetite.
"These are, of course, the well known symptoms of microwave illness or electrosensitivity. The World Health Organisation recognises electrosensitivity."
The proposed system would be available to homes and businesses along a central corridor from the railway station to the civic centre via Station Brow, Chapel Brow, Hough Lane, Towngate and Lancastergate.
The town's CCTV system could also be linked into the network.
She said a number of European health reports have recommended councils lower the levels of radiation on health grounds.
She said: "If it is introduced into the town it is going to be going into everybody's homes. Some people are absolutely fine with that but some people have problems."
South Ribble Council has delayed making a decision until the new year to enable officers to carry out further research.
Coun Cliff Hughes, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration and planning, said: "In community use there are over 10,000 wi-fi systems in the UK in public places, such as restaurants, hotels, cafes and airports.
"Wi-fi technology is being used and further developed in schools across the country."
The debate on how wi-fi impacts people's health has gone on for many years. The World Health Organisation says there are no adverse health effects from low level, long-term exposure. The government also says there is no risk.
"We have received a number of objections to our proposal, although all of these objections have come from the same person. These objections will be considered in future discussions."
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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