Understanding Technology & Health Laws
Act 222: The History
Along with my local representative, other legislators who signed on to support our bill, a team of medical experts (Tulane cardiologist specializing in exercise echocardiograms, Tulane neurologist specializing in headaches, pediatrician specializing in sleep disorders, pediatrician with Masters in Public Health, Pennington Research Center medical doctor specializing in childhood obesity, Louisiana’s only optometrist specializing in child development), impassioned students and parents, we passed HB548 unanimously on both floors of the Louisiana House and Senate and signed into action by the Governor on May 31, 2022 protecting the Louisiana students of all ages from the unintended consequences of school issued digital devices, Act 222.
This new law, one of only a few similar laws in the U.S. requires the "Department of Education to develop health and safety guidelines for the use of digital devices in public schools [in] collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health . . . and medical specialists [above].” We have since added to our team of medical experts an orthopedic surgeon and a triple boarded medical doctor: ICU, pulmonary, and lifestyle medicine. Private, parochial, and homeschool communities have been added to the list of schools for dissemination of our guidelines in their newsletters.
Below is a simple overview to help families understand the potential unintended health impacts of school-required digital device use—and why this law was needed in the first place.
- epidemic myopia (nearsightedness)
- epidemic obesity
- disruption of sleep cycles with the blue light (with resultant ADHD like and depressive symptoms and lack of restorative sleep)
- increased dry eye disease
- damage to the corneal, lenticular, and retinal cells from the blue light
- neuro-ophthalmologic mal-changes in development
- crossed eyes (esotropia) induced from prolonged screen exposure
- involuntary (tics) movements, sympathetic system overload
- inability for young children to coordinate visual input with fine motor movement in receiving a paintbrush or pencil
- inability of receiving information from the environment visually to have an internal GPS to navigate the world
- inability to visually interpret body language and facial expressions
- effects on their bodies of radiation from the devices (including decrease sperm count and motility issues)
- musculoskeletal pain and discomfort due to poor ergonomics
- addiction to the screens
- inability to physically write or read others' writings
Technology is advancing faster than policy.
Key concerns families and communities are raising:
Increased exposure from 5G small cells near homes and schools • Wireless devices in classrooms replacing traditional learning • Lack of long-term studies on chronic exposure • Limited public input in infrastructure decisions