Electromagnetic (EMF) Pollution

information on protecting yourself from radiation

Symptoms   Recommendations   Resources

Electromagnetic (EMF) pollution from electronic devices such as cell phones, microwaves, computers, TV's, etc. may have significant consequences on our health in the future, including higher incidences of brain tumors, Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease. However, most of us are not aware of the gradually escalating unhealthful effects of EMF's.

The World Health Organization had backed off from their 2003 decision that there is "sufficient evidence" to apply the precautionary principle to both power-frequency and high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs), but cell phone research reported in 2016 makes it quite clear that there is a risk of brain glioma tumors and heart nerve shield tumors as a result of long-term testing of lab rats and mice in a clearly controlled and carefully designed study. This study is to be published in 2017, but the results were significant enough that they were reported to NIH, whose review of the ongoing research found no serious flaws in either methodology or data.

Symptoms

The following may be caused by overexposure to EMF's:

Short term symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Memory loss or confusion
• Reduced alertness or ability to focus

Possible long term symptoms

• Decreased fertility
• Increased risk of breast cancer and other cancer
• Increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions including dementia, ALS, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease.
• Increased risk of heart problems, high blood pressure
• Increased risk of dizziness and nausea
• Increased risk of fatigue and sleep problems
• Research has shown that people under the age of 20 who use cellphones more than 1 hour a day have increased risk of developing malignant brain tumors.
• Other research has reported that there is increased risk of gliomas in the brain and malignant schwannomas of the heart.

Recommendations

• Use a wired headset - This keeps the antenna far away from your skull.
• Get used to texting - Texting also keeps the handset away from your brain, reducing the radiation risk.
• Don't use your cell phone as an alarm clock - If you use your phone as your wake-up call, you'll likely need to keep it close to your head; there's still radiation being emitted even when it's not taking calls.
• Don't carry your phone in your pocket - There's preliminary research to indicate that men who carry a phone in their pocket all day could be putting their fertility at risk, and women who carry their phones in their bra could be increasing their risk of breast cancer.
• Use a radiation-blocking case. These can reduce cell phone radiation by two-thirds.
• Young children exposed to cell phones used near their head may be particularly susceptible to eventual brain damage as their skulls and brain are not fully developed yet.