EMF Policies

What are the safe limits for non-ionising radiation? Who is providing the recommendations? What does industry say compared to the medical literature? Many of us are unaware of these recommendations or limits which are often hidden away in the small print. The apple iPhone reads 'Carry the phone at least 5mm away from your body to ensure levels remain at or below the as-tested levels’. The reality is, no one adheres to these recommendations and therefore everyone is being exposed to levels of radiofrequency (RF) radiation beyond the manufacturers safety tests.

When you do begin to investigate the ‘standard safe limits’ and then what much of the scientific community view as ‘safe’, Its easy to feel confused. Countries set their own national standards for exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). However, the majority of these national standards draw on the guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) which hasn’t properly updated their guidelines since 1988. A very time different in terms of non-native EMF exposure.

Their policy regarding RF radiation is still only based on established short-term thermal (heating) effects neglecting non-thermal biological effects. This has been the key sticking point for many, in that the ICNIRP refuses to accept that there is other biological effects other heating from RFs. This means that numerous health hazards are disregarded such as carcinogenesis, effects on neurotransmitters, blood-brain-barrier, cognition, sleep, behavioral problems, and sperm quality which have all been well documented. The exposure from mobile phone base stations, Wi-Fi access points, smart phones, laptops and tablets can be long-term, sometimes around the clock and for children this risk may be accentuated because of a cumulative effect during a long lifetime.

In the case of potential long-term effects of exposure, such as an increased risk of cancer, ICNIRP concluded that available data is insufficient to provide a basis for setting exposure restrictions. ICNIRP is a private organisation (NGO) and new expert members can only be elected by members within. Many of ICNIRP members have ties to the industry that is dependent on the ICNIRP guidelines. The guidelines are of huge economic and strategic importance to the military, telecom/IT and power industry. It’s important to keep this in mind when examining their recommendations.

Safe Limits

We suggest adopting The Building Biology guidelines (below), at least for the bedroom areas, as they work on the side of caution. Their recommendations are based on the minimum levels in which symptoms are observed. Whilst it may difficult to obtain the levels below, these are a good standard to work to. Less is always better in terms of exposure.

Conversion Formulas for Wireless (Radio/Microwave)

1 mW/cm2 = 10,000 mW/m2 = 10W/m2

1 μW/cm2 = 10,000 μW/m2=10mW/m2

Conversion Formulas for Powerline Magnetic Fields

1 milligauss = 0.1 microtesla

1 microtesla = 10 milligauss