Wi-Fi equipment

Wi-Fi equipment is now commonly located in most homes, schools and businesses. Learn about the safety of Wi-Fi equipment.

On this page

• About Wi-Fi equipment
• Health effects of Wi-Fi
• Factsheet to share

About Wi-Fi equipment

Wi-Fi is a technology that allows devices such as computers, smart phones, video game consoles and smart home devices to communicate data wirelessly. It is often used to link home computers and tablets to the internet. Wi-Fi equipment emits radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF). Other commonly used household products also emit radiofrequency EMF. These products include:

• cordless phones
• Bluetooth devices
• remote controls for garage door openers

The radiofrequency EMF given off by Wi-Fi is a type of non-ionizing radiation. The level of radiofrequency EMF emitted from a Wi-Fi device must comply with the Canadian standards established for radiocommunication devices.

Health effects of Wi-Fi

There are no health risks from exposure to radiofrequency EMF from Wi-Fi devices in your home, in schools or other areas accessible to the public.

These devices must meet standards to ensure they do not exceed radiofrequency EMF exposure limits.

While some of the radiofrequency EMF emitted by Wi-Fi is absorbed in your body, the amount largely depends on:

• the strength of the signal
• how close your body is to a Wi-Fi enabled device

Measurements of the radiofrequency EMF level from multiple Wi-Fi sources and Wi-Fi enabled devices operating at the same time in the same room were far below the human exposure limits in Safety Code 6.

Based on the current scientific evidence the level of radiofrequency EMF emitted from Wi-Fi devices is not harmful to health. Health Canada's conclusions are consistent with the findings of other international bodies and regulators, including the:

• World Health Organization
• U.K. Health Security Agency
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

Learn about how Safety Code 6 protects you from radiofrequency EMF.

You do not need to take precautionary measures since radiofrequency EMF exposure levels from Wi-Fi are well below Canadian safety limits. As with any product, you should operate Wi-Fi devices in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Related links

• Health effects of radiation
• Radio Standards Specification 102
• Radiofrequency energy and safety
• Case Study: Measurements of Radio Frequency Exposure from Wi-Fi Devices (2012)
• Electromagnetic fields and public health - base stations and wireless technologies
• Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans news release