These are toxic by-products of your
metabolism, which damage cells in a
process called oxidative stress. And
this process may play a role in the
development of cancer,’ he adds.
WHAT’S A SAFE LEVEL?
At present, there’s no legally binding
legislation enforcing EMF limits in the
UK. The UK Government follows
recommendations by the International
Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection, which suggests
limits of 61 V/m for radiofrequency
EMFs (i.e. from phones and laptops)
and 9000 V/m plus 360 μT for low-
frequency EMF exposure from
appliances or devices.
But Powerwatch believes these
guidelines are outdated and possibly
unsafe because studies have shown
biological effects at far lower levels.
‘Sensitive people may suffer from
headaches, fatigue or sleep
disturbance at levels of only half a volt
per metre,’ says Graham. ‘If you hold
a phone to your head, the part of your
brain closest to the device is typically
exposed to 25-30 V/m for the duration
of the call, whereas if you’re in your
living room and two people are using
the WiFi router in that same room,
you are exposed to about 2 V/m. So,
by keeping your distance from
EMF-emitting devices, you can
dramatically reduce your exposure.’
But with new 5G being rolled out
this year, everyone’s exposure to
EMFs looks set to increase. ‘It’s not
the technology that’s harmful but the
quantity of data used, requiring more
power to make it work. With a greater
number of power masts needed to
facilitate 5G, it will be diffi cult to
avoid EMF exposure outside your
home,’ says Graham.
Nick Pineault, author of The
Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs (t heem fg uy.
com), believes there’s industry
pressure on legislators to keep EMF
exposure limits high. ‘Business has a
vested interest in EMF limits staying
at the current levels because the
industry is so lucrative. EMF risk is
also not a popular message because
people don’t want it to be true.’
Clear answers on the risks of EMFs
may not emerge for decades because
more research is needed and the
health effects may not be apparent for
30 years or more. But so far, science
points to potential risks. Dementia
may be just one of the risks associated
with low-frequency EMFs, such as the
magnetic fi elds emitted by power
lines. A scientifi c committee found
that those living within 50m of a
220-380 kV power line had twice the
risk of developing Alzheimer’s or
other types of dementia after 15 years
compared with the general
population. While research is
troubling, more studies are needed
and Nick advises caution rather than
panic. ‘If you’re on the phone for a
couple of minutes, it’s not a huge risk.’5
WAYS TO
REDUCE EMF
EXPOSURENick Pineault (theemfguy.com)
suggests the following...● Have a building biology
survey. These experts measure
whether you have high EMF
radiation, pinpoint where it’s
coming from and advise on the
solution (buildingbiology.co.uk).● Switch to airplane mode.
Doing this stops radiofrequency
EMFs to your phone or other
devices. You can still listen to
pre-downloaded content, take
photos and use the alarm clock.
Also, turn off your WiFi router
at night, by unplugging it from
the socket.● Create distance. Devices
closest to your body are linked
to the biggest level of exposure.
Keep one foot distance between
you and your phone while
talking on it. Use speakerphone
or headphones but not
Bluetooth ones.● Clean up your bedroom.
EMFs can cause sleep problems.
Studies show they may affect
melatonin – the hormone that
regulates sleep. Remove smart
devices and anything with
wireless capability, including
Bluetooth alarm clocks.● Go old school. Ethernet
cables are how we all connected
to the Internet before WiFi.
Use them to link your laptop
to your router to reduce
EMF exposure.Read more on this issue,
including six products to
protect you both in and out of
the home, at topsante.co.uk. TS26 TOPSANTÉ Facebook.com/ TopSanteMagazine @ TopS a nt eUK