Ninety-one percent of Americans and nearly 5 billion people worldwide use a cell phone. Increasingly, cell phones are becoming a vital part of our lives, functioning as our primary mode of personal and business communication as well as our calendars, cameras, MP3 players, and address books. It is hard to imagine a world where we didn’t have all these functionalities at our fingertips. But at what cost to our health?
Here’s what can you do to protect yourself from potential harm from radiofrequency radiation emitted by these devices:
1. Always use a hands-free headset or the speakerphone setting when talking on your cell phone. Some researchers say a wired headset, especially a “hollow tube” headset you can special-order—which will be labeled as such and uses hollow tubes rather than wires to conduct sound—is the best. But even a Bluetooth wireless headset will reduce your radio-frequency radiation exposure by several thousandfold.
2. Keep the phone off your body.Carry your phone in a purse or bag with the antenna (back of the phone) pointed away from you, not in your pocket or bra. When you’re talking on it (with a headset or on speakerphone) put it on a table in front of you. Just a few inches can substantially reduce your radiation exposure.
3. Text instead of talking.Holding your cell phone away from your head to send text messages exposes you to less radiation than talking on it without a headset.
4. Turn it off.Phones only emit radio-frequency radiation when they’re searching for or receiving a signal, so a phone that’s off or in “airplane mode” is safe.
5. Replace cordless phones with corded models.Cordless phones can emit as much radiation as cell phones, and the charging station constantly emits radiation.
6. Use a low-radiation cell phone.Unless you live in San Francisco, cell phone retailers aren’t required to display the specific absorbency rate (SAR), or the amount of radiation a phone causes your body to absorb. SearchFCC.gov/cgb/sarto find out the SAR level of your model, or consult the Environmental Working Group’s online database:EWG.org/cellphones. But no matter how low the SAR of your phone is, it’s still important the phone away from your head and body whenever possible.
7. Keep your cell phone, cordless phone, and wireless modem away from your head.All three will expose you to radio-frequency radiation, so banish all three from the bedroom or, at least, keep them away from your head and body. If you must have wireless Internet, turn off your router when you’re not using it, especially at night—a power strip with a timer can help.
8. Keep your phone fully charged.When a cell phone’s signal strength is weak or blocked, it has to work harder—and consequently emits more radiation.
9.Be wary of devices that claim to block EMF exposure.A Google search yielded 236,000 results for “EMF protection,” most of which were sites selling “protective” devices ranging from pendants and crystals to microchips and herbal remedies. Most experts agree that many are based on quasi-science and there’s no evidence that they work. Some “EMF shields” for your phone can actually increase the amount of radiation that it emits, since they block the signal and the phone has to work harder.
10. Don’t give cell phones to young children as toys or pacifiers.If you occasionally let your small tot play Pac-Man on your cell phone, put it into “airplane mode” so it won’t search for a signal—which means it won’t emit radiation.
11. Take care with older children.Children are more susceptible to potential harm from radio-frequency radiation than adults. If you give your children a cell phone for safety reasons, also give them a headset and encourage them to text or use the speakerphone instead of putting the phone close to their heads.
—Victoria Kreha
FAQs
If you set Airplane mode to ON and Wi-Fi to OFF and Bluetooth to OFF you will stop the wireless radiation. However, you will not stop the ELF-EMF/magnetic fields so always power phones off before placing them against your body.
Does airplane mode stop eMF? ›
If you set Airplane mode to ON and Wi-Fi to OFF and Bluetooth to OFF you will stop the wireless radiation. However, you will not stop the ELF-EMF/magnetic fields so always power phones off before placing them against your body.
What can you do to protect yourself? ›
You're less likely to be attacked or mugged if you're with other people. If you are walking alone, always be aware of what's going on around you. Stay in busy areas with plenty of street lights and always avoid alleys or shortcuts. Stay alert if listening to headphones, especially at night.
How to reduce eMF from cell phone? ›
Use speaker mode, head phones, or ear buds to place more distance between your head and the cell phone. Avoid making calls when the signal is weak as this causes cell phones to boost RF transmission power. Consider texting rather than talking - but don't text while you are driving.
Does switching off a phone reduce radiation? ›
Turn it off.
Phones only emit radio-frequency radiation when they're searching for or receiving a signal, so a phone that's off or in “airplane mode” is safe.
How to block electromagnetic radiation? ›
Metals like copper, aluminium, and steel are commonly used for electromagnetic shielding due to their high electrical conductivity. These metals reflect and absorb electromagnetic waves, preventing their penetration or emission. They are often used in the construction of shielding enclosures, cabinets, and chassis.
How can I protect myself legally? ›
The Castle Doctrine
Under California's Castle Doctrine, there is no duty to retreat from an intruder in your home. You can confront them and chase them away. The Castle Doctrine even allows you to use deadly force inside your home when an intruder uses force to break in.
How to protect yourself at night? ›
How to Protect Yourself While Walking at Night
- Avoid walking or running alone at night. ...
- Don't use headphones while walking, driving or jogging.
- Always walk in well-lighted areas.
- Avoid the use of short cuts.
- After dark, keep away from large bushes or doorways where someone could be lurking.
- Always stay near the curb.
If you're looking for something easy to carry with you daily, a keychain weapon or flashlight stun gun may be the best option. For something a little more heavy-duty, an expandable baton, hidden knife keychain, or multi-tool may be a better choice.
What household items block radiation? ›
Paper, skin, or even a few centimeters of air can block alpha particles, and plastic, glass, or a few millimeters of aluminum can block beta particles. Lead, concrete, or several centimeters of dense material can block gamma rays and X-rays.
Functioning electrical appliances and power lines produce EMF. Even the earth produces small amounts of EMF. Therefore, everyone is exposed to this form of energy. The highest EMF exposure can occur using appliances such as electric blankets, microwave ovens, and hair dryers.
How far away should my phone be when I sleep? ›
Try putting your phone in another room while you're sleeping. Or, if you need your phone in your bedroom with you for the alarm clock, make sure it's at least three feet away from you.
Is it bad to sleep next to your phone while charging? ›
Several studies and instances have shown that sleeping next to a phone that is charging is dangerous. But why you may ask? Experts explain that charging your phone and keeping it on a bed or under your pillow blocks the air flow to the phone, which could lead to overheating and an eventual fire.
Is it bad to keep your phone near you while sleeping? ›
It's advised to keep your phone at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) away from your face to lessen your exposure to blue light, which can interfere with your slumber and harm your eyesight. Furthermore, holding your phone near your face for an extended time can lead to eye strain, headaches, and neck pain.
Is it safe to sleep next to your phone on airplane mode? ›
Yes, airplane mode can help reduce the radiation your phone produces. By turning off its cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections in airplane mode, your phone dramatically lowers the amount of electromagnetic radiation it emits.
Does turning off Wi-Fi reduce EMF? ›
Yes, it's true that EMFs produced by your Wi-Fi are reduced when you do things such as turn off your router and modem.
How to avoid phone radiation while sleeping? ›
To watch movies or listen to playlists on your phone, download them first, then switch to airplane mode while you watch or listen. Don't sleep with your phone in your bed or near your head. Unless the phone is off or in airplane mode, keep it at least a few feet away from your bed.
What stops an EMF? ›
Consider using EMF shielding products such as EMF blocking curtains, blankets, smart meter covers, or faraday fabric to reduce your exposure to EMF radiation. These products are designed to absorb or deflect EMF radiation and can be used in areas where electronic devices are frequently used.
