Wireless routers and cancer? - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

Routers · 02-09-06, 10:54 AM

Probably a stupid question but do wireless routers give you cancer?

I have yet to buy and install a wireless router and just drag a wired one around the house cos my brother says they give you cancer.

a) Is my brother a moron and there is no cancer risk what so ever?
b) Is there a serious risk of exposure to radiation that could result in cancer?
c) Am I making a complete ass of myself?

brian · 02-09-06, 01:04 PM

I certainly haven't heard of wireless routers being linked with cancer in any way.

I mean, seriously, you're simply talking about a radio network. It's not like anyone really claims that listening to Radio 1 will give you cancer either.

Possibly he's confusing the issue with mobile phones and suggested cancer risks there - but the concern was the constant skin-to-skin contact, which put the body in direct physical contact with the actual device for long periods of time.

But with wireless networks the router should never be in physical contact with you - just sitting somewhere in the room.

No more a cancer risk so far as I know than having any other radio device in the room.

OneofaKind · 03-09-06, 09:11 PM

I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of people getting cancer through the use of wireless.

Do you use a mobile?

supersheep · 05-09-06, 02:58 PM

Of course there's a minor risk, as it's electromagnetic radiation. But, before you get too worried, remember that so is light, TV waves, X-rays, and so on.

LyricB · 11-09-06, 08:32 PM

I did read an article from a guy who claimed that this sort of stuff could give you cancer, but he didn't cite any scientific evidence, and he was a bit on the fringe anyhow.

JMeyer3131 · 15-09-06, 05:11 AM

My guess is that wireless is too new to have the answer for certain, but Brian's post makes good sense.

Lately it seems that anything can give you cancer. I'm surprised nobody has written a book talking about how using a computer more than...say...five minutes a day can give you cancer.

Word2Action · 18-09-06, 02:54 AM

I haven't heard of any research proving this but then again this really is a new technology. I'd put it in the same category as cell phones and microwaves. Eventually time will tell.

gigatech2006 · 13-12-06, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Routers

Probably a stupid question but do wireless routers give you cancer?

That's a very genuine question! This concern is not only with wireless routers, but also with the cellular networks! You can visit this blog topic featured in Guardian Unlimited!! - search with 'mobile' as keyword in the tech blog section!

The comments to the blog are an eye-opener!

Cheers,
Giga
www(dot)wireless(dot)e-techherald(dot)com
e-TechHerald-Wireless

FourBear · 18-12-06, 04:24 AM

Well, I really hope that wireless does not cause cancer. If it did, I'd be pretty much done for. My campus has wireless hubs set up in almost all the classrooms and student areas (in the libraries, etc) now.

Plumley · 20-12-06, 12:50 AM

I read about this in a magazine just recently, maybe Newsweek or Us News. The article was reporting results of studies showing that mobile phone use doesn't increase cancer risk. I believe the authors also noted that wireless routers don't cause cancer, either.

02-09-06, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Routers Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wireless routers and cancer? Probably a stupid question but do wireless routers give you cancer? I have yet to buy and install a wireless router and just drag a wired one around the house cos my brother says they give you cancer. a) Is my brother a moron and there is no cancer risk what so ever? b) Is there a serious risk of exposure to radiation that could result in cancer? c) Am I making a complete ass of myself?

02-09-06, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inverness, Scotland Posts: 1,808 Thanks: 29 Thanked 154 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? I certainly haven't heard of wireless routers being linked with cancer in any way. I mean, seriously, you're simply talking about a radio network. It's not like anyone really claims that listening to Radio 1 will give you cancer either. Possibly he's confusing the issue with mobile phones and suggested cancer risks there - but the concern was the constant skin-to-skin contact, which put the body in direct physical contact with the actual device for long periods of time. But with wireless networks the router should never be in physical contact with you - just sitting somewhere in the room. No more a cancer risk so far as I know than having any other radio device in the room.

03-09-06, 09:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
OneofaKind Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of people getting cancer through the use of wireless. Do you use a mobile?

05-09-06, 02:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
supersheep Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? Of course there's a minor risk, as it's electromagnetic radiation. But, before you get too worried, remember that so is light, TV waves, X-rays, and so on.

11-09-06, 08:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
LyricB Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 73 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? I did read an article from a guy who claimed that this sort of stuff could give you cancer, but he didn't cite any scientific evidence, and he was a bit on the fringe anyhow.


Technology Forums: FTA, Satellite, Cable, Home Media, Hardware & Computers \| Home \| Forums \| News \| Blog \|

15-09-06, 05:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
JMeyer3131 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? My guess is that wireless is too new to have the answer for certain, but Brian's post makes good sense. Lately it seems that anything can give you cancer. I'm surprised nobody has written a book talking about how using a computer more than...say...five minutes a day can give you cancer.

18-09-06, 02:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Word2Action Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? I haven't heard of any research proving this but then again this really is a new technology. I'd put it in the same category as cell phones and microwaves. Eventually time will tell.

18-12-06, 04:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
FourBear Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 108 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? Well, I really hope that wireless does not cause cancer. If it did, I'd be pretty much done for. My campus has wireless hubs set up in almost all the classrooms and student areas (in the libraries, etc) now.

20-12-06, 12:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
Plumley Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wireless routers and cancer? I read about this in a magazine just recently, maybe Newsweek or Us News. The article was reporting results of studies showing that mobile phone use doesn't increase cancer risk. I believe the authors also noted that wireless routers don't cause cancer, either.