Comments on: About That EMF… http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations to science journalism Tue, 22 May 2012 05:08:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Stefanos http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-151215 Stefanos Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:50:16 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-151215 I ve never thought of the possibility for an evolutionary cause behind a -possible- EMF hypersensitivity. Still, the way you describe it I cant see very clear benefits giving a natural selection-advantage to people with it. Of course I am not a biologist so .. yeah.. There is a serious problem emerging from over-reacting to alleged adverse reactions to various things.People usually are afraid of science because they dont understand some aspects of it (I dont mean it in a derogatory way.We cant know everything). And the media,internet etc are not always helpful in discerning between pure fantasy and possible reality. So if you are afraid of something and dont really understand it, with the added bonus that behind it you can cram words like "scientists", "corporations" "invisible electromagnetic rays" and "disease", you have a perfect recipe for misinformation and terror. So it is the responsibility of all scientists to do two things: a. Try to communicate better to other people what is true and what is not. What you say, "science ninjas unite". Speak up. b. Be patient. Very patient. Because usually, first reactions of people vs. a "scientist" are not that good. bonus c: reach out to kids. If you are woo-proofed in an early age.. Thanks for reading this. I ve never thought of the possibility for an evolutionary cause behind a -possible- EMF hypersensitivity. Still, the way you describe it I cant see very clear benefits giving a natural selection-advantage to people with it. Of course I am not a biologist so .. yeah..
There is a serious problem emerging from over-reacting to alleged adverse reactions to various things.People usually are afraid of science because they dont understand some aspects of it (I dont mean it in a derogatory way.We cant know everything). And the media,internet etc are not always helpful in discerning between pure fantasy and possible reality. So if you are afraid of something and dont really understand it, with the added bonus that behind it you can cram words like “scientists”, “corporations” “invisible electromagnetic rays” and “disease”, you have a perfect recipe for misinformation and terror.
So it is the responsibility of all scientists to do two things:
a. Try to communicate better to other people what is true and what is not. What you say, “science ninjas unite”. Speak up.
b. Be patient. Very patient. Because usually, first reactions of people vs. a “scientist” are not that good.
bonus c: reach out to kids. If you are woo-proofed in an early age..
Thanks for reading this.

]]> By: Gary Levin MD http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-88766 Gary Levin MD Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:07:44 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-88766 Actually several studies are underway using MRI scanners for treatment of depression. Although this is not EMF it is a strong magnetic field which may cause EMF changes in the brain Actually several studies are underway using MRI scanners for treatment of depression. Although this is not EMF it is a strong magnetic field which may cause EMF changes in the brain

]]> By: Iljitsch van Beijnum http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-88594 Iljitsch van Beijnum Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:21:35 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-88594 I'm missing the discussion about double blind testing to see if these people are really sensitive to electromagnetic radiation or that they are just blaming their symptoms on that without any foundation. I’m missing the discussion about double blind testing to see if these people are really sensitive to electromagnetic radiation or that they are just blaming their symptoms on that without any foundation.

]]> By: Harlan http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82727 Harlan Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:41:12 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82727 How about living in the same place, and constructing a Faraday cage? :-) How about living in the same place, and constructing a Faraday cage? :-)

]]> By: MacKull http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82725 MacKull Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:35:50 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82725 Important new research in rabbits and rats find that pulsed digital signals from today’s smartphones damage sperm, brain, liver, eyes and skin of exposed offspring, and impair their memory and behavior. According to independent studies at the Cleveland Clinic and Australia’s national research center, men who use cell phones four hours a day have about half the normal sperm and three times more damage to their DNA than those with much less use. Source: http://www.cisionwire.com/the-investor-relations-group/r/environmental-health-trust-cites-conflict-of-interest-surrounding-new-published-study,c9142949 Anyone who does a little reasearch on electomagnetic field radition would not be able to support the position that EMF radiation is safe. Research on Biological Effects of Radio Frequency Radiation in Eurasian Communist Countries, 1976. (Source: http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/02/24/pick-of-the-week-23-research-on-biological-effects-of-radio-frequency-radiation-in-eurasian-communist-countries-1976/ ) Effect of Microwaves on the Central Nervous System 1965 – German translation (Source: http://www.magdahavas.com/2010/12/02/pick-of-the-week-18-effect-of-microwaves-on-the-central-nervous-system-1965-german-translation/ ) Important new research in rabbits and rats find that pulsed digital signals from today’s smartphones damage sperm, brain, liver, eyes and skin of exposed offspring, and impair their memory and behavior. According to independent studies at the Cleveland Clinic and Australia’s national research center, men who use cell phones four hours a day have about half the normal sperm and three times more damage to their DNA than those with much less use.

Source: http://www.cisionwire.com/the-investor-relations-group/r/environmental-health-trust-cites-conflict-of-interest-surrounding-new-published-study,c9142949

Anyone who does a little reasearch on electomagnetic field radition would not be able to support the position that EMF radiation is safe.

Research on Biological Effects of Radio Frequency Radiation in Eurasian Communist Countries, 1976.
(Source: http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/02/24/pick-of-the-week-23-research-on-biological-effects-of-radio-frequency-radiation-in-eurasian-communist-countries-1976/ )

Effect of Microwaves on the Central Nervous System 1965 – German translation
(Source: http://www.magdahavas.com/2010/12/02/pick-of-the-week-18-effect-of-microwaves-on-the-central-nervous-system-1965-german-translation/ )

]]> By: lwatcdr http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82700 lwatcdr Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:07:04 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82700 @chris yes very strong RF causes harm It actually generates heat. That is why the FCC has exposure limits. If there was a problem with the shielding it could have been. The thing is that RF follows the inverse square law and distance really helps. Just for fun I looked up weather radar. The standard NOAA weather radar puts out 750kW of power which is a lot. Wifi is limited to 100 miliwatts. Think of something as harmless as sound. Imagine stereo blasting out 750kW of sound. My guess that would be several rock concert speaker systems at point blank range on full. The 100 mW of a wifi set up would be like a pin drop at 50 feet. The rest of this is just sad. These people have been convinced that EM is hurting them and are living lives of misery. @chris yes very strong RF causes harm It actually generates heat. That is why the FCC has exposure limits. If there was a problem with the shielding it could have been. The thing is that RF follows the inverse square law and distance really helps. Just for fun I looked up weather radar. The standard NOAA weather radar puts out 750kW of power which is a lot. Wifi is limited to 100 miliwatts. Think of something as harmless as sound. Imagine stereo blasting out 750kW of sound. My guess that would be several rock concert speaker systems at point blank range on full. The 100 mW of a wifi set up would be like a pin drop at 50 feet.

The rest of this is just sad. These people have been convinced that EM is hurting them and are living lives of misery.

]]> By: patrick.m.roanhouse@gmail.com http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82649 patrick.m.roanhouse@gmail.com Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:58:23 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82649 The one thing though is these people have started to complain more so lately with the presence of modern Microwave transmission systems. The broadcast TV systems are in a much lower EM Band than say that of Cellphones, Wifi, GigFi. Also there is talk but not hard fact yet that projects like the HAARP High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program has effected both birds and fish migratory patterns when activated. I like to air on the side that with your argument, that some people are born with certain sense perception outside the standard norm. If the person is getting strange sensory response from EMF maybe the only way for the brain to understand it is to illicit a psycho-somatic response in a certain few. The one thing though is these people have started to complain more so lately with the presence of modern Microwave transmission systems. The broadcast TV systems are in a much lower EM Band than say that of Cellphones, Wifi, GigFi. Also there is talk but not hard fact yet that projects like the HAARP High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program has effected both birds and fish migratory patterns when activated. I like to air on the side that with your argument, that some people are born with certain sense perception outside the standard norm. If the person is getting strange sensory response from EMF maybe the only way for the brain to understand it is to illicit a psycho-somatic response in a certain few.

]]> By: Zap Andersson http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82605 Zap Andersson Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:46:14 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82605 Just a detail; if this was an old CRT TV, the difference in EMF radiation between "on" and "off" is quite staggering. There's a 25 kilovolt acceleration voltage to get those glorious electrons to hit the screen, and large magnets who deflect the glorious electrons left and right thousands of times per second (left to right) and 50 or 60 times per second (up or down). TV's are in general quite crappily sheilded from this (much better on CRT computer monitors where there has been regulation). That said, I am extremely sceptical about the "EMF oversensitivity" thing myself, and nobody this decade has a CRT TV anyway.... but I just wanted this precision to be added to your excellent article. /Z Just a detail; if this was an old CRT TV, the difference in EMF radiation between “on” and “off” is quite staggering. There’s a 25 kilovolt acceleration voltage to get those glorious electrons to hit the screen, and large magnets who deflect the glorious electrons left and right thousands of times per second (left to right) and 50 or 60 times per second (up or down). TV’s are in general quite crappily sheilded from this (much better on CRT computer monitors where there has been regulation).

That said, I am extremely sceptical about the “EMF oversensitivity” thing myself, and nobody this decade has a CRT TV anyway…. but I just wanted this precision to be added to your excellent article.

/Z

]]> By: Curvian http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82522 Curvian Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:13:39 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82522 Great article! I once took my mom and sister up to the roof of the building where I work to show them the view. Above one of the exits a panel was missing from the ceiling where maintenance was being done. As soon as my mom got close to the exit she turned around holding her chest looking very panicky and backed away from the exit. She said she kept feeling a tightness on her chest getting worse the closer she got to the exit. Strange thing is the exact same thing happened to me when I approached the exit! My sister had no trouble getting through. It was the strangest feeling I've ever had. Could this be related to EM hypersensitivity? Great article!

I once took my mom and sister up to the roof of the building where I work to show them the view. Above one of the exits a panel was missing from the ceiling where maintenance was being done. As soon as my mom got close to the exit she turned around holding her chest looking very panicky and backed away from the exit. She said she kept feeling a tightness on her chest getting worse the closer she got to the exit. Strange thing is the exact same thing happened to me when I approached the exit! My sister had no trouble getting through. It was the strangest feeling I’ve ever had.

Could this be related to EM hypersensitivity?

]]> By: Kirsten Sanford http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82521 Kirsten Sanford Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:06:42 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2011/09/13/about-that-emf/#comment-82521 Thanks for the catch, Joel! Fixed :) Thanks for the catch, Joel! Fixed :)

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