Wireless Burglar Alarms – Is There A Radiation Threat?

“I just purchased a wireless burglar alarm.  And now after reading about radiation from wireless devices, I’m not so sure it’s safe.  Could you please provide me some info about this?  I can't seem to find info specific to wireless alarms.  I have no idea how much radiation, if any, is being released.  And, does the radiation come from the sensors or the panel?  Any specific info you could provide on this item would be much appreciated.  Thanks. Melanie”

I received this question from one of my readers.

I find the more time goes by, the more I interact with different people on this, the more I realize that electromagnetic radiation is a bigger problem for far more people than I ever could have realized.

What opened my eyes to the EMF issue was my cell phone. One day in February 2002 I took my cell phone out of my pocket to answer it, as I had done so many other times, and I felt this searing pain. And that's how it all started for me. And that's why I'm talking to you now.

Up to that day in 2002 I was just an ordinary Joe going about my work with no health issues whatsoever. I was like 99.9% of the population I was totally ignorant to the dangers of cell phones and EMFs in our lives. And it's not as if I live in cloud cuckoo land, I consider myself to be relatively well-informed on many subjects, I have a business degree and a professional qualification, I read a newspaper most days, I prefer radio to TV for the news, I have a broad circle of friends. Yet I'd never heard of this thing.

Well this is exactly where we are on the subject of wireless burglar alarms; as Melanie says, there's very little information, far less than there is on cell phone radiation. So let me enlighten you a little bit.

What Are The Health Dangers Of Burglar Alarms?

The biggest danger is that your burglar alarm is a wireless burglar alarm. These systems often use DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) technology. If your burglar alarm uses this technology or similar this means that you are being exposed to radio frequency (RF) radiation. Cordless phones use this technology.

Doesn't sound too bad?  I've talked about the radiation from DECT cordless phones in earlier posts – these things are just as bad if not worse than cell phones in terms of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures. The reason I consider them so potentially harmful is that unlike a cell phone your cordless phone gives out electromagnetic radiation 24/7 in your home, even when you are sleeping.

If you have a wireless burglar alarm in your home it's the same scenario, possibly worse. Most homes have a couple or three DECT phones, if your wireless burglar alarm has sensors in all the rooms your exposures are potentially higher.

What Can Be Done?

You could just rip it all out. If you think there is the slightest chance that you would be suffering adverse health effects from your wireless burglar alarm then I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

Much depends on your personal situation. If you are just concerned about these EMF exposures and have no symptoms you're probably inclined to not do anything. If you have symptoms then it will be easier to take action on this.

Either way, you do need to take action. It's not because you don't feel any effects that the EMFs are not impacting your health. The starting point is to take some readings with a radio frequency EMF meter to see what your exposure levels are exactly and identify the EMF hotspots.

Then you can contact your burglar alarm installer to see about re-positioning some sensors, or wiring sensors or turning off the microwave transmitters in the sensors when you're in your home.

What Are The Other Dangers From Wireless Burglar Alarms?

Another concern is EMFs from the transformer used in burglar alarm installations. These transformers are often of poor quality and may give off high electromagnetic fields. The second biggest threat comes stems from the fact that the circuit wires are not earthed.

Take the sad case of Ray and Denise Studholmes’ son Simon.  Simon was diagnosed with leukemia in November 1990, nearly two years after the family moved to their three-bedroom home near Bolton, UK.  As Simon slept, his head was less than 3ft from an electricity meter and a burglar alarm in a hall cupboard. He died in September 1992, aged 13. Simon’s parents have disclosed that tests after their son's death revealed that the two appliances gave off EMFs more than six times more powerful than the recommended safe limit. Mr and Mrs Studholme believe that their son would still be alive if he'd not been subjected to the strong electromagnetic fields in his bedroom from the burglar alarm and electric meter.

In the case of Simon the problem would appear to be not just the burglar alarm. But then the culprit is rarely any one device. Most homes have a variety of devices generating electrosmog cordless phones, WiFi, CFL lights, dirty electricity from electric wiring. Not to mention exterior generated electrosmog from a neighbor’s WiFi or a nearby cell phone tower.

Wireless Burglar Alarms Unbearable For Some Electrosensitives

There are people with heightened electrical sensitivity (EHS) who can even feel when a wireless burglar alarm is switched on.  Thankfully this is not my case and I hope it's not yours.

I hope I'm making my point on this. Look at your burglar alarm and start asking some questions. Is it wired? Wireless? Where are the sensors? Where is the transformer? If in doubt as to your exposures get some readings.

Take action sooner rather than later!