What Is Electrosmog?

What is electrosmog? When did it become a problem? Why is it important? What is the new research that proves its importance? Who does it concern? What can we do?

What Is Electrosmog?

I usually try to start these articles off with a definition from the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, curiously I will not be able to do this for electrosmog because there is no definition in there, as yet (this may have changed by the time you read this). Electrosmog is a new term, I may be mistaken but I believe it is derived from the German term elektrosmog.

The term Electrosmog is derived from the words electricity and smog. Smog is a word we use to describe fog that has become mixed and polluted with smoke. Put simply electrosmog describes pollution from electrical sources.

When Did Electrosmog Become A Problem?

We forget that we have been living with electricity for a comparatively short period of time. People living just 100 years ago would not have been subjected to the many forms of electromagnetic energy that we now are surrounded by. At the beginning of the 20th century, man-made electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution was almost non-existent. Most of the western world did not have electricity and areas that did have electricity were initially supplied with direct current that did not vibrate 50 or 60 times every second.

Like most useful inventions, electricity was greeted with enthusiastic approval and we are now surrounded by it in our homes, offices, and school.

The use of electricity produces both electric and magnetic fields, commonly referred to as electromagnetic fields (EMF's)

The electromagnetic spectrum is useful in explaining this subject. At the bottom end of the electromagnetic spectrum are power lines which operate at around 50 to 60 Hertz.

Next comes TV and computer monitors which operate in kHz.

Followed by radio frequencies and cell phones (MHz). Then there are microwaves (GHz) and visible light (THz), and then we pass into x-rays. As we move up the spectrum from power lines to x-rays the energy increases with frequency. The electromagnetic spectrum is just a way to try and understand electromagnetic waves.

Electromagnetic waves are produced by the motion of electrically charged particles. These waves are also called electromagnetic radiation because they radiate from the electrically charged particles.

Now everybody knows that radiation is not good for them. But what people do not realize is that radiation does not only come from nuclear power plants and the like, it has now become part of our everyday lives, this is electrosmog.

Why Is Electrosmog Important?

Much of the research in this area talks about a boundary between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, this boundary is said to exist between visible light and x-rays. The argument being that only ionizing radiation is dangerous to humans because it can knock electrons out of matter. The latest research does not support this theory. Prof Martin Blank shows that the effects in extremely low frequency power range (ELFs) are similar to effects in the radio frequency range in cell phones. Prof Blank found that EL F increases the risk of disease even with a very low level of exposure, as low as 3 to 4 mg. To give you an example in a room with just electric wiring, a light switch, light bulbs you might find one 1 mg. Research published by Dr Samuel Milham MD in the September 2009 issue of the journal medical hypotheses makes a groundbreaking link between electrification, electrosmog and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and suicide.

Dr. Samuel Milham And Electrosmog

Dr Sam Milham's work is based on the analysis of decades of US government records of deaths and electric electrification. In his report he suggests that the 20th century epidemic of the so-called diseases of civilization, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, suicide, are in fact not caused by lifestyle but by electrification. Dr Milham comments that “the explosive recent increase in radio frequency radiation and high frequency voltage transits sources, from cell phones and towers, to terrestrial antennas, WiFi and WiMax VQ telecommunications systems, broadband Internet over powerlines, and personal electronic equipment may be leading to a new 21st-century epidemic much like the 20th century electromagnetic field epidemic”

Who Does Electrosmog Concern?

The answer to this one is simple it concerns everybody. But it concerns particularly the young and the old. The young because our children are being subjected to levels of electrosmog today which even 10 years ago did not exist. Children are particularly vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation. Children which use a cell phone are at particular risk, the lower bone density of their skulls means that the radiation penetrates more than for adults. The 2008 Hardell study shows that the highest risk group for malignant brain tumors, gliomas, is people under the age of 20.

The elderly are more at risk because of frail health that tends to go with old age. But then somebody in the prime of their life in their 20s and 30s might be more at risk than all old person because they really use a cell phone, they live near a cell phone tower and they have WiFi at home and in the office.

What Can We Do?

On an individual basis for you and your family you can do a lot. You can reduce your exposure to cell phone radiation by limiting your use of cell phones. You can replace WiFi connections in your home with cable connections, if you are already electrosensitive as I am, you can use nets and paints to shield your home. Make sure that your bedroom is as far as possible EMF safe.

On a collective basis you can become more active on this subject, sign up to petitions, interact with people on the Internet through blogs and social media, make others aware of the importance of this subject in your local community, talk to your local MP about it.

Electrosmog Kills Act Now

Recent media attention has focused on the risks of cell phones and cancer, but this is only part of the problem, what we really need to worry about is electricity more generally and the pollution it generates. Electrosmog has become a problem because it has just crept up on us. For too long we have only been concerned with the advantages that electricity, cell phones, transmitters, computers, Wi-Fi and so on have been bringing us without looking at the dangers.

We don't need to stop using these modern devices we just need to use the more intelligently. The writing is on the wall electrosmog kills, let’s do something before it becomes too late!