EMFs and Health

I came accross an article in a local paper about electrical magnetic fields or EMFs and just had to post. I have heard something about EMFs before and live near power lines and have wondered about their safety. When we bought our home the builders gave us a lot of literature and studies proving and assuring us of the safety of living under power lines, but still we were not completely convinced.

This article has a quote from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences stating:

Electrical magnetic fields are areas of energy that surround electrical devices. Power lines, electrical wiring and appliances produce EMFs. Some people worry about EMF exposure and cancer. A few studies found a link between EMF exposure and a higher risk of childhood leukemia, but the link is weak. Other studies didn't find a link between EMF exposure and other childhood cancers. For adults, studies of EMF exposure from power lines and electric blankets show little evidence of a link to cancer. In adults, EMFs may reduce heart rate and interfere with brain electrical activity during sleep. This may or may not affect your health.

The stories that I have heard involve parents of special needs children, many with Autism or ADD/ADHD who have learned that their children show stress, hightened behavioral problems and/or health problems when exposed to EMFs within the home or when exposed to EMFs outside the home including WiFi and cellular phones or equipment. Some of these parents are going to great lengths, including remodeling or moving to provide a better environment for their children.

This article contains a rebuttal by an expert witness who gives us all something to think about. The witness is Cindy Sage, co-owner of Sage and Associates. Her testimony as quoted in the article says,

"There is very strong evidence of an increased risk of childhood leukemia, leukemia, brain hemmorage, Alzheimer's and ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease."

"Children with leukemia who go home to live within an EMF, their recovery is reduced."

Sage and Associates is based in California and in her testimony Sage notes that she has worked with 30 states and that her company has served as an expert witness in court cases.

She also notes that the power lines would have an EMF that could extend 200 to 300 feet outside of the right of way and that the risk of breast cancer and miscarriage is increased for those who live near an EMF.

(This information is taken from an article, dated, Monday, June 29, 2009, in the Standard-Examiner or online at www.standard.net.)

Online I found an interesting article that relates to this topic. It can be found at http://www.mercola.com/article/emf/emf_dangers.htm. This article outlines some ways we can reduce EMFs in our homes, which likely would benefit us all.

Another interesting article is titled, "I'm allergic to modern living." It tells the story of a woman who apparently suffers with immediate physical reactions to EMFs. She notes that she can't even walk into a shop that offers free wifi without having a reaction. (see article.)

I wonder how much each of us and our children suffer with exposure to EMFs without being aware of the cause. With more and more schools, businesses, hotels and homes being wired and filled with each new technological device the danger of exposure will surely increase and we may show more symptoms with increased exposure.

In the story above the author notes that "Officially...electro-sensitivity (ES) does not exist as a medical condition. Doctors say there is little scientific evidence to back up a link between EMF and poor health. They claim the symptoms, often attributed to flu or viruses, are psychosomatic."

I think that when people have unexplained symptoms they must listen to their intuition and their bodies and find ways to combat the symptoms of modern living. EMF exposure and our bodies reactions to that exposure may be augmenting symptoms of another condition or they may be the source of that condition. Either way, we must follow our hearts to find a path to true health for ourselves and our families.