Torture ... wi-fi makes Steve Miller ill
Aricle on http://www.thesun.co.uk
By DAVE MASTERS
Published: 24 Jul 2009
FOR Steve Miller a trip to his local High Street is a living hell that makes him sick, dizzy and confused.
Pubs make him feel the same and he can't use trains, airports or hotels without experiencing head-banging agony.
But Steve doesn't suffer from some strange phobia. He is allergic to wi-fi.
And sadly for him - and the other two per cent of the population with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity - the number of people pumping out the wireless internet signal is on the rise.
Steve said: "I feel like an exile on my own planet. It's almost impossible to find somewhere without wi-fi nowadays.
"If I fancy a pint I have to travel three miles to the only pub in my area that doesn't have it. I can't just go to the shops because huge parts of the High Street affect me.
"If I go somewhere, I can instantly sense the wi-fi and have to leg it."
Being extra-sensitive to this "electrosmog" has made moving house a nightmare for Steve, as stray signals from neighbouring buildings could make him ill.
It has also cost the top DJ thousands of pounds in lost income.
Steve, who had a residency at huge Ibiza club Pacha before his allergy, said: "I've missed out on loads of European DJ gigs as I can't find accommodation without wi-fi. Most hotels have it, as have all the airports. I can't even catch a train because they have it."
Steve is safe in his current home, a detached house in a village near Falmouth, Cornwall, as it is isolated and has 18in-thick granite walls.
But since he and girlfriend Linda decided to move, it has been hard to find anywhere remote enough to avoid signals.
Steve said: "I can't live within 50 yards of anyone. I wouldn't be able to stand it feeling ill in my own house.
"There's no medication you can take."
Steve - better known to clubbing fans as Afterlife - now carries a wi-fi detector with him wherever he goes so he can avoid problem areas.
Steve only realised he suffered from the condition two years ago after turning up at a mate's studio that had recently installed wi-fi.
He and his pal were both feeling ill with headaches and dizziness and struggling to concentrate so they turned off the machine to see if they felt better... and they did.
Steve said: "Some of my friends, or members of their family, are equally affected by wi-fi but are only just starting to notice as its use spreads.
Headaches
"Even now there's very little education about it."
There is no hard evidence that wi-fi is dangerous to your health.
But just three months ago teachers called for it to be banned in schools over health fears, and for a Government investigation into the biological and thermal effects.
A couple of years ago the German government even urged people to avoid wi-fi in favour of "conventional wired connections". Steve believes the issue needs looking into and that many people are suffering from his condition without realising.
He added: "I certainly believe most of the headaches people get at work are caused by it.
"I've spoken to friends who work in offices who have ended up living on painkillers because of their daily headaches. They tried turning off their transmitters and found their headaches stopped.
"There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that the radiation has made people feel ratty and tired, caused disrupted sleep, rows and even the break-up of relationships.
"I'd advise people to turn off their wi-fi at home and see if it changes the way they feel. They just might get a surprise."
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