Radiation: what are the dangers and how can you protect yourself?

There is a very good chance that you ALSO cannot live without your mobile phone, TV and laptop. Let's face it : we have all become heavily addicted to our gadgets. However, there is increasing evidence that EMR, even at low frequencies, has harmful effects. Remember that smoking was also cool for a long time until it became clear that it causes lung cancer. Are our cell phones next on the blacklist?

EMR

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) can be divided into 2 types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation has a very high frequency, such as an MRI scanner. Non-ionizing radiation has a relatively lower frequency, such as a mobile phone, laptop or TV. Although it was thought for a long time that non-ionizing radiation, i.e. in low frequencies, was harmless, this now seems to be different. For example, animal studies have shown a possible link between RF radiation and brain tumors. There would also be a greater risk of leukemia in children. Their undeveloped cells probably put them at extra risk of disease.

Effect on sleep

Our mobile phones and TVs also emit blue light . This blue light causes our body to produce less melatonin, which prevents us from sleeping well. If we sit in front of our screens all evening, this is not exactly beneficial for our night's sleep. Blue light completely disrupts our natural circadian rhythm, which means sleeping when the sun sets and getting up when the sun rises. If you want to sleep better, you should avoid using screens 1-2 hours before going to sleep. Turn off Netflix, put away your cell phone and just read a book. If you really want to be on your screen, you can wear orange glasses that block blue light. And when you go to sleep, turn off your cell phone or at least put it on airplane mode. Also place it as far away from you as possible, certainly not under your pillow!

Long-term effect EMR

Much is still unclear about the long-term effects of EMR. Here too, the damage is likely to build up slowly. 1 cigarette does not immediately cause cancer, but many cigarettes over a long period of time do. Will it be the same with EMR? Who knows. In fact, we are all guinea pigs in a massive experiment. What we know for sure is that we are constantly surrounded by EMR. We work with laptops on our laps and carry our mobile phones in our pockets. We are fused with our screens.

Head in the sand

We humans are also very good at ignoring trouble. Especially when it comes to our sacred mobile phones, because who wants to be without them? Therefore, when we read something worrying about radiation, it often goes in one ear and out the other. Everything won't be too bad, right? Radiation isn't even visible to our human eyes, so why should we worry? But... just because something is invisible doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Radiation is a fact, we really have to deal with it.

Mobile phones and 5G

There are more and more studies showing the harmful health effects of mobile phones and 5G. For example, a link has been found between long-term telephone use and brain tumors, reduced sperm quality and a greater risk of miscarriages. There has also been a Swedish study into the effects of 5G stations on people living right below them. After the installation of the 5G station, these residents experienced all kinds of symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep problems, concentration problems and dizziness ( Microwave Syndrome ). These complaints disappeared immediately after they moved. Quite striking, right?

Tips to protect yourself against radiation

1. Electromagnetic radiation is ALWAYS strongest at the source. The more distance between our bodies and our screens, the better. Do not place your laptop on your lap, but on your desk or table. Do not call with your phone pressed to your ear (possibly higher risk of brain tumor) but use the loudspeaker. You can also use a stylus touchscreen pen so you don't have to touch your phone. Whatever you do, keep your distance!
2. Do not use Bluetooth earbuds, but use earphones or headphones with a cord.
3. Put your phone in airplane mode when you are not using it. Your mobile phone is always looking for a signal and therefore always emits radiation.
4. Never sleep with your phone next to you. Turn it off or put it on airplane mode and place it far away from your bed.
5. Don't put your cell phone in your pocket or bra. You want to keep your distance from your body. Better put it in your bag or backpack.
6. Do not make calls if the signal is weak, because that means extra radiation.
7. Buy a protective phone case that blocks radiation. For example, a Faraday case blocks every signal from outside.
8. Check the SAR ( specific absorption rate ) of your mobile. SAR is a measure of the amount of radiation from a device that is absorbed by your body. The higher the SAR, the worse. For example, France recently banned the sale of the iPhone 12 due to an excessively high SAR. True story .

WiFi and routers

In fact, we have to wonder whether Wi-Fi is really wise at all. Especially when it comes to our house, that cubicle in which we spend so much time. And what about daycare centers and schools? In France, WiFi is now prohibited in daycare centers where children under the age of 3 stay. A nice measure to protect the little ones. Here in the Netherlands, however, we are not that far yet.

In any case, the safest option in internet land seems to be to return to cords. Connect your laptop or computer back to your modem via an Ethernet cable. Stop wireless. Don't feel like doing that? Then you can consider the following things to make your home safer:

1. Place your router in a place that is rarely visited or remote. In any case, never place it near where your kids play and sleep. Remember, they are the smallest and most vulnerable so are also the most at risk from the harmful effects of radiation.
2. Set a timer on your router so that it automatically turns off at night. For example, you can set it so that there is no WiFi between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. If you don't have a timer, you can also simply turn off the router before you go to sleep. Then you have to think about that every time.
3. Use a Faraday cage or router shield: a box for your router that (partly) blocks radiation. Always pay close attention to the reviews, because unfortunately a lot of junk is sold in the field of EMR protection.