To the editor:
Re: "Smart meters an uncontrolled experiment on public health," Dec. 9
While I generally appreciate Geoff Olson's columns, I was disappointed to read last week's. I'm not an expert on this specific topic, but I am an engineer with a specialization in electromagnetic fields and have studied their effects on human health-research for which I have published a few scientific papers on the subject in 1994 in Europe.
While I have not studied in detail the emission levels of the smart meters installed in Vancouver, I have seen the scientific data published on the Internet, and based on such data I can confirm that the emission levels are similar, if not lower, to common household appliances. During my abovementioned studies for the papers I have published, I was surprised to find that equipment such as microwave ovens, alarm clocks, televisions and the wiring in our houses are sources of emissions of high and low frequencies of electromagnetic fields. Computers are also producing electromagnetic fields and we spend a lot of time in close contact with them.
If people are scared by the emissions of smart meters, are they also fearful of other appliances? Or are they just targeting this issue because of fear-mongering and what pseudo-experts are saying?
Cellular phones are probably emitting much more than smart meters. Are these people staying away from cellular phones? Having the ability to reduce the energy we consume through better understanding on how we consume electricity is one of the best opportunities we have to conserve energy, something that has been done for quite a while in Europe.
We have a duty to our next generation to reduce our footprint and energy consumption. But we also have a duty to help society understand and promote these concepts. To instigate audiences through the perpetuation of totally unproven theories will not help the cause. Future generations may look at us and consider us not much better than the medieval witch hunter.
Mauro Addari, Vancouver
