Electrosmog

In the two videos that accompany this article, the electrosmog expert, Professor Olle Johansson of the Karolinska Institute, Sweden talks about the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on health.

Click to watch part 1 and part 2 of Electrosmog: A Wake-Up Call (15 mins total).

His particular area of expertise is neuroscience and he states that there is now overwhelming evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies to show adverse biological and biomedical effects of electromagnetic radiation at very low exposure levels - well below the current exposure guidelines.

Up until recently, the main focus of concern has been the potential carcinogenic effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. However, he states that as serious as this is, this is likely to affect only a small proportion of the population. Of greater concern he feels is the effect on the entire population of being subjected to whole body irradiation, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on a scale that is of 'Biblical' proportions compared to natural background radiation levels.

The adverse effects of EMR have been largely assumed to be related to the thermal or heating effect, but concern now centres around the nonthermal effects. These are subtle and include disruption of ionic channels (these are proteins embedded in all cell membranes which help to maintain a small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane by controlling the passage of ions) and the release, uptake and degradation of transmitters (which is how neurons communicate chemically with each other and is also governed by the balance of electrolytes).

The nonthermal effects of electromagnetic radiation are often evident much earlier that the thermal effects - even within minutes, hours or days and include:

A compromised immune system
Decreased fertility
Headaches
Decreased sleep quality and quantity
Compromised mental function and concentration
Deterioration in short term memory and
Decreased learning capacity.

Professor Johansson feels that it is high time to put a 'foot on brake' of the widespread deployment of these technologies since many of the adverse effects may not be evident for generations by which time it will definitely be too late to address the problem. He admits to being surprised that politicians feel able to take chances with the health of the whole population and that by and large, the people have notably not been informed about the potential perils of these technologies.

Since ALL of the research papers printed in peer-reviewed journals are indicating that there is a cause for concern, he requested that the former Swedish government send him the relevant scientific papers documenting the safety of EMR - and received no reply.

The 2007 Bioinitiative Report

According to the industry-funded research into the safety of electromagnetic radiation, there is no risk to health whatsoever. However, Professor Johansson and others mindful of the 'tobacco science' of the 1950s were concerned about the lack of independent research and decided after one particular conference to look into the issue themselves.

Dozens of concerned independent scientists scrutinised the 2,000 plus peer-reviewed studies which had been published on the topic and each took subjects covered by their area of expertise. The result was the 600 page Bioinitiative Report published in 2007 and available to view at: www.bioinitiative.org.

For his part, Professor Johansson agreed to examine the effects of EMR on the immune system and thinking this would not be a very large topic also agreed to make a study of electrohypersensitivity. He confesses that he later came to regret this action since he had not appreciated at the time the vast amount of scientific research just addressing the topic of adverse immune effects.

What the studies show with regard to the effects of electromagnetic irradiation on the immune system is that there appears to be an initial activation of the immune system in same way as would occur with any intrusion by a foreign agent such as bacteria. However, there is then a decrease in immune activity which falls below the initial baseline suggesting that the effect of EMR exposure is long-term compromise or fatigue of the immune system.

Cancer is ultimately regarded by many as an immune deficiency disease since the immune system has either not recognised or mounted a defence against cancerous cells and this may be the mechanism behind the link between EMR exposure and an increased incidence of various cancers.

Other topics examined in the Bioinitiative Report include the effects of EMR on:

Gene and protein expression
Genotoxic effects ie: DNA damage
The stress response
Effects on neurology and behaviour
Brain tumours and acoustic neuromas
Childhood cancers such as leukaemia
Melatonin production
Alzheimer’s disease and
Breast cancer promotion.

Tips for reducing exposure to electromagnetic radiation

To help you best protect yourself from EMR, Lloyd Burrell of www.electricsense.com offers his top video tips for protecting yourself from computer radiation as follows:

Be aware that the radiation emitted by laptops is higher than that generated by a desktop computer and that laptop computers are best used on their battery rather than mains electricity supply.
Avoid using a laptop computer on your lap as the electromagnetic radiation emitted will be adjacent to your reproductive organs. He suggests a variety of protection devices including the Harapad to shield your body from the radiation.
Use a radiation filter over the screen on your desktop computer and ensure that the electricity supply is earthed.
Sit as far away as possible from the CPU.
After extensive research, NASA concluded that the best device for absorbing EM radiation were Cereus cacti - preferably with 5 heads. This is thought to be because they have evolved self-protective mechanisms to defend themselves from the harsh radiation of the desert (see illustration right).
The use of salt crystal lamps (see right) helps to maintain a normal ionic balance in the office.
Take regular breaks every 15-20 mins and look out over the horizon if possible to reduce eye strain.
Eat bananas which are high in potassium which helps to alleviate eye irritation.
Ensure you eat a diet rich in antioxidants including foods such as tomatoes, cherries and broccoli which are high in vitamins A and C which help to protect your body from the free radical damage caused by EMR.
Washing your face occasionally helps to remove particles of radiation which attach to the skin.
If you work in an office with others, then it is not just your computer that poses a risk. Depending upon the age of the equipment and the model, some of the older types of monitors emit most radiation from the rear - so avoid sitting too close to the back of anyone else's computer if possible.

Click to watch videos in which Lloyd demonstrates the radiation emitted by cell phones and cordless phones (where the base acts as a mini mast constantly emitting radiation) or for his tips on protecting yourself from cell phone radiation which are as follows:

Do not let children have or use cell phones. Their organs are still developing, they are smaller, have a thinner skull and their blood-brain barrier is much more susceptible to cell phone radiation.
Limit cell phone conversations to a minimum.
Use the speaker phone as much as possible.
When taking or making a call do not put the cell phone to your ear until the connection has been established as the radiation is highest when the device is seeking a signal.
Avoid carrying your mobile phone on your body near to your heart, kidneys, or gonads.
Only use your cell phone in optimum reception areas (which can be judged by the number of bars depicted). Do not use in poor reception areas such as elevators or basements.
Do not use your cell phone in a moving vehicle as the phone will be scanning all the time for the nearest mast.
Do not use your phone in a car at all. The car creates a Faraday's cage or electrically insulated box and the cell phone acts as a radiation emitting device with your body acting to absorb the EMR it produces.
Never sleep with your cell phone switched on. In fact, do not even have it in your bedroom. Sleep is important - it is when your body recharges and repairs.
Avoid using a cell phone if you are ill, rundown or elderly. Pregnant women and their babies are also at higher risk since the amniotic fluid does not provide any EMF protection.
When buying a cell phone buy one with the lowest SRI. Although imperfect, this provides an indication of the likely amount of radiation exposure.
Use your cell phone to send and receive texts where possible.

The answer has to be to take sensible measures as outlined above and also to protect your body since electromagnetic fields are now inescapable. This video examines the effectiveness of the Q link device and other EMF shielding devices are listed at www.lessemf.com (US) and www.emfields.org (UK).

What I suspect most overlook is the effect of electromagnetic radiation upon toxic metals in the body at a cellular level, metal implants such as prosthetic hips and the effect on dental amalgam fillings which have been shown to emit more mercury vapour as a result of exposure to EMFs.

Further resources

For related videos see Taming the Microwave Dragon, Mobile Phones Boil Water and part 1 and part 2 of Protect Your Health From Electromagnetic Radiation, and for a podcast refer to Potential Hazards of Cell Phones listed under Natural Recovery in the Audio hub.

Electrosmog: Article summary

This article accompanies a two-part video interview with the electrosmog expert, Professor Olle Johansson, in which he expresses his concerns about the population wide effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at levels well below the current guidelines. Whilst the current focus of concern appears to be the cancer-causing potential of EMR, he says that there are immediate recognised effects on fertility, the immune system and cognitive function which could be of greater long-term significance since the entire population is being irradiated 24/7.

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The Natural Recovery Plan Newsletter January 2012 Issue 25. Copyright Alison Adams 2012. All rights reserved
Alison Adams Dentist, Naturopath, Author and Online Health Coach www.thenaturalrecoveryplan.com