Electromagnetic fields are not commonly discussed, and that has generated a great deal of disinformation and taboos around them. To fight that, today we want to discuss the opinion of several renowned scientists on this topic.
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are everywhere and, since our species exist, have contributed to our evolution. They are a combination of invisible electric and magnetic fields of force. They are generated by natural phenomena like the Earth’s magnetic field, but more recently and with the increasing use of technology, they are also generated by human activities, mainly through the use of electricity and telecommunications. It is the latter (those of artificial origin) that are causing concern in the scientific community.
The major public health organizations of more than 30 of the world’s leading industrialized countries do regular expert reviews of the scientific literature related to artificial EMF & health. Virtually, every one of these reviews has come to the same conclusion as the World Health Organization “that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields“.
But, on the other hand, there are several reports and scientists that indicate quite the opposite. In today’s article, we want to show some of the most important scientific opinions regarding artificial EMFs and its effects on human health.
EMF and its effects on human health
People may not realize the amount of artificial EMF that surrounds us every day. While we watch for reports on the effects of cell phone use on our health, we should also be thinking about cordless phones, smart meters, and possibly even our cars. And right now, people are facing a host of illnesses ranging from brain tumors and leukemia to poor memory and concentration as they become increasingly exposed to EMF pollution or electrosmog.
Prof. Olle Johansson published an article detailing the phenomenon entitled: “Health Risk from Wireless? The Debate is Over”, together with his colleague Associate Professor Einar Flydal of the Department of Telematics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.
“The spectrum of possible health problems arising is extraordinarily wide – from brain tumors and leukemia to exhaustion, decreased memory and concentration, and just feeling uncomfortable,” Johansson explained.
The Council of Europe committee examined the evidence in 2011 that the technologies had “potentially harmful” effects on humans, and concluded action was required to protect children. It said in a report it was crucial to avoid repeating previous mistakes made when public health officials were slow to recognize the dangers of asbestos, tobacco smoking, and lead in petrol.
“The allowed radiation limits throughout the world are insane, to say the least. We are talking about values up to 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the 18th) times higher than nature’s background radiation, to which the human body has adapted through many 100,000 of years, and within a couple of decades, we have all been surrounded by biblical levels of artificial radio-waves, well knowing that they have major impacts on both human and animal health.”, Prof. Johansson said.
Radiation from wireless signals and cell phones
Dr. Henry Lai, whose research is noted as part of the report on the Interphone Study, reported that he has changed his mind about whether radiation from wireless signals and cell phones was harmful. He has found that, while using a cell phone, 80% of the high-intensity radiation is absorbed into the hand and head. Also, transmissions from wireless routers or broadcast towers expose people to low-intensity and long-term radiation.
“It’s involuntary,” Lai said of the radiation being transmitted through the open environment. “No matter where you go you’re exposed.” He said that new research is showing that exposure to frequencies emitted by these technologies leads to enhanced free radical activity in the body’s cells which leads to cell damage and even cell death. DNA strands break when exposed to radiation.
Also, Paul J. Rosch, from the Bioelectromagnetics Society, says that claims that cell phones pose no health hazards are supported solely by Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits safety standards written by the telecommunications industry decades ago based on studies they funded.
“These have made the erroneous assumption that the only harm that could come from cell phone radiofrequency emissions would be from a thermal or heating action since such non-thermal fields can have no biological effects. The late Dr. Ross Adey disproved this three decades ago by demonstrating that very similar radiofrequency fields with certain carrier and modulation frequencies that had insufficient energy to produce any heating could cause the release of calcium ions from cells. Since then, numerous research reports have confirmed that non-thermal fields from cell phones, tower transmitters, power lines, and other man-made sources can significantly affect various tissues and physiologic functions.”, Rosch wrote.
EMF and Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)
Dr. Magda Havas, from Trent University, has been studying the biological effects of electromagnetic pollution or “electrosmog” in the environment caused by everything from cordless phones to televisions at home. She strongly recommends removing cordless phones from our homes, since these can emit as much radiation as a cell phone tower.
She estimates over one million Canadians have some form of electrohypersensitivity caused by dirty electricity in the environment. She cites physical symptoms people may experience following long-term exposure to EMF, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, rashes, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, fluctuations in blood sugar, and, in severe cases, seizure and stroke.
According to Prof. Olle Johansson, “It is a scientific fact that radio waves in the centimeter band influence blood circulation, respiration, temperature control, water balance, albumin, and sugar concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid and more. Even electromagnetic fields at levels of only 1/100,000th of what we are regularly exposed to from mobiles are found to disturb the complex electrical operations taking place at cellular levels, and to cause damage to DNA, proteins, neurons, and oxidation processes.”
Electrosmog and Children
Children nowadays are considered heavy users of technology, thus they are one of the most exposed population segments when it comes to EMF. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old are targeted as the next big cell phone market, besides the technologies they use on a daily basis, such as video game consoles, TV, and more.
According to Dr. Paul Rosch, “Children are more severely affected because their brains are developing and their skulls are thinner. A two-minute call can alter brain function in a child for an hour, which is why other countries ban their sale or discourage their use under the age of 18.”
Also, Dr. Rosch points out that pregnant women may also be at increased risk. A study showed that children born to mothers who used a cell phone just two or three times a day during pregnancy showed a dramatic increase in hyperactivity and other behavioral and emotional problems. And for the 30% of children who had also used a cell phone by the age of 7, the incidence of behavioral problems was 80% higher.
Other possible effects of EMF
It is important to note once again that all life on earth evolved under the influence of solar radiation and geomagnetic forces that we and other species have learned to adapt to. The health of all living systems, such as cells, tissues, organs, or persons, depends on good communication – good communication within, as well as with the external environment.
As stated by Dr. Paul Rosch, all communication in the body eventually takes place via very subtle electromagnetic signaling between cells that is now being disrupted by artificial electropollution we have not had time to adapt to. “As Alvin Toffler emphasized in Future Shock, too much change in too short a time produces severe stress due to adaptational failure. The adverse effects of electrosmog may take decades to be appreciated, although some, like carcinogenicity, are already starting to surface”.
Dr. Rosch also stated that It is not generally appreciated that EMF has cumulative effects. For example, talking on a cell phone for just an hour a day for ten years can add up to 10,000 watts of radiation, and that’s ten times more than putting your head in a microwave oven. Also, If you put the positive electrode of a 1.5-volt battery in the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco and the negative one in San Diego, sharks the in between these cities can detect the few billionths of a volt electrical field.
Lastly, Dr. Rosch notes that EMF have also been implicated in the recent massive but mysterious disappearance of honeybee colonies essential for pollinating over 90 commercial crops. As Albert Einstein warned, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left.”
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