Health Effects
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can have the same type of effects on our bodies as other environmental hazards similar to heavy metals, chemicals and GMO foods. What makes them particularly dangerous, is they are invisible– you can’t see, taste or smell them. Everyone exposed to EMFs is being affected whether they feel it or not. The bioelectric processes in your body are easily disrupted which can lead to cellular damage. Everybody is different. Two people could have the same exposure for years and if one gets sick, it doesn’t mean the other will. The negative effects are cumulative. They can build for months or years and again, depending on the individual, they could show up as any number of serious health issues, disease or electrical hypersensitivity (EHS). Of course, the dangers from EMFs are even greater for young children. Their skulls are not as dense and radiation can penetrate deeper into the brain. Their developing reproductive organs are also extremely sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (EMR).
BioInitiative 2012 Summary for the public. (PDF) “…childhood and adult leukemia, childhood and adult brain tumors, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, there are reports of increased risk of breast cancer in both men and women, genotoxic effects (DNA damage…impaired repair of DNA damage in human stem cells), pathological leakage of the blood-brain barrier, altered immune function including increased allergic and inflammatory responses, miscarriage and some cardiovascular effects. Insomnia (sleep disruption) is reported in studies of people living in very low-intensity RF environments with WI-FI and cell tower-level exposures. Short-term effects on cognition, memory and learning, behavior, reaction time, attention and concentration, and altered brainwave activity (altered EEG) are also reported in the scientific literature.”
Health problems can become worse when living and working in an environment contaminated with Dirty Electricity and other EMF pollution. As a result of this increasing amounts of electromagnetic energy, chronic diseases and cancer are on the rise and more people are experiencing symptoms of electrical sensitivity (ES).
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity – EHS
Also known as Electrical Sensitivity, Neurasthenia and Microwave sickness.
Various forms of this conditions have been documented since the harnessing of electricity in the mid 1700s. The electrification of the world starting with the telegraph and the implementation of radio and radar during WWI and II have produced many alarming, man-made, health complications and death. With the roll-out of the cellular communications networks starting in the 1990s and the growth rate of wireless use everywhere, world-wide, more and more disease is becoming more and more evident.
The below studies are 10-15 years old.
The numbers of people with EHS have been estimated, from government surveys, at 3.1% of the population (Sweden) (National Board of Health and Welfare 2001); 3.2% (California) (Levallois 2002); 5% (Switzerland) (Schreier 2006); 6% (Germany) (Schroeder 2002); and 7% (Marin County, California) (Marin County Department of Health and Human Services 2002).
The development of EHS can occur in different ways as shown in the many documented cases. You could have a one time exposure event that pushes you over the edge, or chronic exposure over a period of time. Some people are more susceptible because of general health or genetics. Most people will not make the connection between discomfort or poor health and their exposure to EMFs. However, if you develop EHS, you will know it. There are many different levels of severity from distracted to disabling. It can be a horrible, life changing condition. If you remove the offending sources the symptoms can calm, but if you’re re-exposed the symptoms return. Sweden and the Canadian Human Rights Commission recognize it as an environmental sensitivity and classifies it as a disability. Symptoms can include variations of the list below.
• ADD/ADHD
• Concentration issues
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Ringing in the ears
• Psoriasis
• Impaired vision
• Memory loss
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances or poor REM sleep
• Impaired fertility
• In utero development problems
• Cardiac dysfunction
• Joint and muscle pain
In his book The Invisible Rainbow, Arthur Firstenberg discusses the increase of EHS over the last several decade and stories of persons whose heath and lives have been destroyed and how they attempt to cope. We recommend reading History of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. (PDF)
EHS and MCS website. Research and Treatment European Group.
Bottom line: Use common sense and avoid chronic exposure. If you need help to identify sources contact us.