As Wi-Fi/EMF exposure is a relatively new thing, the jury is still out regarding whether or not it poses any risk to our health. There are passionate arguments for and against. At this stage, it requires a whole lot of science to explain both sides in detail. There is a growing body of scientific evidence showing that too much EMF exposure can be harmful to our health. So much so that the World Health Organization classified EMFs as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” back in 2011.

This post is discussing why we personally turn Wi-Fi off at night and other EMF-reducing tips should you feel that is something important for you and your family.

Turning off your wifi:

1) It’s expensive:

An investigation into the cost of running home appliances by the Daily Telegraph in the UK revealed that the cost of a wireless router on standby alone fetched a cool £21 per annum. The next most expensive item being a laser jet printer reached £18 per annum. To put it in perspective a Plasma TV costs around £5 per annum on standby. By switching off the Wi-Fi (and the printer and TV for that matter) when you’re not using it, you’re saving some pennies.

2) It’s better for the environment:

By reducing your energy consumption, you’re reducing your impact on the environment. In my opinion, flicking a switch before bed is a small price to pay for life on this incredible planet.

3) It reduces exposure to EMF’s:

EMFs or Electromagnetic fields are a type of radiation that takes the form of waves. Generally speaking, there are 2 types of EMFs:

1. Natural EMFs –The earth produces an electromagnetic field (EMF), and so does the human body. Natural EMFs or ELF’s are low in intensity; for example, a healthy human body resonates with the earth’s magnetic field at around 10 hertz.

2. Artificial EMFs– Human technologies – from hairdryers and cell phones to high voltage wires – create EMFs above the “natural range”. Exposures to EMFs of this nature have been linked to sleep disturbances(1), neutralising of sperm(2), infertility in mice(3), increase in cardiac stress(4) and interference with plant cell growth(5). In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as a “possible human carcinogen”. You can find the report here.

We don’t trust ourselves to manually turn the wifi off every night so we bought a timer for the powerpoint and set it to turn on/off at particular times. You can buy these in many hardware shops such as Praxis, Hornbach etc. for a good price. You can also spend a little more and get ones that define the day of the week to be able to set different times for specific days:

https://www.praxis.nl/gereedschap-installatiemateriaal/elektra/schakelmateriaal/tijdschakelaars/f1401/

By taking a precautionary approach and switching our Wi-Fi (and mobiles off at night before putting them in another room), we reduce (not eliminate) our exposure to these artificial EMFs and save a few pennies whilst we’re at it. I guess you could say we’re more comfortable being safe than sorry while the research is yet to be confirmed… Anyway, some food for thought!

Some extra EMF-reducing tips and what to do:

All device manufacturers advise that each wireless device should be at some distance away from human bodies and brains. Cell phone instructions state that the device is radiation tested at a distance from your body, not in contact with your body. Printers, computers, and wireless routers instruct that the distance between the device and a human body must be at least 20 cm.

Keeping these devices closer than the manufacturer’s designated distance can result in a violation of the official radiation exposure limit so limiting contact time and distance is the way to go:

– Before a phone, tablet, MP3 player, etc. is placed into a pocket or bra or tucked into clothing, power the phone to OFF.

– 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.

– Use speaker phone or a plug-in earpiece to keep the phone away from your brain and body.

– Prefer texting instead of voice calls and hold the phone out, away from your body when you press “send,” and do not rest your phone against your abdomen as you text.

– Turn automatic updates off. Reduce active Apps. Cell phones emit radiation constantly, even when you are not actively using them. Even if you turn wireless antennas off, they are still emitting magnetic fields so power them 100% off before you carry them near your body.

– Keep the devices away from the kiddos as much as possible or at least, at a distance.

– One basic, very important concept is “Distance Is Your Friend.” The amount of wireless radiation absorbed into people decreases very rapidly when you increase the distance from wireless devices.

– Decrease your exposure by increasing your distance from wireless emitting sources. For example, always keep cell phones and wireless laptops away from your body.

– Avoid wearables such as wireless watches, wireless sleep monitors, wireless headsets and fitness type devices.

Keep electronics out of the bedroom:

All electronics emit electromagnetic radiation that is harmful to your body. It’s one thing to expose yourself to EMF radiation from wireless devices when you’re getting some benefit from those gadgets (like when you’re talking on your cell phone or watching Netflix). But when you’re asleep, you’re not enjoying your wireless tech.
So if you have these wireless devices in your bedroom at night, you are exposing your body to radiation that is not necessary, and brings you absolutely no benefit.

Let your bedroom be a technology free zone by keeping electronics out of the bedroom, you’ll make a significant reduction in your overall radiation exposure, which itself reduces your radiation health risks.

Instead of bringing your electronics into the bedroom try:

Reading a book before you sleep;
Create a night-time ritual without electronics;
Spend time talking to your partner or family about how their day was;
Do relaxing yoga or breathing exercises.

References

Cunnington et al. 2013, ‘Insomnia: prevalence, consequences and effective treatment’, Medical Journal of Australia, Available Here. 

Avendano et. al 2012, ‘Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation’, Fertility and Sterility, Available here.

Shahin, et. al 2013, Microwave Irradiation-Induced Oxidative Stress Affects Implantation or Pregnancy in Mice, Applied Biochemistry Biotechnology. Available here. 

Havas & Marrongelle 2013, ‘Replication of heart rate variability provocation study with 2.4-GHz cordless phone confirms original findings’, Electromagnetic Biology of Medicine. Available here. 

Daily Mail UK 2013, ‘What’s wifi doing to us? Experiment finds that shrubs die when placed next to wireless routers’, Available Here. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Redmayne et. al 2013, ‘The relationship between adolescents’ well-being and their wireless phone use: a cross-sectional study’, Enviornmental Health. Available here