Electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Definition
Electric smog: low frequency, high frequency and static, electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields and waves.

There are different groups of fields and waves:

- Electric alternating fields (low frequency) from electric voltage in power lines and electric equipment, even if no electricity is flowing.

- Magnetic alternating fields (low frequency) from running electric devices, wires, appliances, transformers, power suppliers ...

- Electromagnetic waves from broadcasting devices such as television sets, radios, mobile communications, radars, military installations ... as well as some kitchen, gaming and office equipment.

- DC Electric Fields (electrostatic) from screens, synthetic fibres in carpets or curtains, and artificial surface coatings such as certain varnishes or veneers.

- Magnetic DC fields (magnetostatic) through DC from street cars or photovoltaic systems and magnetized metals, usually steel in everyday life.

Cause
In recent decades, the influence of electric and magnetic fields in  industrialized countries has greatly increased. Besides the natural field of the earth that results from earth radiation, there are man-made artificially generated electromagnetic fields that play a much larger role and have a much greater significance. These technical fields are almost always much more intense than those natural fields prevailing on our planet.

Symptoms
These technical fields significantly affect the human nervous system and human biorhythm.
For example, various scientific studies found electromagnetic fields to have great influence on the nocturnal emission of the hormone melantonin in the pineal gland. The hormone is formed out of the closed loop of the two enzymes HIOMT and NAT - seratonin-melantonin. NAT seems to have a form that can be suppressed by light, chemicals and electric smog. This diminished nocturnal melantonin emission has been connected to depression (Shafii 1991, Moore-Ede 1992, Boikat 1993), sleep disturbances (SITTLER 1989), fatigue and lethargy (Arendt 1987), disruption of day - night rhythm, and immune deficiency (Mani 1989) as well as other health disorders, even increasing the risk of cancer.

Further studies show, that after elimination of the electromagnetic fields, the natural emission of nocturnal Melantonin increases to a factor of 5-15 and the above symptoms and risks subside (Anderson 1990, Wilson 1986).

Prevention

Due to their weakened immune system, people with allergies and environmental illnesses react to almost all unnatural disturbances. The person concerned should also do everything possible to reduce the burden caused by electromagnetic fields. This can be done by taking various steps:

In order to start reducing electromagnetic pollution, we recommend you begin in your home. Since these fields are increasingly getting weaker, the necessary safety distance can be easily identified with an electric smog detector.

You can, for example, place your alarm clock a few meters away and reduce the electrical smog to almost 0 nT.

Each electrically operated device generates differently sized electromagnetic fields. Even electricity in wires or cables, whether in the wall or as an exposed connecting cable, generates an electrical field load.

Further measures:
When not in use, unplug or ground appliances.
When buying electrical appliances, pay attention to the possible electromagnetic pollution (for example, use only low-radiation DECT phones, no WLAN router).


DECT cordless phones for home - the next problem:

A typical case for Wolfgang Maes:

The expert in building biology is repeatedly called on by people who suffer from undetermined disorders:
They sleep poorly, are restless and nervous. Of course, everyone has more or less stress.  "It is obvious however,  that many affected people have recently bought a new cordless phone - or sometimes, their neighbour has." says Maes. After exchanging the phone the problems disappear. "I see this so often, it cannot be a coincidence," says the electric smog expert.

The problem is cordless phones that function according to the so-called DECT-standard.  This standard enables user-friendly features, and in order for these to work, the radio waves must be pulsed, which basically means they are chopped up into little pieces. In addition, the base station constantly checks the DECT equipment whether someone is phoning, even when the telephone receiver is in the base station.  Around the clock, it sends pulsed radiation throughout the house and even as far as the neighbours. But it is precisely this pulse, 100 times every second, that critical researchers are taking a look at. They found out that pulsed radiation, such as that from cordless phones and mobile phones, changes brain patterns and can hinder the communication between body cells.  Many see this as not only the cause of insomnia, but also fear damage to the immune system and maybe perhaps even cancer. In return, other studies announce again and again, that there is no danger. These are the studies used mainly by manufacturers and their associations. Official radiation limits are also based on these studies.

Wolfgang Maes inspected several phones for radiation:

We wanted to know how much radiation the new digital devices are actually emitting and asked Wolfgang Maes to test 16 DECT-Moelle devices. We chose simple phones without a mailbox or fax option, between 100 and 200 €, plus a more expensive one from Bang & Olufsen for 350€.  Usability and comfort assessment of the DECT models comes from the magazine "Connect". This leading magazine for telecommunication regularly tests not only cordless phones, but also mobile phones, fax machines and modems. They test in their own laboratory where the devices are analysed, and then rated by the editors following a grid and point system.

The dilemma: Although all 16 DECT devices got good grades, we cannot recommend any of them because they all cause permanent electric smog.

The problem with these cordless phones is this:
The base stations of all tested DECT phones send pulsed radiation comparable to that of a radio mast for mobile phones at 20 metres distance. The absolute leader is the Panasonic KX-TCD 950.  It achieved a result of 100 nanowatt per square centimetre (nW/cm2), which beats all others even at a distance of 3 metres. MD Dr Lebrecht von Klitzing has observed changes in brain waves at this level of radiation.  For this, he has been heavily attacked, but will not be swayed in his opinion. Due to his work with sick children, he recommends that the amount of 1 nW/cm2 not be exceeded. The radiation output from the tested phones was above this value even at a distance of 10 metres.

PureNature offers alternatives to heavily radiating equipment.

Low Radiation Telephones>>>

Measuring electromagnetic pollution>>>


Imprint:
Author: Sylvia Kossligk
Created: January 2002 revised Nov. 2008
Literature / guidelines / EBM:
1st Stress by electricity and radiation. IBN 2000.
2nd Merk, H.F. : Electrosmog, electrical stress. Kiwi Verlag 1999
Copyright: PureNature