![\"Kalnitsky](\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/howard-kalnitsky.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOctober 29, 2012 \u00a0By Staff \u00a0–\u00a0Metroland News Service<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Metroland News Service<\/p>\n
Howard Kalnitsky stands near a Beechwood Drive apartment building bristling with antennae, Monday. Kalnitsky claims his hypersensitivity to cell phone radiation has caused him heart problems.<\/p>\n
WATERLOO \u2014 When Howard Kalnitsky started experiencing heart problems 15 years ago at age 34, he wasn\u2019t sure what to think.<\/p>\n
After years of medication, he now says he\u2019s affected by electromagnetic hypersensitivity \u2014 a nervous system reaction to wireless radiation from cellphones, internet and other technologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife said that I had turned into this old, frail man overnight,\u201d Kalnitsky said.<\/p>\n
But the question of whether electromagnetic fields actually make people sick is a matter of debate.<\/p>\n
Health Canada says there is no scientific evidence proving symptoms of apparent electromagnetic hypersensitivity are actually caused by electromagnetic fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have a look at the body of evidence, there is no indication that technology such as Wi-Fi and cellphones represent a health concern,\u201d said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, associate medical officer of health with Region of Waterloo Public Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do know that it is a field of ongoing study and that\u2019s a good thing. We do know that Health Canada continues to monitor the science.\u201d<\/p>\n
Magda Havas disagrees. She is associate professor of environmental and resource studies at Trent University in Peterborough and has researched electromagnetic hypersensitivity for two decades.<\/p>\n
Symptoms include everything from headaches, trouble concentrating and difficulty with short term memory to heart problems, mood disorders and anxiety.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis issue is not going to go away,\u201d Havas said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to get a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are more likely to develop symptoms, Havas said.<\/p>\n
Kalnitsky says he self-diagnosed after speaking with an expert. He unplugged his wireless internet, mobile and cordless phones for a few days. The difference was drastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next day after I had disconnected, I felt different, I felt energy,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been perfectly healthy with no arhythmia for more than a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kalnitsky\u2019s doctor, Dr. Kathleen Debrosian, declined comment to The Record to confirm his diagnosis.<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s College Hospital Environmental Health Clinic in Toronto is one of the few places to provide electromagnetic hypersensitivity diagnoses.<\/p>\n
Dr. Riina Bray is medical director of the clinic and sees about 50 patients per year she says are affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe one per cent of the population (is affected),\u201d she said. \u201cWe really don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The legislation covering the level of radiation broadcasting and telecommunications devices can emit here is Safety Code 6. Industry Canada governs the legislation, which is based on Health Canada recommendations. It says 1000 microwatts per centimetre squared can be emitted constantly to be safe.<\/p>\n
Havas said countries like Russia have much lower thresholds.<\/p>\n
Bray said skeptics and government need to do their homework.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real thing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a psychological problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judi Francioso of Cambridge said her family suffered headaches, heart palpitations and other symptoms after a smart meter was installed at the home in June 2010.<\/p>\n
She wants people to take the problem seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sufferers sound pretty stupid talking about this when no one else can feel this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
After being diagnosed at Bray\u2019s clinic, Francioso fought for months to have her smart meter replaced with one connected to a land line<\/strong>. Symptoms have improved little since the meter was replaced earlier this year.<\/p>\n Kalnitsky says he will meet with city officials and talk about where cellphone towers are placed. But he may be out of luck.<\/p>\n The ultimate administration over where towers go is left to the federal government.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly empathize with the symptoms that (Kalnitsky) is reporting,\u201d said Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener-Waterloo. \u201cThese policies are based on science and, according to Health Canada, there is nothing \u2014 no evidence of radiofrequency signals causing adverse health effects.\u201d<\/p>\n He said if that were to change, so too would policy.<\/p>\n http:\/\/metronews.ca\/news\/kitchener\/420468\/waterloo-man-blames-wi-fi-for-sickness\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mathew McCarthy\/Record staff<\/small><\/p>\n Waterloo Region Record<\/small><\/p>\n WATERLOO \u2014 When Howard Kalnitsky started experiencing heart problems 15 years ago at age 34, he wasn\u2019t sure what to think.<\/p>\n After years of medication, he now says he\u2019s affected by electromagnetic hypersensitivity \u2014 a nervous system reaction to wireless radiation from cellphones, internet and other technologies.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife said that I had turned into this old, frail man overnight,\u201d Kalnitsky said.<\/p>\n But the question of whether electromagnetic fields actually make people sick is a matter of debate.<\/p>\n Health Canada says there is no scientific evidence proving symptoms of apparent electromagnetic hypersensitivity are actually caused by electromagnetic fields.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have a look at the body of evidence, there is no indication that technology such as Wi-Fi and cellphones represent a health concern,\u201d said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, associate medical officer of health with Region of Waterloo Public Health.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do know that it is a field of ongoing study and that\u2019s a good thing. We do know that Health Canada continues to monitor the science.\u201d<\/p>\n Magda Havas disagrees. She is associate professor of environmental and resource studies at Trent University in Peterborough and has researched electromagnetic hypersensitivity for two decades.<\/p>\n Symptoms include everything from headaches, trouble concentrating and difficulty with short term memory to heart problems, mood disorders and anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cThis issue is not going to go away,\u201d Havas said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to get a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are more likely to develop symptoms, Havas said.<\/p>\n Kalnitsky says he self-diagnosed after speaking with an expert. He unplugged his wireless internet, mobile and cordless phones for a few days. The difference was drastic.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next day after I had disconnected, I felt different, I felt energy,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been perfectly healthy with no arhythmia for more than a year.\u201d<\/p>\n Kalnitsky\u2019s doctor, Dr. Kathleen Debrosian, declined comment to The Record to confirm his diagnosis.<\/p>\n The Women\u2019s College Hospital Environmental Health Clinic in Toronto is one of the few places to provide electromagnetic hypersensitivity diagnoses.<\/p>\n Dr. Riina Bray is medical director of the clinic and sees about 50 patients per year she says are affected.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe one per cent of the population (is affected),\u201d she said. \u201cWe really don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n The legislation covering the level of radiation broadcasting and telecommunications devices can emit here is Safety Code 6. Industry Canada governs the legislation, which is based on Health Canada recommendations. It says 1000 microwatts per centimetre squared can be emitted constantly to be safe.<\/p>\n Havas said countries like Russia have much lower thresholds.<\/p>\n Bray said skeptics and government need to do their homework.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a real thing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a psychological problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Judi Francioso of Cambridge said her family suffered headaches, heart palpitations and other symptoms after a smart meter was installed at the home in June 2010.<\/p>\n She wants people to take the problem seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sufferers sound pretty stupid talking about this when no one else can feel this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n After being diagnosed at Bray\u2019s clinic, Francioso fought for months to have her smart meter replaced with one connected to a land line. Symptoms have improved little since the meter was replaced earlier this year.<\/p>\n Kalnitsky says he will meet with city officials and talk about where cellphone towers are placed. But he may be out of luck.<\/p>\n The ultimate administration over where towers go is left to the federal government.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly empathize with the symptoms that (Kalnitsky) is reporting,\u201d said Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener-Waterloo. \u201cThese policies are based on science and, according to Health Canada, there is nothing \u2014 no evidence of radiofrequency signals causing adverse health effects.\u201d<\/p>\n He said if that were to change, so too would policy.<\/p>\n
\nOct 29, 2012<\/div>\n\u2018I had turned into this old, frail man overnight\u2019<\/h1>\n
Waterloo man blames sickness on wireless technology, but health officials say there\u2019s no link<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Howard](\"http:\/\/media.zuza.com\/f\/c\/fc0fb0f7-d68b-4e69-99d5-6802edc6d3ba\/c0cacca54476b83f096cd471f5a3_Content.jpg\")
<\/div>\n\nHoward Kalnitsky stands near a Beechwood Drive apartment building bristling with antennae. Kalnitsky says his hypersensitivity to cell phone radiation has caused heart problems.<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n