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Electromagnetic Field (EMF)
Electromagnetic Field
(EMF) &
Electromagnetic Radiation
(EMR)
All known cancer-inducing agents —
including radiation, certain chemicals
and a few viruses — act by breaking
chemical bonds, producing mutant
strands of DNA. Not until the ultraviolet
region of the electromagnetic spectrum is
reached, beyond visible light, beyond
infrared and far, far beyond microwaves,
do photons have sufficient energy to
break chemical bonds. Microwave
photons heat tissue, but they do not come
close to the energy needed to break
chemical bonds, no matter how intense
the radiation. --Dr. Robert L. Park of the
American Physical Society (New York
Times Oct. 1, 2002)
Ionizing radiation can break the electron
bonds that hold molecules like DNA
together and is carcinogenic....The
photon energy of cellphone EMF is more
than 10 million times weaker than the
lowest energy ionizing radiation.--Lorne
Trottier
Unless one is willing to discard the
concept of photons, Planck's law, and the
interaction between photons and
atoms—and thus the entire body of
quantum physics—it is simply not
possible for the photons associated with
either a power line or a cell phone to
cause cancer."-- S. T. Lakshmikumar
An electromagnetic field (also called
electromagnetic radiation) is a region in space opinion of Sage and her associates, the limits of cancer or any other disease or disorder. No
through which energy passes that has been
created by electrically charged particles. EMFs "most rapidly growing environmental pollutant everybody. For example, a 2004 British Medical
are produced by such things as power lines,
electric appliances, radio waves, and
microwaves.
Many people fear that EMFs cause
cancer; however, a causal connection between
EMFs and cancer has not been established. The
National Research Council (NRC) spent more
than three years reviewing more than 500
scientific studies that had been conducted over a characters appearing to pop popcorn with their found no causal connection between living near
20-year period and found "no conclusive and
consistent evidence" that electromagnetic fields click here.)
harm humans. The chairman of the NRC panel,
neurobiologist Dr. Charles F. Stevens, said that since 1988 to sell EMF-measuring devices and have to look at what is indicated by the
"Research has not shown in any convincing way
that electromagnetic fields common in homes
can cause health problems, and extensive
laboratory tests have not shown that EMFs can
damage the cell in a way that is harmful to
human health."
Despite the overwhelming scientific
evidence against the view that our electronic
gadgets are causing our headaches, nausea,
Alzheimer's, or stress, there are organized
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movements in several countries to enlighten the park) is an electromagnetic "refuge zone." They
world about the dangers of EMR. In the USA, wrap their trailers (caravans) in metal to shield
there is The EMR Policy Institute. There is also them from deadly EMFs. The women wear
something called Bioinitiative 2012, a website metal-fiber shawls and aluminum capes. There
registered to Cindy Sage of Sage Associates, an is, of course, no evidence that metal shields (or
environmental consulting firm located in Santa tinfoil caps, for that matter) provide protection
Barbara, California. The Bioinitiative Report is against any particular physical or psychological
collecting signatures for a petition that reads: ailments caused by cell phones or power lines
We, the undersigned, find that current and the like.
government limits do not protect the public from All electromagnetic radiation comes
adverse health effects from electromagnetic from photons. The energy of a photon depends
radiation (EMR) emanating from devices such on its frequency. "Roughly one million photons
as power lines, cell phones and wireless internet in a power line together have the same energy as
devices and their associated antenna sites, TV a single photon in a microwave oven, and a
and FM broadcast towers and radar. thousand microwave photons have the energy
Most of the existing limits on this form of equal to one photon of visible light"
radiation are 1 to 4 thousand times too lenient (Lakshmikumar 2009). Ionizing radiation is
to prudently protect humans from adverse known to cause health effects; "it can break the
health effects ranging from Alzheimer's and electron bonds that hold molecules like DNA
other neurodegenerative diseases, reproduction together" (Trottier 2009). "The photon energy of
problems, sleep reduction, learning, memory, a cell phone EMF is more than 10 million times
slowed ability of the body to repair damage, weaker than the lowest energy ionizing
interference with immune function, cancer and radiation" (Trottier 2009). Thus, the likelihood
electrohypersensitivity. that our cell phones, microwave ovens,
The petition concludes by claiming computers, and other electronic devices are
there is scientific evidence to support their view carcinogenic is miniscule. Nevertheless, it is
that many non-specific symptoms are impossible to prove that no study will ever find
attributable to EMFs. It then lists what, in the a significant correlation between EMFs and
exposure should be. According to Sage, the product can be shown to be absolutely safe for
in today's environment is probably Journal article claimed to have found an
electromagnetic fields (EMF) including inexplicable increase in leukemia in children
radiofrequency radiation." She makes many living near power lines in England and Wales.
other scary claims that are not consistent with The researchers wrote: "There is no accepted
the preponderance of the evidence, including biological mechanism to explain the
the claim that "cell phone exposures can be epidemiological results; indeed, the relation may
intense enough to cause DNA damage." Maybe be due to chance or confounding." On the other
she saw the video on YouTube of some hand, a 2003 study of women on Long Island
cell phones. (If you're wondering how it's done power lines and developing breast cancer. A
single study does not prove there is or there isn't
In the UK, Powerwatch has been around a causal link between EMFs and cancer. We
to promote the idea that EMFs are hazardous to preponderance of the evidence from all the
our health. In France, there are several studies.
communities that have repeatedly protested There is also a strong contingent of folks
against mobile phone masts and campaigned hell-bent on proving this link, so it is likely that
against wireless internet.* A group of self- studies will continue to be done that support a
identified electro-sensitives have taken up contrary viewpoint. For example, a research
residence in the Drôme valley in southern team in Sweden found an increased risk for
France to escape the ubiquitous radio waves of brain tumors in people who used cellular or
the cities. They claim their trailer park (caravan cordless phones (2006).
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