I don't usually make dramatic changes in my life, but after reading the cover article of the November 15, 2009 issue of Bottom Line/Personal "Don't Stand in Front of the Microwave: Radiation Dangers from Phones, Plasma TVs and Computers, Too!" -- I've done just that. Our houses have become electromagnetic hubs and it's affecting our health. So, as radical as it sounds, I've replaced the cordless phones in my house with old-fashioned corded ones... turn off my cell phone at night -- and have been sending more texts rather than making calls on my cell phone during the day... shopped for a new cell phone based on it's SAR rating (a measure of the radiation it gives off) rather than its bells and whistles... stopped standing in front of the microwave and make sure my kids are far away from it when it's on…and unplug our wireless modem when we're not using it. Whew!
While I'm making my family a little bit crazy with what seems to be erratic Internet service (we all forget to plug the wireless back in), at least we don't have trouble finding the phone when it rings. And I know I'm doing more to protect all of us from the harmful effects of radiation. In the article, Magda Havas, PhD, professor of environmental and resource studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario (Canada) cites some scary statistics about just how much radiation we all are exposed to each day. And, according to Dr. Havas, author of Public Health SOS: The Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution, "new research shows that radiation levels up to 1,000 times lower than the FCC guidelines have been shown to affect our health". These effects include higher risk of developing certain types of tumors (in the brain and salivary glands), as well as fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating and cardiac symptoms. A coworker recently rebuffed his new dentist when he wanted to take Xrays, since he wasn't having any pain or other symptoms (we've got an article in the works to answer the question of just how often do you need dental Xrays.) While I can't control all of our radiation exposure, I'm certainly going to take the steps I can to keep us as safe as possible. I encourage you to do the same.
Oct 26, 2009 at 8:20 AM Excellent brief article! ---And correct.
Oct 29, 2009 at 4:29 AM There's a lot of uninformed hype going around about radiation. The universe is bathed in radiation, of all wavelengths, and has been since the big bang. X-rays are definitely dangerous. All those other forms of radiation mentioned (microwaves), to the best of our knowledge, simply generate heat when they pass through us.
Is heat dangerous? Yes, of course, if there's enough of it. That's why they put an interlock on the door of your microwave oven. All those other gadgets surrounding us are operating on milliwatts or microwatts of power. What escapes from the microwave oven is microwatts. Relax.
As to the research indicating some (usually slight) correlation between radiation and health, correlation isn't cause, and coincidence is always with us. Instead of a panicky fear of something you don't understand, learn about it, so you can make informed decisions.
Oct 29, 2009 at 10:20 AM I suggest that you learn about it. It being -- any form of energy in general and radiation more specifically and the impact of it on our health. A diversity of measurable and subtle energies very powerfully influences biological systems.
A form of it (UV) causes the most common form of cancer in our species -- skin cancer. Humankind's impact on its perversion, by a variety of manmade chemicals eroding the protective ozone layer, has in a very short time caused the rate of a serious skin cancer, melanoma to greatly increase in humans. A naturally occurring form of it, radon gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in humans. There are scores of other well established pathologies caused by the many forms of radiant energy.
Furthermore, it does not merely convert to heat upon interface with one’s body as you suggest. Because the body is composed of chemicals, all forms of energy, upon interface with the body primarily impact by changing that chemistry. Heat is merely one possible manifestation of that far greater chemical impact.
Margie and Carole Lynn are correct. In all healthy human endeavors we need to ask ourselves first is something safe, effective, easy, and kind.
Nov 2, 2009 at 5:10 AM I'm not the paranoid type, but I have to say I believe I've encountered some of these effects. I used a small cheap cell phone and noticed after several months that the tip of my left ear was starting to hurt (almost like frostbite). The area is where the antenna is so I know it isn't from pressing the phone hard against my ear. I've since gotten a headset to keep the phone away from my ear and the pain is going away.
I also noticed that after I got some dental X-Rays, suddenly I have minor skin cancer appearing on my cheeks. Being A blue-eyed blonde, I was expecting this to happen some day (it's natural as you get older). I just feel as though the X-rays may have accelerated something that was probably going to happen anyway, and it does seem odd how it appeared on both cheeks. Still, much to the dentists disgust, no more x-rays for me. My teeth and gums are fine without them.
Nov 4, 2009 at 8:21 AM I agree with relax. Suck it up and live in the day rather than the future or the past. We all face the inevitable; death. It's a question of when where and of what. Living to a rip old age may not be all it's cracked up to be unless of course you believe depends are a neat fashion statement.
Nov 5, 2009 at 11:10 AM A few years ago, after reading so much about microwaves and possible carcinogenic problems from exposure, I stored it down in my basement. We don't miss is at all!!
Also, I have worked in a number of restaurants and they all use microwaves on food: sometimes to heat up the food just before it goes out so it will be hot on arrival, and many times with plastic wrap on the food they are heating. This is a horribly bad practice...but
Nov 11, 2009 at 1:19 PM Just how dangerous is the cell phone. I have one, use it sparingly but can't afford a headpiece. I'm out sometimes in the evening in a wheelchair and it makes me feel safe.
I use my microwave sparingly also and walk away from it after I set the time. Is this Okay? I kind of understand some of these "crazy people" who wear a tin foil pointed hat. When I lived in Jamaica for a year I spent a lot of time up in the hills and felt like I was given a shot of tranquilizer. No phone lines. No TV etc. I knew I was feeling relief from all the bombarding of waves I was getting in L.A. from tv, radio, satellite dishes etc. Is there anything anyone can do. Can we fire TV? Give it a furlough? Oh well
thanks for the information.
Love, Luanne
Nov 12, 2009 at 5:03 AM THE RELEASE OF EMFs (ELECTRO MAGNETIC FREQUENCIES) FROM MICROWAVE OVENS ARE DANGEROUSLY HIGH AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A CONDO APARTMENT. CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH TENSION WIRES THAN RAN OUTSIDE MY WINDOWS I HAD THE UTILITY COMPANY CHECK IT OUT USING A GAUSS METER. WHEN HE WENT TO THE WINDOW THE METER READ 3.0. I ASKED HIM "WHAT DOES THAT READING MEAN?" HE SAID, "THAT'S NOTHING". WENT OVER TO THE MICROWAVE OVEN AND THE METER READ 25. THIS DEMONSTRATES THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EMFs EMITTED BY THESE APPLIANCES.
Nov 26, 2009 at 6:14 AM We have not used a microwave for about 4 years now, except to occasionally heat up a rice-filled neck warmer. If you are concerned about health, dump the microwave. Heat food the old-fashioned way so you can retain the chemical structure of the food instead of ingesting carcinogens and non-food chemicals created by the microwave process.
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