n 2012, a team of 29 doctors and medical experts gathered to discuss non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation — the very kind emitted by laptops and cell phones every day. The result of this meeting was a 1,479 page report summarizing the adverse health effects of this radiation.
The Report can be viewed in full here (disclaimer, it’s large): http://www.bioinitiative.org/table-of-contents/
Why would a report this extensive be required for an issue electronic and phone companies insist is safe?
Why isn’t anyone talking about this data?
It’s not for a lack of evidence; the BioInitiative Report claims reference to over 1800 studies with regard to electromagnetic radiation, and the results are not pretty.
Among the notable conclusions:
“Both human and animal studies report large immunological changes with exposure to environmental levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Some of these exposure levels are equivalent to those of e.g. wireless technologies in daily life.”
“There is inadequate warning and notice to the public about possible risks from wireless technologies in the marketplace, which is resulting in adoption and use of technologies that may have adverse health consequences which are still unknown to the public. There is no ‘informed consent.’”
“In most of the behavioral experiments, effects were observed after the termination of RF exposure. In some experiments, tests were made days after exposure. This suggests a persistent change in the nervous system after exposure to RF.”
“Studies on brain tumors and use of mobile phones for > 10 years gave a consistent pattern of an increased risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma.”
“The balance of evidence suggests that childhood leukemia is associated with exposure to power frequency EMFs either during early life or pregnancy.”
“There is strong epidemiologic evidence that long-term exposure to ELF magnetic field (MF) is a risk factor for Alzheimers disease.”
And this goes on for another 1,000 or so pages.
So what can we do to protect ourselves if we can’t count on regulators to do it for us?
For starters, and as mentioned in the BioInitiative Report, switching to a wired connection is the most effective solution. Likewise, keeping devices at a significant distance from the body is quite effective. That means no cell phones in the pocket, no laptops on the lap, no iPads in bed. Unfortunately, many of us became reliant upon the conveniences of wireless technology, and the “mobile office,” where our lap is sometimes our best desktop.
In this event, specially designed products like the HARApad line of products are key when aforementioned solutions are not an option. Shielding designed specifically for attenuating electromagnetic signals is incorporated into the body of the product, serving as a physical barrier between delicate biological cells and damaging electromagnetic radiation.
Be smart. Be safe. Know the risks.
How Do Manufacturers Respond to These Claims?
For the most part, they don’t.
Admitting an issue exists with regard to electromagnetic radiation also may tie a manufacturer to health liabilities with products.
Instead, manufacturers of these devices perform testing that caters strongly to their product line. For example, one phone manufacturer ensures the compliance with FCC limits with measurements 1 inch away from the device. Try to recall your last phone conversation where your phone was at least 1 inch away from your ear!
Unless you’re using earbuds or speakerphone (which we highly recommend and Bluetooth doesn’t count!), then you probably can’t. It’s this caveat in testing and compliance that will keep the big manufacturers safe in the event of a lawsuit, even at the expense of your health.
What about laptops?
It’s not common these days to purchase a true “laptop.” The products on the market today are “notebooks.” With recent links between infertility and cancer to ELF radiation, and the definitive tie between Toasted Skin Syndrome and laptops, the very name laptop indicates that use of a computer directly on the lap is not only acceptable, but ideal. By arriving at a more ambiguous title of “Notebook,” the intended usage in harder to pinpoint.
While these methods hide deep between the lines, the dangers are still very existent, and very real. We at HARApad intend to keep you safe, and informed of the latest trends and moves by the electronic industry to keep you buying products without proper warning.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more information!
