In our digital era, electronic devices, mobile phones, and other gadgets are an essential part of our lives.
But what do we know about EMF radiation emitted by electronic devices like cellphones and tablets?
What are EMFs and How Do They Work?
EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, surround our environment and are a form of invisible radiation that can be measured. The vast majority is naturally coming from Earth itself. For example, lightning strikes emit EMFs during during rainstorms. EMFs, or electric and magnetic field.
They’re also created by all electrical devices- from the smallest cell phone to your refrigerator.
Many different types of EMFs exist in everyday life.
Radio waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays are all forms of electromagnetic waves, or electromagnetic radiation.
Today, we’ll focus on one type: electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) for simplicity’s sake.
The Science of EMFs
These two primary forms of electricity and magnetism are static electricity and static magnetic fields. These interact with electrically charged things in the same way that gravity affects everything with mass.
Electric Fields
Charged particles produce electric fields. A negatively-charged particle, like an electron, will produce an electric field with the same polarity as the electron itself
For example, a negatively charged particle will produce an electric field with another negatively charge particle. These like charges repel each other.
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic fields are produced by moving charged particles. Remember, it takes energy to move a charged particle from its resting place, so as soon as the particle stops driving, the magnetic field will disappear.
The polarity of a magnetic field is determined by the direction of movement of the charge. Suppose you have an electron moving to the right, so it’s pointed toward the right as it progresses. This makes its MF pointed up and to the left, relative to an observer.
If two particles are travelling at right angles to one another, their EMFs will be cancelled out by the others.
EMF radiation is composed of these electrically charged particles. They’re all around us, all the time: in our bodies, in our homes, in our food, etc. Most of the time, it’s not a problem because we’re so well-protected from them. But sometimes, as in the case of high tension power lines or cell phones, EFs and EMFs have a much more noticeable effect on our environment.
How Do EMFs In Our Environment Affect Us?
If you’ve ever brushed up against an electric fence or felt your hair stand on end in the presence of static electricity, then you know that electrical fields and EMFs are potent forces.
Our cell phones are the primary source of minimal radiation exposure since they operate at frequencies ranging from 450 – 2700 MHz (Megahertz). We all know that, yet you probably didn’t realize that your phone emits similar frequencies and those close to you if you utilize your phone while talking.
This is since emitted waves are dispersed and reach people on all sides unless they strike something or a surface, reflecting them toward us. People nearby are also exposed to significant amounts of EMFs as a result of this occurrence.
Other electrical equipment, such as laptops and TVs, generate electromagnetic fields that travel through waves or signals at a specific frequency range and distribute information. In other words, when using our cellphones, everyone should be aware that the radio frequencies they emit might affect people near them and ourselves.
When we hold a phone to our ear, the electrical fields generated by the device are absorbed into our skin. The resulting movement of molecules inside each cell caused by these waves creates heat.
Examples of EMF Sources
As technology advances, so do devices emitting EMFs. Some of these devices include
- Microwaves, which emit a form of EMFs known as radiofrequency radiation
- Cordless phones, which work similarly to microwaves, except that they transmit a wireless signal instead of using cables.
- Cell phones, which specifically emit low levels of non-ionizing radiation
- Wi-Fi routers
- Bluetooth devices
- Security cameras
In the past, it was believed that this type of EMF didn’t cause any harm to humans. This theory was disproved back in the 1970s when scientists discovered that this type of radiation affects living organisms.
The only way to fully avoid EMFs is to stop using all electrical devices. But this might not be the best solution because it would also deny you many benefits these devices provide. Instead, what can be done is protect yourself against them, so they don’t have an immediate biological effect on your body.
To do so, there are multiple ways to reduce your exposure, and some of them are more difficult to accomplish than others. Each of these ways will be detailed below. Some a relatively easy to put in place, while others require some effort from you. But in the end, they will all help reduce the risk of health problems.
Reducing Your Exposure to EMFs
Studies into EMFs have discovered that the energy emitted from them can cause increased blood pressure, increased heart rate or even affect your sleeping patterns. However, it is essential to note that the types and intensity of EMFs encountered in daily life are much lower than the natural fields our ancestors would have been exposed to, even if they lived near large power lines or other sources. In addition, humans have constantly been exposed to some degree of EMFs, so if they are causing adverse health effects, scientists would expect to see some signs in our population. So far, no such evidence has been found.
In daily life, people are often unaware that they are being affected by the emissions until it becomes a significant health concern. If you can detect the symptoms of these emissions yourself, then preventing the difficulty is much easier than treating it.
For example, we’re always on our phones, tablets, and laptops. We sleep with the Wi-Fi on in the house; we keep all of them next to us while sleeping or sometimes even turn it off but still have it on.
Although various organizations have stated that electromagnetic hypersensitivity is not a medical diagnosis, symptoms with possible link to EMFs can improve when the person moves away from EMFs.
For example, an EMF protection shield is a device that creates an ethereal protective barrier around you. These devices are also known as EMF absorbers. They block out powerful electromagnetic radiation from various electronic devices such as laptops, computers, tablets, smartphones, and televisions.
Conclusion
EMFs can be a topic of much controversy among skeptics and the general population. Mitigating the biological effects of EMF exposure is a significant issue for health care officials, governments, and the general public. The scientific community has raised concerns about the possible adverse effects of powerlines, mobile telephony, and computer networks on people.
As scientists continue to study this phenomenon, we will bring you the latest research and information to keep you as informed as possible.
It is essential to be educated in the best way to protect yourself and your home from the possible dangers of electromagnetic fields. We hope you found this article helpful in learning more about what EMF protection is and deciding which products you would like to buy.