Since the beginning of december, Paris’ Hygiene and Security Commitee has advised to turn off Wi-Fi access in the capital’s public libraries.

The SUPAP-FSU union, Priartem and “Agir pour l’environnement” wanted a moratorium on the development of Wi-Fi in Paris’ libraries and museums after observing health conditions, considering the wireless frequencies in use to have “genotoxic” effects.

Many library clerks where Wi-Fi access points were installed this summer (the “Paris Ville Numerique” - Paris, digital town - plan was launched then) get different symptoms like headaches, sore eyes or muscles, dizziness or vertigo.

Between october and november, the mayor decided to unplug the hotspots in the six libraries where the clerks had the symptoms. Since then, some say all is back to normal, others don’t see any change. Could their symptoms be due to some other circumstances ?

The Ecology and Health ministrys have asked the Afsset (french health agency) to evaluate the danger of Wi-Fi, without knowing the date the report will be finished.

Paris Ville Numerique, aka Parvi, with it’s 420 hotspots around the capital, will however not be given up.

via Bibliothèques en Lutte