FAQs about EMF Assessments

Most of the questions are about how and why EMFs (electro-magnetic fields) occur, what their dangers may be, and how a Building Biology assessment can reduce your exposure to man-made EMFs.

Here are some of the more common questions asked about EMFs. Four man-made ones, in particular.

Many of the world’s top functional doctors recognise that “EMF removal is essential for proper healing”, including Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, Dr. Zach Bush, Dr. Dan Pompa, Dr. Ben Lynch, and Dr. Tom O’Bryan.

What is a Building Biologist?

As a certified Building Biologist, I help you plan and create better spaces that support your biological health.

I also draw on over 15 years’ experience in research and publishing to provide you with scientific knowledge, support, and the necessary tools for you to make informed-based decisions for your own home or work space.

What is an emf consultation or an assessment?

An assessment for a space can identify EMF sources and your EMF sensitivity. It provide solutions to reduce exposure.

In my consultations with you, I add a strong base of EMF knowledge as an essential toolkit that you can take with you in terms of healing recommendations, programs or protocols.

Why does an assessment take X hours?

An assessment is based on your priorities and needs, and a comprehensive EMF assessment paints a picture of the invisible electro-pollution in your space.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum is broad, and in a Building Biology assessment for a space, we are concerned with at least 4 types of EMFs and the health effects.

These are AC magnetic fields (cable lines, currents drawn by device, appliance, or motor, electrical wiring errors, stray electrical current on water pipes, cable tv lines, phone lines and other utility installations);

Radio frequency fields (wireless radiation from mobile / Bluetooth devices, wifi, cell phone towers, smart devices, 5G);

AC electric fields (circuits, power lines);

Dirty electricity (any manipulation of the electrical current by devices, appliances and lighting in your home, incl dimmer switches, televisions, laptops…)

As you can see, that is a lot to assess in any modern space!

EMFs are not really that harmful, are they? EMFs levels by devices are at “safe levels”. We’ve lived with mobile phones for so long. Etc.

The 1996 EMF safety standards that are supposed to protect people are based on the false premise that the only way that EMFs can hurt our biology is by causing overheating.

This myth is unscientific, considering the fact that publicly-available research published by the NASA in 1970,[1]the US Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) in 1971,[2]the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in 1976[3] and countless others show that EMFs can and do cause damage through non-thermal mechanisms.

In other words, our current safety standards are based on a false premise, and therefore do not protect anyone against the harm caused by microwave radiation.

Thousands of studies in just the last decade is proving this. This includes the $25 US NTP study has published their conclusions after running one of the most important and costly studies around cell phones and cancer ever conceived. Their initial goal: proving without the shadow of a doubt that cell phones are safe.

What they found: the opposite; rats and mice exposed to cellphone radiation have shown “Clear Evidence” of an increase in multiple tumor types— read this blog for more detail.

It is up to you to measure for and reduce the man-made EMFs in your life.

My children are already grown up and no longer babies. Is an EMF consultation or assessment still beneficial?

Children are being conceived and born exposed to artificial EMFs. Children are at greater risk from exposure to carcinogens than adults, and this risk remains well into adolescence as they develop.

One effect is on their emotional processing, executive attention, decision making, and cognitive control—these are fundamental skills required for success and emotional well-being.

There are many things we can do as parents to mitigate any harm and plan a path forward for children to learn how to live well in a digitised society.

Not least, creating a good space can help unplug our children, limit their screen time, and give them some digital detox.

What other services do you offer?

Interior design support and sourcing; Birth space / Postpartum recovery planning; Childrens’ space planning.

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS): Why Is It So Common & What Can You Do About It?

Updated 4 August 2024.

Electro-sensitivity symptoms are becoming commonplace—reflecting the increasing digitisation of our lifestyles and digital infrastructure with 5G and the IoT. What’s causing this? Learn more, plus find out how to advocate for yourself.

First, what is Electromagnetic Hyper Sensitivity (EHS)?

EHS is also called Electromagnetic Sensitivity, electro-hypersensitivity, electro-sensitivity, electrical sensitivity (ES) and “Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF)”.

EMF is an "electrostatic" field or electromagnetic field that comes off any electronic device that emits energy, frequencies, radiation, or field of energy of any type.

Back in the 1970s, EHS was known as “microwave syndrome", clinically characterised by the a wide spectrum of symptoms affecting various organs, typically including central nervous system symptoms. The vast majority of electrohypersensitive (EHS) patients complain about headaches on contact with an electromagnetic source.

A report from the former Soviet Union described it as “microwave syndrome”[r]. The Soviet military recognised early on the possible side-effects from radar and radio radiation. Medical diagnoses frequently noted various symptoms typically including central nervous system symptoms, that occur following the patient's acute or chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Statements on EHS by health organisation

Austria is the only country with a written suggestion to guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems. Apart from this, EHS is not recognised as a specific diagnosis in the rest of the world.

However, institutions such as the WHO, the European Environment Agency (official advisory body to the European Union), and many research and scientific organisations have proposed and advocated for recommendations around EMFs.

This includes the groundbreaking Bioinitiative Report was published by scientists, public health and public policy experts to document the scientific evidence on electromagnetic fields. It has since been updated over the years 2014-2019. (Download the Bioinitiative Report 2014-2019 updated edition.)

In 2015, the Fifth Paris Appeal Colloquium showed a focus on electromagnetic fields and EHS. You can watch Dr Lennart Hardell’s presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JehrGVPTUos

What are the Symptoms of EHS?

Patients can have neurologic, neuro-hormonal and neuro-psychiatric symptoms [1] following exposure to EMF as a consequence of neural damage and over-sensitised neural responses, including: headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, depression, a lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.

Studies conducted in 2001 and 2002 revealed that people reported symptoms most frequently due to exposure to cell phone base stations (74%), cell phones (36%), cordless (DECT) phones (29%) and power lines (27%) visual displays and fluorescent lighting (1.9%), electrical factors and also chemicals or smells (2.4%).

Symptoms, their duration, and their impact on the person’s quality of life and ability to function in daily life. Mild EHS may manifest with mild symptoms such as prickling or burning sensations that disappear within seconds or minutes after EMF exposure (e.g. using a cell- phone) has stopped. With moderate EHS the severity, frequency and duration of the symptoms increase. For example, a headache may persist for several hours after using the cell-phone. With severe EHS the problem becomes chronic and persistent.

A study, mandated by the Swiss Federal Government and performed by the University of Bern in 2004, Swiss doctors working with complementary diagnostic and therapeutic tools reported that 71% of their consultations related to EMF.

This facts are jarring, but what’s even more worrying is that the majority of these symptoms are accepted as nothing out of the ordinary or a matter of lifestyle fatigue, and is thus usually ignored.

Often electromagnetic hypersensitivity exacerbates any systemic health issues that you already have, including heavy metals and mercury toxicity, Candida yeast infection (moulds and fungi), bacterial or viral infections, bio-toxins or parasites [4].

Learn more about wireless harms and the symptoms at the advocacy group. This page highlights studies that establish wireless technology radiation can create cognitive effects such as ADHD and other behavioral disorders. https://wearetheevidence.org/wireless-harms/ I also share important research about fertility and children’s health here.

Who is most vulnerable? What are the signs in Children?

Studies show that children are especially vulnerable to developing chronic health conditions from EHS, like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease—all things that can disrupt their mental and emotional growth and development.

One case report detailed how two 15-year-old male students and one 47-year-old female teacher who expericienced health effects like headaches, difficulties concentrating, tachycardia, poor memory, or dizziness when exposed to Wi-Fi in school [3]. This study highlighted the potential health impacts from increasing RF exposure of students and teachers by Wi-Fi.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified EMFs as a "possible human carcinogen” after consistent epidemiologic evidence of an association between childhood leukemia and exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields [2].The first study between the link was in 1979! The evidence has grown to cover associations with other childhood cancers.

What is behind the treatment disparities?

While there are many factors that affect how EHS is seen and addressed, whether by the individual him/herself or in medical field, it is clear there is rising recognition and evidence in the biological harm of EMFs.

The WHO recommendations are based on based on currents induced in the body (ELF) and thermal effects (RF). It does not consider long-term non-thermal effects.

The BioInitiative reports are global groundbreaking milestones comprehensive review of biological effects and health effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation, including thousands of published studies on: gene and protein expres- sion, DNA, immune function, neurology and behavior, blood-brain barrier, brain tumors and acoustic neuromas, childhood leukemia, melatonin, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, fertility and reproduction, fetal and neo- natal disorders, and autism.

The European Environment Agency compared the risks of non-ionising radiation (EMF) to other environmental hazards such as asbestos, benzene, and tobacco, urgently recommending to implement a precautionary approach regarding EMF.

Many countries have taken their own initiative to reduce EMF exposure, especially to their most people.

For example, Belgium has banned the advertising of mobile phones for children under seven. France banned Wi-Fi in nurseries for children under the age of 3 and to enable Wi-Fi at primary schools with children under the age of 11 only when used specifically for lessons. Public places offering Wi-Fi must clearly advertise this fact on a sign.

References & Resources

1. The microwave syndrome or electro-hypersensitivity: historical background. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26556835/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32289567/

3. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/b16968-13/childhood-leukemia-extremely-low-frequency-magnetic-fields-critical-evaluation-epidemiologic-evidence-using-hill-framework-leeka-kheifets-john-swanson

4. http://www.stralskyddsstiftelsen.se/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/hedendahl_hardell_2015.pdf

5. See what happens when micro-organisms are exposed to harmful energy and what causes electromagnetic hypersensitivity: https://youtu.be/qMAV-pZMlZs

6. Greco F, Garnier O, Macioce V, Picot MC. Prevalence of Migraine Disease in Electrohypersensitive Patients. J Clin Med. 2023 Jun 16;12(12):4092. doi: 10.3390/jcm12124092. PMID: 37373785; PMCID: PMC10299347. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37373785/

High Electromagnetic Field Exposure in Kindergarten Children: Study in South Korea

Sensitive areas like schools, kindergartens, hospital, and other public facilities have been of great concerns of various studies on Electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

This study includes 24 kindergartens across Busan, South Korea (12 kindergartens located near UGTL and 12 kindergartens without UGTL).

Research conclusions

The maximum mean value of the EMF emission level was 13.5 mG around the kindergartens and 17.7 mG from the point of UGTL to kindergartens. EMF emission level around the kindergartens was significantly associated with the location of the UGTL (t = −7.35, P < 0.001).

• These estimates are not trivial, as long-term exposure to EMF among kindergarten children can lead to different health problems.

• Routine monitoring of EMF emission levels is recommended including the awareness of EMF exposure to public citizens.

• It is not appropriate to ignore the fact that EMFs are potentially carcinogenic to children. Proper installation solutions should be implemented for the minimization of the EMF level around the public sensitive areas with routine monitoring.

LINK: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.694407/full#B1

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