Learn About EMFs

A few years ago, the average person had no idea what ‘EMF’ stood for. That has changed. Cell phone towers are everywhere and everyday a new news article warns of the dangers of EMFs.

Now that the term EMF is known to stand for electromagnetic field, it is time to start understanding the different types of EMF fields, which will help in understanding the health threats associated with each.

Firstly, electromagnetic (EMF) fields, both natural and man-made, are present everywhere in our environment but are naked to the human eye.

One of the main characteristics which defines an electromagnetic field (EMF) is its frequency or its corresponding wavelength. Fields of different frequencies interact with the body in different ways. One can imagine electromagnetic waves as series of very regular waves that travel at an enormous speed, the speed of light. The frequency simply describes the number of oscillations or cycles per second, while the term wavelength describes the distance between one wave and the next. Hence wavelength and frequency are inseparably intertwined: the higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength. (1)

There are natural sources of electromagnetic fields which emanate from the earth. These natural radiations emitted by the earth are beneficial to man and, in fact, are necessary for his survival on the planet.

More natural electromagnetic fields are produced by the local build-up of electric charges in the atmosphere associated with thunderstorms, we see these charges as lightning.

Many of earth’s creatures- such as birds, bees, and fish- navigate according to the planets electrical and magnetic field. In fact, it is the earth’s magnetic field which causes a compass needle to orient in a North-South direction.

There are man-made EMF fields generated by human-made sources.

All electronic devices emit an EMF field. The electricity that comes out of every power socket has associated low frequency electromagnetic fields. Plugging a wire into an outlet creates electric fields in the air surrounding the appliance. The higher the voltage the stronger the field produced. Unfortunately, turning an appliance off does not mean turning off the EMF field. Since the voltage can exist even when no current is flowing, the appliance does not have to be turned on for an electric field to exist in the room surrounding it. (2)

All forms of X-rays emit EMF radiation.

All forms of wireless communication- such as cell phones, cell phone towers, WiFi, radar, TV/Radio Broadcast Towers, satellite systems in space, GPS tracking systems and the dreaded RFID chip-emit EMF fields. But these EMF fields are different. In order to be able to transmit information wirelessly, the waves oscillate at a higher frequency.

Higher frequency radiowaves are known as RF fields (aka Radio Frequency or Radiowaves) or microwave radiation. RF fields are used to transmit information over long distances and form the basis of telecommunications as well as radio and television broadcasting all over the world.

Microwaves are basically RF fields at high frequencies in the GHz range. In microwave ovens, we use the electromagnetic frequencies to quickly heat food at 2.45 GHz (or 2,450 MHz ).

All forms of wireless communication expose those who live or work near these
installations to their RF fields. The RF radiation is able to travel through buildings and can also be conducted along electrical wires or metal plumbing. Some studies have shown RF radiation levels inside buildings to be more concentrated than levels outside due to conduction. (3)

Footnotes:

(1)Biointiative Report, July 2007 by Olle Johansson, PhD from the Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, Section 8 pg 7

(2) ” Section 8 pg 8

(3) ” Section 8 pg 9