Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are produced naturally by the sun and the earth’s magnetic field. They are also produced by mobile phones, microwave ovens, routers, computers and other electronic devices. These waves are seen in the light produced by the Sun but are otherwise invisible. Some people are concerned that these waves could be potentially harmful and argue we need EMF radiation protection.
As we entered the 20th century, electric power lines and indoor lighting became prevalent in households and in the public environment around the world. As this occurred scientists realized that the power lines that delivered electric power were emitting EMF radiation in the same way that the Sun did. As technology advanced and other appliances became available that used electricity it was realized that these too emitted EMF radiation (as well as xray machines and other medical imaging devices such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines).
Some people are concerned about the effects of EMFs on people but this is controversial because no strong evidence has been found to date that shows they are harmful to human health. Some research shows a slight link between cancer and EMF radiation but this has not been proved as significant.
One device that people have come to use almost every day is the mobile phone. The use of these phones has increased significantly since the 1980s and some researchers, concerned about possible health effects, conduced a study that compared cancer incidence in cell phone users compared with those that did not use them. The study involved more than 5000 people in 13 countries. It found a slight connection between the highest rate of exposure and a type of cancer called gProtection From EMF Radiationlioma that occurs in the brain and spinal cord (near where mobile phones are used) but researchers concluded there was not enough strong evidence to show that these were causally connected. In a smaller, more recent study, researchers showed that people exposed to EMFs for extended periods (years at a time) had an elevated risk of contracting adult leukemia.
EMF meters are available that show how much exposure a person is receiving in their environment but most of these cannot measure the highest frequencies of EMF radiation and they are not very effective. According to the latest research EMF radiation protection is not necessary since exposure is unlikely to cause any adverse health effects in a normal person’s life and the impact from electrical lines, appliances, computers and mobile phones is minimal.
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