In our emerging technology times, our devices are not only getting useful but are also producing negative effects silently for our bodies. Every technology has some downsides and among us, there is a common device we all use that might someday cause trouble for us in the long term. The problem is the EMF Radiations coming from our device and in our home WiFi Router is one the device that emits quite a lot of radiation up to some distance and many of us are not familiar with the harmful causes of EMF radiations.
How does WiFi Emit EMF?
WiFi routers emit certain types of waves, specifically the radio waves that we use for our internet services. This comes out from the antenna attached above it. The radio waves it emits have two ranges, 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz and these are the only used router antennas nowadays.
The problem in this is that our routers not only emit radiofrequency waves but due to the flow of electrons inside this device, the router emits a large amount of invincible EMF waves due to radio waves from the antennas and other components as well and they have a range too according to the antenna type [1].
How to Calculate Safe Distance
Knowing the significant dangers of WiFi radiations and tips to reduce the radiation strength. There comes an idea to check at what distance away should the device be stayed to avoid maximum signal exposure.
Inverse Square Law is used to check signal strength to the distance from a person. Inverse-square law is shown below, and you can use it by simply putting the values in the given factors [2].
Power Density Function=(P*G)/4r2
Here
- P = Transmission Power (usually 30mW (low powered) to 500 mW (high powered))
- G = Antenna Gain
- r=Distance of Router
Example Power Density Function=(30)/4(1)2
Suppose P = 30 mW (which is usually the value), G is either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz and distance from the router is 1 meter from you then by simply putting the values inside the formula we can get the value.
With respect to P= 30mW, G=2.4 GHz, 50 centimeter the Power Density Function is 9.55
With respect to P= 30mW, G=2.4 GHz, 2 meters the Power Density Function is 0.596
So as we see from the difference there is a huge difference in the power function between the distance from the router of 50 cm & 2 meters. Also, the distance can vary depending upon the antenna gain is 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz.
How to use EMF Reader to Calculate the Distance for WiFi Router
A simpler way to calculate the safe distance from the router is using EMF Meter if you are not satisfied with your calculations. Hold up your EMF Meter. And start it by standing near the WiFi router.
Start moving away from the Router and keep an eye on the Meter, you have to check when the measurement comes between 3mW/m2 and 6mW/m2 [2]. This is a generally accepted safe distance of signal transmission from the router.
So as soon as you get these readings on your EMF meter, stop there and mark your position, measure the distance from your router and this is your safe range.
Similarly try to place your router at your home in such a way that the safe range is away from all the members of your house and the WiFi coverage is also optimum.
How to Reduce WiFi Radiation
It is stressful to be aware of the potential negative impacts of EMF radiation. Let’s go on to a more positive note because too much information might lead to sadness. So the good news is that there are ways to considerably lower the radiation. The most effective technique to limit radiation exposure is to attenuate it such that the devices’ optimal function is not harmed and more than 90% of hazardous rays are blocked. And by attenuating means we put some material in front of it that blocks the radiation such as walls attenuating the sound, umbrellas block the sunlight, and the lead vest we wear for X-rays.
Now I will discuss some of the best ways to reduce the radiation from WiFi Routers.
1. Fabric Shielding
A very specific kind of fabric can block nearly all of the Radio Frequency (RF) & EMF radiations. It sounds unreal because of the anatomy of the sheet. Internally it is composed of a tiny mesh of copper and nickel which is visible and the sheet itself is thinner than paper.
Faraday Fabric is the name given to this specific type of sheet or fabric, which is available from a variety of sellers in the market. It can also be cut into desired shapes! This one-of-a-kind sheet can not only prevent EMF and RF from WiFi, but also Bluetooth, GSM, GPS, and RFID. As a result, you can use it to shield your WiFi router or other EMF emitters from harmful radiation by simply covering it with the sheet!
Faraday Fabric (Source: https://www.amazon.com/Fabric-EMI-Shielding-Grounding-Block-Anti-Radiation-Electromagnetic/dp/B07N4RBCBN)
2. Paint Shielding
Let us imagine you are living near a place where there are high voltage power lines that create a significant quantity of EMF radiations, similarly if your house is near a broadcasting tower or the base stations that emit radiations of various frequencies. How can you get away from their rays?
In such cases, you can shield yourself by painting your walls with EMR (Electro-Magnetic Radiation) Protection Shielding paint. It contains components that act as an EMF physical barrier, and it comes in a variety of coating levels, ranging from low-frequency shielding to high-frequency shielding, which can virtually block 99.98 percent of radiations. It is said that they can block 40 GHz of radiation with an attenuation level of 36 dB (Decibels).
Source: https://www.radmeters.com/images/Shielding%20paint-1l.jpg
This is also a good example of blocking WiFi radiations. To shield themselves from the radiation emitted by all EMF emitting devices, one can paint their home’s walls. To cover it, one might first paint their walls with this protective material, then cover it with other colorful paints. You can purchase this paint by searching online for companies that sell emf shielding paint.
3. Faraday’s Cage Shielding
The router guard, also known as a faraday cage, Faraday shield, or EMF Guard, is another cutting-edge method in use today. A steel mesh with varying forms and sizes to meet the router’s shapes is created, along with a small hole for wires to enter.
This may absorb any Wi-Fi router radiation that comes into touch with the steel mesh. To be clear, if you use your gadget without the faraday cage, you are receiving not only WiFi signals but also EMF waves. As soon as you place the router inside the cage box, the EMF radiation will drop to zero, and your exposure to it will be almost non-existent.
Well, everything has a cost and a disadvantage, and this approach states that your router’s WiFi range will be reduced by 10% to 20%, but this isn’t a problem because our new routers are powerful, and the range issue can be fixed similarly.
You don’t need to do much. All you have to do is to jump on to any online store such as Amazon, search for EMF cage and you will find many of them. Pick the cage of your router shape and buy it.
- When you get the cage, check for the hole for wires.
- Disconnect the wires from your router.
- Pass the wires through the hole in the cage.
- Put the router inside the cage and connect the wires from inside the cage.
- Close the cage and turn the router on.
4. Smart Socket
Another hassle-free way to keep yourself away is to use smart sockets that can be turned on the switch and turned off with whatever configuration you set from your phone. Smart Sockets are WiFi-enabled as well as Bluetooth-enabled as well and can be controlled through an app installed inside your phone.
Source: https://www.cielowigle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Smart-plug-and-remote-access.jpg
Survey all the day when you need WiFi and when to not configure that time, configure the device about your sleep times and it can turn off at that time when you are sleeping and turn on in the morning so that you can be safe from the exposure all day.
5. Far Placement of Routers
Radiations from your WiFi cannot travel a long distance so it is always better to fit your WiFi router in such a place where it can give great coverage in your whole house or office and also the distance of it from you is optimum. You can check the above for the calculation of the safe distance from the WiFi router.
Should I put a Router in my bedroom?
Well, this in my opinion would get a no in the answer. Placing a powerful source of EMF radiation in your bedroom is dangerous and it is because of good reasons. Firstly the long-term harmful effects of EMF and secondly the bad effect of EMF on your sleep.
The American Cancer Society has also stated about the adverse effects of EMF radiations [4] and WiFi Routers emit a great amount of EMF. And we place the router in our bedrooms it can cause notable problems in our body such as:
- Tinnitus
This is a medical problem of hypersensitivity in-ears. The victim of this medical condition can hear a ringing sound in his/her ears without having any kind of sound nearby.
- Brain Fog
Brain Fog is a condition where a person has trouble recalling things that they usually do not forget, for example, names or places.
- Sleep Troubles
When our body is trying to rest, EMF can let us have a night of poor sleep. At the University of Melbourne, in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a study was conducted [5] in which they explained that there is a hormone (melatonin) that drives sleep and wakefulness in a person. The result showed that the melatonin hormone gets disturbed in the weak force of EMF & prolonged disturbance can cause health effects such as sleep.
Should I put a modem in my bedroom?
Because it does not release any rays, the EMF radiation produced by the modem is significantly lower than that of a WiFi router. Also, because it is the polar opposite of WiFi, it is a suitable alternative for reducing EMF radiation. Although placing the modem in the bedroom is a good idea, it is still preferable to keep it out of the way.
The modem allows you to hardwire your internet connection and connect it to your laptop or PC via Ethernet cables. The internet is faster when connected using Ethernet cables, so you’ll only use it when you need it.
[1] EMF Portal https://www.emf-portal.org/en/emf-source/322
[2] Nicole, Educate EMF, August 5, 2021, https://educateemf.com/what-is-a-safe-distance-from-a-wifi-router/
[3] Americal Cancer Society, June 01, 2020, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radiofrequency-radiation.html
[4] Malka N Halgamuge, October 10, 2012, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23051584/