PART 2
Reducing Exposure
Magnetic Field Component - The 1996 CMHC study found that two-thirds of magnetic field exposure in buildings results from faulty wiring, while nearby powerlines accounted for only about 10% of exposure. Therefore, a significant source of electropollution in homes, schools and workplaces is correctable. The International Institute for Bau-biologie and Ecology estimates that in North America, one in four rooms are miswired. Common wiring mistakes are known fire, shock and health hazards, and are routinely made by homeowners and electricians alike. They can only be discovered by detective work with a gaussmeter (such as the Tri-Field meter). With a meter, an EMF tester or an educated amateur can pinpoint these electrical code violations and see to their correction by an electrician.
Electrical Field Component - In modern buildings, with wires in floors, ceilings and walls, electric fields are always present, created even by wiring that is up to Electrical Code standards. They are detectable in the body through a "body voltage" measurement. Checking electrical fields is an essential aspect of a health-related EMR survey. Preventive measures would include locating wires away from where people spend time, using metal clad cable or EMT conduit, and having relay or demand switches which turn off circuitry feeding sleeping areas when no power is needed. Some protection could be obtained by placing beds away from walls and away from electrical appliances.
When testing for EMR it is also necessary to analyze exposure levels from background sources such as powerlines and cell phone transmitters, as well as appliance emissions.
Prudent avoidance, as recommended by the CMHC and the US Environmental Protection Agency, involves replacing, eliminating or keeping distant from electrical devices and appliances, especially high-risk equipment such as cordless and cellular phones, microwave ovens and fluorescent lights. Furniture and office equipment can be arranged to avoid electro-polluted zones such as the main electrical service panel and the main feed wires, computer monitors, fax and copy machines and the like. The bedroom is the most crucial area, because we spend so long there. During sleep the body can be exposed to EMR from sources such as clock radios, metal-cased lamps, or wiring. All electrical devices should be located away from bed sites and ideally homes should be wired to allow EMR-free sleep, rest, work and play areas.
Medical Practice Unaware
EMR exposure is still largely an unknown area in public health and is rarely even mentioned as a factor in the development of illness, despite decades of research pointing to an association. Unfortunately, complementary medicine has yet to appreciate the severity of the EMR problem. Many alternative specialists use cell phones, microwaves, diathermy machines, and fluorescent lights - all major electopolluters. And practitioners usually do not ensure that their patients reduce EMR exposure as part of a natural therapeutic regimen. This missing element in treatment protocol could greatly help patients suffering undiagnosed electrostress and should be an essential component in any natural healing approach.
