WiFi routers are safe at normal distances in homes and offices
Verdict:
Power density at 1m is 1,000x+ below ICNIRP safety limits. Decades of research with no consistent evidence of harm at these levels.
WiFi Technology
IEEE 802.11 from 11 Mbps to 46 Gbps. How OFDM, MIMO, and beamforming work. Why your router operates 1,250x below safety limits.
IEEE 802.11 Evolution
| Standard | Year | Frequency | Max Speed | Modulation | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11b | 1999 | 2.4 GHz | 11 Mbps | DSSS/CCK | ~35m indoor |
| 802.11a | 1999 | 5 GHz | 54 Mbps | OFDM | ~25m indoor |
| 802.11g | 2003 | 2.4 GHz | 54 Mbps | OFDM | ~35m indoor |
| 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) | 2009 | 2.4/5 GHz | 600 Mbps | OFDM + MIMO | ~45m indoor |
| 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) | 2014 | 5 GHz | 6.93 Gbps | OFDM + MU-MIMO | ~35m indoor |
| 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) | 2020 | 2.4/5/6 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | OFDMA + MU-MIMO | ~35m indoor |
| 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) | 2024 | 2.4/5/6 GHz | 46.1 Gbps | OFDMA + MLO | ~35m indoor |
WiFi Frequencies
| Band | Channels | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | 14 | 2.400 - 2.4835 GHz | |
| 5 GHz | 45 | 5.150 - 5.825 GHz | |
| 6 GHz | 59 | 5.925 - 7.125 GHz |
Power Levels
Typical router: [object Object]
FCC limit:
Safety margin:
Signal Through Materials
| Material | Attenuation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall/Plasterboard | 3-4 dB | |
| Wood door | 3-4 dB | |
| Glass window | 2-3 dB | |
| Brick wall | 6-10 dB | |
| Concrete wall | 10-15 dB | |
| Reinforced concrete | 15-25 dB | |
| Metal/foil | 20-30+ dB | |
| Water (human body) | 15-25 dB per body |
WiFi Security Protocols
| Protocol | Year | Encryption | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEP | 1997 | RC4 (64/128-bit) | Broken |
| WPA | 2003 | TKIP (RC4-based) | Deprecated |
| WPA2 | 2004 | AES-CCMP (128-bit) | Acceptable |
| WPA3 | 2018 | AES-GCMP (128/256-bit) | Recommended |
Health Claims Examined
WiFi does not cause cancer at normal exposure levels
Verdict:
Multiple large-scale epidemiological studies (UK Million Women Study, Danish Cohort) show no increased cancer risk. Power levels are orders of magnitude below those used in animal studies showing any effect.
WiFi may cause headaches or sleep disruption in sensitive individuals
Verdict:
Double-blind provocation studies consistently fail to show that self-reported "electrosensitive" individuals can detect WiFi presence above chance. Nocebo effect is the most supported explanation.
Long-term chronic WiFi exposure (decades) has no health effects
Verdict:
WiFi has only been widespread since ~2000. No long-term studies spanning 30+ years exist yet. However, given the extremely low power levels (100-1000x below limits that already include large safety margins), most physicists consider the theoretical risk negligible.