Rx For Readers: Is radiation from your Wi-Fi router dangerous?

Readers get answers to their health questions.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Router (photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
Router
(photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
 In our five-room apartment, we have a router in a far room for my computer. The reception is not that strong, so my husband has bought and installed another router in a bedroom close to the master bedroom.
I worry about electromagnetic radiation. Is there any danger to health from multiple routers (or one) in an apartment?
P.N., Tel Aviv
Prof. Sigal Sidetzky, a leading Tel Aviv University expert in non-ionizing radiation and its effects on health, director of the cancer and radiation epidemiology unit at Sheba Medical Center and the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research and head of the Tnuda national information center on non-ionizing radiation, replies:
 In general, the level of radiation from Wi-Fi equipment is low. The maximum broadcasting power of a router in a typical home is one microwatt per square centimeter, which is equivalent to a thousandth of the maximum permissible level approved by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection for the general population and one percent of the maximum level approved by Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry for ongoing and continuous exposure.
The radiation level generally declines according to the distance squared. For example, doubling the distance between you and the router reduces the radiation four fold, and increasing the distance by 10 cuts the radiation 100 fold.
In general, regarding the rule of taking precautionary measures, the most important thing to reduce the level of radiation is to distance the router from people, because the farther away it is, the less the possibility of exposure.
Thus, you should place the router as far as possible from places where you spend a lot of time, such as bedrooms, and not put the router connection near the beds. Please note that walls also reduce the amount of radiation exposure.
You can further minimize the radiation by turning off the switch of the Wi-Fi router connection at night before you go to bed, when it is no longer used. The router stops emitting radiation when the switch is turned off. If you want to have more than one router at home, your decision depends on the size of the apartment and your ability to distance them from places where you spend the most time, such as bedrooms (especially those of children).
More information on non-ionizing radiation emitted by routers can be found at our website at www.tnuda.org.il.
I am in my 60s and underwent a number of chemotherapy treatments for cancer at Sheba Medical Center. My hemoglobin and magnesium levels dropped significantly. My hemoglobin levels were treated with pills and infusions, and the situation improved. I also received many magnesium infusions. I then also took magnesium pills, but they did not have any effect. By the way, I was surprised that the advice and decisions about this were taken by nurses and not doctors. What should I do?
R.M., Ramat Gan
Prof. Raphael Catane, a senior medical oncologist at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, replies: There is a difference of opinions about the need to “correct” low levels of magnesium in cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy. Our policy is that there is no reason to raise the levels unless the patient has symptoms such as muscle cramps or convulsions.
Of those who do give magnesium, some give oral pills, while others prefer infusions. You should speak to your doctor about it.
I am a 27-year-old woman. Since I was a teenager, I have always made sure to go to sleep by 11 p.m., as I had to get up early to go to school and now to work. I got married a few months ago, and my husband likes to go once a week to a movie, concert or play. I find when we get back late (around 11.30 or so), I have real difficulty falling asleep. I try to sleep an hour or two in the afternoon to make up for it, and have no difficulty taking a nap, but my biological clock prevents me from falling asleep easily at 11.30 or midnight. Is this normal or something to worry about? What can I do about it? D.N., Jerusalem
Dr. Gad Asher, a physician and expert in circadian rhythm at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, comments:
 I am not a sleep expert, but from my clinical experience, I do not think you should worry about it too much. Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in the population. In most cases, there is no simple solution beside prescribing sleeping pills.
If it does severely damage your life quality, I would advise you to go to a sleep lab. The professional staff there will be able to analyze your sleep pattern and might give you better advice.
Prof. Giora Pillar, head of the pediatrics department and the sleep medicine clinic at Carmel Medical Center and the Technion Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, adds: First, things like this happen. The sensitivity of the biological clock is individual. Some people can easily deviate from regular times and be flexible, while in some, any deviation may result in such a response as described. The steps to be done are again individual.
Options consist of trying not to deviate (going to sleep earlier) up to using a once-weekly hypnotic medication to fall asleep easier. Afternoon naps are generally not recommended, especially not for those with inflexible circadian rhythm.
Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting. Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 9100002, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538-9527, or email it to jsiegel@ jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.