Something that you have probably not heard of may be causing you serious health problems. It is known as dirty electricity and it is a type of Electromagnetic Field Pollution that has been linked to several health problems.
Dirty electricity is present in every home or building that use electricity. In small doses it may not be harmful, but modern people use so many electronic devices that it can produce very harmful levels of dirty electricity.
This particular type of EMF pollution is among the most dangerous to humans and it has been linked to a host of health issues that range from relatively minor and acute to life-threatening and chronic. The causes and effects are well-documented and there are a few things we can do to decrease the amount of dirty electricity in our homes.
Dirty Electricity Explained
Dirty electricity is a product of our growing electric needs and our aging electric infrastructure. Most American homes were designed to operate on 60 Hertz AC electricity. When it was designed most electronics were able to use this in a smooth, easy, way. There were no large spikes in usage.
Modern devices (cell phone chargers, computer power cords, etc.) do not use the 60 Hertz system so efficiently. Engineers must find ways to make these devices compatible with the 60 Hertz system. These ‘work arounds’ cause sporadic spikes in electricity that is mostly useless. This useless electricity is called dirty electricity.
Electronic engineers can use a few different methods in order to satisfy their increased electrical needs. They can convert the AC into lower voltage DC, or the DC into higher voltage AC, whichever the specific case calls for.
Another method is to turn the flow on and off many times per second, sometimes thousands of times per second. This allows the device to use the standard 60 Hertz even though its power needs are much different.
Neither of these methods are efficient and both are prime producers of dirty electricity. Each of these methods requires a different component to be able to use the electricity. One is a rectifier, which changes the power from A/C to D/C, or vice versa. The other is a transformer which will change the voltage to allow for operation.
Interestingly, dirty electricity will not just stay in your home. It can travel through electricity lines and spread to other buildings throughout the community. This means that your home contains dirty electricity created within its walls as well as some of your neighbors dirty electricity.
Which Electronics Emit the Most Dirty Electricity?
Any electronic device can produce dirty electricity, but there are some that are more common causes than others. The following list is not comprehensive but it can give an idea of what types of things commonly cause this type of EMF pollution.
- Phone chargers
- Video game consoles
- Computers
- TVs
- WiFi routers
- Blenders
- Microwaves
- Printers
Most homes contain many, if not all, of these devices. Each one of them will cause the inconsistent electric usage that produces dirty electricity.
Perhaps the worst in-home producer of dirty electricity are fluorescent light bulbs. They use pulsed technology that switch on and off around 20,000 times per second. This can create a massive amount of dirty electricity that will contaminate the entire home or building.
The Dangers of Dirty Electricity
Effect on Other Electronic Devices
Dirty electricity can cause Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)among other devices in your home. EMI produces errant voltage that interferes with the electromagnetic fields in many devices throughout the home.
Health Dangers
It is well known that radiating electricity can cause health issues. We are constantly surrounded by electric current.
This happened because electric companies run lines directly into the ground. It is unclear what effects this exposure to typical electric current has on humans, but dirty electricity’s negative effects have been well documented.
Dirty electricity has very real, negative, health implications. The buildup of this excess electricity radiates throughout the home. The more devices that you have, the more dirty electricity is present.
The human body is essentially a collection of electrical processes. If we think of ourselves in this manner then we can understand how electricity can be harmful to us. Our body reacts to it as if it were a bacteria, virus, etc. It disrupts our cellular processes and may even harm our DNA.
Research has indicated that dirty electricity can cause a variety of health issues, including,
- Headaches
- Asthma
- Memory problems
- digestive issue
- Cancer
- Heart disease
Dirty electricity’s negative health effects is said to be one of the main causes for the lower life expectancy for urban areas throughout the 20th century. Areas that have less electricity usage have less reports of these diseases and a higher life expectancy.
Ways to Lessen Dirty Electricity’s Impact on You
Dirty Electricity will continue to be a problem until large scale changes are made. The country as a whole must commit itself to designing and implementing safer infrastructure.
This may occur when dirty electricity’s dangers are widely known.
Until then, we must each do our part to mitigate dirty electricity.
Ways to Measure Dirty Electricity
On the micro level, there are a few things you can do to lessen the effects of dirty electricity on you and your loved ones.
The first step is to find out how much dirty electricity is present in your home. There are a variety of professional EMF meters that will tell you how much is in your home.
A simple and cheap way to test for dirty electricity is to use an AM radio. First, turn the dial all the way to the left. Then go out to your backyard, where there should be almost no static. Move toward your house and through the rooms. More static means more dirty EM pollution.
Dedicated dirty electricity meters are available for purchase. These meters will provide the most accurate measurement. They are simple to use and will give clear results.
Filters
There are dirty electricity filters that have proven to be effective in decreasing dirty electricity in homes and buildings. One filter works by turning the dirty electricity back into power that your home can safely use. They plug into normal outlets and do not interrupt any of your electronic devices.
Greenwave filters use a different method to reduce dirty electricity. They filter out the wayward voltage from the usable electricity. In effect they prevent the drastic spikes in usage that causes dirty electricity. They are easy to install, all you have to do is plug it in to an outlet.
Limit the Use of Electronics
The best way to keep yourself safe from any EMF pollution is to limit the use of electronics. Specifically WiFi usage. Also, remove dimmer switches and replace fluorescent light bulbs, as they create a large amount of dirty electricity.
Dirty electricity is a very real problem that we face in the modern world. Our electronics demand a level of energy that our electrical infrastructure can not provide. The resulting buildup, dirty electricity, has been proven to be very harmful to human beings. It can cause several acute and chronic diseases.
The best way to protect yourself is to limit the use of electronic devices. Also, measure your home to see what areas are most effected. Purchase filters to mitigate the dirty electricity, and eliminate the devices that are known to cause dirty electricity buildup.