Health risks from wireless technologies

A shocking new report by the BioInitiative Working Group 2012 says that evidence for risks to health from wireless technologies (radiofrequency radiation) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has substantially increased since 2007. Cell phone users, parents-to-be, young children and pregnant women are said to be at particular risk.

The study examines EMF exposures from wireless technologies including cell and cordless phones, cell towers, 'smart meters', WI-FI, wireless laptops, wireless routers, baby monitors, and similar electronic devices and from power lines, electrical wiring and other appliances.

How credible is the report?

The Report is the work of 29 independent scientists and health experts from 10 countries. The independent research group Powerwatch says of the Reports contributors "they hold 10 medical degrees (MDs), 21 PhDs, and three MSc, MA or MPHs. Among the authors are three former presidents of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, and five full members of BEMS. One distinguished author is the Chair of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation. Another is a Senior Advisor to the European Environmental Agency." But this 2012 report is merely an update on the work done in 2007.

Five years previously in 2007 the BioInitiative Working Group published its first report reviewing 30 years of scientific studies documenting bio-effects and adverse health effects from EMF exposures. It was a group of 14 independent scientists, researchers, and public health policy makers that looked at more than 2,000 peer reviewed studies.

The 2007 BioInitiative Working Group concluded, "the clear consensus of the BioInitiative Working Group members is that the existing public safety limits are inadequate for both ELF [extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields] and RF [radio frequency radiation]."

The 2012 report is an update. Over twenty-one chapters the 2012 report assesses 1800 new research papers (from 2006 to 2011) regarding risks from wireless technologies and electromagnetic fields.

What does the 2012 BioInitiative Report tell us?

One of the most worrying areas for concern is the link between cell phone radiation and brain tumors. Lennart Hardell, MD at Orebro University, Sweden, one of the Reports, authors explains "there is a consistent pattern of increased risk for glioma (a malignant brain tumor) and acoustic neuroma with use of mobile and cordless phones" he goes on to say "the existing FCC [Federal Communications Commission] /IEE [Institution of Electrical Engineering] and ICNIRP [Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection] public safety limits and reference levels are not adequate to protect public health."

Another of the Reports contributors Martha Herbert, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School comments " While we aggressively investigate the links between autism disorders and wireless technologies, we should minimize wireless and EMF exposures for people with autism disorders, children of all ages, people planning a baby, and during pregnancy."

Are EMFs really as dangerous as the BioInitiative Working Group claims?

This report comes hard on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as a Group 2B possible carcinogenic. This ruling was based on a perceived increased risk for glioma associated with cell phone use.

According to David O. Carpenter, MD co-editor of the 2012 Report "there is now much more evidence of risks to health affecting billions of people world-wide. The status quo is not acceptable in light of the evidence for harm."

The message of the report is clear. In the absence of adequate safety standards for protection against EMFs and wireless exposures people need to be pro-active and act now to protect themselves from these dangers.

Dangers of Cell Phone Use

It's not until we see actual proof of dangers that we pay any attention to it. Because of that I highly recommend that you read the information below and watch the video below as well. It wasn't until a few months ago that I really paid attention to the dangers of overexposure to EMF...that include cell phone use (where you literally connect it to as close to your brain as you can get) and computer use (where proximity is tight and length of time is extensive...at least for me personally). Because of this I have taken precautions measures to help alleviate my exposure, but education myself about it is key so I am at least aware of how it is affecting me, whether I choose to do something about it or not. Some things I do include using my speakerphone on my cell unless privacy is essential in a public place, I also always maintain contact with a grounding pad at my computer. I also have 2 Beautiful Himalayan salt lamps about 3-4 feet from my computer station. Some people are more prone to others to be negatively affected, or more exposed than others, so it’s key to know that these things do have an effect on our bodies, so we can personally choose what to do about it.

 

Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy and the Wireless Revolution - A Must-See Documentary on the Dangers of Cell Phone Use

By Dr. Ben Kim

Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 cell phones are sold each day in the United States. Over 110 million Americans use cell phones. And worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 1 billion people use cell phones. As the number of cell phones, cell phone towers, and other wireless antennas increase rapidly in industrialized nations, should you be concerned about the effects that regular exposure to radio frequency radiation can have on your health?

If you're not concerned about the effect that wireless devices and broadcasting antennas can have on your health, I encourage you to view "Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy and the Wireless Revolution," a documentary that provides the best overall look at the connection between radio frequency radiation and human health that I have ever come across.

In case you don't have time to view this documentary, here are some highlights that I jotted down during my first viewing:

1. Regular exposure to radio frequency radiation may interfere with the electrical fields of our cells. Common health challenges that have been linked to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation include:
   
   • Abnormal cell growth and damage to cellular DNA
   • Difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and irritability
   • Childhood and adult leukemia
   • Eye cancer
   • Immune system suppression
   • Attention span deficit and memory loss
   • Infertility
    
2. Children are at much higher risk than adults of experiencing health problems related to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation; thinner and smaller skulls translate to greater absorption of radio frequency.
   
3. From the early 1950's to the mid 1970's, the U.S. embassy in Moscow was purposefully bombarded by radio frequency radiation 24 hours a day. The U.S. embassy workers experienced what the perpetrators identified as "Radio Frequency Sickness Syndrome."
   After some time of concentrated radio frequency radiation exposure, the American ambassador developed leukemia. The next American ambassador also developed leukemia. Blood tests performed on embassy staff members showed irreversible DNA damage.
   
4. Dr. Jerry Phillips, a biochemist researcher, began studying cell phone safety for Motorola more than a decade ago. When he started generating data that indicated that cell phones have negative effects on human health, Motorola took a number of steps to delay publication of Dr. Phillips' work.
   According to Dr. Phillips, Motorola's main concerns with his data were how to handle public relations and how to spin the results in a way that was favorable to the industry.
   Dr. Phillips also indicates that the only significant money that is available to do research on cell phone safety issues is industry money. This is why he has no faith in studies that are coming out.
   
5. You can use a radio and microwave detector to measure the amount of harmful radiation that your living and work spaces are penetrated by. The detector used in the documentary is called the "Microalert Radio/Microwave Alarm."
   Silver mesh curtains and copper flat paint can block significant amounts of radio frequency radiation.
   

If the information provided above has you concerned, I encourage you to view the full documentary here:

In our household, we own one cell phone - it's a pay-as-you-go phone that we carry with us for emergency purposes whenever we go out. Rather than put our faith in any of the products on the market that claim to provide protection against radio frequency radiation, we feel that it's prudent to stay away from cell phones whenever possible. 

Unfortunately, many of us have little control over the location of cell phone towers and other broadcasting antennas that emit powerful radio frequency waves. If you know of or discover any resources that our readers can use to locate such towers and antennas in their local areas, please share this information in the comments section below.

By increasing public awareness of this issue, we stand a greater chance of having municipal, state/provincial, and federal governments do a better job of regulating the placement of cell phone towers and antennas. Governments in Austria, Switzerland, and many Eastern European countries have already created protective standards for human exposure to radio frequency radiation. In Scotland, towers are not allowed to be located near hospitals, schools, and homes.

Please consider sharing this documentary with family members and friends. Thank you.

P.S. If you're interested in getting a simple device - called a Gauss meter - that can help you discover any EMF "hot spots" that might exist in your living and work areas, have a look at the Cell Sensor EMF Detector - it's relatively inexpensive, and it's what I use to test our home and office from time to time.