With the growing use of technology, we put ourself at high risk to numerous different radiations emitted by technology. These radiations may not have an impact right away but as we are exposed to them over a long period of time, our body starts taking a toll. One of the factors that leads to such radiation is EMF or electromagnetic field.
What is Electromagnetic Field?
Electromagnetic field is a form of energy that is invisible to the human eye, which is emitted from both natural and manmade resources. Like the name suggests, it is an electric energy or force that is emitted. The field is measured in frequency and has been categorized into two radioactive categories:
- Non-ionizing
- Ionizing
Non-ionizing radiation tend to be harmless radiation as they are low to mid-frequency. These are radio frequency, visual lights, and microwaves which are emitted from MRIs, mobile phones, WiFi networks, microwaves, and such appliances.
Ionizing radiation are higher in range than non-ionizing, which can lead to damage of cells and DNA. These are not so common as they are emitted from gamma rays, UV light, and very high ranging x-rays.
You can click here to view the Electromagnetic Spectrum. The spectrum highlights the frequency of EMF emitted by appliances to high powered x-ray.
Can EMF be Harmful to Us?
In the past decade or so, we have seen a major advancement of technology. If we look back to the 1990’s when mobile phones weren’t so common we had a low exposure to radiations emitted by the electromagnetic field. It would mostly be from power lines, home appliances, and other sources that mostly emitted non-ionizing radiation. There was a research conducted to see what impact electromagnetic radiation has on children. Even though there wasn’t substantial proof, it was concluded that exposure to electromagnetic radiation can lead to leukemia in children.
In 2010 another study was conducted trying to find a relationship between leukemia in children due to excess exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Children in 2011 were more exposed to it due to WiFi, mobile phones, computers, and such appliances being common. However, the link between the two was again weak.
Even though there hasn’t been a direct link, excess exposure to electromagnetic field radiation is not beneficial for our bodies. Electromagnetic radiation has been known to impact us in the following way:
Higher risk of asthma
A study was conducted to gauge the impact of EMF on babies. It was concluded that women that are exposed to higher frequency of EMF while pregnant would bare babies that had three times more chance of developing asthma.
Autism
Autism is caused by a disturbance in the biological makeup of an individual. High exposure to RF, radio frequency, radiation has been linked to as a cause of autism in a study. It is believed that the radiation causes stress and oxidative damage to proteins which in turn lead to neurological harm. This exacerbate symptoms for those that already have autism while also putting others at risk of it.
Different Types of Cancer
With the excessive use of laptops and mobile phones, we put our bodies and tissues in direct contact with RF and devices that emit low frequency radiation. In close proximity our tissues pick up these radiations much quicker and therefore they have a negative impact on us, even though they may be low in intensity.
Brain Cancer - Even though brain cancer makes up only 1.4% of the cancer cases reported, it is quite lethal. There is statistical evidence that we have a higher risk of developing brain tumour due to the use of mobile and cordless phone.
Breast Cancer - an odd case appeared in 2013 when four women, who had no family history of breast cancer, developed breast cancer. The surprising part of the case was that the cancer was shaped like their cell phone in the breast tissue. This was due to the fact that they kept their phone for over 10 hours on a daily basis in that region of their chest for several years. This really had doctors in awe. Many studies have been conducted since to find a relationship between electromagnetic radiation and how it increases the risk of breast cancer.
Other risks include:
- Stress
- Infertility
- Headaches and lethargy
- Skin burn
As our bodies are more exposed to electromagnetic radiation, even if it is low frequency, it has a negative impact on us. Science is beginning to realize this and that is why many studies are being conducted on EMF and its impact. However, keeping these studies and results in mind there has yet to be a major change. WHO has released statistics on its own and has set guidelines for EMF and how much a person should be exposed to it. But we don’t see much of a change globally to counter the high level of electromagnetic radiation that our bodies absorb.
If you want to find out whether your home is exposed to high level of radiations from electrical appliances or maybe you live near a power line. You can use an EMF meter to aid you in figuring out levels of EMF in your home. Otherwise, you can call a professional that can take the readings from your home and assist you in making your home a much safer place from electromagnetic radiation. It is never too late and with the risks attached to it, it is better you act now rather than wait.
