Life without electricity in the twenty first century has become near impossible. The conveniences of a washing machine, fridge and dishwasher and other white goods have revolutionized especially women’s lives since the discovery of electricity and its miraculous implications. Further more in the past few decades computers have had a major impact on how the world operates. World wide communication has reached amazing heights with the Internet and mobile phone technology.  While all these inventions seem like a miracle that we take for granted, the question has arisen whether or not there is a price to pay for our techno-driven life style.

As early as the 1960’s, when the Soviets began to research neural effects of microwaves on human beings (Washington, DC: Library of congress, 1966), suspicions about exposing human beings to forms of electromagnetic fields and waves began to emerge. After years of extensive research Microwave ovens were officially banned by the Soviets in 1976.

Many stories of illnesses associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields have emerged over the past decades and while the effect of EMR on the body can not be consistently proven, numerous studies have shown a connection between short term symptoms and chronic illnesses and exposure to these fields.

Electric Sensitivity, also known as Electric Hypersensitivity (EHS) is part of a series of syndromes considered environmental illnesses. Alongside Multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, immune dysfunction syndrome, Fibromyalgia or Sick Building Syndrome, it afflicts a myriad of symptoms at varying degrees on the susceptible individual. Sufferers of EHS show an allergic response to exposure to electrical and/or electromagnetic fields, which are created by any electrical appliance such as computers, TVs, the use of mobile phones, proximity to power lines and so forth. While the majority of the general population seems to tolerate certain amounts of electromagnetic radiation without obvious symptoms, an increasing amount of people are becoming sensitive. In mild cases or early stages people suffering from EHS may experience symptoms such as:

• Sensations of warming or heat like a sunburn
• Red skin blemishes
• Tingling sensations of skin
• Dry eyes and mucous membranes

In more severe cases a range of symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, panic attacks, convulsions, sleep disturbances and many others have been reported. (Bijlsma, 2006)

“Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a syndrome whereby the patient develops symptoms from exposure to ordinary levels of synthetic chemicals in common use such as perfumes, pesticides, and household cleaning products. EHS patients often are also MCS patients. Other at-risk groups for developing ES seem to be chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients and those experiencing mercury toxicity from dental amalgams.

Because the nervous system is a primary site impacted by both chemicals and electromagnetic fields, those with nervous system damage from toxic exposures seem more susceptible to becoming EHS too. Also, overexposure to EMF can singularly bring on EHS, independent of other illness. “(Grant 1997)
While the acute onset of symptom presents a warning sign and the need for major life style changes for the affected individual, even more concerning health issues have been linked to long term exposure to EMFs. These include increased risks for the following major health issues (McLean, 2002):

• Leukemia
• Brain tumors
• Breast cancer
• Heart disease
• Problems with reproductive system and miscarriages
• Cot Death (SIDS)
• Interference with normal brain function
• Problems with the nervous system
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Problems with learning and performance
• Impaired immune function
• Interferences on a hormonal level

The topic of EHS is a controversial one at this time and age, and while many self diagnosed sufferers report symptoms intense enough to keep them from working in exposed environments, most governments and medical organizations deny the effect and dangers of electromagnetic radiation on the body. All over western industrialized countries self help groups and sites with extensive information regarding EMR are being established, such as Power watch, ES Network Support Group, Electrosensitivity UK, Electromagnetic Radiation Association Australia. Self-help groups report growing numbers of people seeking advice, where most medical doctors don’t know how to help, or diagnose psychological problems.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields in the home

Before we even enter our homes, already we are exposed to fields of radiations from:

• Transmitter lines
• Distributions lines
• Transformers
• Substations
• Radio Frequencies from Telecommunications
• Mobile phone base stations and Mobile phones
• EMFs created by our cars, trains, buses, aero planes

As we enter the house, a myriad of sources for EMFs can be found. This begins with wiring in walls, under floors and through ceilings, including power points and light switches. Heating systems such as ceiling and under-floor heaters, under-floor hot water systems and any electric heater throughout the house emit strong EMFs.

In the Kitchen

Appliances emitting EMFs in the kitchen include electric stoves, fridges, toasters, ovens, cook tops, coffee makers, electric can openers, knives, and anything else that needs electricity to run.

One of the major concerns are microwave ovens, as they not only emit EMF, but can also leak microwaves into the environment. These microwaves are absorbed into human tissue and will heat cells within the body as it would heat food inside the microwave. In addition it kills most of the nutrients in food through a radical heating process. Swiss food scientist Dr. Hertel was the first scientist to conceive and carry out a quality clinical study in 1992, on the effects micro-waved nutrients have on the blood and physiology of the human body. The scientific conclusion showed that microwave cooking changed the nutrients in the food and changes took place in the participants’ blood that could cause deterioration in the human system. (Mercola, 2005)

Microwave ovens should be checked for leaks regularly especially if they are more than two years old. Not using it would be the best way of avoiding this common health hazard in the kitchen.

Wet rooms

Hair dryers, shavers, electric toothbrushes, towel heaters, heater lamps, washing machines, dryers, irons, hot water systems are all part of EM pollution in the bathroom and laundry. This can become a health risk if a bedroom is located next to the bathroom, and a bed placed on the other side of the wall of an appliance in use. Water pipes can act as conductors for electricity and pose a risk, when located near an occupied bed. It was found that children living in homes with water pipes conducting elevated fields, had a higher risk than average risk of cancer (Wertheimer, 1995)

Lighting

Fluorescent lights create high electromagnetic fields, emit UV radiation and contain PCB’s and Mercury. Testing by the Swedish International Testing and Research Institute showed chemicals emitted by household lamps included formaldehyde, tuolene, phenol, 1-butanol, cresol, and other chemicals considered carcinogenic and endocrine disturbing (Nordstroem, 2004). Studies have found that people working under fluorescent lights had a higher risk of developing malignant melanoma (McLean, 2002). Halogen Lamps have transformers which emit high EMFs and UV radiation. Other radiation emitting lights include Quartz halogen lights, low-energy lights, low-voltage lights, night lights and dimmer lights.

Bedrooms

The following appliances create EMFs in a bedroom:

• Electric blankets
• Radio-alarm clocks
• Telephones
• Water beds
• Lighting
• Heaters
• Baby monitors
• TVs
• Ceiling Fans
• Battery operated toys

Metal framed beds springs in mattresses can act as conductors for electricity.

Office

Sources of EMFs include PC, printers, photocopiers, paper shredders, lighting, telephones, power boards, and any other appliance which needs electricity to function. In addition to emitting EMFs, VDUs (Visual Display Units) are made from plastics, which emit toxic chemicals such as organic phosphate compounds called triphenyl phosphates. Suspicions that these chemicals might be the cause of many allergic reactions from people who are sensitive to working near VDUs have arisen. This type of chemical is associated with damage to erythrocytes and leucocytes (Nordstroem, 2004).

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones and cordless phones pose a particularly dangerous risk to health, when used frequently and heavily. Symptoms such as headaches, sensations of heat and tingling in the head, bleeding ears and ear aches, eye problems, memory loss, fatigue brain tumors, DNA damage and so forth have been reported. A large amount of radiation from these phones is actually absorbed into the head. Especially children, whose skulls are thinner than adult’s, apparently absorb up to 75% of radiation, are at risk. The National Radiation Protection Board UK issued a caution that mobile phones may be harmful to young children, and in May 200 the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones warned that ‘children might be more vulnerable to any effects arising from the use of mobile phones because of their developing nervous system, the greater absorption of energy in the tissues of the head, and the longer lifetime of exposure’.

British physicist Dr. Gerald Hyland made the following statement which was printed in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet in November 2000: ”If mobile phones were a type of food, they simply would not be licensed”.

Biological impacts of mobile phone use include thermal, heating of biological tissue as a consequence of absorption of microwave energy, and non-thermal, which have shown to affect brain function, behaviour, performance, learning, sleep, DNA, immunity and cell proliferation. The blood-brain barrier, which is designed to protect the brain from harmful chemicals and bacteria, is breached by frequencies emitted by mobile phones. (Salford, 1994) Mobile Phones can also cause interference with pace makers and computer equipment. (McLean, 2002)

Alternatives:

• Use your loud speaker, rather than holding the phone directly to your head
• Consider using a headset, such as Safe-T-Fone, which emits zero radiation

Avoiding Electromagnetic Fields

Ideally avoidance and minimizing exposure is the only safe option of reducing risks associated with electromagnetic Radiation. This should start in choosing a home or site well away from Power lines, substations, mobile phone towers and TV towers. Using non-conductive materials when building a home, such as timber, avoiding the use of chemical finishes such as varnishes and paints to minimize pollution will reduce the risk of allergic reaction or the risk of developing EHS due to over-exposure. Placing beds in location with EMFs lower than 0,2mG is recommended by most researchers. As we spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in bed, it is a major issue to keep exposure to an absolute minimum when sleeping. Wiring in houses should ideally be done by using bundled conductors and the meter box should be located as far from living areas as possible, such as attached to the garage for example. Turn appliances off at the power point when not in use.

While governments are avoiding to call for a national safety limit of exposure, it is up to the individual to look after themselves and avoid EMR wherever possible.