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Although it cannot be seen, touched, felt or smelled, radiation is a constant presence in our lives. Some of it occurs naturally, like the cosmic rays that bombard us from space or the ionizing radiation that comes from various elements in the Earth's crust. But more and more, we are being exposed to radiation that does not come from natural sources, but rather is man-made. In large part, the man-made radiation we encounter is the result of our employing it for useful purposes. X-rays are used for medical diagnoses, radio waves permit us to communicate over long distances; magnetic fields are used in a vast array of applications ranging from operating switches like the power door locks on an automobile to providing highly detailed pictures of a tumor or diseased organ.
But in addition to these intentional exposures to various forms of radiation, we are increasingly surrounded by sources of collateral or unintended radiation exposure. High tension power lines are generating electromagnetic fields that can extend as far as a kilometer. Common household appliances such as microwave ovens, toasters, washing machines and hair dryers can generate surprisingly strong radiological emissions.
In a very real sense, we are swimming in a sea of radiation, even though few of us know it.
Recently I sat down with noted energy expert Milton Copulos to discuss the potential hazards that the public may face from the radiation that has become so pervasive. In the final installment of that interview, we discussed what individuals can do to protect themselves against the hazards radiation exposure can pose.
Kathleen Deoul: It seems like there's no escaping the radiation that surrounds us, so the only logical course is to try to protect ourselves against its effects. What would you recommend?
Copulos: Well, Kathleen, we need to begin with the basics.
Kathleen Deoul: And what are they?
Copulos: There are three elements of minimizing radiation hazards: time, distance and shielding. By time, we refer to the duration of the exposure. It has been well established that the longer you are exposed to a form of radiation, the more likely it is that some type of damage will occur. In fact, a short exposure to a high level of radiation can sometimes be far less harmful than a lengthy exposure to a lower level.
Kathleen Deoul: That's a real concern in relation to young people and cell phones. They often spend much more time talking on their cells than adults.
Copulos: That's exactly right, Kathleen. And we all know that teenagers traditionally have been prone to long phone conversations. Moreover, the introduction of cell phones equipped with games, the ability to download music, and now the ability to download short videos is extending the duration of use even further.
Kathleen Deoul: You know, all you have to do is visit a shopping mall to see just how much teens use their phones. If you were to count I'd bet that more than half of the teens you'd see at any given moment would be talking or text messaging or otherwise using their phones.
Copulos: That's absolutely right, Kathleen, but remember it's not just talking on the cell phone that poses a hazard. As long as it's turned on, it's going to be emitting some radiation. So just carrying it can be harmful. Actually, that gets us to the second element, distance.
Kathleen Deoul: How so?
Copulos: Well, a number of clothing manufacturers are marketing lines of clothes that have cell phone pockets. Indeed, what are called "Techno Clothes" are among the hottest new fashion trends. Levi Strauss has introduced its "L2" line of jeans with cell phone pockets, and some manufacturers are going even further. Trendy designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, CK and Slates are all offering clothes that accommodate the growing range of personal electronics. Indeed, some are offering garments with multiple pockets to accommodate not only a cell phone, but MP3 players and Palm Pilots. And the trend is not limited to the youth market. The venerable high-end men's firm Books Brothers is offering cell phone pockets in the jackets of its suits and even Hickey-Freeman, one of the most conservative men's lines is offering it as an option. The inclusion of cell phone pockets is in part a response to consumer's who clearly wanted an alternative to carrying their cell phones in holsters attached to their belts or buried in a purse or briefcase. But it is also a way to give clothing an updated "cool" look.
Kathleen Deoul: Well I don't know about looking "cool," but I certainly can sympathize with the notion of having a convenient place for my cell phone. I'm sure most women have had the frustrating experience of trying to find a ringing cell phone buried somewhere in their purse, only to miss the call by the time they found it.
Copulos: Exactly. The only trouble is that in exchange for having your cell phone in a convenient pocket, you are increasing the risk of exposure to its radiation. If your cell phone, or PDA or portable CD player is in a purse or briefcase, it is not in direct contact with your body. But if it is in a garment pocket, it is in direct proximity.
Kathleen Deoul: So what you're saying is that it's better to keep your cell phone in your purse or briefcase.
Copulos: Exactly. But the principal of distance applies in relation to many things besides your cell phone.
Kathleen Deoul: What would some of those be?
Copulos: Well, one of the most obvious is your television. When your mother told you not to sit to close to the TV or you'd ruin you eyes, she was more right than she realized. In this case, though, it is not microwave radiation that is the concern, but rather the electromagnetic field or EMF your set generated.
Kathleen Deoul: Milt, could you explain for my readers how these fields are measured?
Copulos: Of course, Kathleen. The strength of magnetic fields whether from an appliance or from a stationary magnet are measured in terms of "Gauss." One Gauss is roughly equal to the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.
I should note that anytime you use an appliance that runs on alternating current - the kind that comes out of the electrical socket in your wall - a magnetic field is generated, and it has long been known that these fields can have health effects. In 1989, Dr. Janet Healer of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment said that "Studies over the past fifteen years have demonstrated unequivocally that under certain circumstances the membranes of cells can be sensitive to even fairly weak externally imposed low frequency electromagnetic fields. Extremely small signals can trigger major biochemical responses critical to the functioning of the cell."
It couldn't be clearer than that.
Kathleen Deoul: Well I certainly agree. But we were talking about TV. Just how strong is the electromagnetical field they generate?
Copulos: Well, Kathleen, here is where distance comes into play. At a distance of one foot, in other words one foot from the picture tube, a color TV generates an EMF field equal to 20 gauss. But at a distance of two feet, the field strength drops to 8 gauss and at four feet to 4 gauss.
Kathleen Deoul: So you want to be at least four feet away.
Copulos: That's exactly right. But again, we need to take duration into account, especially in regard to children. Today, on average, children watch four hours of television a day. Just to put the figure in perspective, it comes to 1,430 hours per year, or the equivalent of them spending two entire months watching TV 24 hours a day!
Kathleen Deoul: That's astounding.
Copulos: Yes, and it's also scary because a lot of children, and especially young children, like to get close to the screen. What makes this so dangerous is that their bodies are still developing, and are therefore much more susceptible to the effects of the set's emissions.
Kathleen Deoul: So we should limit their television and for certain not let them sit close to the set.
Copulos: That's absolutely right Kathleen, but it's not just the television we need to be concerned about.
Kathleen Deoul: What are some other problem areas in the home?
Copulos: One of the most dangerous small appliances is your hair dryer.
Kathleen Deoul: My hair dryer?
Copulos: That's right, Kathleen. Here is one case where the distance principal is extremely important because of the way people typically use a hair dryer. As a rule, it is held relatively close to the head - say six inches away. The trouble is that at six inches, a hair dryer's magnetic field can be as high as 700 gauss! At one foot it drops to 70 gauss and at 4 feet to 1 gauss. The only other household appliance that emits such a strong electromagnetic field is your vacuum cleaner, which also is rated at 700 gauss at 6 inches, but it is unlikely you would ever be that close to a vacuum.
Kathleen Deoul: I think I'm going to have to let my hair air dry from now on, or buy a wig! But what about microwave ovens? Don't they also have high emissions?
Copulos: Yes, Kathleen, microwave ovens are another danger spot. Especially since their field tends to be larger than most. At 6 inches a microwave oven puts out a magnetic field of 300 gauss. At one foot, however, it still is 200 gauss. Your washing machine, too, has a strong electromagnetic field close up. At six inches it would average 100 gauss and at one foot 30. The key, with all of these common household appliances, of course, is to keep some distance away when they are operating;
Kathleen Deoul: It also sounds like it would be a good idea to fold your clothes in another room if the washing machine was operating.
Copulos: That's a great idea Kathleen.
Kathleen Deoul: You know it's not just your home you have to be concerned about. If you work outside the home, it is likely that you are going to be around computers and copiers and printers and faxes, all of which also put out electromagnetic fields.
Copulos: That's right, Kathleen. What makes office equipment even more of a potential hazard than home appliances is that you might be in close proximity to them for a longer period of time. For example a typical copier puts out 200 gauss at six inches and 40 gauss at one foot. It you're copying a large number of documents, it is possible that you would remain within the one foot range for an extended period of time, so duration of exposure would become a concern. Similarly, although a computer monitor's magnetic field drops from 20 gauss at six inches to 6 gauss at two feet, the length of exposure is likely to be six to eight hours per day.
Kathleen Deoul: What about lighting. Don't fluorescent lights
also pose a hazard?
Copulos: That's absolutely right, Kathleen. At a distance of four
feet - roughly equal from the ceiling to the top of your head if
you are seated in a room with a standard ceiling - you would be
constantly exposed to 4 gauss. This fact also gets to the more
fundamental problem. If, for example, you are in an office cubicle
with fluorescent lighting, you are being exposed to magnetic fields
from several sources. The lights, your computer monitor, your computer,
a desktop fax if you have one, even your telephone all will be
putting out some level of magnetic field.
Kathleen Deoul: So what can you do to protect yourself? You mentioned three elements, time distance and shielding. What about shielding?
Copulos: I'm glad you asked that Kathleen. Unlike ionizing radiation which can be stopped by various types of shields, magnetic fields are not stopped by concrete, aluminum, drywall, or for that matter computer screen shields.
Kathleen Deoul: That doesn't sound very good.
Copulos: No it doesn't. Fortunately, there are things you can do.
Kathleen Deoul: Why don't we go over them?
Copulos: Sure. First, we have to keep in mind distance and duration. We don't want to be any closer to appliances or office equipment that can produce either RF or EMF radiation. That means don't sit close to the TV as I've mentioned, and don't stand over the microwave if you're heating something. Also, it is important to remember that an appliance that is plugged in will still put out an EMF field, so when you're not using them, unplug them.
Also, throw out your electric blanket. An electric blanket puts out a field of almost 40 gauss, and you are exposed to it in close proximity for six to eight hours. The same is true for an electric heating pad. Use a hot water bottle instead.
At work, don't stand over the copier when it is running if you don't have to and where possible, unplug equipment that is not in use. Most important, limit the amount of time you use your cell phone to the minimum necessary, and never put your laptop computer in your lap.
These, of course are passive measures. You also need to look into positive things that can be done to reduce the amount of radiation you're exposed to.
Kathleen Deoul: I agree completely. Speaking of active measures, there are a number of products that can help tremendously in reducing the amount of RF and EMF radiation exposure you get. For example, energy resonance technology such as that offered by BioPro provides an active measure you can take to reduce your exposure. The BioPro Universal Chip is effective in reducing emissions from cell phones, cordless phones and virtually every appliance and piece of office equipment you can imagine. Their "Home Harmonizer" provides the same sort of protection from emissions generated in your home or office wiring.
Copulos: I couldn't agree more, Kathleen. You know, today's home is a far cry from the home of twenty to thirty years ago. The growth of home electronics has been a phenomenon unmatched in history. Just compare the typical electronic equipment that would have been found in a home thirty years ago with what you typically would find today. The older home would have had one or two televisions, a stereo a vacuum cleaner and coffee pot. There might even be a brand new microwave oven. Although microwave ovens had been around for decades it was not until 1970 when Litton introduced the version most of us are familiar with that sales began to skyrocket. From 40,000 units in 1970, sales rose to 1,000,000 in 1975. Still, many devices that are common today would be missing. DVDs, personal computers, plasma TVs, cell phones and a host of other electronic items we are now accustomed to were either not available or only available at prices too high for average consumers. With the advent of inexpensive home electronics, the sources of RF and EMF radiation exposure has grown exponentially. That is why taking active measures to limit exposure is now such an urgent priority.
Kathleen Deoul: Well, you won't get an argument from me. We have seen an enormous rise in illnesses and afflictions that may be caused by the radiation that surrounds us. Brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, autism and a host of other diseases that were once rare or unheard of are now reaching epidemic proportions. More and more, the evidence is pointing to the possibility that exposure to non-ionizing radiation may be the cause. Clearly, we cannot wait for the government to acknowledge the problem, by then it will be too late. We have to take a pro-active stance and do those things necessary to protect the health of ourselves and our loved ones.
Copulos: Absolutely.
Kathleen Deoul: Well, Milt I want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me about this important issue. It is something we all need to be aware of and concerned about.
Read: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
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