Take a look around you right now. Notice how many electronic devices are within your reach. Your cell phone? Your tablet? Your desktop computer? Now take a look around the room and count how many electronic components are with you there. Your TV? A fan or air-conditioning unit? All those appliances are creating invisible electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that you are being subjected to right now. Are you worried about how these devices might be affecting you and your children? Health professionals also share these legitimate concerns about the impact of constant exposure to these types of radiation.
Researchers are raising alarms that children might be the most susceptible to negative effects due to more frequent exposure over the longer term.
It is hard enough to avoid EMFs while on the move during the day, but at bedtime, it is imperative to get relief from electronic devices while you sleep.
We are under constant bombardment
If you are looking at your phone, or tv, or computer screen, your eyes are absorbing blue light emanating from the display, but this radiation is only one among many sources.
If you have wifi in your house, or even if nearby neighbors do, those radio waves (RFs) are flooding your living environment.
If you live near power lines or a cell phone tower, you are well within reach of those powerful electromagnetic fields as well.
What are the effects of this continual radiation on us? This is a subject of growing concern to researchers as our society develops and uses more electronic technologies.
Thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself and your family against potential harm and products that can help reduce your exposure to electromagnetic fields.
Here are nine electronics-related health threats acknowledged by doctors and scientists all over the world:
#1 Cellphone RF radiation is double the maximum allowable limits
A shocking discovery was made in a recent experiment conducted by a qualified independent laboratory following government guidelines. The RF radiation exposure generated by modern iPhones was over twice the legal limit, far exceeding what Apple has reported to the federal regulators.
As one of the most thorough studies ever conducted on the subject, the results have gotten the attention of governing bodies who are now doing their own ongoing testing to see if cellphone companies are actually complying with the government standards.
Those higher levels may represent a greater risk of harm, especially for younger people who use the devices regularly and will be exposed to the effects for a longer term[1].
At this level of exposure, the effect of the radiation is amplified and penetrates more deeply as we typically hold our phones to our heads when we talk.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF radiation fields as potentially cancer-causing in humans based on studies that indicate an increased risk of brain cancer in those exposed to the signals[2].
#2 Electro-stress can cause mental disorders
Those feelings of restlessness and anxiety that can accompany overexposure to device use have been named. Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS) is defined by the inability to focus or regulate your mood in a way that is appropriate for your environment.
The effect is even more pronounced in children. The interactions with the screen interface can trigger an adrenal stress response and impact other bodily systems. In children ESS can present itself as overexcitement, moodiness, anxiety, depression or tantrums.
Children effected by this unrecognized disorder may have difficulty regulating their routines, may act out defiantly, and suffer memory issues and poor sleep[3].
Those feelings of generalized discomfort can even manifest themselves in physical ways.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a condition sufferers link to overexposure to EMFs, can cause bodily ailments.
Symptoms include skin problems like burning, tingling, and redness, and ill-defined medical issues effecting mental acuity, energy levels, the heart and digestive system. The symptoms can be acute and have genuinely disabling effects on people in some cases[4].
#3 Electronic devices keep your children up late, impact school performance
Nighttime sleeplessness can be a real problem for children who have access to their electronic devices during bedtime hours. Many parents can relate to discovering their child using their devices when they should have been sleeping.
Our children are among the largest consumers of electronic technology worldwide. Studies have shown a definitive link between device use at bedtime and fewer hours of sleep and degraded sleep quality.
Scientists have also discovered a correlation between increased body mass index and bedtime device use, though the exact nature of the relationship has yet to be defined.
Chronic overexposure of children to screen time around bedtime results in increased incidences of depression, lethargy, and poor grades[5].
#4 EMFs contribute to rapid aging and host of other ailments
Low-frequency EMFs (those well below the threshold officially deemed “safe”) have been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases and other complaints. Studies show that both humans and animals can be adversely affected by exposure to even weak electromagnetic fields.
Among the more disconcerting experimental discoveries is that EMFs can lead to advanced aging. Considering that we spend a full one-third of our lives sleeping, the cumulative effects of this constant nighttime exposure can have a huge impact on our bodies over time.
Those wrinkles and baggy eyes might have been avoided just by reducing our exposure to EMFs while sleeping.
EMFs can also have a significant impact on blood sugar levels. Other effects include lowered testosterone levels in males, disturbances of the central nervous system, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Recent studies have confirmed a connection between low-frequency EMFs and disrupted sleep[6].
The use of cellphones is widespread and vastly increasing, but not enough is known about the potential health risks of the constant EMF exposure to the brain from holding devices to our heads.
Scientists have, however, detected alterations in brain blood flow and brain electrochemical signals related to the use of cellphones and are concerned about the health implications of this verifiable evidence[7].
Feelings of anxiety and fatigue have been identified as potentially due to overexposure to EMF radiation. Wireless devices are a major source of EMFs. Research has shown that young people who use cellphones are at five times higher risk of getting brain cancer[8].
#5 Wifi linked to “cellular suicide”, brain disease and poor sleep
Chances are you have a wifi router in your living space. You may have chosen to locate this device in a high-traffic area to provide a strong, unobstructed signal to your various personal electronics. It may be time to consider relocating the router to a lesser used area of the home.
Replicated studies show that wifi can cause oxidative stress (molecular imbalance), damage to male reproductive tissues, brain and heart functional changes, genetic damage, and even apoptosis—a form of programmed cell death.
These microwave frequency EMFs have increased negative effects when pulsed or polarized, a common occurrence as devices are utilized, then set aside.
Of particular concern to researchers is the discovery that the health effects are cumulative and irreversible.
Wifi has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases due to the impact of EMFs on brain structure, and other research has shown that smaller head size and skull thickness also factors into increased exposure. This means young people are at higher risk than adults.
Studies also show that wifi exposure can lower melatonin (human hormone that regulates sleep) and cause sleep disturbances[9].
#6 5G radiation: scientific evidence of damage to humans and animals
5G technology has been the subject of much scrutiny of late. It is simultaneously a huge leap forward in digital data transfer speeds, and a huge worry to those who understand the potential danger of the exponential increase in RF radiation broadcast by a 5G signal.
In results compiled from more than 500 studies, radio frequency radiation was found to have harmful effects on mammals even at lower signal intensities. Numerous experiments have shown that living organisms experience adverse effects at levels far below official regulations.
Powerful 5G signals can cause increases in cellular stress, free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells in your body), problems with genetics, fertility, memory loss and other neurological problems.
A multimillion-dollar study found that two years of RF exposure can cause genetic damage and cancer in lab animals. This research indicates that long-term exposure to 5G radio waves can trigger melanoma (cancerous tumors) of the eyes and skin[10].
#7 Strong evidence that cellular RFs can cause cancer
When your cell phone is on, it is constantly emitting and RF radiation. The device is sending and receiving signals even when not being actively used. Your exposure is directly related to how close the phone is to you.
A 25 million dollar study showed strong evidence that RFs cause heart and brain cancer in lab animals[11].
Joel M. Moskowitz, a prominent doctor at the University of California says that there is solid evidence that cell phones and cell phone tower RF signals may be contributing to an increase in brain and neck tumors and even fertility problems.
The Director of the Berkeley Center for Family and Community Health goes on to warn of the added potential to young people, noting that childrens’ brains absorb twice as much of this radiation as adults[12]
#8 Blue light radiation can damage your eyes
It’s late, and you’ve been staring at your iPad for the past two hours, binge-watching the latest series on Netflix. It’s addictive content for sure, but what is the effect on your eyes? Devices emit blue light, and blue light is known to have a deteriorating effect on eye health.
Blue light is short wavelength light, meaning it produces a higher amount of energy than other colors of the spectrum. The screens of our personal devices radiate blue light, and overexposure to that light can cause eye strain and even more serious eye problems.
Higher energy blue light penetrates all the way to the retina (the back lining of the eye), and too much of it can permanently damage the light-sensitive cells of the retina. Overexposure to blue light can have negative effects similar to those experienced with advanced age. Over time, this can result in permanent blurred or blind spots in your vision[13].
Eye care specialists are especially concerned that children may eventually suffer most due to the long-term effects of close exposure to device screens. A recent study showed that children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults[14]
#9 Blue light can disrupt healthy sleep
Blue light is the same kind of light you receive in the bright daylight sun. We humans have evolved to be most wakeful during the day, with the production and suppression of the hormone melatonin directly related to sunlight exposure.
That is good for us during the day, but continued exposure to blue light at night can mess with our natural cue to sleep. Blue light essentially tricks your body into thinking it is still daytime.
This can significantly disrupt your normal sleep-wake cycle, leading to lengthy bouts of insomnia at night and debilitating overtiredness in the day. Exposing yourself to blue light at night can significantly reduce how much and how well you sleep[15].
Research indicates that habitual suppression of the melatonin levels can contribute to more serious health problems like depression, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even cancer.
Conclusion: Get away from blue light, RFs, & EMFs so you can finally get a good nights’ rest!
Your growing awareness to the substantial sources of radiation and associated health risks of continued exposure at night can be overwhelming but take heart. There are as many effective ways to shield yourself against exposure, and drastically reduce the amounts you receive over the course of a day.
You can take back control of your nights, shut out the electronic pollution, and enjoy a deep and peaceful sleep relatively free from the various sources of radiation in your environment.
To protect yourself against blue light, Rfs and EMFs exposure during the night:
Make lifestyle changes and family rules regarding the use of devices at bedtime.
Keep your devices and charging bases as far away as possible from your sleeping space.
Shut off all electronics a few hours before bedtime, and refrain from using devices once in bed.
Use the dimming, red light function that more devices are now featuring. Set the feature to turn on at the appropriate time in the evening to protect your natural circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle).
Get lots of bright sunlight during the day. It will help optimize your melatonin levels, allowing you to get to sleep properly at night and stay more alert during the day.
Invest in high quality blue light blocking eyewear to prevent short wavelength light from reaching your eyes so you can enjoy good sight well into your old age.
On average, we spend 33% of our day sleeping, so it is vitally important to protect our sleeping areas from sources of radio and electromagnetic radiation. Here’s how you can avoid nighttime overexposure:
Prioritize bedroom areas as no-go zones for electronics where possible.
Use only wired devices and appliances and shut them off when not needed.
Turn off your router at nighttime if not in use.
All products sold at onestopemfprotection.com are great ways to neutralize EMFS. Remember they do not block, but rather change the energy coming off these gadgets so they no longer effect you.
Turn off your cellphone or if you use it as an alarm, put it in Airplane Mode so that it is not sending or receiving radio signals.
Try to keep your devices as far away from you as you can. Electric and magnetic fields decrease in intensity the farther away they are from you.
When possible, keep the cell phone away from you, preferably in a different room.
Consider shutting off your cell phone when the signal strength is poor. The device will emit more radiation to try to maintain a good connection.
Use a wired baby monitor or move the wireless monitor as far away as possible from the crib to minimize the baby’s exposure.
People are getting wise to the risks and the healthy digital-fasting trend is catching on. Some forward-thinking entrepreneurs have even opened radiation-free hotel rooms and digital detoxification spaces to help discerning visitors take a vacation from the constant electrical stressors.
Sources
[1] Roe, S. “We tested popular cellphones for radiofrequency radiation. Now the FCC is investigating.”Chicagotribune.com, 21 Aug. 2019, https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-cell-phone-radiation-testing-20190821-72qgu4nzlfda5kyuhteiieh4da-story.html
[2] World Health Organization “IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS” IARC, 31 May 2011, https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf
[3] Dunckley, V. M.D. “Electronic Screen Syndrome: An Unrecognized Disorder?” Psychology Today, 23 Jul. 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/mental-wealth/201207/electronic-screen-syndrome-unrecognized-disorder
[4] Backgrounder “Electromagnetic fields and public health” World Health Organization, Dec. 2005, https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/
[5] Fuller, C. et al. “Bedtime Use of Technology and Associated Sleep Problems in Children” NCBI, 27 Oct. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5669315/
[6] Barsam, T. et al. “Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on sleep quality in high voltage substations” 20 Nov. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561068/
[7] Huber, R. et al. “Electromagnetic fields, such as those from mobile phones, alter regional cerebral blood flow and sleep and waking EEG.” NCBI, Dec. 2002, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12464096
[8] Lam, M. M.D. “EMF Radiation and Health: An Emerging Danger” drlamcoaching.com, (n.d.), https://www.drlamcoaching.com/adrenal-fatigue/complications/emf-radiation-and-health-an-emerging-danger/
[9] Martin, L. “Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health” ScienceDirect.com, Jul. 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355
[10] Moskowitz, J. “We Have No Reason to Believe 5G Is Safe” Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2019, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/we-have-no-reason-to-believe-5g-is-safe/
[11] Schmidt, C. “New Studies Link Cell Phone Radiation with Cancer”, Scientific American, 29 Mar. 2018, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-studies-link-cell-phone-radiation-with-cancer/
[12] Public Affairs, UC Berkeley “Berkeley Talks transcript: Joel Moskowitz on the health risks of cell phone radiation” Berkeley News, 19 Jul. 2019, https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/07/19/berkeley-talks-transcript-joel-moskowitz-cell-phones-electromagnetic-radiation/
[13] Heiting, G. “Blue light: It’s both bad and good for you” allaboutvision.com, Nov. 2017, https://www.allaboutvision.com/en-ca/digital-eye-strain/blue-light/
[14] (n.a.) “Digital Devices and Your Eyes” PreventBlindness.org, 9 Apr. 2016, https://www.preventblindness.org/computers-and-your-eyes
[15] “Blue light has a dark side”Harvard Health Publishing, 13 Aug. 2017, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
[16] The BioInitiative Working Group “A Rationale for Biologically-Based Exposure Standards for Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Radiation” Bioinitiative.org, 7 Apr. 2020, https://bioinitiative.org/
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