You are exposed to an invisible electromagnetic smog from dozens visible and non visible transmitting antennas daily: tv and radio broadcasting antennas, radars, cell phone masts, wi-fi wireless networks, cordless phones etc. How do you find out which sources affect you.
What is high-frequency radiation?
High frequency radiation is generated by wireless transmitters (antennas, radars, etc.) which are used in wireless telecommunications, broadcasting and dozens of other applications.
Their emission frequencies are usually from 0,1 - 10GHz (billion hertz), which are much higher than the low-frequency radiation from wired sources such as cables and transformers (AC frequency = 50-60 Hz).
Antennas usually emit signals continuously and radiation may circulate freely at distances of a few meters to several kilometers.
Today it is hard to find areas unexposed to wireless radiation.
Are there any health effects?
High frequency radiation has been linked to insomnia, depression, brain cancer, testicular cancer, skin issues, salivary gland, male infertility, miscarriages, leukemia, etc.
In May 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that wireless radiation is possibly carcinogenic.
"Scientific studies at the cellular level, whole animal level and involving human populations, shows compelling and comprehensive evidence that RF/MW (radio frequency/microwave) exposure down to very low residential exposure levels, levels which are a minute fraction of present “safety standards”, results in altered brain function, sleep disruption, depression, chronic fatigue, headache, impaired memory and learning, adverse reproductive outcomes including miscarriage, still birth, cot death, prematurely and birth deformities. Many other adverse health effects have been found, predominantly cancer of many organs, especially brain cancer, leukemia, breast cancer and testicular cancer. Studies have also found that RF/MW exposed parents have more children with CNS cancers and other health defects. These effects are consistent with genetic damage caused by RF/MW." Dr. Neil Cherry, Lincoln University in New Zealand [1]
Learn more about the health effects
BioInitiative Report (summary of research to date on the effects of high frequency electromagnetic fields)
"Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy & the Wireless Revolution" (award-winning documentary about the impact of wireless technologies)
High Frequency Radiation Sources
Mobile phones
Your mobile phone mainly emits pulsed radio frequency radiation at 900-2500MHz while talking.
The research for health effects is contradictory, but cell phone use has been associated with damage to DNA, destruction of nerve cells, brain cancer etc.
Children are more vulnerable to the effects of radiation from mobile phones, because they don't have fully developed immune systems and this is why many scientific organizations have warned against the use of mobile phones by minors.
Learn more about the effects of mobile phones in adults and children, the SAR, how to safely use phones etc..
Cell phone masts
Cell phone masts are placed on the rooftops of buildings in every neighborhood and especially next to busy roads, in corporate buildings, factories, in densely populated areas with many offices and shops.
Most of the radiation is directed at residences located within 80-250 meters from the mast.
They are often camouflaged (like heaters, signs, chimneys etc.) to avoid confrontations with the neighbors.
Surveys on the population residing in less than 300-400m radius from mobile phone masts showed increased incidences of cancer, insomnia, headaches, nausea, inability to concentrate, memory loss, vision and hearing disorders.
Learn more about the effects of mobile phone masts, how you recognize them and how to protect yourself from their radiation..
TV and radio broadcasting antennas
Broadcasting antennas continuously emit relatively high power signals and research has linked proximity to them with childhood leukemia, brain cancer and melanoma (Merzenich [2], Ha [3], Hallberg [4] , Hocking [5]).
Many radio amateurs broadcast radio signals with a wide frequency range and power.
Television antennas on rooftops are usually only signal receivers and do not emit wireless radiation.
The higher the floor of the house, the more exposed to radiation you are from radio and tv broadcasting antennas etc.
Cordless Telephones (DECT) and wireless internet (modem-routers-WiFi-WLAN)
Wireless internet routers and the bases of cordless phones are a source of continuous wireless radiation, which can be found in most homes.
Their radiation has similar waveforms and frequencies but lower intensity than those of a cell phone masts.
However, being in close proximity to our bodies, they often submit us to a greater amount of radiation than if we had a cell phone mast across the street.
Cordless headphones emits radiation only while talking.
Radars
The signal emitted from radars is made up of strong pulses of high frequency electromagnetic waves (usually 2-10GHz) which scan the entire space, rotating 360 degrees by hitting each point within a couple of kilometers every few seconds (like a lighthouse).
They are usually situated at:
- Airports
- Harbors, marinas
- Military airbases
Voice Picking technology
Voice Picking technology is mainly used in warehouses.
It consists of a central antenna that communicates with the antennas in the workers belts (typically at a frequency of 2,4 GHz, as the WLAN - WiFi).
You can reduce the radiation from the central antenna by moving it further away from high use areas (but this way you might have signal reception problems).
The main problem for the workers is the antenna located in their belts with which are in direct contact.
To reduce your exposure to radiation you can wear clothing that reflects wireless radiation.
Baby Monitors
It is unlikely that there is a wireless baby monitor with minimal radiation emissions, because very low transmission power would make it non functional.
The proposed safe exposure limits (<100mW / m2) are exceeded in most cases when there is a baby monitor in the same room.
In our opinion the wireless baby monitors can be the most dangerous source of radiation today, since the development of the nervous system occurs only once in every person's life and the possible harm to an infant brain are irreversible.
Learn more about the effects of the baby monitors and safer alternatives ..
Smart meters - Smart Devices - Smart grid
New "smart" digital electricity meters will gradually replace the existing analog type meters in all homes.
The smart grid will greatly increase current levels of electromagnetic pollution, since the smart meters and smart appliances already on the market will emit radiation either wirelessly or via the power cables to communicate with each other.
Learn more about the consequences of the use of smart meters..
Other wireless applications
Today's unprecedented wireless radiation levels are increasing, both in intensity and in a variety of electromagnetic signals by adding new wireless applications:
- WIMAX (long range WIFI)
- Antennas in ministries antennas, embassies, diplomatic missions, the Armed Forces, the Security Forces and Coast Guard, Civil Aviation Authority, etc.
- Antennas for data transfer use within industrial plants, stadiums, building complexes etc.
- Satellites
- «Wireless ready» devices
- Cordless keyboards
- Devices that work with Bluetooth continuously activated
- Wireless games consoles
- Interactive school boards
- Wireless Speakers
- Microwave ovens
- Wireless alarm systems, fire detection and temperature control
- Taxi communication (CB = Citizens Band)
- Radio networks for police, private security companies, transport companies etc.
- HAARP (= High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program)
You can find a list of typical emission power (in dBm or Watt or mW) for the most common sources of wireless radiation by clicking here.
[1]Dr Neil Cherry, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Lincoln University New Zealand, Actual Or Potential Effects of ELF and RF / MW Radiation on Enhancing Violence and Homicide, and accelerating Aging of Human, Animal Or Plant Cells. [2] Merzenich, Childhood Leukemia in Relation to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in The Vicinity of TV and Radio Broadcast Transmitters, Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Oct 3. [3] Ha, Radio-frequency Radiation Exposure from AM Radio transmitters and CHILDHOOD leukemia and Brain Cancer, Am J Epidemiol. 2007 Aug 1; 166 (3): 270-9 [4] Hallberg, Johansson, (2005) FM Broadcasting Exposure Time and malignant melanoma incidence, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine twenty-four? 1-8 [5] Hocking, Cancer incidence and Mortality and Proximity to TV Towers, Med J Aust. 1996 Dec 2-16; 165 (11-12): 601-5 nslate">Antennas usually emit continuously and may circulate freely at distances of a few meters to several kilometers. Today it is hard to find areas unexposed to wireless radiation.
