With the proliferation of cell phones, wireless Internet, and personal electronic devices, the ill effects of electromagnetic radiation are a huge concern. As the discussion surrounding the dangers of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has become heated, neuroscientist Dr. Olle Johansson has stepped forward to present evidence from his own research and the research of his peers into the mental and physical effects of EMFs.
The Trouble with Electromagnetic Radiation
Dr. Johansson, who is a professor at the renowned Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, recently spoke in front of an audience of health professionals and medical practitioners at a seminar on Environment in Health in Barcelona. He opened his lecture by going over the known negative health effects of EMFs, which include:- Hypersensitivity to EMFs
- Increase in allergies and allergy symptoms
- Potential link to certain cancers
- Reducing the efficacy of certain drugs (such as Tamoxifen, which is used to treat breast cancer)
- Radiation damage
- Long-term DNA fragmentation
Electric and magnetic fields are invisible areas of energy (also called radiation) that are produced by electricity, which is the movement of electrons, or current, through a wire.
An electric field is produced by voltage, which is the pressure used to push the electrons through the wire, much like water being pushed through a pipe. As the voltage increases, the electric field increases in strength. Electric fields are measured in volts per meter (V/m).
A magnetic field results from the flow of current through wires or electrical devices and increases in strength as the current increases. The strength of a magnetic field decreases rapidly with increasing distance from its source. Magnetic fields are measured in microteslas (μT, or millionths of a tesla).
Electric fields are produced whether or not a device is turned on, whereas magnetic fields are produced only when current is flowing, which usually requires a device to be turned on. Power lines produce magnetic fields continuously because current is always flowing through them. Electric fields are easily shielded or weakened by walls and other objects, whereas magnetic fields can pass through buildings, living things, and most other materials.
Electric and magnetic fields together are referred to as electromagnetic fields, or EMFs. The electric and magnetic forces in EMFs are caused by electromagnetic radiation. There are two main categories of EMFs: