Wireless Technology:  Convenience or Environmental and Health Hazard?

In today’s society, it’s difficult to imagine a day where we don’t use our cellphones. Smartphones have become ingrained in our everyday life. For some, they even seem like an extension of our bodies. Smartphones offer a lot of positives, such as the ability to successfully navigate in a completely foreign location, search random information immediately, watch movies, connect with the whole world via social media, etc. The technological hunger for further advancement has caused us to bypass any possibility of long-term effects on not only humans but also our environment and the natural balance. As conscious readers, we have to allow our curious minds to ask how safe is wireless technology, and what can we do to protect ourselves from it?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided guidelines for safe levels of electromagnetic radiation in 1996. That seems like ages ago and considering the technological advances over the past few years, those guidelines do not apply to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) levels we are constantly being exposed to. In 2011, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), categorized EMFs as a Class 2B carcinogen, which equates to “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Such a classification seems frightening for something that is supposedly neutral to our health.

When we are considering the topic of EMFs, smartphones play just a small part. Electromagnetic smog is made up of all of the electronic gadgets that we have in our house: laptops, computers, tablets, wireless routers, smart appliances, smart meters, smart house alarms, Bluetooth devices, LED lighting, cellphone towers and the new roll-out of 5G that promises to give us super speed internet due to extremely high frequencies, but at what cost?

Various health experts, environmental and health activists, and even patients who have experienced electromagnetic symptoms are working tirelessly to gather data. There are various studies that were successfully published, albeit most such studies are being retracted and scientists who do the research are being let go from their academic institutions.

The studies that have been completed to date discuss such health side effects as oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects, apoptosis (cell death), cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload (Pall, 2018.) Dr. Martin Pall provides a review of multiple studies on the effects of Wi-Fi. Most of us carry our phones in our pockets, keep our laptops on our laps and are connected to Bluetooth in our cars. Some parents even let their babies play with phones and tablets without any consideration for their health. The studies Dr. Pall discusses also report decreased testosterone as well as lowered sperm production. The concerning incidence of couples who are struggling to have children may be linked to the damaging effects of EMFs. Another frightening finding is the increased incidence of neurological and neuropsychiatric issues. When we look around, we see that more people are struggling with various symptoms of anxiety and depression. It’s not only affecting adults, but children are having more tantrums, symptoms of ADD, and other disorders such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Chromosomal and DNA damage are next to consider as we see an increase in miscarriages, stillbirths, cancers and various other defects that appear as children develop which are further magnified by hormonal changes. Symptoms that are immediately noticeable may include: headaches, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping and waking up exhausted, fatigue, irritability, and cardiovascular problems such as increased blood pressure and chest pains.

The long-term health effects are exacerbated by long-term exposure. The studies reviewed by Dr. Pall report even safe levels of EMF exposure had health effects for not only the test subjects but also on the future generations. Future generations are really what we have to take into consideration. We always want what’s best for our children and would do everything for them. In 2010, the Presidential Cancer Panel found that “children are at a special risk due to their smaller body mass and rapid physical development, both of which magnify their vulnerability to known carcinogens, including radiation.” More studies are coming out and supporting the devastating reality of decreased fertility and increased DNA damage causing weaker generations to come. At the rate we are going, we could be facing the extinction of our species in the very near future. Not only are children exposed to EMFs from phones or tablets, but there are Wi-Fi routers at schools and on buses, consequently exposing them to radiation 24/7. Besides routers, there are also dangerous 5G towers being placed on school roofs and near sports fields. Some countries, including France or Russia, banned Wi-Fi in nurseries and schools because they are aware of the studies performed and are conscious of the devastating health effects that EMF exposure carries.

Considering all of this, what can we do to protect ourselves? Simple actions such as turning off your Wi-Fi router at night can decrease exposure and give you a good night’s sleep. If you live in a complex, talk to your neighbors and create awareness. Significantly decrease your children’s exposure to electronic devices, as we all grew up without smartphones and had a great time playing with the toys that we had. Perhaps you can talk to other parents and to your school district about the danger the children and teachers are in. You should also increase contact with nature, consider Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese medicine of being in the forest. When you sleep at night, keep your phone on airplane mode and keep it out of your bedroom. You can also consider hiring a building biologist for a consultation on EMFs and dirty electricity exposure. Their websites often provide some information on how to protect yourself from EMFs as well as EMF radiation meters that you can use at your convenience. Think twice about the smart meter installed at your house—there are some protective caps you can purchase to reduce the pulsing EMFs, but there is also an option to opt out at a monthly fee. Ensure that your diet is rich in trace minerals and antioxidants that will strengthen your body.

For further information, I recommend watching the documentary, Take Back Your Power, available for free on YouTube, which contains fantastic information that should not be taken for granted. Another reference is the documentary, Generation Zapped, available to rent or purchase on GenerationZapped.com. Ann Louise Gittleman’s book, Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution, provides a wealth of information and further tips on how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Also, take a look at BioInitiative 2012 at BioInitiative.org, which provides an incredible amount of information with over 1,800 studies referenced. Additional resources include the work of Lloyd Burrell, Nicolas Pineault and Barrie Trower. I definitely encourage you to do your own research on the matter. Don’t get discouraged, knowledge is power! You can take your power back as you become more educated on the matter. As you open yourself to the information, the answers will come to you. You will encounter people who will guide you, and you can give back by sharing the knowledge further. Pay the knowledge forward.

References:
BioInitiative 2012. BioInitiative 2012 Report. https://www.bioinitiative.org/table-of-contents/

M.L. Pall. “Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health.” Environmental Research, 164 (Jul, 2018), pp. 405-416, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355

Reuben, Suzanne H. “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk.” 2008-2009 Annual Report President’s Cancer Panel, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 2010, https://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualreports/pcp08-09rpt/pcp_report_08-09_508.pdf

Ania Wilewska is a Rasha practitioner. With an in-depth evaluation and consultation, she can create a holistic integrative approach to an issue with which you are currently dealing. Anna herself suffered for years from multiple autoimmune diseases and healed herself through a lifestyle change, herbs, supplements and Rasha. Currently, Ania is a Ph.D. candidate
at Quantum University where she is able to integrate her knowledge of herbal and ancient medicine, medical anthropology, with quantum medicine. For more information, visit www.therasha.com, email Ania to schedule a consultation at [email protected] or call 630-362-7209.