Is the modern world making you sick?

In this three-part series, let’s explore the potential adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields. Part 1: Is the modern world making you sick?

Key message: Long-term exposure to EMF could be making us sick.

Action Point: Start to notice how much EMF you are actually exposed to – phones, computers, laptops, microwaves, household appliances etc. Start to turn them off at night time.

The health cost of technology

Technologies we rely on in today’s world – electricity, the internet, phones, radio, television, any smart technology, and even baby monitors – could be making us sick.

They all emit a type of electromagnetic radiation via an electromagnetic field (EMF) – an environmental ‘pollution’ that some researchers are saying could account for many of today’s common health conditions.

There is no denying that electromagnetic fields are one of the fastest growing and ubiquitous environmental influences. In fact, they are almost impossible to avoid. Apart from people living in the remotest of remote locations, there are very few in Australia today who are not bathed in electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation, 24 hours a day.

What’s more, the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. According to the World Health Organisation, “…even a small health consequence from EMF exposure could have a major public health impact”.¹

Types of EMF

Exposure to EMF is not a new phenomenon. Electromagnetic radiation has been around since the birth of the universe – light is its most familiar natural form.  However, there are also man-made forms that we need to be aware of.

One of the defining characteristics of an EMF is its frequency. Different frequencies interact with the body in different ways. Higher frequency (shorter wavelength) waves carry more energy than lower frequency (longer wavelength) fields.

High frequency electromagnetic radiation includes gamma radiation, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves. We know that too much exposure to these types of radiation can be bad for us. To counter this, national and international guidelines restrict our exposure.

But low frequency EMF – from electrical power supplies and appliances, and everyday sources of radiofrequency (RF) EMF such as telecommunications, broadcasting antennas and microwave ovens – could also be affecting our health.

So should we be limiting our exposure to these sources of EMF?

Low frequency EMF

Whether low-level exposure to EMF can harm human health is a controversial issue. Some studies have linked EMF exposure to cancer, cataracts, prematurity and low birth weight in children of workers in the electronics industry, and ‘electromagnetic hypersensitivity’.

The symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity are said to include headache, fatigue, stress, sleep disturbances, skin symptoms like prickling, burning sensations and rashes, pain and ache in muscles and many other health problems.

We know that low-level EMF does affect us biologically: exposure to EMF can heat our bodies. Think about when you hold a mobile phone close to your ear for too long. However, these effects are said to be low,² and to date, no adverse health effects from low-level exposure to radiofrequency or power frequency fields have been confirmed.²

However, we still don’t know the impact of long-term exposure to low-level EMF.

Stay tuned for part 2 in this series: Dirty Electricity.

References

1. WHO (2015) Electromagnetic fields: What are Electromagnetic fields – summary of health effects. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html

2. WHO (2015) Electromagnetic fields: What are electromagnetic fields – progress in research. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index2.html