Smart meters and WiFi are both sources of radio waves, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that smart meters are worse than WiFi in terms of potential health effects. In fact, a study conducted by Public Health England concluded that exposure to the radio waves produced by smart meters is likely to be much lower than that from other everyday devices such as mobile phones and WiFi equipment.
The study, which was conducted by the UK Health Security Agency, found that the radio frequency (RF) exposure from smart meters is well below the international guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines are designed to protect individuals from the potential health effects of RF exposure.
Furthermore, the study also highlighted that the exposure to RF radiation from smart meters is significantly lower than that from other common household devices. For example, a smart meter typically emits radio waves for less than a minute per day, whereas a mobile phone or WiFi equipment continuously emits radio waves when in use.
It is also important to note that the RF exposure from smart meters decreases rapidly with distance. Smart meters are typically installed on the outside of buildings, and the radio waves they emit are not as powerful as those emitted by WiFi routers or mobile phones. Therefore, the distance between a person and a smart meter further reduces the potential exposure to radio waves.
Based on these findings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not consider exposure to radio waves from smart meters as a basis to decline having a smart meter. The agency believes that the exposure to radio waves from smart meters is significantly lower than that from other commonly used devices, and therefore, there is no need for concern regarding their health effects.
It is worth mentioning that individual sensitivity to RF radiation can vary, and some people may have concerns about the potential health effects of smart meters or WiFi. However, the available scientific evidence does not support the notion that smart meters are worse than WiFi in terms of potential health risks.
The UKHSA study concluded that exposure to the radio waves produced by smart meters is likely to be much lower than that from other everyday devices such as mobile phones and WiFi equipment. Therefore, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that smart meters are worse than WiFi in terms of potential health effects.