EMF What Is It? And Where?
EMF means electromagnetic field. It is a physical energetic field that radiates from all things in nature and from man-made electronic systems. It includes cosmic rays, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, radar, microwaves, TV, radio, cellphones and all electronic transmission systems. Electromagnetic radiation is made up of electric and magnetic fields that move at right angles to each other at the speed of light. Electromagnetic radiation is always and everywhere around us. The potential effects of electromagnetic fields on human health vary widely depending on the frequency and intensity of the fields. Some EMFs are very strong and toxic like X-rays and UV light, and others are weak and trivial at usual exposures. There is great debate on the toxicity of ordinary devices like mobile phones and common equipment like electrical power lines. It is very hard to come to firm conclusions because the science is so tainted by commercial interests. We might be facing a public health disaster from mobile phones like we did with asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking and coal and cotton dust. There are opposing views about EMF by even good untainted scientists. It is reasonable to be cautious. After all in our history as a species we have very little exposure to EMF before the modern electric age. Just consider the list of things in our homes that can produce a field strong enough to have known health consequences: electric ranges, hair dryers, telephones, fluorescent lights, toaster oven, CD player, TV screen, calculator, space heater, air purifier, clocks, clock radios, electric blankets, water beds, computers, home wiring, any other electric appliance. EMF force can be measured by a Gauss Meter. Any reading at or greater than 0.5 mG is above the usual ambient exposure. The US Environmental Protection Agency and the government of Sweden have adopted a safety limit of 1 mG (one miligause). MY HOME To access the possible exposures in my own home I purchased an inexpensive Gauss Meter and did a walk through measuring the EMF. I was surprised by a few of the readings and concerned that we had been exposed to harmful radiation routinely. The most significant exposures came from our clock radios. One read 17 mG at the radio with the field degrading to a reading of 1 by 18 inches away from the front of the radio. It didn’t matter if the radio itself was on or not. Another older clock radio put out 65 mG at the device and didn’t get below 1 mG in force until measured 23 inches away from the front of the radio. With the first 17 mG radio the person sleeping on the bed was far enough away to be quite safe. But the person sleeping near the 65 mG radio had been exposed and we moved the radio and sleeping position to protect the sleeper. Other high energy devices included: wall mounted CD player 40 mG (.1 mG at 12”), electric space heater 14 mG (.1 mG at 18”, 10 mG even when off), electric space heater 10 mG (1 at 12”), small air filter 90 mG (1 at 24”), computer flat screen 2.9 mG at the bottom of the screen (1 at 12”), computer tower (less than 1mG everywhere), recessed halogen light fixture 4 mG (1 at 24”), incandescent bulb fixture .4 mG (.1 at 12”), charging unit for leaf blower 2.5 mG. So it looks like the radios and devices that have electric motors in them are the trouble spots in my home. I visited a friend’s house to compare these results and found some important and hazardous devices. She had a “Storm Station” that is always plugged in and contains flashlights, batteries and such. It read 200 mG. Her toaster oven was 50 mG and safe only at 24” away. The microwave leaked out at a reading of 110 mG and was still a problem up until 3.5’ away. The small space heater in her home put out 160 mG at the device and safe only at 3’ away. A clock radio was 10 mG and safe at 8” and a digital clock used on the bed stand was 13 mG and safe at 8” so was moved farther from the sleeper’s pillow. Her computers, TV screen and CD players were fine with safe readings at usual use distances. But the electric kettle for boiling water read 45 mG so was moved off of the kitchen table so that the user would be more than 12” away. In my brief study of home safety we identified a number of possible hazards. In each case merely making sure that the device is a safe distance from anyone except for brief moments is adequate to insure that no injury occurs. Here is the list that we found in two ordinary homes: ---clock radio and clocks ---electric space heaters ---microwave ovens ---toasters ---electric kettles ---CD players ---air filters ---any charging station There were differences among the devices from brand to brand. HOME STUDY For my established patients I am happy to come to your home with my Gauss Meter and evaluate the equipment you have running. Just call the office and we can talk about when to do such a home visit and the cost of the analysis.
