French court recognizes woman’s allergy to Wi-Fi as disability

Woman granted disability allowance

TOULOUSE, FRANCE (Reuters) — A 39-year-old woman has been granted a disability allowance by a court in Toulouse, France due to her apparent allergy to Wi-Fi.

Marine Richard suffers from a condition known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity and says that exposure to mobile phones, Wi-Fi, televisions, microwaves and other gadgets causes her severe discomfort.

Typical symptoms reported by those with the condition include headaches, fatigue, tingling, nausea and palpitations.

Despite Richard’s claims, however, the World Health Organization has yet to find scientific studies proving the link between electromagnetic waves and the symptoms she says she’s been suffering.

One highly-disputed recent study cited by Newser, however, did demonstrate such a link.

Richard, a former radio producer, says she was forced to move to a remote barn without electricity in Ariège, in the French Pyrenees.

Richard will now reportedly be receiving 800 euros a month in disability pay for three years following a decision handed down by a Toulouse court.

In a similar case in the United States, a Massachusetts couple are asking for US$250,000 in damages after their son’s school installed a wireless network, which they say caused the the 12-year-old headaches, chest pains, nosebleeds, nausea, dizziness, and rashes.

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