New Zealand parents think Wi-Fi may have caused son's fatal brain tumors

A New Zealand school is considering getting rid of its wireless Internet system after the parents of a student who died 11 months after being diagnosed with two brain tumors started a campaign to remove Wi-Fi from classrooms.

Ethan Wyman was a student at Te Horo School when he was diagnosed with the tumors just three months after he was given a Wi-Fi-connected iPod.

According to the Wymans, he had been sleeping with the device under his pillow and they believe it was emitting bursts of radiation throughout the night. Ethan, 10, died less than a year after being diagnosed last August.

"We're not saying that caused it, but it seems like a bit of a coincidence. Most people would be very cautious about giving their 5-year-old a cellphone -- well, this is 30 kids in a classroom [being exposed] to the same thing,” said his Ethan’s father, Damon.

Damon still has two children at the school and he doesn’t want them exposed to same type of radiation that he believes may have led to Ethan’s death.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health both say research shows Wi-Fi is safe.

"The health and safety of children in our schools is critical, and the ministry will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to monitor New Zealand standards, international standards and credible research on Wi-Fi and radio frequency electromagnetic fields,” said deputy secretary for education Andrew Hampton.

Parents of pupils at the school have been given a survey about Wi-Fi in classrooms and a decision is expected to be made on December 28.

[Fairfax NZ News]