How dangerous is electromagnetic radiation for your health? A question that everyone should be asking, but only a few are concerned about. The studies have hinted at the potential EMF dangers to our health and the people living in high radiation areas are already complaining about the health issues.
Cases of people suffering from insomnia, anxiety, depression, and even reproductive problems are growing in areas with high levels of EMF radiation. People in the past didn’t have to worry about this problem, but we have witnessed a steep rise in the use of technology that emits high EMF radiation. How big is the risk? Let’s try to understand it.
EMF Technology That Surrounds Us
If you have heard of the Internet of Things(IoT), the idea behind it is to make every electronic object connected to the internet. We already have plenty of electronic items that use Bluetooth or WiFi technologies. These technologies play a huge role in increasing EMF exposure at home.
With the growing use of smart refrigerators, smart meters, routers, and similar items, we can no longer assume that we are living in safe radiation levels even at home. In the kitchen, we are exposed to EMF radiation by microwaves and induction cooktops. In the living room, we may be susceptible to EMF dangers due to the Smart TV, laptops, and WiFi routers.
These days it’s hard to find residential areas without cell towers in close proximity. All of these things contribute to increased dangerous EMF levels in the space we live in. While for some of the items we mentioned, there is nothing that can be done, an EMF detector can at least help us spot objects contributing to unhealthy levels of radiation.
Health Risks Due to Prolonged EMF Exposure
If you spend a little time in high EMF areas, it shouldn’t cause you any worry. But constant exposure to unhealthy amounts of electromagnetic radiation will eventually manifest mental or physical illnesses. Sleeping difficulty and nausea are some of the early signs of EMF induced health issues.
There are no conclusive research studies; however, there have been hints that prolonged exposure to high EMF radiation is potentially carcinogenic. Reproductive problems like loss of libido can also be a result of living in areas with high EMF radiation.
What is EMF Radiation
These types of radiation are formed by intertwined electric and magnetic fields. There is a spectrum of electromagnetic fields composed of EM waves of different wavelengths and frequencies. For the purpose of understanding the dangers of EMF exposure, let’s look into the two main types of radiation.
Ionizing EMF
These are the EMFs, in the spectrum, which have a high frequency and a low wavelength. Ionizing EMFs break chemical bonds and can therefore cause oxidative damage in human beings. On the other hand, they are also being used to treat cancer. Gamma rays and X-rays are some common ionizing EMF radiation.
High amounts of ionizing EMF can cause immediate damage, such as hair loss, skin damage, damage to bone marrow, etc. Fertility complications can also result if exposed to these radiations for a long time.
Non-Ionizing EMF
Unlike ionizing EMFs, these don’t cause damage over a shorter time span, but prolonged exposure can cause many health problems. This type of radiation has a longer wavelength and a shorter frequency.
You will find non-ionizing radiation all around you. In fact, you would be surprised to see how much exposed to this type of EMF you are. Infrared waves, radio waves, and microwaves are the most common forms of non-ionizing radiation. Risks of the EMF hazards arise when you spend too much time in close proximity to a source of non-ionizing EMF.
The eyes and the testes are more susceptible to the EMF dangers, but continued exposure can also cause mental fogginess and sleeping difficulty.
Read more: How to Avoid Radiation From Cell Phones
Top Sources of Non-Ionizing Radiation
- Microwave ovens
- Power lines
- Computers
- House energy meters
- WiFi routers
- MRIs
- Bluetooth devices
EMF Hazards of Non-Ionizing Radiation
Adverse effects of radiofrequency radiations do not manifest overnight. You won’t see any sign of the harms until it is too late. So, to escape the EMF dangers of such radiations you might want to get EMF measured at your home.
According to WHO’s IARC, electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic. Further research is ongoing to find substantial evidence for this, however, a loose connection between people exposed to radiation and a type of cancer called Glioma has been observed.
Another reason to suspect non-ionizing EMF to be carcinogenic(cancer-causing) is that the studies found Gliomas more often on the same side of the head as the patients used to speak on the phone. Other researchers have also suggested that being exposed to high levels of EMF can result in a specific type of leukemia in adults.
Is WiFi Bad for You?
WiFi transmission occurs through radiofrequency waves. It is a form of non-ionizing radiation that can cause health issues when exposed to it for a long time. Distance is another factor that matters quite a lot. For instance, if you stay near the microwave oven while heating the food, you are exposing yourself to high radiation.
When there is an option to keep some distance between you and the item that’s emitting radio waves, you can reduce exposure and therefore minimize the EMF dangers.
WiFi routers typically emit radiation amounts of 1V/m to 4 V/m if it’s located nearby. This value decreases if you place the router further from where you spend most of your time. The WiFi health risks can be reduced by taking some simple measures.
So, yes WiFi is bad for you if you keep your WiFi router switched on at night, if you spend too much time close to bluetooth or WiFi devices like Smart TV, refrigerator, etc or if you always keep your laptop on your lap. The smart meters or power lines close to your living area can also result in dangerous high EMF levels. Read more: Smart Meter Dangers
EMF Exposure Solution
As people become aware of the problem, many of them start to look for housing in areas that don’t have power lines or cell towers too close to the location. However, if you are already living somewhere where this option isn’t available, there is little you can do about it. Instead, you can focus on reducing EMF exposure inside your home.
The first step would be to get an EMF meter and perform a survey of your entire house. You can skip the basement or any place you don’t spend much time in. Bedroom, living room, and even kitchen are some of the places where you need to scan thoroughly and note down the radiation readings.
Power off WiFi and Bluetooth devices at night
You must switch off your WiFi router, Smart TVs, smartphones, and similar gadgets which you don’t need at night. If this sounds inconvenient, you can use a timer to automatically turn off WiFi at night. You can also use smart plugs to set the timer to turn off the WiFi router at night. Most people are just being careless when they don’t turn off Alexa or Smart TVs even at night.
Using Ethernet cables instead Wireless Routers
People with EMF sensitivity prefer to use ethernet cables and completely avoid the use of WiFi at home. This is an effective way to reduce exposure to high radiation. The WiFi is an EMF technology that we are exposed to for the maximum amount of time.
If we can reduce exposure to WiFi in our home or offices, radiofrequency readings will easily fall within the recommended values. The ethernet cables should replace WiFi routers at least in the schools and hospitals.
How to Cure WiFi Sickness
There is no simple cure when high sensitivity to EMF develops, however, the symptoms will disappear once you reduce your exposure to EMF radiation. Many people turn away from technology and spend time in nature. But that is not a sustainable solution considering how reliant we are on the technology nowadays.
It has been found that treating chemical sensitivity helps reduce EMF sensitivity. But most importantly, you must consider EMF protection by using RF shielding, if you suffer from high sensitivity to EMF. Shielding helps isolate electrical devices from the surroundings.
If you live near power lines, EMF protective paint can be used as primer on the outside walls in the direction of the power lines. Lowering your exposure to radiation will eventually help you get well. But stay safe from high radiation levels for the longest possible time, for the symptoms to go away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of EMF is dangerous?
For radiofrequency radiation, 0.2 V/m is the daytime limit and 0.06 V/m is the recommended limit for the night. However, for people who are hypersensitive to EMF, RF radiation reading shouldn’t exceed 0.02 V/m.
1 mG is the safe limit for MF radiation. But for hypersensitive people, it should not exceed 0.1 mG.
For ELF radiation, the daytime limit is 10 V/m and 1.5 V/m is for the night. People with high sensitivity to EMF should ensure electric field reading does not exceed 0.3 V/m.
Is EMF a radiation?
The radiation is by-product of transfer of energy in the form of waves. The electromagnetic waves are transverse waves and can be called radiation. But there is a spectrum of EMF radiation with waves of different frequencies.
There are two main kinds of radiation; electromagnetic radiation and particulate radiation. Nuclear radiation for instance is particulate radiation where mass is given off with the energy of motion.
Is Non-Ionizing radiation harmful to humans?
It’s not as dangerous as the ionizing radiation, as you don’t see immediate effects. But for this very reason, people tend to ignore excessive EMF exposure for a prolonged time. This will result in physical or mental health issues. Researches also suggest that EMF can be a cancer-causing agent. However, there is nothing conclusive.
Studies have found reports of people who were exposed to high levels of EMF having symptoms such as insomnia, reproductive problems, depression, etc. This is highly suggestive of what kinds of risks are imminent for people who spend too much time near EMF technology.
Most of the electronics at our homes emit non-ionizing radiation. It’s harmful if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time.
Should I use EMF meters to gauge health risks?
Sure, it’s a great way to be certain that you are not exposed to serious levels of EMF radiation. If you find this to be the case, there are simple steps to lower radiation levels at your home or office. Finding the exact EMF levels at your house is the first step towards reducing the risks.
Distancing yourself from devices like smart meters or WiFi routers can help lower the EMF dangers. So, getting EMF meters and then learning about the danger limit for each type of EMF radiation will help you assess the risks to your health.
Do power lines cause cancer?
Scientists have been speculating about the possibility of EMF radiation being carcinogenic. Some believe that exposure to high levels of EMF over a long period can reduce levels of the hormone melatonin.
A study in 1979 pointed to a possible relation between cancer patients and their exposure to power lines. Power lines do emit low-frequency EMF radiation. If you live too close to power lines, you might want to consider EMF protection to lower the exposure.
Conclusion
Technology is advancing at a break-neck pace. You may not even realize the EMF exposure in your own homes. Now with every electronic turning SMART, the amount of radiofrequency radiation may cross the safety limits without you even knowing about it. This could cause severe health issues as well as disrupt your life in multiple ways.
EMF dangers should be realized soon enough, so you can do something about it. It’s not hard to detect high levels of radiation and minimize your exposure to it. Simple steps can save you from dealing with EMF sensitivity issues and other health problems.
