Introduction
"A knowledge of life's electrical dimension has yielded fundamental insights into pain, healing, growth, consciousness, the nature of life itself, and the dangers of our electromagnetic technology."
This quote is from Robert Becker, MD, in his book The Body Electric, Electromagnetism and The Foundation of Life. A trailblazer in electromagnetic research, Dr. Becker has explained the choices we face in learning to use electromagnetism in healthy rather than destructive ways. The electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by the use of modern technologies can disrupt the essential functioning of our bodies. And the risks are growing at an alarming rate, due to the rapid development and use of wireless technologies.
This article discusses what EMR is, why it is a concern, what people can do reduce their exposure, and how to push for positive change.
What Is EMR?
EMR is a force field that radiates out from any moving electrical current. All electrical equipment creates EMR, with the fields varying in strength and frequency depending on the size and type of equipment. A light bulb emits very little EMR, while power lines, cellular phones or transmitters emit much higher levels. EMR diminishes rapidly with distance. In discussing EMR, it is necessary to distinguish between extra low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields - associated with the usage of electricity, and the higher frequencies from sources such as radio and tv broadcast signals, microwave ovens and cellular phones.
Regarding the lower frequencies, EMR has both an electric and a magnetic component and is detected and mitigated in different ways. Magnetic fields are generated when current flows and are measured in milligauss (mG). They penetrate most things including our bodies. Electrical fields, measured in volts per metre (V/m), do not depend on current flow and exist wherever electric charges are present, such as in house wiring and appliances, even while no electricity is used.
EMR from higher frequencies radiates further and is easily absorbed by the body. For areas near the source of the EMR, both a magnetic and a electric component can be measured, in amps/meter (A/m), and volts/meter(V/m), respectively. Power density is the term used for measurement of the far field zone of radiation, measured in milliwatts per sq. centimeter (mW/cm2). This measurement is based upon the ability of EMR to heat human tissue.
It should be noted that natural magnetic fields are produced by the Earth and the solar system. Natural radiation, unless distorted by geological or other underground anomalies, is generally beneficial to humans, and has played a central role in our evolutionary development. Artificial EMR on the other hand, interferes with the functioning of our bodies, depending on frequency, duration, and level of exposure. People in modern cities are exposed to levels of EMR vastly higher than the natural background radiation. The dramatic change in our electromagnetic environment over the last few decades has serious implications for human health and survival.
EMR and Health
The importance of electricity to the functioning of the human body is explained by B. Blake Levitt (Electromagnetic Fields p. 110):
"Every time a muscle moves, there are electrical neuronal discharges; brain waves are electrical n all the sensory information that moves through the body to the brain is electrical; those chemical messengers called enzymes which keep the whole organism of the body informed about various aspects of itself are electrically influenced; cell division is electrical; the signal for the body to initiate wound healing and bone growth is electrical and the heartbeat is electrical."
The natural electrical functioning of our bodies is disrupted by exposure to artificial EMR. Children are most affected by adverse EMR due to the rapid cell proliferation of their growing bodies.
Most consideration of health impacts has related to magnetic fields, because they so readily penetrate the body interfering with basic cellular functions. Although electric fields have not been as thoroughly researched, they also penetrate and affect the body. Electric fields are attracted to conductive objects, including people, and cause current flow in the body, upsetting its natural electric signal systems and ion balance.
In 1996 the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) published a study (see references) which noted that "exposure to EMFs has been linked to increased risk of diseases, including cancers such as childhood leukemia". EMR has also been found to increase the risks of miscarriage, adverse pregnancy outcomes, cataracts, sterility, Alzheimer's disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis and heart disease (Blake Levitt, Electromagnetic Fields - A Consumers Guide, Chapter 10)
EMR can also suppress the production of melatonin, a crucial neurohormone which protects DNA against damage caused by free radicals, regulates the endocrine organs and stimulates the immune system.
A growing number of people have become clinically electrically hypersensitive, due to overexposure to EMR. These people do not tolerate common levels of EMR, in much the same way as others have developed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) following chemical overexposure. It should also be noted that EMR can work in synergy with toxic chemicals, creating more potent bio-effects than would each agent separately.
