Would you like to look after your sperm?
What about your kids’ sperm?
In a paper published earlier this month, researchers from Iran showed that mobile phone radiation does damage sperm and explained why this is critical for fertility.
Not only is infertility increasing, with 8-12% of couples currently affected, but sperm damage can even affect the reproductive health of a man’s children!
From a review of relevant studies, the researchers showed that mobile phone radiation can damage male fertility in a number of ways. Firstly, they say, radiation that’s absorbed into the body can be transformed into heat, potentially damaging DNA, cells and epithelia of the seminiferous tubules that comprise the bulk of the testes.
Secondly, even without elevating temperatures, it can cause damage through mechanisms such as ‘oxidative stress, alterations in sperm membrane potential, signaling pathways, and changes in sperm proliferation and apoptosis,’ Koohestanidehaghi and colleagues say.
What sort of damage are we talking about?
‘Several studies have explored the impact of EMW [electromagnetic waves] (860 to 915 MHz) on testicular structure. The findings from these studies suggest a reduction in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the epithelium, as well as a decrease in the weight of the testicular organs,’ the authors said.
Additionally, some studies have found that mobile phone radiation can affect sperm function. ‘These studies have reported that exposure to waves is linked with a decrease in sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology. Most notably, they have found an increase in sperm chromatin damage and apoptosis [cell death].’
And that’s not all.
Research has also shown that mobile phone radiation can affect Leydig cells, which are the main source of testosterone and are extremely sensitive to this exposure. ‘EMW can influence the function of Leydig cells by reducing hormone secretion, which in turn leads to changes in cell proliferation during spermatogenesis.’
The authors explain how mobile phone radiation can damage DNA.
‘EMW can induce oxidative stress, which subsequently leads to disorders such as reduced mobility, morphological changes, acrosome disturbances, and ultimately, damage to the nucleus and genetic material. This oxidative damage to DNA can result in the breakdown of both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA structures, culminating in fragmentation. If the DNA is not repaired and the damage accumulates, the sperm may undergo apoptosis [cell death],’ they say.
What can be done?
The authors recommend ‘it is advisable to limit daily exposure to these sources to prevent irreversible damage caused by EMWs.’
Koohestanidehaghi, Yeganeh, Khalili, Mohammad Ali, Dehghanpour, Fatemeh, Seify, Mohammad, Detrimental impact of cell phone radiation on sperm DNA integrity, Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2024;51(1):13-19. Published online January 24, 2024, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2023.06121
What can you do?
Protect your sperm. Reduce your exposure to mobile phone radiation with our shielded mobile phone cases (larger size now available as well) and airtube headsets.
What else can you do?
Get your questions answered. Book a phone consultation with us now.
Download your free copy of our March issue of EMR and Health here.
forward this email to others to inform them, too.
Did you know that gut health is important for health and mood? When gut problems occur, they can trigger physical symptoms and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. And, because the gut communicates with the brain, they can even affect the way we think.*
Now scientists have found new evidence that gut health can be affected by wireless radiation.
In a study published recently, researchers from China investigated the effects of long-term exposure to a 4.9 GHz wireless signal, chosen because it’s one of the frequencies used in 5G.
The researchers exposed a group of adult mice to the wireless signal for one hour a day for three weeks and studied the animals’ faecal deposits to see whether exposure had affected their intestinal microbia, comparing them to unexposed mice.
They found it had.
‘Our results showed the gut microbial diversity decreased and the microbial composition structure altered after RF [radiofrequency ie wireless] exposure’, the authors said.
In their paper, the authors explain just why this is important. ‘The gut microbiota plays a vital role in human health. Many studies have shown that the gut microbiota influences not only gastrointestinal function but also central nervous system physiology and behavior by regulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis.’ Further, ‘[a]ccumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may influence neurodevelopment and social behavioral programming in different animal species.’
The authors also make interesting observations about wireless radiation and depression.
Previous research has shown that depression-like behaviour could be induced by exposure to a 4.9 GHz signal and, separately, that it is related to different bacteria and different microbial metabolites. So, could the radiation affect the gut microbia, thus causing the depression?
Possibly. ‘Further investigation is needed to reveal the mechanisms of the RF exposure on gut microorganisms and determine the biological significance of the observed phenomena,’ the authors wrote.
Wang, X., Zhou, G., Lin, J. et al. Effects of radiofrequency field from 5G communication on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in mice. Sci Rep 14, 3571 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598...
Protect your body with our shielding T-shirts for men and women.
These crew-necked garments protect the body by blocking up to 99.9% of wireless radiation and you can see the test reports of shielding effectiveness on our website.
See more here.
What can you do?
Keep your mobile phone away from your body!
Take a look at our shielded mobile phone cases and airtube headsets for reducing exposure to mobile phone radiation.
Take a look at the interview I did on the Charles Kovess Show here.
forward this email to others to inform them, too
Feeling low?
Maybe your social media use is part of the problem.
In a paper published in February, researchers found new evidence supporting the link between depression and social media addiction.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Mosul in Iraq, who surveyed 603 university students, asking questions about their social media use, academic performance, sleep, and depression. They found that, ‘there is a significant level of addiction to social media among the students with a high possibility of depression, both related to academic performance and sleep quality.’
The results showed that only a small number of the students (6.3%) used social media for less than an hour a day; the majority (54.1%) used it for 1 to 4 hours a day, while nearly 40% used it for more than 4 hours a day.
According to the authors, ‘this study showed that those participants who spent less than 1h on social media would have the lowest addiction and depression scores. In other words, the longer time the students spend on social media, the higher the possibility that their daily life would be affected.’
The study also showed that depression was higher in students who slept for less than six hours a day and in females, although the authors suggested that lifestyle factors may have played a role in the latter.
Nor surprisingly, social media use was also linked to academic performance. Approximately three quarters of the students (73.5%) said that they would expect to achieve better results if they actually stopped using social media.
It’s not just students who are at risk of social media addiction. According to the authors, ‘Everybody who have [stet] access to internet can suffer from social media addiction without respect to their age, sex or other socio-demographic characteristics.’
The results of the study are in line with previous research which has shown a link between mental health problems, particularly depression, and internet addiction.
Shanshal SA, Al-Qazaz HK, Saadallah DA, Mohammed SY, Saber QAY, Ali MM, Mahmmod WN. Social media addiction and depression and their predictors among university students. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2024 Feb 19. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2022-0111.
Are digital devices taking over your life? Would you like help breaking the social media habit?
Join me, Lyn McLean, for a 3-part digital detox program, starting this Tuesday 5th March.
In online group sessions, I’ll show you information, tips and strategies for helping to free yourself from the grips of digital addiction.
Check out the details here
What can you do?
Reduce your exposure to mobile phone radiation with our shielded mobile phone cases and airtube headsets.
Learn how to reduce your household’s exposure to electromagnetic radiation here.
forward this email to others to inform them, too.
How safe is your mobile phone?
With the amount of mobile phone use escalating dramatically worldwide, researchers from India were interested to learn more about the effects of 4G mobile phone signals on the body.
For their study, the team exposed male rats to 4G mobile phone radiation (2350 MHz) for two hours a day for 56 days and subsequently analysed the effects and compared them to unexposed rats.
They found that exposure had harmful effects on the reproductive system, including:
reduced sperm viability
changes to sperm count
higher levels of sperm abnormalities
reduced mitochondrial activity in sperm
reduced levels of testosterone
decreased antioxidant capacity of the testes
and physical changes to the testes.
‘The results indicate that 4G radiation increases oxidative stress, induces peroxidation of membrane lipids, and decreases total antioxidant capacity in the testis,’ the authors said.
These findings have clear implications for infertility, which is on the rise in many countries.
The researchers also tested for effects on the liver, kidneys and blood. They found significant effects on some blood and liver function parameters, but not significant changes in kidney function.
‘Thus, it may be concluded that 4G radiation (Carrier frequency 2350 MHz) can affect the reproductive, renal, and hepatic system of male Wistar rat,’ the authors concluded.
They recommended that further studies be conducted to expand understanding of the effects of 4G radiation.
Gautam R, Pardhiya S, Nirala JP, Sarsaiya P, Rajamani P. Effects of 4G mobile phone radiation exposure on reproductive, hepatic, renal, and hematological parameters of male Wistar rat. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Dec 16. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-31367-x. PMID: 38102429.
Check out our lovely shielding fabrics for blocking wireless radiation here
What can you do?
Keep your mobile phone away from your body!
Take a look at our shielded mobile phone cases and airtube headsets for reducing exposure to mobile phone radiation.
Learn how to reduce your household’s exposure to electromagnetic radiation here.
forward this email to others to inform them, too.
Are you pregnant or planning for pregnancy?
Then here’s a good reason to reduce your exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
In a study published late last year, researchers found that pregnant women who were exposed to high levels of EMFs had a higher-than-normal risk of miscarriage.
The authors reviewed previous studies that were conducted on miscarriage and exposure to mobile phones and magnetic fields of the sorts emitted by power lines and wiring.
‘The present meta-analysis study showed that the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women who were exposed to EMF was 1.69 times higher than the risk for women who were not exposed,’ they concluded.
They found that miscarriage risks were affected by:
the mother’s distance from the wireless source and the frequency of its signal
the length of the exposure
the strength of the exposure (double the risk was found at a magnetic field of 16 milliGauss)
daily time spent using a mobile phone and where the phone was positioned on the body
the period of pregnancy (risks were higher in early pregnancy).
EMFs could also damage the growth and health of the foetus, the study found.
The authors suggested a number of ways in which EMFs could cause miscarriages. ‘… EMF may affect chemical interactions in cell membranes; they may decrease the permeability of cell membranes, which results in decreased cell connections; they may increase the number of free radicals in the body; they can impair mitotic divisions; and EMF may damage cell proteins and cause cell severance. Another theory is that the depth of penetration by EMF into tissues increases when fluids are low.’
The authors say their findings could be used to help prevent miscarriages in the future. ‘It is hoped that the results of this study will increase awareness of healthcare providers, such as gynaecologists and midwives, about the adverse effects of electromagnetic waves on pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. In this way, pregnant women will be encouraged to protect themselves from exposure to electromagnetic waves. Pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy counseling on the proper way to limit exposure to electromagnetic waves from electrical appliances and devices, mobile phones and the internet may reduce the risk of spontaneous abortions,’ they wrote.
Irani M, Aradmehr M, Ghorbani M, Baghani R. Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Abortion in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Malays J Med Sci. 2023 Oct;30(5):70-80. doi: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.5.6. Epub 2023 Oct 30. PMID: 37928787; PMCID: PMC10624444.
Protect your foetus with our shielding t-shirts.
What can you do?
]]>Do you experience headaches, sleep problems, skin lesions or dizziness?
How about memory and concentration problems?
A new study helps explain why.
In a paper published late last year, Drs Dominique Belpomme and Philippe Irigaray describe a condition they call Combined Neurological Syndrome that comprises two types of environmental sensitivity – Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
The researchers examined information from 2018 people who had undergone medical tests and face-to-face interviews. Then they compared the neurological (brain and nervous system) symptoms of people with EHS, MCS and EHS plus MCS.
They found ‘no statistically significant difference between the EHS and MCS groups for the frequency of symptoms such as headache, neck stiffness (as confirmed by cervical X-rays in all the investigated patients), skin lesions, tremors/vibrations, myalgia, trismus/neuro-muscular contraction, arthralgia, hyperacusis, photophobia, functional ocular impairment, paralytic ictus (see above), balance disorder, loss of immediate memory, confusion, fatigue, suicidal ideation, anxiety/panic crisis, emotional behavior, irritability, nausea/abdominal pain, cardiovascular abnormalities and impaired thermoregulation.’
They did find that some symptoms occurred more frequently in people with EHS than those with MCS and people with EHS and MCS tended to have more symptoms than those with EHS only. In other words, chemical sensitivity appeared to make symptoms worse.
The study also found that more women suffered from EHS and MCS than men.
Why do these symptoms occur?
The authors consider it has to do with the plasticity (changeability) of synapses (nerve cell junctions) in the central nervous system. They suggested that a receptor called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) might be involved because it can affect synapse plasticity. They also suggested that the limbic system of the brain could be involved.
The study is important because it demonstrates that the conditions are real, not imagined, and are a related to exposure. The authors say, ‘We have shown also that both EHS and MCS can be characterized by identical biomarkers detected in the peripheral blood and urine of patients. Therefore, contrary to previous reports, we strongly suggest that EHS and MCS are objective somatic disorders which cannot be hypothesized to originate from non-EMF-related psychologic or psychiatric causes or from vague, undefined functional impairments.’
Belpomme, D.; Irigaray, P. Combined Neurological Syndrome in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Clinical Study of 2018 Cases. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 7421.
Find out how to reduce your family’s exposure and make your home safer with our Safe Home, Safe Family Coaching sessions.
What can you do?
]]>Why do some scientists tell us 5G is safe while others call for a moratorium on the 5G rollout?
Australian researchers have an answer.
In a paper published earlier this month, Australian researchers Stephen Weller and Dr Julie McCredden explain why not all science is equal - and, not surprisingly, it has to do with money.
Weller and McCredden examined the qualifications, funding and affiliations of researchers who had weighed in on the 5G debate. They found that there were broadly two separate camps.
Precautionary scientists
The first consists of the scientists who recognise the potential risks of exposure and recommend a precautionary approach. They include highly qualified, experienced and respected scientists such as Dr James Lin, Professor Igor Belyaev, Professor Fiorella Belpoggi, Professor Lennart Hardell and Dr Di Ciaula.
They are ‘predominantly medical experts, epidemiologists, biological scientists and biophysicists, or analysts whose papers conclude that there is evidence for risk of harm,’ Weller and McCredden say.
Many of these experts arrived at the view that there could be serious health problems from exposure over a period of time as a result, as a result of evidence they observed. And many of them ‘have organized into independent science-based advocacy groups in order that their evidence-based concerns may be heard.’
No-evidence-of-harm scientists
The other camp consists of scientists who claim there is no evidence of harm.
They are ‘mostly industry linked and affiliated with regulatory agencies worldwide. They do not advise precaution, do not change their opinions, and they downplay the results of scientists who claim that harm exists,’ say Weller and McCredden. Of note, they ‘have more expertise in physics or engineering than in biology or biophysics’.
Industry influence of science
Weller and McCredden explain the incestuous relationship between governments and the telecommunications industry. They say, that:
the telecommunications industry influences research through funding of universities and research programs
international advisory bodies, the WHO (EMF project) and ICNIRP (the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) are closely linked to industry
‘Government advisory agencies are unable to make independent statements about health and exposures, because they are expected to support government plans for comprehensive internet of things (IoT) and smart cities, which are dependent on wireless technologies’
governments obtain income from the sale of RF spectrum
the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) financially supports the WHO-EMF.
The Australian team provides examples of techniques used to maintain the no evidence of harm narrative in many scientific papers – bias, watering down results and ‘repeating the “no conclusive evidence” mantra’.
Unfortunately, they say, ‘Authors aligned with ICNIRP and/or the WHO EMF project have the ear of governments worldwide. It is this second industry-linked group that is controlling the official narrative.’
Relevant questions they pose for government authorities are:
‘Why are government regulatory bodies not heeding the world's independent authorities?
‘When will industry take responsibility for clear communication of risk?
‘Why is the public not being educated in how to avoid potential harm?
‘Why is the precautionary principle not being included within government policies regarding all wireless technologies, including 5G?’
‘Denigrating or silencing those scientists who are pointing out the problem is not going to help to solve it. Rather, the input of these scientists as well as the rational public is needed for the courageous problem solving that is urgently required so as to reduce RF-EMF-induced erosion of human and planetary health,’ Weller and McCredden conclude.
References
Weller S and McCredden JE (2024) Understanding the public voices and researchers speaking into the 5G narrative. Front. Public Health 11:1339513. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1339513;
Note: A fuller history of the links between industry, government and universities in Australia is given by Dr Don Maisch in Spin in the Antipodes (Chap 16 in Corporate Ties that Bind);
Safe Home, Safe Family Coaching Sessions
Get help reducing your exposure. Book an individual coaching session here
What can you do?
Don’t take risks – reduce your exposure to wireless radiation, including 5G now.
Don’t buy 5G phones.
Forward this email to others to inform them, too.
The world-wide trend to getting mobile phones out of schools is growing.
Last month, governments in Sweden and Russia announced that they would be introducing bans on mobile phones in schools and implementing them as soon as possible.
Sweden
Currently, the Education Act allows students to use mobile phones in class in some situations, but students have been exploiting this to bring phones to class unnecessarily.
Now Swedish politicians are calling for the Education Act to be tightened to ensure that primary schools are free of mobile phones – both in the classroom and during breaks. This means that students’ mobile phones will be collected in the morning and returned to them at the end of the school day.
Proposed changes to the Act would include allowing principals to provide exemptions to the ban where necessary.1
Russia
Russian politicians have voted to ban the use of mobile phones in classrooms to improve students’ learning.
The bill has yet to be approved by the Government’s Upper House and President Putin but are nevertheless expected to be implemented this month (January 2024).
The changes are supported by parents and teachers. 2
The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RCNIRP) has expressed concerns about children’s exposure to mobile phone radiation for many years. In 2008 it released a statement explaining why children are at particular risk of exposure and called on authorities to protect them.
‘According to the opinion of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, the following health hazards are likely to be faced by the children mobile phone users in the nearest future: disruption of memory, decline of attention, diminishing learning and cognitive abilities, increased irritability, sleep problems, increase in sensitivity to the stress, increased epileptic readiness’, the statement said. 3
Since 2004 it has recommended against the use of mobile phones by children under the age of 16.
Last year, a UNESCO report found that banning mobile phones from schools improves academic performance, especially for low-performing students. It also showed that approximately one in four countries had introduced bans or policies to restrict mobile phone use in schools. 4
References
SVT News, 9.12.23,
Moscow Times, 6.12.23,
‘Decision of Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection "CHILDREN AND MOBILE PHONES: THE HEALTH OF THE FOLLOWING GENERATIONS IS IN DANGER" ‘. Moscow, 14.4.2008,
UNESCO. 2023. Global Education Monitoring Report 2023: Technology in education – A tool on whose terms? Paris, UNESCO – see our blog on this here.
FM5 5G meter – Freedom Monitor (FM5) Complete 30
Measure the radiation from your/your children’s mobile phones with our FM5 Complete and/or FM5 Basic meters here
What can you do?
How would you like to make your home and family EMR-safer this year?
We’re back and ready to help you.
Let’s start by talking about what’s usually the highest source of wireless radiation in the home: the wireless modem. Many modern modems are extremely high-powered and emit radiofrequency radiation over a very large area.
I speak to lots of people who think their modems are radiation-free when they’re not, so today I’d like to share some of the common misconceptions I encounter and let you know what you can do about them.
Misconception 1: My modem is safe because I turn off the WiFi button on the modem.
This doesn’t usually turn off the radiation that the modem emits.
Misconception 2: My modem is safe because it’s connected to my equipment with wires.
Doing this doesn’t stop the radiation because modems will still broadcast a wireless signal when devices are connected by cables.
Misconception 3: My modem isn’t a problem because I turn it off at night.
That means your modem is only safe when no one’s using it!
Misconception 4: My modem is safe because the wireless function has been turned off in the settings.
This may stop the modem from emitting radiation temporarily, however, future updates to software/firmware and modem resets can turn on the wireless function again without you even knowing.
The good news is that you don’t need wireless equipment to have internet access or a landline phone.
We have radiation-free equipment for safe internet and landline phones. Why not set up a radiation-free network right now to get your year off to a good start?
Take a look at our radiation-free equipment for safe internet and landline phones.
To obtain a quote, please fill in the form on this link.
What can you do?
Measure the radiation from your modem and wireless devices with one of our wireless meters.
Set up radiation-free workstation for your kids to do their homework.
forward this email to others to inform them, too.
How would you like to be required to use a wireless device? How would you like all of your personal data to be stored online? How would you like other people to use this information to make decisions about what you can and can’t do in the future?
Then you might be interested to hear about the Digital ID Bill.
The Australian Government has introduced the ‘Digital ID Bill 2023’ 1 and is inviting Australians to make submissions by 19 January 2024. During their holiday period.
‘This might be the most terrifying piece of legislation Australia’s parliament has seen,’ said Senator Malcolm Roberts. ‘You just won’t be able to access government services without a Digital ID, be allowed in certain venues or participate in parts of society.’ 2
‘This is the first step in a Chinese-style social credit system,’ said Senator Alex Antic. ‘If you don’t toe the line, your ‘digital identity’ could be cancelled, meaning you’d be cut off from the world of online services that people now rely on.’ 3
The Digital ID Bill allows authorities to collect information such as passports, medicare details, citizenship details, visa details, driver’s licence details, immiCard details, marriage certificates, change of name certificates, tax file numbers, biometric data (physical identifiers) and so on. It also allows them to use technology that authenticate this information, which would most likely include facial recognition technology.
Among the concerns about the Digital ID Bill are the following.
Digital devices
The Bill would remove people’s choice about what kinds of technology they use.
It would require Australians to use digital devices for a wide range of functions and services, for example, to validate their identity. This would severely disadvantage people who do not or cannot use wireless devices, including those with electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Any increase in the use of digital devices will increase the amount of radiofrequency radiation to which the user and people nearby and, by extension, the community and environment is exposed.
Radiofrequency radiation has been shown to have harmful effects on the body and the environment & the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a Class 2B carcinogen.
Future generations of wireless technology will expose Australians to additional frequencies that have not been demonstrated to be safe.
Need not demonstrated
The Australian Government has not demonstrated that there is a need for a Digital ID system.
Security risk
myGov data
Australian Defence Force information (June 23)
NDIS (July 23)
Department of Home Affairs (July 23)
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (August 23)
Australian Federal Police (September 23).5
The Bill allows the government to give personal information to third parties.
Compulsory
Claims that the Digital ID Bill will be voluntary are not necessarily true because Section 74(4) of the Digital ID Bill specifies it will be made compulsory if a bureaucrat is “satisfied it is appropriate to do so”.
There is no provision for Australians to opt out of the legislation.
Penalties will be imposed for failing to comply with the legislation.
Disruptions
The Australia-wide Optus outage of 7 November this year impacted approximately 20 million customers, 400,000 businesses and government, health and transport systems. 6
New Zealand’s telecommunications networks broke down in March this year during Cyclone Gabrielle. 7
Freedom and rights
The collection of personal data, including biometric data, using facial recognition technology and similar, is intrusive.
The bill and technology to support it would lead to numerous aspects of citizens’ lives being captured and the information shared with third parties.
Digital ID systems have been shown to restrict human rights. ‘… digital ID systems can lead to a wide range of urgent human rights issues, including but not limited to: the violation of the right to nationality, limiting access to health care, food, and social security; a multitude of concerns about privacy and data protection, surveillance, and cybersecurity; and fundamental changes to models of democracy, participation, and citizen-state relationships. The human rights consequences can be severe and irreversible.’ 8
The Senate Standing Committees on Economics is accepting public submissions until 19 January 2024.
Submissions can be made:
online here
by email to economics.sen@aph.gov.au
or by post to Senate Standing Committees on Economics, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
You can see EMR Australia’s submission here.
References
Senator Malcolm Roberts, Digital ID Bill 2023: A Step Towards Dystopia? One Nation Raises Alarm
ABC News, ‘Cyber black market selling hacked ATO and MyGov logins shows Medibank and Optus only tip of iceberg’, - ABC News
ABC News, ‘What caused Optus’s nationwide outage, and how long was it down for? Here’s what we know’,- ABC News
Why NZ's communications networks broke down in Cyclone Gabrielle | RNZ News
Center for Human rights and Global Justice, NYU School of Law, ‘Paving a Digital Road to Hell?’
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your readership and support this year and to wish you a very happy Christmas season.
Our office will close at 5pm on Friday 22 December and reopen on Monday 22 January 2024 and I look forward to keeping you informed next year.
]]>Having trouble hearing?
Could electromagnetic fields (EMFs) be part of the problem?
In a study published in September, Italian scientist Valerio Magnaghi and team offered valuable insights on this possibility.
Hearing loss is one of the most common and growing disorders of the sensory system. According to the World Health Organization nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─ or 1 in 4 people ─ will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050.
Magnaghi’s paper points out that electromagnetic fields can affect health. The authors say, ‘a number of other environmental factors, including the exposure to electric or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by electronic devices (e.g., domestic appliances, notebooks or mobile phones), has been also suspected as potential risk factor for human health, likely including VS [Vestibular Schwannoma] onset and growth). In the last decades, scientific studies, empirical observations, and patient reports clearly indicate interactions between EMFs exposure and health problems although in the same time the general susceptibility to environmental factors, like EMFs, has been frequently neglected.’
Magnaghi’s team explained that electromagnetic fields could potentially cause hearing problems by via their effects on Schwann cells.
Schwann cells are a common type of glial cells in the peripheral nervous system and help protect nerve axons by coating them in a layer of myelin. It is thought that changes to Schwann cells in the auditory system could be a cause of hearing loss.
The authors also explained that electromagnetic fields have been shown to affect Schwann cell integrity and function. ‘SCs (Schwann Cells) exposed to the EMF showed modification in cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation,’ they wrote.
In fact, EMF exposure could lead to the development of vestibular schwannomas (also known as acoustic neuromas) which are slow-growing and benign tumours that develop on the vestibular nerve in the ear (known to affect hearing and balance).
The data, the authors suggest, ‘likely suggest a potential participation of the EMFs to the nerve tumorigenesis and schwannoma development.’ Further, they say that ‘chronic EMF exposure represents a kind of second hit, affecting the SC [Schwann cell)] development in vulnerable human subjects, specifically those bearing NF2 mutations or changes in merlin expression, and predisposed to develop VS [vestibular schwannomas] and subsequent HL [hearing loss].’
They suggest further research on the issue be conducted.
Mohammed T, Melfi V, Cociago A, Magnaghi V. Hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma: new insights into Schwann cells implication. Cell Death Dis, 2023 Sep 23; 14(9):629. doi: 10.1038 /s41419 - 023-06141 -z. PMID: 37741837; PMCID: PMC10517973.
World Health Organisation, ‘WHO 1 in 4 people projected to have hearing problems by 2050’ 2021,
Looking for an inexpensive Christmas gift for a child?
‘Wireless Wise Kids’, a book by Lyn McLean, shows kids how to use mobile and wireless technology more safely.
You can see details here.
What can you do?
Reduce radiation to your brain with our shielded mobile phone cases
Reduce your exposure to your brain with our shielded caps.
What else can you do?
]]>What happens when one-year-olds spend time on screen devices?
To answer this question, researchers from Japan took a look at over 7000 babies to see how they developed over the next three years.
They recruited pregnant women and followed them up with questionnaires when their children were aged one, two and four. Questions related to the amount of time children spent watching screens (TV, DVDs, video games, internet, mobile phones, tablets or other electronic devices) and to the following five domains of development:
communication (‘babbling, vocalizing, and understanding’)
gross motor skills (‘arm, body, and leg movement’)
fine motor skills (‘hand and finger movement’)
problem -solving skills (‘learning and playing with toys’) and
social skills (‘solitary social play and playing with toys and other children’).
The investigators found a link between screen time and developmental delays by age 2 in the areas of communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving and social skills. The more time the babies spent using screens, the greater the developmental delays they observed. For example, one-year-olds who spent four or more hours a day using screens had, by age 2:
more than four and a half times the risk of delays in communication than babies who spent less than one hour a day on screens at age 1;
more than one and a half times the risk of delays in fine motor skills than babies who spent less than one hour a day on screens at age 1;
more than two and a half times the risk of delays in problem-solving skills than babies who spent less than one hour a day on screens at age 1;
more than double the risk of delays in personal and social skills than babies who spent less than one hour a day on screens at age 1.
Some of these delays persisted over time. The authors said, ‘We also observed an association between screen time at age 1 year and developmental delay at age 4 years in the communication … and problem-solving … domains.’
The study also cast light on the characteristics of mothers of the high-screen-use babies. The authors wrote, ‘Mothers of children with high levels of screen time were characterized as being younger, having never given birth, and having a lower household income, lower maternal education level, and having postpartum depression.’
The authors noted that ‘...the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics have issued guidelines that recommend limiting screen time for children, including a limit of 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years. However, a recent meta-analysis reported that only a minority of children meet these guidelines.’
Takahashi I, Obara T, Ishikuro M, et al. Screen Time at Age 1 Year and Communication and Problem-Solving Developmental Delay at 2 and 4 Years. JAMA Pediatr. 2023;177(10):1039–1046. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3057
Protective Scarf
Give the gift of safety this Christmas:
our protective scarf blocks up to 99.9% of wireless radiation.
You can see details here.
What can you do?
Don’t give babies screen devices to play with.
Give children books to look at and toys that encourage manual dexterity.
Encourage children to spend time in nature.
What else can you do?
forward this email to others to inform them, too
see the latest news in our December newsletter EMR and Health here
book a phone consultation to find answers to your questions here.
December 2, 2023
]]>Earlier this year I had the pleasure of talking to R Blank and Stephanie Warner from The Healthier Tech Podcast.
I’m pleased to tell you that the Podcast of our conversation is now live, and you can listen to it on the link below.
In our conversation, we covered some interesting topics, including:
why we should reduce our exposure to EMR
how to reduce exposure
electromagnetic hypersensitivity and what people can do about it
how I became involved in this issue in the first place
our electromagnetic bodies
how people’s understanding of electromagnetic fields has changed over the last 3 decades
what I believe our technology future looks like and what we can do to bring it about.
I invite you to listen to our conversation here.
Safe Home, Safe Family coaching
Would you like to make your home radiation-free?
Would you like to create the optimum environment for your family to live, sleep and flourish?
Join me by Zoom to talk about what’s happening in your home and the opportunities you have to reduce your family’s exposure.
What else can you do?
]]>Can a man’s mobile phone use affect his fertility?
A new study from Switzerland suggests that it can.
The study involved 2886 men aged 18 to 22 years who provided the researchers with information about their health and mobile phone use.
The authors found, not surprisingly, that the longer men spent using their phones, the lower their sperm concentration and numbers. ‘The median sperm concentration and TSC [total sperm count] were significantly higher in the group of men who did not use their phones more than once per week … compared with men using their phones >20 times per day’, the authors wrote.
In fact, men who used their mobile phones 20 or more times a day had a 21% lower sperm concentration and a 22% lower total sperm count than the men who used their phones least.
The authors did not find an association between mobile phone use and sperm motility or morphology, however.
The results have obvious implications for infertility which is now affecting approximately in every six couples.
Another interesting finding related to the lifestyle of the frequent and infrequent mobile phone users. The study found that ‘In general, a higher proportion of men who self-reported as being in excellent or good health consumed less medication before participation and had a higher educational level was observed in the group of low mobile phone users, compared with high-frequency users ... In addition, a higher proportion of frequent users smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol.’
The researchers also found that the link between mobile phone use and lower sperm concentration reduced over time. They wrote, ‘This pattern is in line with the transition to new technologies, mainly from 2G to 3G and 4G, and the corresponding decrease in the phone’s output power. Furthermore, the increase in phone network coverage is expected to significantly decrease the RF-EMF output power of mobile phones in the future.’ Of course, that means that ambient exposures from mobile phone base stations will increase.
The authors believe that their study has advantages over previous research in this area. Firstly, they used a wider sample of volunteers; the questionnaire they answered included lifestyle factors; and subjects were asked to report their mobile phone use just prior to completing the questionnaire, which means that they were likely to recall this information accurately.
The authors suggested that their findings are representative of a narrow window of time. Further research is needed, they advised.
Rita Rahban, Alfred Senn, Serge Nef, and Martin Rӧӧsli, ‘Association between self-reported mobile phone use and the semen quality of young men’, Andrology, article in press.
Shielding T-shirts
Protect your body with our shielding T-shirts which block radiation from mobile phones, phone towers, wifi networks, smart equipment and 5G technologies here.
What can you do?
Reduce mobile phone radiation with our shielded mobile phone cases and airtube headsets
Reduce your exposure to your brain with our shielded caps.
What else can you do?
]]>In today’s world, children are vulnerable to various risks that accompany the use of digital technology. Now experts are saying it’s time to do something about it.
On 1 November, doctors, lawyers and scientists released a new International Declaration calling on the United Nations to protect children’s rights in the modern world.
The ‘International Declaration on the Human Rights of Children in the Digital Age,’ sets out three fundamental legal rights of children: the right to be free from addictive platforms and apps; the right to be free from hazardous radiation from wireless devices; and the right to be free from commercial exploitation of private information.
Screen time addiction
The Declaration points out that social media is designed to encourage addiction, which is known to have harmful effects on children and families. Yet warnings by professional bodies to restrict screen time are being ignored.
Screen time addiction
It says that scientific research shows that wireless radiation has harmful effects on the body, including ‘… headaches, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, lack of concentration, and brain fog, as well as chronic effects including DNA damage and cancer; these physical effects are negatively synergistic with screen time addiction.’
Children’s exposure is increasing from growing number of wireless devices and wireless infrastructure, yet government radiation standards are not protective.
Commercial exploitation
‘Confidential and private personal information concerning children is being monetized by data harvesters’, the Declaration states and child labour, ‘under dehumanizing conditions’, is being used to mine minerals for digital products.
‘The legal duty to protect children and enforce these rights on their behalf is the obligation of all adults, particularly parents, legal guardians and others in positions of authority. This protection of children is a basic legal principle that we believe will increasingly be recognized as a part of international customary law that can be recognized and implemented by every country on Earth,’ the Declaration says.
The Declaration calls on governments to implement appropriate standards, schools to create safer learning environments and doctors to educate themselves about these important issues.
The Declaration will be delivered, in person, to the United Nations on World Children’s Day, November 20, 2023.
You can see the full text of the Declaration here.
You can sign the Declaration here.
You can see the media release about the Declaration here.
Learn how to make your home a safe haven for your children with our online course ‘Your Electromagnetic-safe home’.
What can you do?
Forward the declaration to others who have an interest in children’s wellbeing, too.
Limit your child’s use of digital devices where possible.
What else can you do?
forward this email to others to inform them, too
see the latest news in our November newsletter EMR and Health here
book a phone consultation to find answers to your questions here.
November 11, 2023
]]>A fascinating new study suggests ways that microwave radiation can be used to cause or potentially cure cancer. And it has to do with the fact that water constitutes about 60 percent of our bodies.
In their study, scientists from Russia and Armenia exposed samples of water to different frequencies of radiofrequency (wireless) radiation for 30 minutes and what they observed will astound you.
They found that water exposed to a frequency of 1000 MHz resolved into the molecular shape of a hexagon. Interestingly, this is also the molecular shape of water found in healthy tissues.
They also found that water exposed to a frequency of 990 MHz (similar to that used by many mobile phones) developed the molecular shape of a cube. The cube is also the molecular shape of water within cancer cells.
This finding begs the question; could the frequencies of water contained within cells determine their health or pathology?
The authors suggest that it could. They propose a hypothesis ‘about the possible transformation of normal cells into cancer cells as a result of modification in them of the normal hexagonal molecular structure of water to abnormal cubic structure.’
And that’s not all.
The authors found that exposing an unhealthy sample of water – one with a cubic molecular structure – to a 1000 MHz frequency changed the molecular structure of the water to a healthy (hexagonal) molecular structure. And vice versa.
‘Preliminary experimental studies show that acting on the water of the cubic structure with a flow of therapeutic microwaves with a frequency of 1000 MHz or 985 MHz, it is possible to change its structure to a normal hexagonal one, which corresponds to a healthy tissue. Conversely, the "pathogenic" frequency of 990 MHz really transforms the normal hexagonal molecular structure of water into an abnormal cubic modification,’ they wrote.
These findings suggest a therapeutic effect of exposure to therapeutic frequencies. ‘Therapeutic microwaves have a direct effect on the source of dysfunction or pathology and activate the body’s own resources, stimulating the restoration of the normal functional state of the affected organs and body systems.’
The authors suggested that their findings could have implications for the treatment of cancer. ‘These preliminary results open up a very interesting line of research, which is associated with the possible application of low-power microwave radiation against tumor cells.’
Vitali Kalantaryan, Radik Martirosyan, Yuri Babayan, Voldemar Petrosyan, ‘Violation of molecular structure of intracellular water as a possible cause of carcinogenesis and its suppression by microwave radiation(hypothesis)’, Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, Volume 21, 2023, Pages 3437-3442, ISSN 2001-0370, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj....
Shielding fabrics
Block radiofrequency (wireless) radiation with our beautiful shielding fabrics made from ecological cotton, copper and silver.
The Naturell fabric is perfect for bed canopies, while the Ultima fabric can be used for curtains, clothing and bedding,
What can you do?
Avoid using wireless devices in your home unnecessarily.
Reduce your exposure to mobile phones radiation with an airtube headset or shielded mobile phone case.
What else can you do?
]]>We know that technology is transforming education. But is it improving it?
Not necessarily, according to a new Global Education Monitoring Report from UNESCO.
The report, entitled ‘Technology in Education: A tool on whose terms?’, examines the many disadvantages of technology use in schools and offers suggests for improving the situation. Here are some excerpts.
Harmful effects on learning
‘Mere proximity to a mobile device was found to distract students and to have a negative impact on learning in 14 countries…’
‘Technology use beyond a moderate threshold was associated with diminishing academic gains in an analysis of 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment data.’
‘A meta-analysis of research in 2008–17 across 14 countries found a negative effect of mobile phones on academic performance.’
‘COVID-19 online learning adversely affected younger learners.’
‘Removing smartphones from schools in Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom was found to improve learning outcomes…’
‘More than one in three teachers from seven countries that participated in the 2018 ICILS – and one in two teachers in Denmark – agreed that the use of ICT in classrooms distracts students from learning’.
‘A forthcoming UNESCO publication, An Ed-Tech Tragedy? Educational Technologies and School Closures in the Time of COVID-19, examines education during the pandemic from early 2020 through the end of 2022. It documents how technology-based solutions left a global majority of learners behind and how education was diminished even when technology was available and worked as intended’.
‘The use of smartphones in classrooms leads to students engaging in non-school-related activities, which affects recall and comprehension. A study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after engaging in a non-academic activity. Negative effects are also reported in students from the use of personal computers for non-academic activities during class, such as internet browsing, and in their peers who are in view of the screen.’
Concerns about children’s privacy and rights
Children’s data are being exposed, yet only 16% of countries explicitly guarantee data privacy in education by law. One analysis found that 89% of 163 education technology products recommended during the pandemic could survey children. Further, 39 of 42 governments providing online education during the pandemic fostered uses that risked or infringed on children’s rights.’
Regarding the use of AI: ‘There are risks associated with human rights (e.g. use of surveillance techniques), democracy (e.g. algorithms reproducing prejudices) and legislation (e.g. the possibility of making the use of AI compulsory in education)’
Environmental impacts of digital technology
‘Devices lead to a surplus of e-waste. Extending the lifespan of all smartphones in the European Union by a year would be equivalent to taking over 1,000,000 cars off the road in terms of carbon emissions.’
Regulation
‘Technology is evolving too fast to permit evaluation that could inform decisions on legislation, policy and regulation.’
Other issues
‘We saw children as young as nine years old requesting smartphones, and it was evident that these children were not emotionally ready to navigate the complexities of these devices and the digital world.’
‘Every country has invested in the use of digital technology in education to some extent. Business rather than education arguments are more commonly deployed to justify countries’ investments. Often investments are based on a belief that technology is a good in itself.’
What should be done
‘Governments should ‘Adopt and implement legislation, standards and agreed good practices to protect learners’ and teachers’ human rights, well-being and online safety, taking into account screen and connection time, privacy, and data protection; to ensure that data generated in the course of digital learning and beyond are analysed only as a public good; to prevent student and teacher surveillance; to guard against commercial advertising in educational settings; and to regulate the ethical use of artificial intelligence in education.’
Bans in schools
The report said that studies from Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom show that banning mobile phones from schools improves academic performance, especially for low-performing students. Analysis for this report shows that, globally, almost one in four countries has introduced such bans in laws or policies.
UNESCO. 2023. Global Education Monitoring Report 2023: Technology in education – A tool on whose terms? Paris, UNESCO
Meters - Radiofrequency Radiation
Measure the radiation from the technology in your school/your child’s school with one of our wireless meters here.
What can you do?
Encourage your child to spend time in nature to help counteract the effects of technology-related stress.
Encourage your child to read books!
Forward this email to others to inform them, too.
See the latest news in our November newsletter EMR and Health here.
Book a phone consultation to find answers to your questions here.
We’ve all heard about the link between mobile phone radiation and brain tumours. But can mobile phone radiation cause tumours in other parts of the body?
An interesting case study from Italy suggests that it may.
The 40-year-old man sought medical help after he developed a painful lump in a thigh muscle that grew in size over a six-month period. Doctors identified a ‘spindle-shaped mass’ inside the tensor fasciae latae muscle that was subsequently diagnosed as an intramuscular schwannoma.
The authors explain that ‘[i]ntramuscular schwannomas are benign neurogenic tumors that originate from Schwann cells, which are responsible for the formation of peripheral nervous system myelin.’ They are relatively rare.
On questioning the patient, the doctors learnt that the man had kept his smart mobile phone in the left pocket of his trousers for approximately eight hours a day. This location ‘intriguingly aligns with the intramuscular mass's location and the phone's SIM card position,’ the authors said.
Further, the man kept the WiFi function of his phone turned off while it was stored in his pocket. This means that the SIM card processed all transmissions – data, emails, messages, social media and calls.
The authors of the study were circumspect about their observations. ‘While we cannot conclusively link the patient's intramuscular schwannoma to his practice of storing his smartphone in that specific location, we hypothesize that this habitual placement could potentially have served as a risk or contributing factor.’
They pointed out that the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radiofrequency radiation, emitted by mobile phones, as a Class 2B (possible) carcinogen and referred to studies showing that mobile phone radiation has been linked with reduced sperm quality.
They say that ‘it is of utmost importance to investigate smartphone carrying habits and explore potential associations with neoplasms or other health issues related to RFR’.
Where do you keep your smart phone?
Piercarlo Minoretti, Abdelilah Lahmar, Enzo Emanuele, ‘Where is your smartphone? An unusual mass within the tensor fasciae latae muscle,’ Radiology Case Reports, Volume 18, Issue 11, 2023, Pages 3984-3987, ISSN 1930-0433, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radc....
You can read what Microwave News says about this study here.
Special offer on PF5
This week only EMR Australia is offering a $50 discount on the PF5 meter which measures the magnetic and electric fields (from electrical sources) that have been linked with health problems.
Don’t miss out on this not-to-be-repeated opportunity.
You can purchase the PF5 at the discounted price by entering the discount code 0ZSFFDKEXTD9 at the checkout.
Please share this news with others you think might benefit.
What else can you do?
]]>Scientists have discovered something new and fascinating about human biology. And it has to do with biology’s own electromagnetic fields.
We know that the body generates electrical energy – brain waves that can be measured with an EEG, fields from the heart that can be measured with an ECG, and electrical charges pass through cell membranes.
But a new study from Duke University has revealed that electrical fields also occur inside parts of some cells that remain relatively unstudied, in areas known as biological condensates, which play important roles in the body.
‘Biomolecular condensates regulate diverse cellular processes, including stress response, signalling, and transcription,’ says Dr Yifan Dai, one of the study’s authors.
He says, ‘Various types of biomolecular condensates can stably co-exist in a cell’. They exist side-by-side, separated not by membranes, but by a thin stratum that separates the condensates and the cytoplasm based on differences in their densities. Think of the structure of a mixture of oil and water. The meeting point between them is the ‘interface’ This is where the action takes place.
That’s because there is a difference in the electrical potential between the denser interior of the condensate and the less dense cytoplasm in the cell. And this creates an electric field.
Dai’s discovery shows that electrical fields exist within the cell, and not just at the cell membrane as previously thought.
Moreover, Dai has found that these biological condensates don’t just regulate cellular functions through defined sets of biomolecules, but also play an important role in driving redox reactions, a source of chemical energy.
When electric charges jump between one material and another, they can break molecules into fragments that can pair up and form hydroxyl radicals. These can then pair again to form hydrogen peroxide in tiny but detectable amounts.
These chemicals take place in what’s known as redox reactions that play a role in the generation of energy in the body.
‘Our study shows that such an interface can organize the formation of an electric double layer that generates an electric field, which can modulate redox reactions. These redox reactions can in turn affect intracellular redox balance and cell physiology,’ Dai says.
Dai’s study provides new insights on the body’s intrinsic electric fields and their role in producing energy in the body.
‘Magic can happen when substances get tiny and the ratio between the interfacial volume to its total volume becomes enormous,’ Dai said. ‘I think the implications are important to many different fields.’
Yifan Dai et al, Interface of biomolecular condensates modulates redox reactions, Chem (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.04.001
EMR Australia would like to thank Duke University and Dr Dai for their assistance with this article.
What can you do?
Check out the fields in your home, work or school with our meters for magnetic and radiofrequency fields.
Learn how to reduce the fields in your home with our online course, Your electromagnetic-safe Home.
What else can you do?
]]>Did you know that your brain is the organ of your body that is most sensitive to radiofrequency (wireless) radiation? And chances are it’s being bombarded by exposure every single day.
How does this exposure affect the brain and should we be concerned?
To answer these and other questions, a team of researchers from Korea reviewed the relevant research and made some interesting observations.
‘Humans are swimming … in a vast ocean of different radiations in this environment, resulting in frequent exposure,’ the authors wrote. This radiation is known to affect biological systems from microbes to animals and humans and how it affects them depends on the characteristics of the signal, such as frequency, power and length of exposure.
In some cases, the effects can be therapeutic, the authors pointed out. For example, some very high frequency millimetre waves (such as 101 GHz) have been used to successfully treat various diseases, including cancer.
However, in many cases, the effects can be harmful.
For example, wireless radiation has been found to have harmful effects on the male reproductive system, including:
However, it’s the central nervous system (CNS) that’s most affected by exposure, especially the hippocampus. ‘Specifically, microwaves can damage the brain (one of the two key components of the human CNS), particularly affecting the neurotransmitters which play an important role in passing signals inside the body,’ the authors wrote. ‘Accordingly, microwave-induced injury to neurotransmitters can cause a delay in the signaling process, which has critical implications for body function.’
Among the harmful effects on the CNS that the authors identified were:
While pointing out that not all radiofrequency signals are harmful, the authors nevertheless recommend that protective techniques be developed to overcome ‘the potentially harmful effects of ever-increasing doses of radiation’.
‘[M]icrowave radiation can modulate responses in the CNS, where higher doses can produce ROS, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Treatment with natural products is, thus, necessary to reduce these harmful effects, they say.
One of these is the use of flavonoids, beneficial compounds that are found in fruits and vegetables. ‘Flavonoids represent one such group of plant-derived compounds displaying important radioprotective and neuroprotective properties while reducing DNA damage and inflammation within the CNS; thus, flavonoid treatment may be an important and promising therapeutic alternative for avoiding radiotherapy-induced pathophysiological alterations in the brain, as well as cognitive impairment.'
It's food for thought.
Mumtaz, S.; Rana, J.N.; Choi, E.H.; Han, I. Microwave Radiation and the Brain: Mechanisms, Current Status, and Future Prospects. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 9288. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23...
Shielding caps
Protect your brain from wireless radiation with our shielded caps, which have been shown to block up to 99.99% of wireless signals.
You can see more here.
What can you do?
What else can you do?
]]>We know that radiofrequency (RF/wireless) radiation is associated with damaging effects on the body. But just how could it bring them about?
The authors of a recent study have suggested an answer and it has to do with metals, spin and chemical reactions.
They describe it like this.
‘This involves a complex chain of events, starting with the physics of electromagnetic fields modifying the orientation of nuclear or electronic spins. These modifications can then influence chemical reaction rates, which in turn affect the concentrations of important signaling molecules. These molecular changes can further impact the structure of proteins and DNA, ultimately leading to health effects.’
The authors wanted to explore how wireless signals changed the chemical parameters typical of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there are more reactive oxygen species (types of free radicals) than the body’s antioxidant defence system can handle. ‘Excessive ROS generation can lead to cellular damage, including lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage, ultimately impacting the cellular function and contributing to the development of numerous diseases,’ the authors said.
To do this, they exposed two strains of human cells to a range of wireless radiation frequencies and observed the effects. The cell lines they investigated were:
fibroblast cells – found in connective tissues such and are involved in healing and
fibrosarcoma cells – cancerous tumours of connective cells.
The researchers found that exposure caused changes in mitochondria, which they describe as ‘the powerhouses of the cell’, which are involved in metabolism and producing energy. Exposure caused a significant increase in the mitochondrial mass of fibrosarcoma cells but a less pronounced increase in fibroblast cells. They also found changes in cell growth, which is a sign of cell health and functionality. Effects differed at different frequencies.
‘These findings underscore the impact of RF fields on oxidative stress, mitochondrial mass, and cell growth rates in both fibrosarcoma and fibroblast cells,’ the authors said.
These findings help to paint a picture of just how wireless radiation could be affecting the human body.
‘This research advances the argument that metalloproteins within the electron transport chain of mitochondria play a crucial role in interacting with externally applied static and RF magnetic fields. These electron transport proteins contain transition metal ions, such as iron. Iron and other ferromagnetic materials have the ability to generate and maintain a magnetic field. Due to the presence of unpaired electrons, these metal ions possess a magnetic moment. Unpaired electrons maintain a magnetic moment approximately 600-fold greater than the magnetic moment of a proton. The higher the number of unpaired electrons in an atom, the greater the potential for these electrons to align their spins with externally applied magnetic fields. In particular, the presence of unpaired electrons within iron sulphur clusters, with their hyperfine resonances ranging from 1 MHz to 10 MHz, makes them viable candidates for interacting with externally applied RF fields.’
The study has important implications for a society in the grip of wireless-device addiction.
‘By unraveling the intricate mechanisms underlying these effects, we can enhance our understanding of the potential risks associated with RF fields and explore strategies to mitigate their adverse consequences on cellular health,’ the authors concluded.
Gurhan, H.; Bajtoš, M.; Barnes, F.Weak Radiofrequency Field Effects on Chemical Parameters That Characterize Oxidative Stress in Human Fibrosarcoma and Fibroblast Cells. Biomolecules 2023, 13, 1112. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13071112
Your Electromagnetic-safe Home Online Course
Learn how to reduce your exposure to wireless radiation in our online course: Your Electromagnetic Safe Home
What can you do?
What else can you do?
]]>
Doctors recommend radiation-free tech
The Santa Clara County Medical Association (SSCMA) in the US has called for precautions to protect students and staff from the harmful effects of wireless technology in schools.
‘[T]he SCCMA supports reducing exposures to radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices and encourages establishing safer school technology policies with regard to digital devices and infrastructure in order to promote the physical health, mental health and well-being of students and staff. Healthier children translate into healthier communities and a healthier society,’ the Association says in its ‘Recommendations for Best Practices for Safe Technology in Schools’.
The document points out a range of problems associated with the use of wireless technologies. These include:
Effects on health
‘Scientific literature indicates that the mechanisms of harm include oxidative injury to critical molecules such as DNA/lipids/proteins (Gerner, XIie), membrane disruption, blood brain barrier disruption, and mitochondrial injury with much of the resultant cellular injury occurring at non-thermal levels which are well below current standards’.
Effects on eyes
‘There are also emerging scientific concerns with regards to eye damage and circadian rhythm disruption from blue light emitted from digital devices’.
Social media effects
‘[T]he excessive use of digital technology and social media in children can have adverse mental health effects including internet addiction, cyberbullying, deficient social skills, depression and lack of exercise.’
Effects on privacy
Many aps require the sharing of children’s personal information with third parties.
The Association recommends a number of ways to improve health, safety and the learning environment for students, including:
educating students and staff about the risks of wireless devices and how to reduce them
educating the school nurse about potential health effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR)
developing mobile phone-free school policies
having tech free breaks during classes
reducing blue light from devices
using hard-wired rather than wireless connections
reducing RF radiation in schools
establishing phone-free zones in schools
‘using books instead of computers or tablets whenever possible for improved learning and less distraction’
keeping wireless devices away from the body
not installing smart meters on school properties
not allowing mobile phone towers on school property.
‘We have become especially concerned with the dramatic increase in the use of this technology in schools resulting in exponentially higher levels of non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by these wireless devices. This results in increased long-term exposures in children who spend much of their formative years in school environments,’ the SSCMA wrote.
The SCCMA’s Recommendations, along with the evidence it used in developing them, can be seen on the link below.
‘Recommendations for Best Practices for Safe Technology in Schools’, Santa Clara County Medical Association Environmental Health Committee Feb 14, 2023.
Mobile Phone Protection
Reduce your exposure to mobile phone radiation with our shielded mobile phone cases and airtube headsets.
What can you do?
What else can you do?
]]>The European Union has an obligation to protect the population. But it’s not fulfilling it when it comes to electromagnetic radiation, say scientists. In a review published recently, the authors ask why the EU is ignoring scientists, medical practitioners and thousands of peer-reviewed studies in favour of science that has been shown to be outdated and flawed.
Since 2017 seven appeals, endorsed by scientists and medical doctors, have been sent to the EU urging them to protect humans and the environment from exposure to wireless radiation. Yet no adequate response has been forthcoming.
‘Since 2017, the world has not seen any evidence of the EU prioritizing human health protection over economics,’ the authors say.
Instead, the EU continues to rely on radiation guidelines produced by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which are widely recognised as being flawed. Among the problems with the ICNIRP Guidelines, the authors note that:
they only address the heating (thermal) effects of exposure but studies show many harmful effects on the body not caused by heating
they are based on flawed assumptions
courts have recognised that exposure caused harm at levels that comply with ICNIRP’s Guidelines
they don’t address the complex combinations of signals present in real-world exposures
they only consider exposures averaged out over 6 or 30 minutes in a mould of a plastic (adult male) head.
‘ICNIRP exposure guidelines are a million times too high to protect children and our most vulnerable. By following the ICNIRP guidelines, the EU has effectively prioritized economics [over health],’ the authors wrote.
Further, the authors point to the limitations of the committee that developed them.
‘ICNIRP is a self-selected, industry supportive body comprised of only 14 persons with limited biophysics or medical training, and no industry-independent views. Its members elect like-minded colleagues ensuring the perpetuation of the wireless industry’s need for maximum exposure.’
Not only does the use of wireless technologies affect human and animal health, but the authors point out that it uses huge amounts of electricity, which impacts on the environment. ‘…one Google search uses as much electricity as a lightbulb left on for 35 min,’ they explain.
Moreover, there are better alternatives to wireless technology, such as Passive Optical Networks (which are faster and use less energy) and wired technologies.
‘As a result of the increased consumption of energy, the harm to people and the environment, and the potential misuse of data, we consider current EU policy to grossly infringe EU primary law and citizens’ and children’s fundamental rights,’ the authors said. ‘The EU’s current course of action is in direct conflict with the foundations on which the EU was built. By maintaining its course to support the industry-led rollout of 5G, 6G and smart meters, the EU is violating the EU Convention on Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the EU Treaty, and EU Case law, which all agree that: The protection of health and the environment takes precedence over economic considerations.’
Australia’s Dr Julie McCredden, one of the authors of the paper, is concerned that many governments, including Australia’s, are ‘following the EU example, prioritising economic interests over human and planetary health. This means that everyday citizens are not being warned about the potential harm to themselves and their children.’
This has important implications for the users of wireless technologies. Dr McCredden says, ‘people need to educate themselves on how to use healthy practices with their devices and how to take protective measures for their children.
‘People must not allow themselves to be fooled by the popular spin messages that wireless technology is making us smarter, richer, healthier or greener. It is not so. More technology and higher speeds will not save us from environmental degradation or from compromised bodies and minds caused by wireless radiation and other environmental toxins.’
Nyberg, Rainer, McCredden, Julie and Hardell, Lennart. "The European Union assessments of radiofrequency radiation health risks – another hard nut to crack (Review)" Reviews on Environmental Health, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-...
Shielding Bed Canopies
Protect yourself from wireless radiation as your sleep with our made-to-order shielding bed canopies. See more details here.
What can you do?
Measure your exposure to wireless radiation with our FM5 Complete RF meter.
Reduce your exposure to your mobile phone radiation with our airtube headset and/or shielded mobile phone case.
What else can you do?
]]>Would you like to hear what the world’s top experts have to say about wireless radiation?
On 14 June, the International Commission on BioEffects of Electromagnetic fields (ICBE-EMF) held a workshop at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.
It featured a line-up of top experts from around the world speaking on the topic: RADIOFREQUENCY RADIATION FROM WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SOURCES: ARE THE SAFETY LIMITS SAFE?
The workshop featured presentations by:
Professor James Lin
Professor John Frank
Dr Erica Mallery-Blythe
Dr Kent Chamberlin
and David Gee
The event can now be seen free online here.
The new results apply to meters in stock and those that have already been purchased. You can see more here.
Kids at risk?
Last year scientists published a study claiming that young people’s mobile phone use did not increase their risks of brain tumours but new evidence shows that that’s not necessarily true.
In a paper published in September, Drs Lennart Hardell and Joel M Moskowitz analysed the MOBI-Kids study that was published in 2022 and concluded that the results it reported can’t be relied upon.
The MOBI-kids study reported no increased risk of brain tumours overall and published data suggesting that mobile phone use actually gave a slightly protective effect against brain tumours.
However, Hardell and Moskowitz say that ‘The MOBI-Kids results are not biologically plausible and indicate that the study was flawed.’
Among their criticisms of the paper were that:
the authors failed to consider brain tumours in some (middle brain) locations
the authors included some mobile phone users in the unexposed group
there were opportunities for bias
four authors had conflicts of interest that were not declared.
‘In our opinion, the results as reported in the MOBI-Kids paper seem uninterpretable and should be dismissed,’ the authors wrote.
They recommended that the data for this study should be made publicly available so that it can be properly analysed in the future.
Hardell, Lennart and Moskowitz, Joel M. "A critical analysis of the MOBI-Kids study of wireless phone use in childhood and adolescence and brain tumor risk" Reviews on Environmental Health, vol. 38, no. 3, 2023, pp. 409-421. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2022-0040
What can you do?
Reduce your body’s exposure with our shielding t-shirts and caps.
Learn how to reduce your family’s exposure to wireless radiation with our online course here.
What else can you do?
]]>It’s known that wireless radiation has harmful effects on plants exposed in laboratories for short periods of time, but what happens when they’re exposed in the natural environment for much longer?
To answer that question, researchers from Europe exposed ten species - herbaceous grasses, forbs and legumes – over a four-month period, from seed germination to maturation. The frequencies they chose for this were 866 – 868 MHz because they were close to the frequencies used by both GMS (900 MHz) and LTD (800 MHz) technologies.
The plants were exposed to radiation levels that were ‘a few hundred times lower’ than radiation levels allowed in many countries around the world. ‘This scenario resembled conditions in places of peak radiation around cellular base stations (on or near the axis of the main radiation beam from a cellular antenna),’ the authors wrote.
The authors observed, ‘RF-EMF [radiofrequency electromagnetic fields] effects in plants exposed to natural environmental stresses (not growing in optimum laboratory conditions) and these effects were permanent and irreversible. Furthermore, for some plant species the response to RF-EMF was clear, whereas for the others it was weak and difficult to detect, or showed no response at all.’
One species was more affected than the others - Trifolium arvense, often known as hare's-foot clover, which is a flowering plant in the bean family. In the first month, exposed plants grew higher, had larger leaves and changed leaf orientation.
However, after that they began to deteriorate more quickly than normal. ‘This was manifested through the reduction of green leaf area, the concomitant increase of discolored leaf area, and smaller total leaf area developed over the growing season.’ Some of them also died prematurely.
These results show that different species of plants appear to have different sensitivity to wireless radiation and that observing exposed plants for short periods of time may not reveal the full picture of how they respond.
‘Our findings also suggest that Trifolium arvense can be considered a candidate for the indicator of ecological effects of man-made EMFs in the environment,’ the authors said.
Previous short-term laboratory studies have shown that wireless radiation had harmful effects on plants. The authors pointed said, ‘Numerous studies on plants have shown that wireless communication microwave radiation can affect their growth and development, gene expression and various metabolic activities. These effects occur at exposure levels equivalent or less than those often recorded under environmental conditions. Moreover, they were recorded for RF-EMFs differing in wavelength and polarization, continuous or modulated waves, and for different signal modulation types.’
Marek Czerwiński et al, ‘Do electromagnetic fields used in telecommunications affect wild plant species? A control impact study conducted in the field,’ Ecological Indicators, Volume 150, 2023, 110267, ISSN 1470-160X
FM5 5G meter – Freedom Monitor (FM5) Complete 30
This is the world’s first and only hand-held meter for measuring 5G millimetre waves that is both sensitive and affordable. See more here
How we can help
Would you like to make your home EMR-safe? See our online course that teaches you everything you need to know.
Would you like internet without radiation? See our radiation-free modem and routers here.
What else can you do?
]]>Electromagnetic fields affect health and it’s necessary to reduce exposure, say EMF experts Professor Frank Barnes and Eugene Freeman Jr.
‘… [B]iological systems can detect and respond to exposures to EM [electromagnetic] fields at power levels that are well below the current safety guidelines for cellular communications devices,’ they wrote in a paper published late last year. ‘Furthermore, data indicate that long-term exposures to low levels of RF [radiofrequency] power can lead to effects that are cumulative and generally not seen for short-term exposures.’
Some of these effects, they said, are therapeutic. Other are not.
In their paper, Barnes and Freeman referred to studies showing harmful effects such as:
‘The recent research suggests that the effects of low-level EM fields on living organisms are non-trivial and potentially harmful. Given these revelations; regulators, providers, and users are under pressure to reach agreement on the most reasonable approach to minimize potentially harmful effects,’ they said.
‘Forcing a solution that eliminates all wireless communications is not a reasonable approach,’ they wrote. ‘Allowing the telecommunications industry and users to ignore the potential harm indicated by some of the experiments showing the effects of weak field exposures is equally unsatisfactory given the data that are currently available.’
Barnes and Freeman suggested a number of strategies that could be implemented, such as:
‘With such a large number of users, it is incumbent on system designers, operators, managers, and regulators to invest the time and energy to understand the risks of long-term exposure to low-level EM fields to determine potential hazard.’
Barnes’s is an authoritative voice in the field of electromagnetics. He was Vice President of IEEE [Institute of Electrical and Electronics engineers] for publication, Chairman of the Electron Device Society, President of the Bioelectromagnetics Society and U.S. Chair of Commission K-International Union of Radio Sciences.
Barnes Frank and Freeman Jr Eugene R, Some thoughts on the possible health effects of electric and magnetic fields and exposure guidelines, Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 10, 2022, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.99475
PF5 - Power Frequency 5 (ELF & VLF) Meter
Concerned about the fields from powerlines, electricity meters, wiring or appliances?
Measure the magnetic and electric fields with our PF5 meter.
What can you do?
What else can you do?
]]>Scientists from around the globe have appealed to the Italian Government not to increase the exposure limits in its radiation standard.
‘The news that the Government is considering the possibility of increasing the attention value by 6 V/m for the living areas where people stay more than 4 hours is the cause for great concern,’ the scientists wrote in their ‘Appeal of the Scientists for Electromagnetic Safety’, sent 4 August 2023.
Associate Professor Olle Johansson, one of the signatories to the Appeal, said that ‘the so-called natural background may be regarded as a (relatively) safe exposure level, and 6 V/m (at 1,800 MHz) is still 10,000,000 times (or more!) that level’.
The Appeal has so far been signed by 68 scientists working in the field, whose extensive publications are listed in the document, as well as biologists, physicists, engineers and medical practitioners.
The Appeal states that ‘Radiofrequency has been associated with several health problems including:
‘We are already paying for the social and health costs of having released into the environment levels of artificial radiofrequency radiation which are not entirely compatible with life. A further increase of the exposure to radiofrequency in the population is ethically unacceptable and not even economically viable,’ the Appeal states. ‘Rather, measures are needed to protect public health and the environment. Plants and animals, in fact, are affected by the chronic exposure to radiofrequency, with significant damages mostly to birds and bees populations.’
The Appeal points out serious deficiencies in the international limits recommended by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection), on which Australia’s radiation standard is based.
The Appeal requests that, rather than increasing exposure limits, the government decreases them to 0.6 V/m, as recommended by the Council of Europe.
It also asks the government to introduce legislation that requires experts expressing their views in public to declare their links with industry.
After receiving the Appeal, the Government cancelled a planned discussion about increasing the country’s radiation limits. However, it is expected to defer discussion to a future date.
The Appeal can be seen in full here.
Shielding T-shirts
Protect your body with our shielding
and women which block radiation from wireless and
smart technologies. See more here.
How we can help
What else can you do?
]]>We know that humans are adversely affected by magnetic fields from powerlines and other electrical equipment, but what about bees?
Could the high magnetic fields from the powerlines that criss-cross their habitat affect bee health, behaviour and pollination activities?
It’s a question to which researchers from Chile and Argentina have recently turned their attention.
The reason for their interest, they explained is this. ‘[H]oneybees are … being increasingly exposed to artificial, low-frequency EMF (such as those from overhead power lines), which acts as a stressor on honeybees, by altering the magnetic maps used during foraging flights and navigation and producing a magnetoreception disorder. This leads to fewer honeybees returning to the colony, disorientation, or even a total loss of adult foragers (colony collapse disorder).’
To study the effects of magnetic fields on the bees, the researchers focused on six high voltage towers, the equipment from which emitted levels of around 100 milliGauss (mG). (This is well below the 2000 mG limit allowed by international [ICNIRP] limits for human exposure but far above the 4mG level linked with increased risks of childhood leukemia and classified as a Class 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.)
The team chose to study the fields from electrical towers as opposed to power lines so that they could compare their findings with those from similar towers they could access.
They studied honeybees located close to and at a distance from the electrical towers. They found ‘detrimental’ effects of exposure, not just to honeybees, but to the surrounding plant community.
‘These negative effects of EMF could cascade into a number of additional effects on insects’ physiology and behavior, including less pollen and honey harvested, impaired learning ability, flight dynamics, foraging, and feeding, as well as increased piping in the colony,’ the authors wrote.
The team concluded that the fields from the electrical towers had a detrimental impact on honeybee pollination and, therefore, the surrounding plant community.
‘We propose that honeybees’ exposure to EMF disturbs their foraging capabilities by altering their magnetic navigation, learning, decision-making mechanisms, flight, and foraging, thus impairing pollination activity. This hypothesis would explain the observed reduction of workers’ flower visitation around areas located in the proximity of active electric transmission towers, which we have established to be a prominent source of stress for honeybees,’ they said.
Marco A. Molina-Montenegro et al, Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1455
PF5 - Power Frequency 5 (ELF & VLF) Meter
Find out what magnetic fields you and your family are exposed to from powerlines, wiring and electrical equipment at home, work or school with our PF5 meter here.
From Dr Olle Johansson
Dr Johansson, a tireless campaigner for protecting bees from electromagnetic pollution, reports that the Swedish division of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has recently announced a drive about the future of our pollinators, under the slogan "Vill du hjälpa oss säkerställa pollinatörernas framtid, så att vi kan fortsätta dricka morgonkaffe till ljudet av humlesurr?" (Eng. "Do you want to help us ensure the future of pollinators, so we can continue to drink our morning coffee to the sound of bumblebees?")
What can you do?
What else can you do?
]]>The Victorian Bar has written to the Law Council of Australia expressing its objections to new legislation drafted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
As mentioned last week, the ‘Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023’ would require digital platform operators to stop disseminating information that the government does not approve, effectively curtailing Australians’ freedom of speech.
‘[T]he Bill’s interference with the self-fulfilment of free expression will occur primarily by the chilling self-censorship it will inevitably bring about in the individual users of the relevant services,’ the Bar submission says.
It also points out that ACMA is not necessarily qualified to judge what is ‘misinformation’ and what is not. ‘[I]t is not clear what justifies the statutory presupposition that ACMA will have the expertise and intellectual resources to identify and distinguish ‘misinformation’ from other forms of online content.’
The Bar submission further suggests that the bill will not necessarily stop misinformation – just relabel it. ‘[T]he Bar is concerned that the Bill creates an unlevel playing field between governments and other speakers. Any view authorised by the government is, by statutory definition, not ‘misinformation’, however false or misleading it might be.’
Additionally, the Bar submission says that ‘the statutory definition of ‘misinformation’ is over-broad and unworkable.’
ACMA is accepting public comment about the Bill and the deadline for submissions has been extended until 20 August 2023.
You can see:
a podcast interview on the bill with lawyer Chris Baxter here.
Comments on the bill can be sent:
online to ACMA: https://infrastructure.gov.au/have-your say/acma-powers say/acma-powers
by email to ACMA: information.integrity@infrastructure.gov.au
to local MPs and senators.
What else can you do?
forward this email to others to inform them, too
book a phone consultation to find answers to your questions here.
Would you like to know the truth about electromagnetic radiation?
Would you like to know the truth about anything at all?
Then you’d better be quick.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is preparing legislation aimed at controlling communications and imposing penalties for information it does not approve.
The ‘Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023’ aims to control information available to the public by making online platform services responsible for the information they disseminate. It will apply to social media, search engines, instant messaging services, news aggregators and podcasting services. Hefty penalties will be imposed for noncompliance.
If passed, the Bill has the potential to censor all communications in Australia and strikes at the heart of freedom of speech.
The ACMA is accepting feedback from the public on the Bill until 6 August 2023.
Some of the many problems with the Bill include these.
It violates Australian’s democratic and constitutional rights to freedom of speech.
It blames the informer for the behaviour of the recipient by claiming that ‘misinformation’/’disinformation’ can cause people to do inappropriate things.
It can be used to censor any information on any issue that any government does not approve now and in the future.
It puts the development of a code of practice in the hands of the industry, leaving the general public out of the loop.
No one government or agency has a monopoly on truth. Our perception of truth evolves over time with experience.
It will silence dissenting experts.
Some of the questions that need to be asked about the Bill include these.
Who decides what constitutes ‘misinformation’/’ disinformation? (Their qualifications, experience, ties with industry)
To whom and what products will it apply? (unhealthy foods/cosmetics?)
How (by what process) will the government determine what constitutes ‘misinformation’/’disinformation’?
How will it monitor the developments in that area to update its understanding of information/disinformation in the future?
How will the government communicate to all Australians (of all ages, ethnicities, education levels and abilities) what they can and can’t say in the future?
You can see:
EMR Australia’s submission on the draft legislation here.
Journalist Dr Maryanne Demasi’s article about it here.
Feedback can be sent:
to your local MP and senator.
What else can you do?
forward this email to others to inform them, too
book a phone consultation to find answers to your questions here.