Alasdair Philips discusses the increasing number of radiofrequency (RF) sources, from mobile phones and domestic ‘SMART’ units to high EMFs in electric vehicles that are impacting our health, especially our children’s, as the Government plans to ramp up WiFi levels in schools
Human electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) or electrosensitivity (ES) symptoms in response to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at levels below current international safety standards are generally considered to be nocebo (expected adverse psychological) effects by conventional medicine.
In the wider field of magnetoreception in biology, our understanding of mechanisms and processes of magnetic field interactions is far more advanced. So, we definitely do need to be concerned and find ways of reducing our various exposures. This article provides a wide-ranging update of our EMF/RF exposures, how they may adversely affect life on Earth and some of the potential effects on human wellbeing. (For details of human magnetosensitivity, download the 2024 Henshaw and Philips paper).
In April a major German Government-funded report on the pulsing magnetic fields in electric vehicles (EVs) found very high levels that strongly suggest many sensitive people will have difficulty travelling in them (Fig 1). Typically, there has been little coverage of it in the mainstream media, mainly due to a very misleading press release: ‘Radiation protection study: analysed electric cars comply with recommended maximum values for health protection’. Among its many deliberately misleading statements: ‘The strongest magnetic fields occurred primarily in the foot area in front of the seats, while the magnetic fields in the head and torso area were generally low.’ But compare measurements in Fig 2.
Many cars are now also fitted with millimetre-wave, forward facing (‘anti-collision’) radar, which may also pose a potential problem for ES adults and children.
The Government and the Department for Education (DfE) now require schools to upgrade their WiFi to WiFi-6E or WiFi-7 and to have reliable coverage throughout the school buildings and most external spaces.
Our homes increasingly contain Internet of Things (IoT) appliances. It is now difficult to find a fridge, freezer, washing machine or dishwasher without a permanently active IoT transmitter/receiver that cannot be turned off. A recent report found that many induction hob cookers can exceed current human exposure guidance on EMF exposure. We are being increasingly, chronically irradiated by these fields.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies both low-frequency magnetic fields (in 2004, just confirmed by a new large study in Brazil) and RF/microwave fields (2011) as possible human carcinogens. Even with increasing evidence, IARC continues to delay reassessment. Meanwhile, both the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation protection (ICNIRP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and their EMF Project claim that no health problems occur at exposures below the ICNIRP limits.
ICNIRP openly admits that its maximum exposure guidance is not intended to protect against cancer or chronic health problems – only short-term, acute reactions. Yet these high levels are accepted by most countries around the world. Clearly, commercial interests and outdated scientific paradigms have taken priority in determining adequate safety limits for the public.
Very high EMFs in electric vehicles
Although people in conventional cars have been subject to low-level EMFs from car wiring and magnetised tyres, these have not generally caused problems. But the increased presence of electronic displays, Bluetooth and WiFi in modern vehicles is already causing problems for EHS/ES individuals. However, EVs increase exposures for all occupants, typically by at least 10- to 100-fold!!
Read the complete article in issue 115.