Acer questions study on safety of wireless surfing

A leading notebook computer manufacturer yesterday questioned the results of a recent study showing that some notebook computers emit an excessively high level of electromagnetic waves during wireless Internet connection.

An official from Acer, who requested anonymity, said that the company's portable computers had passed the safety guidelines for use in a wireless environment.

The Acer official's remarks came in the wake of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union's (台灣環境保護聯盟) release on Thursday of the results of a test on 25 different notebook computer brands and models.

The tests found that the electromagnetic emissions generated by 14 of the products exceeded 2,000 microwatts per square meter during wireless Internet connection -- much higher than the safety level of 1 microwatt set by Austria for indoor spaces.

The 14 models were manufactured by different brands, including FIC (大眾), Asustek (華碩), Twinhead (倫飛), Acer, IBM and Gigabyte (技嘉).

The Acer official said that National Taiwan University staff had carried out similar tests on the campus after the release of the union's findings.

The tests showed that the electromagnetic emissions were below 1 microwatt, which is within the safety level, the official said.

Chang Sheng (張聖), vice president of the wireless business group at Q-ware Systems and Services Corp (安源資訊), also sought to reassure consumers that wireless surfing did not pose a health hazard.

The company is the contractor for the Wifly project, whose wireless Internet service covers most of Taipei.

"Studies show that electromagnetic waves emitted by wireless notebooks are weaker than those of handsets," he said.

Chen Shu-hua (陳椒華), an official at the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, said that they had tested each of the products that registered electromagnetic emissions of more than 2,000 microwatts during wireless Internet connection at least twice, with similar results.

However, their electromagnetic emissions were very low during a wired Internet connection, Chen said.

Saying that electromagnetic waves in indoor spaces tend to exceed the safe level if two or more computers are using wireless networking at the same time, Chen warned that indoor wireless connection should not be encouraged in places such as classrooms, libraries and crowded spaces.

The union urged relevant government agencies to require computer manufacturers to label the electromagnetic emission levels of their products in order to protect consumers.