You’ve heard of EMF radiation, you wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t. I’m sure you’ve heard it’s bad for you but what exactly is EMF radiation? What causes it? What can you do to protect yourself? I had the same concerns as you and have spent extensive time researching it so let me try and explain it to you as best I can.
- Electric and Magnetic Fields
- Two Types of EMFs: The Bad and The Ugly
- Measuring EMF Radiation
- The Impact of EMF Radiation
- Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)
- The Best EMF Protection
- 1. Change Your Proximity to EMF Sources
- 2. Reduce Your Exposure
- 3. Switch Back to A Hard Wired Connection
- 4. Shielding and Protection
- Take Action to Protect Yourself and Your Family
- References
Electric and Magnetic Fields
Electric and magnetic fields are areas of energy produced by electricity that are invisible to us and often referred to as radiation. When you have electric and magnetic fields together they are called Electromagnetic fields.
Electric fields are produced even if a device is off, while magnetic fields are only produced when a device is on (and the current is flowing). Electric fields weaken and are shielded by walls and objects but magnetic fields pass through everything including buildings, living things, and most materials.
Put these together and you get EMFs. There are two categories of EMFs: Non-ionizing and Ionizing and they exist on a spectrum that depends on the field’s wavelength and frequency.
Two Types of EMFs: The Bad and The Ugly
Ionizing Radiation: These are high-frequency EMFs with shorter wavelengths, which are known to damage DNA or cells. You should ideally have limited exposure to these.
Examples of Ionizing:
- X-rays
- Radioactive waste
- Gamma rays
Non-Ionizing Radiation: These are low to mid-level EMFs, which have longer wavelengths and a lower frequency. This level of radiation is becoming a growing concern due to the constant exposure we are bombarded with in our homes, workplaces, and frankly everywhere.
Man-made EMFs fall into two more categories within non-ionizing EMFs. They are Extremely Low Frequency EMFs (or ELF-EMFs) and Radiofrequency Radiation (or RF). ELF-EMFs include power lines, hairdryers, electric blankets, electric appliances, etc.
RF are the ones you’re surrounded with all the time due to modern technology; including cell phones, smart meters, tablets, laptops, WIFI routers, other smart andwireless devices, Bluetooth devices, cell networks (3G, 4G, 5G), RFID, NFC, and GPS and more.
Read the above again – because this is the type of EMF you need to understand and take action to protect yourself against.
Measuring EMF Radiation
EMFs are measured in units of volts per meter (V/m). In order to measure the EMF radiation you’re being exposed to you can use an EMF meter.
They offer a range of functions and features, are easy to understand and set off alarms if your readings are too high.
Check out my list of the best 6 EMF meters here.
ELFs measure between 0Hz – 300Hz, RFs measure from 300Hz to 300GHz, Ionizing radiation can range from Diagnostic 5-50EHz to Therapeutic radiation in the range of 500-5,000EHz. In all reality, just use the meter. It’s a much simpler way to look at and understand the numbers. Some even have graphs and charts.
The Impact of EMF Radiation
Through various studies, the popular belief has been held that non-iodizing EMFs are unlikely to cause any adverse health effects. The suggestions to reduce exposure to high levels of radiation from EMF have spanned from only receiving medically necessary X-rays to limiting time in the sun and wearing sunscreen.
However, as time and technology have passed, a growing number of researchers have begun to show concern for and focus on society’s constant interaction with electronic devices over long periods of time and at very close proximity, like cell phones in people’s faces or under their pillow all night.
To understand the long-term effects, it can take up to 20 years to fully comprehend what EMFs are or are not doing to the human body.
More and more people are reporting health problems because of their exposure to EMFs. There is now a medical diagnosis called Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity or EHS, recognized by health organizations internationally.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)
EHS is a perceived allergy to electromagnetic fields (not everyone believes this is a real medical issue but I suspect we’ll be seeing more in the future). Symptoms can be mild to debilitating and people can experience a range of non-specific symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Sleep disturbance or insomnia
- Headaches
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Dysesthesia (itchiness)
- Lack of concentration
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Mood swings
- Loss of appetite
- Heart palpitations
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Burning or tingling sensations
- Redness
- Digestive disturbances
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
These symptoms differ from person to person and EHS doesn’t have any specific diagnostic criteria or scientific proof at this point in time. If you are experiencing these symptoms please seek medical advice as I am in no way a medical professional.
It would also be a good idea to measure your EMF exposure and look into ways to limit your exposure.
The Best EMF Protection
If you are concerned about exposure to EMFs, you are not alone. The best way to prevent potential dangers is to limit your exposure to any electronically powered device. Studies have shown that levels of radiation from EMFs drop drastically the farther away a person is from the EMF source.
1. Change Your Proximity to EMF Sources
The first thing you can do is to do an assessment of your home and the sources of EMF you’re being exposed to. Simply remove them from the rooms you spend the most time in.
Relocate your WIFI router, or any wireless chargers, printers, etc. Take a close look at the radiation in your bedroom, where you spend a large amount of your time sleeping.
Research shows that EMFs can influence your brain activity while you sleep. See my article for more tips on protecting your bedroom.
Be mindful of distance. Keep screens as far away as you can manage from your body and face. Don’t stand near your microwave (if you still have one). At a distance of only 1 foot, the level of radiation from the EMFs created by most household appliances drops up 100 times lower.
2. Reduce Your Exposure
An easy and free step you can take is turn off electronic devices when you’re not using them. Use an automatic timer to turn your WIFI router off at night.
Turn off Bluetooth. Put your phone on airplane mode at night or don’t bring it into your bedroom at all. Contact your hydro company and see if you can do away with your smart meter.
3. Switch Back to A Hard Wired Connection
I know this seems crazy, especially in a world that’s moving towards everything being wireless. Reduce your exposure to those RF EMFs by switching from WIFI to Ethernet.
Get rid of your smart electronics and wireless charging stations. Go old school. It might be an adjustment at first but your future self will thank you. Invest in Air Tube Headphones, which will help keep your cell phone at a distance and reduce the EMF radiation going right into your head.
4. Shielding and Protection
There are many steps you can take to shield and protect yourself from harmful EMFs, which is what this site is all about. You can use router guards and smart meter guards, EMF cell phone cases and laptop pads.
Protect yourself in your home by using an EMF bed canopy and grounding sheet, EMF blankets, and EMF paint to provide shielding for an entire room. Protect yourself while out of your home by wearing EMF hats and clothing, using a Faraday Bag, and EMF protection necklaces.
Take Action to Protect Yourself and Your Family
The most important thing is to take action. Learn about the exposure where you live, inside your home, workplace, and outside.
Figure out where the highest levels are coming from around you and start making changes there or taking steps to reduce your exposure and protect yourself.
References
https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/toolbox/emspectrum1.html
