Fluorescent lights produce much more EMFs than incandescent bulbs. A typical fluorescent lamp of a office ceiling have readings of 160 to 200 mg 1 inch away.

Electric clocks have a very high magnetic field, as much as 5 to 10 mG up to three feet away. If you are using a bedside clock, you are probably sleeping in an EMF equivalent to that of a powerline Studies have linked high rates of brain tumors with chronic exposure to magnetic fields, so it is wise to place all clocks and other electrical devices (such as telephones and answering devices) at least 6 feet from your bed.

An enormous amount of electricity is created at power generating stations and sent across the country through wires that carry high voltages. All power lines radiate electromagnetic fields. The question is: how much are the power lines near YOUR home radiating? The amount of EMFs coming from a power line depends on its particular configuration. Power companies know which power line configurations are best for reducing EMFs but most don’t feel the evidence supports costly changes in the way they deliver electricity.

Electric blankets create a magnetic field that penetrates about 6-7 inches into the body. Thus it is not surprising that an epidemiological study has linked electric blankets with miscarriages and childhood leukemia.
This pioneering work was performed by Dr. Nancy Wertheimer and Ed Leeper, who originally discovered that magnetic fields were linked to childhood leukemia. Similar health effects have been noted with users of many electric blankets and waterbed heaters will emit EMFs even when turned off.
The devices must be unplugged to delete the EMF exposure Additionally, there is the issue regarding the vibrations that are generated by sleeping on standing water. There is less hard data in this area but some experts are concerned about the consequences.

Many people suffer discomfort after working long hours on the computer. This is in part due to the fact that computers produce an Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF radiation) which is considered to be harmful to the human body’s own electrical field. Over the past few years the popular press has increased public awareness of this concern, so nowadays there is increased interest in the effects upon health of EMF exposure. It is widely accepted that constant exposure to the kind of radiation emitted by computers leaves us feeling drained and fatigued.

Microwave ovens are a great time saver in the kitchen. In just a few minutes, we can heat up our dinner, even make a bowl of porridge for breakfast or make popcorn for a snack.
However, the controversy over the safety of microwaves has been growing for years. Some people believe that microwaved food is not quite the same as food cooked with a conventional heating source.

And that’s a concern for an HSI member named Deloris who starts off an email titled “Microwave Ovens” with a reference to an article she read by US natural medical physician, Dr. Joseph Mercola. Deloris writes: “I’ve been using one [a microwave] for over 25 years, as I imagine many folks have. If he’s [Dr. Mercola] right then its only my vitamins and supplements that have kept me alive as I’ve lost a lot of nutrition in reheated food, not to mention possibility of getting cancer. Any comments on this subject?”

There are so many it is a question of where to start. Given how common microwave usage is Dr.Mercola’s article is just one of several he and others have written about microwaves, and the information usually discussed can be generally summed up with this comment from US HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen:

“What studies exist are all bad news for microwaving – they universally describe some type of damage. One study showed breakdown of vitamin B-12 to inactive degradation products in microwaved foods. There’s also a problem with release of potentially toxic molecules into the food from packaging designed to help brown food during microwaving. This includes items such as pizza, French fries, waffles, popcorn and breaded fish.”

These unsettling details about microwaves generally go from bad to worse.

Argument #1: Microwaves cause a significant loss of nutrients in food.
Microwaves are thought to destroy and deform food molecules. In fact, one study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli “zapped” in the microwave with a little water lost up to 97 percent of the beneficial antioxidant chemicals it contains.

By comparison, steamed broccoli lost 11 percent or fewer of its antioxidants.

Other research has found that microwaves destroy the nutritional value of protein in meat.

Besides the loss of nutrients, microwaving forms new compounds (radiolytic compounds) that are unknown to humans and nature. It’s not yet known exactly what these compounds do in the human body.

Instead of cooking your vegetables in the microwave, why not steam them instead. It would appear that steaming is the best way to avoid losing valuable nutrients.

Argument #2: Microwaves leak.
In the book, “Health Effects of Microwave Radiation – Microwave Ovens” by Dr. Lita Lee, she states that every microwave oven leaks electromagnetic radiation, harms food, and converts substances cooked in it to dangerous toxic and carcinogenic products.

There has been contradictory research linked to EMFs (electromagnetic fields) produced by appliances like microwave ovens.
Dr. David Carpenter, Dean at the US School of Public Health, State University of New York believes it is likely that up to 30% of all childhood cancers come from exposure to EMFs. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns “There is reason for concern” and advises prudent avoidance.

EMFs can be measured with an instrument called a Gauss meter. In fact, here is what one reader has to say when he used a Gauss meter to test microwaves: “Measuring with a Gauss meter, every microwave I tested leaked, and was detectable up to six feet away.”
So just to be on the safe side, it is best to stand back from your microwave when its running.

Alternatives to microwave ovens
Unfortunately, there has not been an abundance of research done on the subject of microwaves. But if you are concerned about using your microwave:
*Get rid of it. That way you won’t be tempted to use it.
*Try eating a lot of your food, like vegetables, raw. Ideally, at least one-third of the food in your diet should be raw, since this is the form that will give you the maximum amount of nutrients.
*If you do want to cook some food or heat up leftovers, use your oven or stove.

Radiation from mobile phones, computers and microware ovens could be damaging your health.
House hold item such as these could be causing headaches, joint pains, depression and fatigue in some users who have developed a sensitivity to electricity.
Tens of thousands of people in the UK are thought to suffer from condition, called electro sensitivity, yet it is not formally recognised by medical profession.
Some sufferers even become affected by the radiation in electromagnetic fields surrounding everyday items such as hairdryers and televisions.
However, their complaints are often dismissed by GPs as being purely psychological. Patients also claim mobile phone masts have made them ill.
Rod Read, of the charity Electrosensitivity UK, said: “It’s very difficult for people to get a diagnosis because it’s not officially recognised as an illness.”
“Doctors have no training in it whatsoever. Some are more sympathetic than others but most try to look for interpretations such as work stress. They treat individual symptoms rather than the underlying cause.”
More women than men suffer from electro sensitivity, which is often triggered by intensive mobile phone or computer use.
Over time, sufferers who often have other allergies find they become increasingly affected by electrical equipment such as televisions, fridges and cookers. Symptons include headaches, tingling of the joints and ringing in the ears.
Many people also experience extreme tiredness, memory and concentration problems and depression. Sufferers claim they are being effected by the electro-magnetic fields emitted by electrical devices.
The campaign group Powerwatch believes up to 5% of the population is severely affected by electrosensitivity. And up to a third of people could be suffering some ill effects of our hi-tech society.
If electro sensitivity is diagnosed at an early stage, sufferers can make changes to their lifestyle which could stop them developing reactions to other electrical goods. For example if they realised their mobile phone was the root of the problem, they could stop using it.
Radiation from mobile phone masts can be screened out by lining walls with a layer of aluminium foil and hanging special silver-plated curtains over windows, while a thinner form of the same material can be slung over beds.
In Sweden, where electro sensitivity is recognised, sufferers receive grants to replace electric cookers with gas stoves. In the workplaces, electrical flexes are replaced with highly-insulated cables to reduce the emission of radiation.

Research into the low-power microwaves used in calls every day discovered they can damage body cells and permanently alter DNA, leaving a potential health timebomb for millions of mobile phone users. The EU-backed study also found the risk of harm increased when phones are used in areas with poor signal because the hand-set needs higher-powered radiation to maintain contact with the network. Campaigners said the study provided further evidence of the dangers of mobiles and warned of the potential health crisis that could mirror the BSE/CJD timebomb.

Traditionally, DECT cordless phones emit high levels of EMFs. The base unit transmits all the time, whether the phone is in use or not, and the handset transmits at full power when in use, regardless of how far the handset is from the base unit. For people who are electrosensitive, or those who wish to take a precautionary approach towards EMFs, clearly this is not a good thing! If you ARE electrosensitive, then a cordless phone of any variety is unlikely to be suitable.

WiFi systems such as wireless networked systems (wLANs) used in schools, offices and in many homes can emit significant amounts of radiofrequency (RF) radiation.

WiMAX systems are being rolled out in town and city centres, airports, railway stations, shopping malls, universities and colleges, etc. to allow people to have access to the Internet wherever they are.

The most obvious difference between the two systems is the range. While WiFi is in the hundreds of metres, WiMAX is theoretically designed for up to 30 miles! However, this is only a theoretical range, and it is expected for most base stations to have a range of between 4 and 10 miles. To achieve such ranges, the power levels have to be much higher.

Typical levels measured in a classroom are reproduced graphically here (left).Even when a WiFi enabled piece of equipment is not actively being used, while it is switched on it will be contacting the WiFi node regularly to retain a good connection. The control node transmits a pulsing signal continuously to synchronise the system and set the timing for communication with the equipment.

Sir William Stewart, who chaired the Stewart report 2000 (updated in 2005) expressed his concern in the Panorama programme screened in May 2007 about the potential adverse health effects that pulsing RF radiation might have, especially on the nation’s children.

The effects of exposure to RF radiation are being increasingly widely reported. These are summarised (with extensive references) in the articles “Radiofrequency EMFs and Health Risks” available free to Powerwatch subscribers, as is a more technical article on wLANs, and more information about the expansion of wireless networks in “Mobile Phone Masts and Wireless Computing”

To find out whether you are exposed to microwave (RF) radiation, you can hire our easy-to-use monitors, which come complete with instructions about use and interpretation of findings. The COM monitor was featured on the Panorama programme.