FRANCE – Cell Phones Banned in Schools – Lunchrooms, Hallways, Playgrounds

“ALL wireless devices, including tablets, cordless phones, remote controlled toys, wireless toys, baby monitors and surveillance bracelets, should be subjected to the same regulatory obligations as cell phones.”
Recommendations of the Agency​: ANSES recommends to “reconsider the regulatory exposure limits” to ensure “sufficiently large safety margins” to ​protect​ the health of young children:

• ●  All wireless devices, including tablets, cordless phones, remote controlled toys, wireless toys, baby monitors and surveillance bracelets, should be subjected to the same regulatory obligations as cell phones.
• ●  Compliance with regulatory exposure limits should be insured for the ways that devices are customarily used, such as positioned in contact with the body.
• ●  Exposure limits for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields should be tightened to ensure sufficiently large safety margins to protect the health and safety of the general population, particularly the health and safety of children.
• ●  Reliance on the specific absorption rate (SAR) to set human exposure limits should be re-evaluated and replaced through the development of an indicator to assess real exposures for mobile phone users that applies to various conditions: signal type, good or bad reception, mode of use (call, data loading, etc.), location device is used on the body.
• ●  ANSES reiterated its recommendation, as previously stated, to reduce exposure to children: minimize use and prefer a hands-free kit. The new report has made ​headlines​ across the country.
• ●  ANSES Article: ​“Radio Frequencies, Mobile Telephony and Wireless Technologies”
• ●  Press Release on Report​ (translate into English)
• ●  Full 2016 Report ​(French)
• ●  EHT Press Release on Report2016 National Decree No. 2016-1074 on the protection of workers against the risks arising from electromagnetic fields

• ●  It is forbidden to place workers under age 18 in posts where EMF is apt to exceed limit values
• ●  each employer has to evaluate EMF risks.
• ●  When exposure exceeding limit values is detected or when an undesirable or unexpected health effect from exposureto EMF is reported, the worker will benefit from a medical visit.
• ●  The employer must provide information and training to his employees regarding the characteristics of EMF emissions,the direct and indirect biophysical effects that could result from exposure to EMF, etc.
• ●  The employer must adapt as much as possible the post in order to limit exposure to EMF.
• ●  Specific precautions will be taken regarding pregnant women.
• ●  Next Inpact News Article: ​“​As early as 2017, employers will have to protect their employees against electromagneticwaves”
• ●  Inter France News Article: ​“​Companies will have to protect employees from electromagnetic waves”
• ●  Decree No. 2016-10742015 National Legislation – “Law on sobriety, transparency, information and consultation for exposure to electromagnetic waves.”​​ ​​Original Report

• ●  WiFi Banned in Nursery Schools: ​​WIFI and Wireless devices will be banned in “the spaces dedicated to home, to rest and activities of children under 3 years”.
• ●  WiFi on “OFF” as Default to Minimize Exposures in Schools​​: In elementary schools,WIFI routers should be turned off when not in use.
• ●  Schools Will be Informed:​​ The school board should be informed when new tech equipment is being installed.
• ●  Cell Tower Emission Compliance Will Be Verified:​​ A decree will define the limits of emission of equipments forelectronic communications or transmission to which the public is exposed. These values can be verified by accredited

  organizations and results will be made accessible to the public through a National Radiofrequency Agency.

• ●  Citizens Will Have Access to Environmental/Cell Tower Radiation Measurements ​​Near homes: Every residentmay get access to the results of measurements for their living space.
• ●  Cell Antennae Maps For the Country​​: A description and map of the places with atypical (higher than the limits)places will be conducted at regular intervals with follow up of the actions being taken to limit the exposure. A map of all antennas will be produced for each town.

Environmental Health Trust ​http://ehtrust.org/

• ●  Continued Evaluation of Health Effects:​​ The National Radiofrequence Agency will be in charge of surveillance and vigilance, evaluating potential risks and setting up scientific research, including information on health effects.
• ●  SAR Radiation Labeling Mandated:​​ The SAR of cell phones must be clearly indicated on the package.
• ●  Information on Reducing Exposures Mandatory: Information on ways to reduce exposure will be detailed in thecontents of the cell phone package. .
• ●  WIFI Hotspots will be Labeled:​​ Places where WIFI is provided should be clearly marked with a pictogram.
• ●  Advertisements Must Recommend Devices That Reduce Radiation Exposure to the Brain: Advertising for cell phonesshould clearly indicate the recommendation of hand free kits for protection of the head of the user and it will be included in the package. Advertising for cell phone not accompanied by such a kit is forbidden. Companies in violation will be fined 75,000 Euros.
• ●  Children Must Be Provided Protections:​​ At the request of the buyer, equipment reducing cell phone radiation exposures to the head for children less than 14 years should be provided.
• ●  The Public Will Be Informed:​​ Within a year, a policy of information on awareness and information on a responsible and reasonable use of cell phones and other apparatus emitting radiofrequencies will be set up.
• ●  Electrohyper-sensitivity Report To Be Submitted: ​​Within a year, a report on electrohyper-sensitivity must be given to the Parliament ​according to the law.
• ●  Le Monde.fr News Article: ​“A law to frame exposure to the airwaves”French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) 2013 recommendations for limiting exposure to radio frequencies

• ●  Original opinion and report on the Update of the “Radiofrequencies and health” expert appraisal
• ●  Recommends hands free phones, SAR labeling, and “limiting the population’s exposure to radiofrequencies…especially for children and intensive users, and controlling the overall exposure that results from relay antennas.”
• ●  ANSES news article: ​“ANSES issues recommendations for limiting exposure to radiofrequencies”French National Public Health Website Informs the Public About How To Reduce Exposure

  The Website hosts ​infographics on 8 Ways To Reduce Exposure​ which include
  1. Protect children and youth the most.​​ It is recommended that parents advise their children or teenagers to use their phone only for essential calls. The use of the SMS and the use of the earpiece should also be encouraged by the parents. In addition to these specific tips, other good gestures should also be adopted.
  2. Telephone with a headset: ​​By phoning with a headset (wired or bluetooth, wireless), the phone is moved away from the head. It is an effective way of reducing exposure to head waves.

  (EHT Note: Bluetooth still exposes the brain to RF so we do not recommend this.)
  3. Prefer SMS (Texting): ​​By using SMS to communicate, one reduces the emission of waves of his telephone. Indeed, to send an SMS, the phone “connects” to the nearest relay antenna only the time to send the message. During a conversation, the phone connects to the nearest relay antenna and renews the connection regularly, especially on the go. The level of emission of waves is therefore more important. Also when sending an SMS, the notebook is away from the head.
  4. Keep the phone away from electronic implants:​​ If you wear an electronic implant (pacemaker, insulin pump, neurostimulator …), keep your mobile phone away from the equipped area. It can disrupt the functioning of your medical device.
  5. Do not call in areas of poor reception:​​ The less the network coverage is good, the more your phone emits waves to keep the conversation going. It is therefore recommended not to call in areas where reception is not good: underground car parks, elevators, confined spaces … Check the number of bars on your phone, it indicates the quality of coverage of the network.
  It is also generally prohibited to call in hospitals and airplanes because of the presence of radio-frequency devices. Your phone may cause interference and interfere with the operation of electronic devices.
  6. Move the phone away just after dialing: ​​To limit exposure to waves at the head, you can get into the habit of not approaching the phone in your ear within seconds of dialing. Indeed, it is during these first seconds that the transmission of waves is strongest to find the nearest relay antenna. The level of wave emission then stabilizes.

Environmental Health Trust ​http://ehtrust.org/

7. Avoid calling while traveling at high speeds (car, train, bus). ​​When moving at high speed, the phone must successively connect to different relay antennas to maintain the conversation. With each search for a relay antenna, the telephone transmits at full power, the level of emission of waves is therefore regularly higher. It is therefore recommended to avoid calling by train, for example. Telephoning while driving is also prohibited and liable to a fine. The danger comes more from the distraction created by the conversation than from the immobilization of a hand.

8. Read the information in your cell phone manual: ​​You can find out about the level of exposure to the waves of your mobile phone: this is the DAS, whose display becomes mandatory at the points of sale in April 2011. The DAS (Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)) phones Mobile device quantifies the user’s maximum exposure level to electromagnetic waves, for use at the ear. The French regulations require that the DAS does not exceed 2 W / kg. The devices described as “anti-waves” have not proved their effectiveness.

Go to French Government Website which hosts these ​8 Ways To Reduce Exposure

French National Agency on Frequencies Maintains Information On Cell Tower Radiation:

The Agence Nationale des Fréquences holds public information on the measurements from base stations. Their website has information on their measurements of electromagnetic fields around base stations and other radio frequency emitters.

Read a 2016 French News Report on ANSES: “Children: their cognitive functions affected by electromagnetic waves​” Over 150 Cities in France have refused Smartmeters
Additional Official Recommendations to Reduce Exposure

French Ministry of Solidarity and Health ​​website on electromagnetic waves. Prior to the 2013 and 2016 recommendations, in 2012 a ​Brochure Téléphones mobiles, santé et sécurité ​(Official Recommendations to reduce exposure: Mobile phones, health and safety) was created to inform public about how to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation. In 2010 Recommendations were issued on the government website here.

The City of Lyon France’s Cell Phone Campaign​​ ​“Poster: No Cell Phone Before 12 Years old”

Removal of Wifi From French Cities and Buildings

• ●  The Dacsupap Blog Press Release: ​“BNF Renounces WiFi”
• ●  The French National Library along with other libraries in Paris, and a number of universities have removed all Wi-Finetworks.
• ●  “Removing Wifi from Schools”​ – Herouville-Saint-Clair has removed all Wi-Fi equipment installed in municipalities.French Government Resources (PDFS In French)

  State Information Resources on radio frequencies, relay antennas mobile phones The_Obligations_of_Mobile_Telephony_operators-2.pdf Experimental_workings_information- 2.pdf
  Antennas-relais_fiche_web_-3.pdf

  Questions _-_ replies_on_the_rules_relay_web_-1-2.pdf French Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Texts

  Information Posters

  Conditions of Installing Cell Phone Towers Health Effects of Limits
  What are Electromagnetic waves?
  Relay Antennas: Who Does What?

Environmental Health Trust ​http://ehtrust.org/

Relay Antennas: Did You Know
Brochure from 2012 Téléphones mobiles, santé et sécurité (Official Recommendations to reduce exposure: Mobile phones, health and safety)

Websites

Recommendations on cell phone radiation issued on the French government website
The Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition: “mobile phone and health” 2017 campaign. *​Public Health France: Website dedicated to informing the public about cell phone radiation