emf lcd monitors quotation

Ahlbom I, Cardis E, Green A, Linet M, Savitz D, Swerdlow A. Review of the epidemiologic literature on EMF and Health.

Felix N, Chizurumoke M, Emmanuel E. Measurement of Magnetic Fields from Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Computer Monitors.

A simple flat screen emits very low levels of EMF radiation. But the new generations of smart TVs emit stronger EMF signals. They will often emit both radio frequencies (RF) and Bluetooth radiation.

These old TVs actually emit low levels of X-ray radiation, which is much more dangerous than the other types of your EMFs we are concerned with from newer screens.

LCD TVs were the first types of flat screens to enter the market after we went away from the old bulky TVs we mentioned above. They are still found in many homes and they are filled around the fluorescent technology.

LCD TVs are powered by CCFL lamps. The screen is lit up by these lamps. CCFL is short for “Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp” and that means that we are dealing with fluorescent light.

You need to keep some distance to these monitors. You should stay at least 4-5 feet away from the screen in order to get the levels below the safe limits.

Plasma TVs do use much more energy than the two previous TV-technologies: CRT and LCD screens. So you need to pay attention to the electromagnetic fields close to the screen.

So we don’t have to be too concerned about the EMF levels coming from the electronics inside the TV and the screen itself. As long as we remember to not sit directly in front of the screen. We always need to add at least 4-5 feet distance to the screen (which shouldn’t be a problem as we have giant screens today).

Some smart TVs have the option of inserting an ethernet cable directly into the TV. But more often than not, this won’t disable or turn off the Wi-Fi signal. So all you get this set bit more speed on the connection to the router. The EMF levels will typically stay the same because you cannot switch off the wireless signal from the TV.

The only other option you are left with is to get an EMF meter and make sure you do some readings on the TV before you buy it. You might be able to find a TV where you can switch off the RF radiation. But you shouldn’t take anybody’s word for it. Even though it says on the screen that you are switching off the wireless signal you might still find that it emits full speed.

You might not be able to find a 50 or 60-inch computer monitor at the local store but you can find computer monitors up to 65” at best buy. Asus and Samsung also have some great widescreen and curved computer monitors that can just as easily be used as TVs.

This is definitely the easiest solution for you if you don’t want to open the TV and dismantle the Wi-Fi device as we showed in the video above. It can be dangerous to open TV screens and computer monitors and it’s definitely not something we advise you do unless you know what you do or can get help from an electrical engineer.

Be aware that the resolution on computer screens are often much higher than on TV screens. They were also many times be cheaper because people are willing to pay more for TVs than they will for computer monitors.

It’s impossible for us to list all the different types of TVs and how much EMF radiation they emit. There’s simply too many brands and models for us to cover them all.

So your best option here is to do your own readings. Luckily, the EMF meters we need to do this have become pretty popular and therefore more affordable. For around $200 you will get a very good EMF meter that is also being used by experts, scientists, and building biologist.

I really like this EMF meter because it has a very user-friendly interface and is easy to use. On top of that, it’s pretty accurate and you can measure RF radiation (wifi, smartphones, laptops, Bluetooth, etc.) as well as magnetic and electric fields.

The Cornet ED88T Plus is the newest EMF meter from Cornet and it’s just great. You can read more about it here in our short review. Here’s a link to see the prices on Amazon.

The same goes for the latest versions of Samsung’s TV sets. You cannot turn off the signal which is the big problem if you want to get rid of EMF radiation in your home. You might still be able to find earlier versions of Samsung TVs (used) where you can actually turn off the Wi-Fi signal as you plug in the ethernet cable instead.

You should also be aware that the gaming console itself (the main box) typically emit very strong RF radiation in all directions. The worst among the gaming consoles when it comes to EMF radiation is the Xbox. It sends out loads of EMFs even though it’s turned to sleep mode or standby. If you like your gaming consoles you should read our article here on EMF around the Xbox.

They are developed by Daniel Debaun who also wrote the excellent book “Radiation Nation”. It’s a great book for anyone wants to get into EMFs and educate themselves a little bit more. You can get the book at Daniels store here.

Some people experience headaches, brain fog, burning skin, chest pain, heart arrhythmia or other electrical sensitivity symptoms when using a computer. Whether you already experience symptoms or simply want to use a computer in a healthier way, there are a number of practical things you can do to lower your EMF exposure.

However, through this process I have learned a lot about what works, and what does not when it comes to using a computer safely. My hope is that you can implement some of the solutions below to get back online or to simply prevent you and your family from experiencing the negative effects of EMFs.

3.) Try an electronic keyboard. During times when your symptoms are intense, there are still ways to be productive. I typed this article on my AlphaSmart 3000. It is a battery powered electronic keyboard (with almost no EMFs!) that will allow you to type up to 100 pages that you can easily import into a computer.

It’s amazing how productive and creative you can be without the distraction of the internet right in front of you! Many writers use these for their first drafts. Most of the material on this website was written on my AlphaSmart 3000 (pictured below). I recommend that you purchase the AlphaSmart Neo or Neo 2, which are newer models than the 3000 that I have. You can find a high quality model on ebay for about $50. It is one of my favorite low EMF computing purchases and it will last you for years.

4.) Use your smart phone for communicating. This may sound antithetical to some, but hear me out. I have multiple EHS friends who have figured out that the least painful way for them to be connected to the world is through their smart phone. With the phone on Airplane mode, it is actually a very low EMF computer. You can type responses to your messages and then press “send”while the phone is on Airplane mode. The messages will be stored by the phone. Then, put the phone down on a table, turn off Airplane mode and walk away from the phone. Within a couple minutes, the phone will have sent all stored messages and downloaded any new messages.

Note that this method works for text messages, WhatsApp and most web based email like Gmail or Yahoo. It does not work for certain apps like Facebook Messenger or Google Hangout. This method works incredibly well for those who are too sensitized to EMFs to safely be on a computer. See #9 below for another tip on using a phone.

Many desktop computers (or laptops connected to a docking station) with separate monitors can also work well (Older Dell monitors worked best for me). You can also use a screen magnifier so that you can sit farther back from the monitors. Desktop systems provide the ability to modify your work station in a way that lowers your EMF exposure (like moving the computer and screen farther away from your body). Several of my clients have done well with the Dell OptiPlex Desktop. Search for “Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 500GB Hard Drive – Black Model:OP3060MTVKXV1 / SKU:6260201”.

For any used/renewed laptop purchases of the above models on Amazon or Ebay, just make sure you can return them within 14 or 30 days if it doesn’t work for you or if the machine is not working properly. I often buy a few models at a time and keep the one that works best for me. I typically take these older machines to a local computer repair person who keeps them running smoothly and updates any hardware/software that is necessary. Some laptops will last 10-15 years if you treat them well and a solid relationship with a good computer repair technician in your community will help you to have a low-EMF computer system for years to come.

As a general rule, older corporate Dell laptops and new Toshiba laptops (now called Dynabook) seem to work well for electrically sensitive people. Anything by Apple, along with HP’s and the newer Dell laptops tend to be high EMF machines. I have heard from many EHS people that Apple computers are the worst for them (partly due to their aluminum case – see this video). It’s a shame because I really like Apple computer systems.

7.) Work in a low-EMF environment. You could have an ultra-low EMF computer, but if you are in a high EMF environment you may quickly develop symptoms. Here is a summary of how to measure and reduce the four types of EMFs in your home and/or work space. Here is short video that show you how to measure your home. Finally, the following image shows the EMF measurements at my current laptop workstation. The RF, magnetic and electric field components are all very low. You can learn more about these meters and how to use them on my EMF meter page.

8.) Use a Low-EMI wired keyboard.Not every wired keyboard (or mouse) is low-EMF. Some will have cheap circuitry that will produce significant amounts of EMI (electromagnetic interference). This can be a problem for electrically sensitive individuals. I test my equipment with a Radio Shack AM radio model 12-467 (you can typically find one on ebay) or this TECSUN shortwave radio on Amazon. Here is a short video where I demonstrate how you can test your keyboard. This wired keyboard has been tested to be low-EMI. I currently use this basic wired Microsoft keyboard and mouse.

The messages then send once the phone is reconnected to the 3G/4G network (she steps away from the phone then). The USB attachment seen below can be found here. As outlined in this article, it is also possible to connect most smart phones to the internet via Ethernet, which makes it possible to use your device without any wireless connectivity. This is truly a low-EMF computing solution.

The following is one such system that was designed by Bruce McCreary, a retired electrical engineer who has been electrically sensitive for nearly 30 years. It took him considerable time to design and build this system, but he now has an ultra-low EMF computer setup. His knowledge is extremely valuable and could help you if you are serious about building such a system.

Here are some images of Bruce’s computer system that he designed for his off-the-grid home in Arizona. If a system like this is of interest to you, please contact me and I will connect you either to Bruce or another colleague, Richard Conrad, Ph.D, who also has considerable experience helping people design and build low-EMF systems.

If you have any suggestions of low EMF computers or methods that have helped you, I would appreciate hearing about them. Please share your ideas below to benefit others who are experiencing the exact same thing.

Measured values for both TV and PC screens can be found under "screen". As far as possible, they are distinguished acc. to the technology employed (e.g. cathode ray tubes, LCD screens). Flat screens are based on LCD or plasma technology; the employment of cathode ray tubes is not feasible due to space requirements.

In contrast to that, the main components of an LCD (Liquid Chrystals Display) screen are liquid crystals. Each pixel corresponds with a crystal. Its transparency can be controlled by a given voltage without influencing the adjacent crystals: Once a voltage has been employed, the crystals change their permeability for polarized light. The polarized light originates from a background illumination, followed by a polarization filter.

This EMF/ELF Tri-Axis Gauss Meter is a scientific instrument for measuring electromagnetic fields (EMF) with extremely low frequency (ELF) of 30 ~ 2000 Hz. The reading in milliGauss (mG) and microTesla (µT) are switchable anytime with just one press of a button.

All parts are of professional quality and Made in Taiwan, it accurately measures EMF pollution in your environment. It has given approval from European Directives for health & safety standards (CE Marking). You can be sure of its high quality, safety and accuracy.

Computer monotors and TV monitors can be made to emit weak low-frequency electromagnetic fields merely by pulsing the intensity of displayed images. Experiments have shown that the ½ Hz sensory resonance can be excited in this manner in a subject near the monitor. The 2.4 Hz sensory resonance can also be excited in this fashion. Hence, a TV monitor or computer monitor can be used to manipulate the nervous system of nearby people.

Certain monitors can emit electromagnetic field pulses that excite a sensory resonance in a nearby subject, through image pulses that are so weak as to be subliminal. This is unfortunate since it opens a way for mischievous application of the invention, whereby people are exposed unknowingly to manipulation of their nervous systems for someone else"s purposes. Such application would be unethical and is of course not advocated. It is mentioned here in order to alert the public to the possibility of covert abuse that may occur while being online, or while watching TV, a video, or a DVD.

Computer monitors and TV monitors emit electromagnetic fields. Part of the emission occurs at the low frequencies at which displayed images are changing. For instance, a rythmic pulsing of the intensity of an image causes electromagnetic field emission at the pulse frequency, with a strength proportional to the pulse amplitude. The field is briefly referred to as “screen emission”. In discussing this effect, any part or all what is displayed on the monitor screen is called an image. A monitor of the cathode ray tube (CRT) type has three electron beams, one for each of the basic colors red, green, and blue. The intensity of an image is here defined as

For a liquid crystal display (LCD), the current densities in the definition of image intensity are to be replaced by driving voltages, multiplied by the aperture ratio of the device. For an LCD, image intensities are thus expressed in volts.

It will be shown that for a CRT or LCD screen emissions are caused by fluctuations in image intensity. In composite video however, intensity as defined above is not a primary signal feature, but luminance Y is. For any pixel one has

One-half Hertz sensory resonance experiments have been conducted with the subject positioned at least at normal viewing distance from a 15″ computer monitor that was driven by a computer program written in Visual Basic(R), version 6.0 (VB6). The program produces a pulsed image with uniform luminance and hue over the full screen, except for a few small control buttons and text boxes. In VB6, screen pixel colors are determined by integers R, G, and B, that range from 0 to 255, and set the contributions to the pixel color made by the basic colors red, green, and blue. For a CRT-type monitor, the pixel intensities for the primary colors may depend on the RGB values in a nonlinear manner that will be discussed. In the VB6 program the RGB values are modulated by small pulses ΔR, ΔG, ΔB, with a frequency that can be chosen by the subject or is swept in a predetermined manner. In the sensory resonance experiments mentioned above, the ratios ΔR/R, ΔG/G, and ΔB/B were always smaller than 0.02, so that the image pulses are quite weak. For certain frequencies near ½ Hz, the subject experienced physiological effects that are known to accompany the excitation of the ½ Hz sensory resonance as mentioned in the Background Section. Moreover, the measured field pulse amplitudes fall within the effective intensity window for the ½ Hz resonance, as explored in earlier experiments and discussed in the "874, "744, "922, and "304 patents. Other experiments have shown that the 2.4 Hz sensory resonance can be exited as well by screen emissions from monitors that display pulsed images.

These results confirm that, indeed, the nervous system of a subject can be manipulated through electromagnetic field pulses emitted by a nearby CRT or LCD monitor which displays images with pulsed intensity.

The brightness of monitors can usually be adjusted by a control, which may be addressable through a brightness adjustment terminal. If the control is of the analog type, the displayed image intensity may be pulsed as shown in FIG. 15, simply by a pulse generator 6, labeled “GEN”, that is connected to the brigthness adjustment terminal 88 of the monitor 2, labeled “MON”. Equivalent action can be provided for digital brightness controls, in ways that are well known in the art.

For two CRT-type monitors the pulsed electric field due to image intensity pulsing has been measured at several points on the screen center line for pulse frequencies of ½ Hz. The monitors were the 15″ computer monitor used in the sensory resonance experiments mentioned above, and a 30″ TV tube. The experimental results need to be compared with the theory derived above. Since R is determined by the screen area, the electric fields given by (13) and (19) have as only free parameter the pulse voltage V(0) at the screen center. The amplitude of this voltage can therefore be determined for the tested monitors by fitting the experimental data to the theoretical results. Prior to fitting, the data were normalized to an image that occupies the entire screen and is pulsed uniformly with a 100% intensity amplitude. The results of the one-parameter fit are displayed in FIG. 18, which shows the theoretical graph 100, together with the normalized experimental data points 103 for the 15− computer monitor and for the 30″ TV tube. FIG. 18 shows that the developed theory agrees fairly well with the experimental results. From the best fit one can find the center-screen voltage pulse amplitudes. The results, normalized as discussed above, are |V(0)|=266.2 volt for the 15″ computer monitor and |V(0)|=310.1 volt for the 30″ TV tube. With these amplitudes in hand, the emitted pulsed electric field along the center line of the monitors can be calculated from the sum of the fields (13) and (19). For instance, for the 15″ computer monitor with 1.8% RGB pulse modulation used in the ½ Hz sensory resonance experiments mentioned above, the pulsed electric field at the center of the subject, located at z=70 cm on the screen center line, is calculated as having an amplitude of 0.21 V/m. That such a pulsed electric field, applied to a large portion of the skin, is sufficient for exciting the ½ Hz sensory resonance is consistent with experimental results discussed in the "874 patent.

Screen emissions also occur for liquid crystal displays (LCD). The pulsed electric fields may have considerable amplitude for LCDs that have their driving electrodes on opposite sides of the liquid crystal cell, for passive matrix as well as for active matrix design, such as thin film technology (TFT). For arrangements with in-plane switching (IPS) however, the driving electrodes are positioned in a single plane, so that the screen emission is very small. For arrangements other than IPS, the electric field is closely approximated by the fringe field of a two-plate condenser, for the simple case that the image is uniform and extends over the full screen. For a circular LCD screen with radius R, the field on the center line can be readily calculated as due to pulsed dipoles that are uniformly distributed over the screen, with the result

where Ed(z) is the amplitude of the pulsed electric field at a distance z from the screen and V is a voltage pulse amplitude, in which the aperture ratio of the LCD has been taken into account. Eq. (21) can be used as an approximation for screens of any shape, by taking R as the radius of a circle with the same area as the screen. The result applies to the case that the LCD does not have a ground connection, so that the top and bottom electrodes are at opposite potential, i.e., V/2 and −V/2.

If one set of LCD electrodes is grounded, monopoles are needed to keep these electrodes at zero potential, much as in the case of a CRT discussed above. The LCD situation is simpler however, as there is no charge injection by electron beams, so that the potentials on the top and bottom plates of the condenser in the model are spatially uniform. From (14) it is seen that monopoles, distributed over the disc of radius R in the plane z=0 such as to provide on the disc a potential V/2, induce on the symmetry axis a potential φ  ( z ) = 1 π  V   β  ( R ) . ( 22 )

induced by the pulsed monopoles. For an LCD with one set of electrodes grounded, the pulsed electric field for screen voltage pulse amplitude V at a distance z from the screen on the center line has an amplitude that is the sum of the parts (21) and (23). The resultant electric field in the back is relatively small, due to the change in sign in the monopole field that is caused by the factor z/|z|. Therefore, screen emissions in front of an LCD can be kept small simply by having the grounded electrodes in front.

As a check on the theory, the pulsed electric field emitted by the 3″ LCD-TFT color screen of the camcorder mentioned above has been measured at eleven points on the center line of the screen, ranging from 4.0 cm to 7.5 cm. The pulsed image was produced by playing back the video recording of the 15″ computer monitor that was made while running the VB6 program discussed above, for a image intensity pulse frequency of ½ Hz, R=G=B=K, modulated around K=127 with an amplitude ΔK=51. After normalization to a uniform full screen image with 100% intensity modulation by using the nonlinear relation (20), the experimental data were fitted to the theoretical curve that expresses the sum of the fields (21) and (23). The effective screen pulse voltage amplitude V was found to be 2.1 volt. The relative standard deviation in V for the fit is 5.1%, which shows that theory and experiment are in fairly good agreement.

Certain monitors can cause excitation of sensory resonances even when the pulsing of displayed images is subliminal, i.e., unnoticed by the average person. When checking this condition on a computer monitor, a problem arises because of the rounding of RGB values to integers, as occurs in the VB6 program. For small pulse amplitude the sine wave is thereby distorted into a square wave, which is easier to spot. This problem is alleviated somewhat by choosing ΔR=0, ΔG=0, and ΔB=2, since then the 8 rounded sine functions around the unit circle, multiplied with the pulse amplitude ΔB=2 become the sequence 1, 2 11 2, 1, −1 −2, −2, −1, etc, which is smoother to the eye than a square wave. Using the VB6 program and the 15″ computer monitor mentioned above with R=71, G=71, and B=233, a ½ Hz pulse modulation with amplitudes ΔR=ΔG=0 and ΔB=2 could not be noticed by the subject, and is therefore considered subliminal. It is of interest to calculate the screen emission for this case, and conduct a sensory resonance experiment as well. A distance z=60 cm was chosen for the calculation and the experiment. Using Eq. (20), the image intensity pulse modulation for the case is found to be 1.0% of the maximum intensity modulation. Using R=13.83 cm together with |V(0)|=266.2 V for the 15″ computer monitor, and the theoretical graph 100 of FIG. 18, the pulsed electric field at z=60 cm was found to have an amplitude of 138 mV/m. In view of the experimental results discussed in the "874 and "922 patents, such a field, used at a pulse frequency chosen appropriately for the ½ Hz sensory resonance and applied predominantly to the face, is expected to be sufficient for exciting the ½ Hz sensory resonance. A confirmation experiment was done by running the VB6 program with the discussed settings and the 15″ monitor. The center of the subject"s face was positioned on the screen center line, at a distance of 60 cm from the screen. A frequency sweep of −0.1% per ten cycles was chosen, with an initial pulse frequency of 34 ppm. Full ptosis was experienced by the subject at 20 minutes into the run, when the pulse frequency was f=31.76 ppm. At 27 minutes into the run, the frequency sweep was reversed to +0.1% per ten cycles. Full ptosis was experienced at f=31.66 ppm. At 40 minutes into the run, the frequency sweep was set to −0.1% per ten cycles. Full ptosis occurred at f=31.44 ppm. The small differences in ptosis frequency are attributed to chemical detuning, discussed in the Background Section. It is concluded that the ½ Hz sensory resonance was excited in this experiment by screen emissions from subliminal image pulsing on the 15″ computer monitor at a distance of 60 cm. For each implementation and embodiment discussed, the image pulsing may be subliminal.

In this post, I’m going to tell you how computer monitors emit EMF radiation, how much they emit, how you can test this, and what you can do about it.

(Just a quick note before we move on. I would love for you to take just a minute and check out Nicolas Pineault’s groundbreaking E-book “A Non-Tinfoil Guide To EMFs.” It is the most entertaining and informative book on EMF radiation you’ll ever read, I promise.)

There are primarily three types of radiation sources that a computer monitor is likely to have, UV light radiation, x-ray radiation, and EMF radiation. Which radiation, and how much they emit, will depend largely on the monitor. Let’s talk a little bit about each kind.

There are basically two categories of monitors: cathode-ray tubes, and the flat-screen monitors that you see today, which are typically either LED or LCD based screens.

Prior to about 2001, almost all monitors were using cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology to power the screens. However, these types of monitors generate, and leak, small amounts of highly dangerous X-Ray Radiation. Although this had been recognized since the 60’s as being dangerous, it was not until the late 1990’s that manufacturers really fell under scrutiny for continuing to make a knowingly dangerous product.

This led to the manufacturing of Light Emitting Diode (LED) and liquid crystal display (LCD), which is what I used for nearly all modern monitors (and televisions)

Exposure to x-radiation is obviously extremely harmful and is an unfortunate bi-product of older style cathode ray tube (CRT) type monitors. The electronics in these old monitors generated extremely high voltages that would often result in x-ray radiation.

Although x-radiation that you could receive from one of these older style CRT monitors is dangerous and harmful, it is much less than you would receive from a medical x-ray machine or the x-ray at the dentist. This is the reason that they have you wear led vests to protect your body from the radiation.

Later versions of CRT monitors were slightly safer, as manufacturers began to take steps to reduce this x-ray radiation by adding lead to the cathode ray tube, which helped to cut down on this issue.

The EMF meter that the gentleman is using in this video is the older version of the Trifield meter, the company now has the new TriField TF2 (read my review), but we’ll talk about that a bit more down below in the section about measuring computer monitor radiation.

Ultraviolet light (UV) is much less harmful than x-ray radiation, but high amounts over a long period of time can still certainly cause harm. Some monitors actually have a fluorescent lamp that is part of the illumination. When the ultraviolet light strikes a white phosphor, the visible light that you see is created, but it has the side effect of sometimes leaking ultraviolet light out.

Luckily they make screen protectors for computer monitors that not only block 100% of the UV light but also help to filter out blue lights that can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS) from longterm exposure to computer monitors.

The EMF Radiation from your computer monitor will be relatively small and come from circuitry in the back of the unit. As you can see from the video above when he is testing an LCD monitor, there is still a noticeable amount of EMF radiation, but you have to be quite close.

The Long Island Power Authority did a study where they measured the average EMF radiation from many home appliances. Although they did not specifically test LCD or led computer monitors, they did test led and LCD televisions. Here are the numbers they came up with at the following distances:

As you can see, there is quite a large amount of EMF radiation at VERY close distances, but if you sit at least three feet away from the screen, you will not much need to worry about EMF radiation exposure. Be sure that you don’t sit so far away that you strain your eyes, but do keep at least 3 feet between you and the screen.

This applies to almost anything that you want to test, but you first need to start by getting a high-quality EMF meter. I personally use, and love, the new TriField TF2 (read my review). It is super easy to use, incredibly accurate, and measures every kind of EMF radiation, which you’ll realize is really important. If you need to start with a lower cost version I also like the Meterk (read my review).

Getting a good EMF meter is one of the absolute best things you can do if you care about the dangers of EMF radiation. Whether it’s figuring out how much radiation your Smart Meter is emitting, or testing to see if your microwave is leaking radiation, or comparing cell phone radiation, having a good EMF meter is the first step in knowing what the problem is, and knowing if your solutions are working.

First of all, computer monitors do emit a relatively small amount of EMF radiation at reasonable distances. So the absolute best thing you can do is keep at least a reasonable distance (3 feet or more) between you and the monitor whenever possible.

They don’t seem to make a good shield for computer monitors that are actually intended to block EMF radiation, but they do make this window film that you can pick up on Amazon, that you could cut to fit the size of your monitor if you really wanted to reduce the amount of radiation you’re exposing yourself to.

In today’s world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child’s brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers’ concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3–3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC’s) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.

Electromagnetic radiation is generated from natural environments such as the solar energy and geomagnetic field or from manmade sources. With scientific and technological advancements, our everyday environments are filled with various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are invisible and generated from electrical lines, transmission towers, telecommunications, home appliances, mobile phones, WiFi, and base stations. An increasing number of children use computers and iPads for school, entertainment, and social activities. Even infants can be exposed to EMFs in the residential environment or by the direct use of electronic devices (Fig. 1).

There are 2 main categories of EMFs: extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) waves [1-3]. ELFs can be generated from electrical lines or transmission towers, issues of which have been investigated for the last several decades. RFs can be generated from mobile phones and smart devices and the recent 5th-generation (5G) technologies. The human effects of RFs are less evident and more difficult to study than those of ELFs.

In Korea, general measures have been recommended to reduce EMF exposure such as reducing the use of electronic devices or using them away from the body. However, little is known about the exact amount of daily EMF exposure that can affect a child’s health and whether the effects of EMF exposure are similar to those of adults. The developing nervous system is more conductive and absorbs more electromagnetic energies than those of adults [4]. Therefore, different standards are required to protect children.

In recent years, pediatricians have become increasingly asked about children’s use of electromagnetic devices and the risks of EMF exposure. Thus, more knowledge about pediatric exposure to electromagnetic radiation is required than any other time before. Thus, this article reviews the current knowledge about the health effects of EMF exposure on children. The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) opinions and other scientific researches will be critically reviewed, and the precautionary principle to reduce the negative effects of EMF on children will be emphasized.

Whenever electrical current flows, both electrical and magnetic fields are generated, known as EMFs. Electric field strength is measured as volts per meter (V/m), while magnetic field strength is measured as amperes per meter (A/m). A magnetic field can be measured as magnetic flux density (Tesla).

The electromagnetic spectrum is categorized into a frequency range: ELF, RF, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and ionizing radiations (x- and γ-radiation) [1,3]. EMF refers to waves less than 300 GHz, which includes most of the frequencies in everyday exposure. The lowest frequencies (3–3,000 Hz) are referred to as ELF-EMF, while the higher frequencies (30 kHz to 300 GHz, under infrared) are referred to as RF-EMF (Fig. 2).

Various sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Extremely low-frequency EMFs are generated by electricity, various home appliances, in-house wiring, and outside high-voltage lines. Radio frequency EMFs waves are generated by mobile phones, smart devices, WiFi, base stations, and other devices.

ELF-EMFs are generated from electricity, electrical machines, transmission towers, and high-voltage lines. In Korea, electric power is operated at 60 Hz. More EMFs are absorbed with the use of appliances that are close to the body (e.g., hair dryers, bidets, massagers, and electric blankets). The general recommendation is that electrical appliances should be used at least 30 cm away from the body (http://www.emf.or.kr/general/html/life/guideline.pdf).

RF-EMFs are generated from mobile phones, smart devices, WiFi, base stations, and radars. Radio or television transmitters and base stations can be large sources of RF exposure. Mobile phones generate more electromagnetic waves when used in a fast-moving subway or train or when searching for a base station before the ring back tone [5].

The main effects of EMFs on the human body are stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal. Stimulation effects involve the nerves and muscles at a high EMF, can be used for medical devices, and can cause electrical shock at very high stimulation levels. Thermal effects involve an increase in body temperature. Hot senses of the ear or body during mobile phone or laptop use are some examples. Nonthermal effects result from recurrent long-term exposure and may be related to the so-called electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome or neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the nonthermal effect is the least well investigated [6].

The effects of EMF exposure differ with respect to frequencies and strength. For frequencies less than 300 GHz, limitation levels for human protection have been well established for public and occupational workers [7,8]. From 100 kHz to 10 GHz, which includes the use of mobile phones, limitation level is expressed as a specific absorption rate (SAR, W/kg) [2,8].

One of the major issues of EMF involves human carcinogenesis. Since the first report on residential ELF-EMF and childhood leukemia in 1979, several studies have investigated this association [1,2,7]. However, because of the nature of electromagnetic radiation, most studies were based on epidemiological data or animal experiments.

Animal studies on prenatal RF exposure demonstrated the deleterious effects of RF-EMF on the brain. Prenatal exposure to 900 MHz resulted in substantial loss of granule cells [9] or a significant reduction in pyramidal neurons [10]. Mice exposed to in utero RF from cellular telephones were hyperactive and demonstrated memory impairment after birth [11]. EMFs from mobile phones changed the blood-brain barrier’s permeability and damaged neurons in the brains of exposed rats [12-14].

Brain oxidative stress and epigenetics are considered biological mechanisms of RF-EMF effects. Several theories suggest that EMF exposure results in oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species and loss of cells and blocks their production [15]. Oxidative stress parameters increase lipid hydroperoxide and myeloperoxidase activity in immature rats [16]. RF-EMF exposure may change deoxyribonucleic acid methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and microribonucleic acid [16-18]. However, the results of studies on brain oxidative stress induced by EMF are inconsistent.

In Korea, many websites for public and nonpublic institutions provide information aiming to improve public awareness and EMF knowledge [19-22]. This information includes large amounts of data on human limitation levels, EMF measurements of electronic products, base station information, general safety guidelines, and false beliefs. Although the websites provide general information for public awareness, they sometimes conclude that the public concerns regarding carcinogenicity and nonthermal effects are exaggerated and have insufficient evidence. However, such conclusions may be hasty. Because evidence of the relevant websites is often based on WHO fact sheets, it is necessary for clinicians to review the WHO opinion and evaluate other scientific evidence objectively.

On the other hand, some individual websites or personal blogs deliver scientifically unreasonable negative information to users. Such messages exaggerate claims and interfere with reasonable discussions about EMF health effects.

In 1996, the WHO organized an international EMF project task group to investigate the potential health risks of EMF-associated technologies. In the resulting fact sheet in 2007, the WHO concluded that there were no substantive health issues related to ELF electric fields at levels generally encountered by the public [7]. This position was based on findings and reviews of the WHO task group as well as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2002) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (2003) [2,7,23]. The WHO task group referenced the IARC monograph evaluating the carcinogenic risks in humans in 2002 that classified ELF as a possible carcinogen [2]. However, the task group commented that the epidemiological evidence of carcinogenicity was weakened by methodological problems such as potential selection bias [7].

The IARC is a working group under the auspices of WHO. Despite this, the different views between the WHO and the IARC may have originated from the differences in their respective members. Many committee members of the WHO’s EMF project were involved with electricity-associated industries, whereas the IARC membership included more epidemiologists and health specialists [24]. In Korea, several public websites on EMF safety frequently cite the WHO EMF opinion. Some citations seem to have been changed through self-citation, which may cause the misleading interpretation that there is no scientific evidence of carcinogenicity.

A large international case-control study (INTERPHONE study, 2000) that aimed to determine the association between adult brain tumor risk and mobile telephone use reported no overall increase in brain tumor risk with the use of mobile phones [25]. However, in the 10th highest decile of cumulative call time (≥1,640 hours), the odd ratios were 1.4 for glioma and 1.15 for meningioma [25]. Glioma tended to occur more commonly in the temporal lobe on the side of usual phone use [25]. After the INTERPHONE study, in 2013, the IARC published another monograph evaluating the carcinogenic risks of RF-EMF on humans [3]. Similar to ELF magnetic fields, the IARC classified RF-EMFs as “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” [3]

In 2014, the WHO also published the following fact sheet on mobile phone EMF and public health [26]. Similar to ELF, the WHO opinion was undetermined. It referenced the IARC’s classification of mobile phone use as possibly carcinogenic to humans. However, the WHO group repeated the comment that the “biases and errors limit the strength of these conclusions and prevent a causal interpretation.” [26] Such undetermined views of the WHO on the adverse effects of RF or ELF-EMF have been criticized by several scientist groups, which have requested that the WHO should reevaluate all health effects of EMF and include experts from all related fields such as health, medicine, and engineering to reassess the effects of EMFs [24,27,28].

In everyday life, children are exposed to indoor and outdoor EMFs. Although well-designed case-control studies are lacking, we can consider the available data in hypothesizing about the effects of EMF on children.

While conducting the international EMF project, the WHO conducted an international workshop on “Sensitivity of children to EMF exposure” (Istanbul, Turkey, June 2004) of both ELF and RF-EMF exposure. They concluded that there was no direct evidence that children were more vulnerable to EMF because very few studies assessed this topic [29]. However, considering the uncertain effects of EMF on children, the WHO recommended general measures such as reducing personal EMF exposure. They also recommended minimizing EMF exposure in schools, kindergartens, and any locations where children remain for a substantial part of the day [1,29].

In 2000, the “Stewart report” by the UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones declared that children may be more vulnerable to EMF than any other age groups [4,36]. They stated that “children are exposed to electromagnetic waves over a longer life time than adults and their nervous systems are in the process of development. As the conductivity of the children is higher due to higher moisture and ionic content than adults, and more than adults, children’s head absorbs a lot of RF energy” (Fig 3) [4]. Stewart’s report suggested that children should not be encouraged to use mobile phones unnecessarily and that mobile phone companies should not promote their use in children [4]. Since Stewart’s report, debate regarding the vulnerability of a child’s brain surfaced from the Netherlands and Russia [37,38].

The vulnerability of children to electromagnetic field exposure according to the UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones. EMF, electromagnetic field; RF, radiofrequency.

The results of the study that assessed the associations between RF exposure and cell phone use, residential RF-EMF levels, and cognitive function tests were inconsistent [42-46]. Ten-year-old children living in areas with higher RF exposure did not show any effects in most of the cognitive parameters; however, they did show lower verbal scores and higher internalizing and total problems [46]. In a study of children aged 5–6 years, greater residential RF exposure from base stations and the presence of indoor sources were associated with improved inhibitory control and flexibility of cognition but also reduced visuomotor coordination [47].

The associations between RF exposure and mobile phone use and sleep in children are inconsistent [48-50]. Habitual and frequent use of mobile phones was associated with lower sleep quality, while higher tablet use was associated with decreased sleep efficiency [49]. Arousal and blue light may underlie these problems. Residential exposure to RF-EMF from base stations was not associated with sleep onset delay, night awakening, parasomnia, and daytime sleepiness in 7-year-old children; however, higher mobile phone use was associated with less favorable sleep duration, night awakening, and parasomnia [50].

International policies and advisory responses regarding children’s exposure to RF-EMF vary. RF-EMF-related advisory policies for children are as follows: banning mobile phone advertising or sale to children, SAR labeling, and preferring wired connection to WiFi in schools. In Korea, only the policy of SAR labeling on mobile phone is strictly followed. Similar to other scientific uncertainties, precautionary principles should be followed for the EMF problem (EC, 2017) [56]. The meaning of precautionary principle is as follows: when human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harm (UNESCO 2015). For children, strict standards are required until scientific knowledge is established, specifically in facilities such as schools and preschools, where they stay longer. This article suggests precautions to reduce the risk of excessive EMF exposure in children (Table 1).

The nervous systems of children are more vulnerable to the effects of electromagnetic waves than those of adults. Although studies on the effects of EMFs on children’s health are unestablished, precautionary principles should be followed for children and the exposure to EMFs among children should be minimized. The fact that EMFs are possibly carcinogenic according to the IARC should not be overlooked or interpreted with bias, and the opinions of clinicians should be given more weight than those of industries in the establishment of safety policies for EMF use. Moreover, a study that assesses the effects of 5G frequency technology on children’s health is required.

7. World Health Organization [Internet] Electromagnetic fields and public health; exposure to extremely low frequency fields. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; [updated 2007 Jun; cited 2019 Oct 5]. Available from: https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs322/en/

21. Naju (Korea): Korea Communications Agency; c2014. Korea Communications Agency [Internet] [cited 2019 Oct 10]. Available from: https://emf.kca.kr/

29. Repacholi M, Saunders R, van Deventer E, Kheifets L. Guest editors" introduction: is EMF a potential environmental risk for children? Bioelectromagnetics.2005;Suppl 7:S2–4. [PubMed]

43. Redmayne M. International policy and advisory response regarding children"s exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) Electromagn Biol Med.2016;35:176–85. [PubMed]

The achievement of electronics in all technological sectors and the growing demand for electric power have generated exposures of living beings to high frequencies electromagnetic field (HF-EMF).

EMFs are produced everywhere in our homes, because of electrical wiring and very common devices such as electronic household appliances, mobile phone, microwave ovens, computers or television sets. Significant changes are afoot in the telecommunications sector, thanks to progress made in the new UMTS technologies, which allow the transmission of huge amounts of data on the airwaves and signal repeaters or mobile phone aerials.

Electric field component is usually not very strong in a building. High electric-field areas are found near TV or computer monitors, fluorescent lights or light dimmer controls and a safe distance from the field source is 1 meter at least. Electric fields are high near high-voltage power lines, but these fields rarely penetrate into a house.

New wireless technologies produced the electromagnetic contamination as electrosmog in the ranges of radiofrequency (RF) and microwaves (MW) generated by HF-EMFs. RF frequency range occurs from 100 kHz to 300 MHz, MW are at frequencies falling between 300 MHz and 30 GHz on the electromagnetic spectrum. Almost all RF-MW radiation is man-made, produced by satellites, radar, radio, mobile phone, baby-phones, cordless telephones, bluetooth and more, in order to enable technical applications such as signals traveling over long distances.

HFs EMF can be produced either by nearby transmission towers or by central stations of mobile phones, while the field of a low frequency is mainly spread by the equipment in the home, as well as by electrical wiring.

Karinen et al. [13] demonstrated that protein expression in human skin can be affected by the exposure to RF-EMF. Calabrò et al. [14] observed changes in heat-shock proteins expression of human neuronal-like cells exposed to MW radiations. In addition, several studies proved that the exposure to RF-MW radiation can alter DNA and gene structures [15-17].

However, it becomes necessary to avoid overexposure to electromagnetic waves and to make sure that installations are carefully and regularly monitored. Hence accurate measures need for monitoring power density and EMF emitted by the most used electronic devices in our home, particularly those emitting RF-MW radiations.

Electrosmog-meter-detector such as Gaussmeter, Teslameter, ELF-meter, are needed to measure the level of ELF-EMF produced by power lines, computers, TVs, kitchen appliances, enabling to find hidden sources of ELF frequency magnetic fields, and determining the effectiveness of eventual electric shielding devices.

A SRM-3000 instrument of Narda Safety Test Solutions was chosen to measure the electromagnetic field components related to three typical high frequency home utilities. Narda SRM 3000 frequency range can vary from 100 kHz to 3 GHz. It was linked through a cable to a Narda three axis antenna covering the frequency range from 75 MHz to 3 GHz, determining the three spatial components of the EMF being measured.

In “Time Analysis” mode, the device can provide selective and continuous measurements at a fixed frequency, allowing temporal check of power density of radiation. In addition the intensities of the related electric and magnetic field components can be monitored. This operating mode is ideal for timer-controlled measurements since the instrument mode enables one to carry out selective measurements at a defined frequency, to monitor the EMF level at the selected channel.

Second, it must be taken into account that besides the thermal effect, the so-called “non-thermal effect” of the fields can have a negative influence on the biological system, an effect which can occur even when the radiation emission is extremely low. Persons working in MW fields have reported headaches, eyestrain, over-all fatigue and disturbance of sleep. These effects have been associated with the interaction of the MW fields with the central nervous system of the body. Such effects have been labeled as "non-thermal" interactions. These may be responsible for some of the long-term effects from prolonged exposure to low levels of EMFs. There is no confirmed scientific evidence to prove a link between such effects and MW exposure. However, accurate monitoring need to check that exposure limits recommended by I.C.N.I.R.P., at least, are not exceeded.

Microwave ovens are heavily shielded to stop leakage and shut off automatically if the door is opened. Nonetheless, microwave ovens use a lot of grid electricity and produce high levels of power frequency EMF as much as 200 mG at 50 centimeters.

Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), “Possible Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health,” 21 March 2007.

An EMF meter is a portable handheld measuring instrument used to measure electromagnetic radiation generated by electronic devices and electric installations in a surrounding environment. The EMF meter simultaneously measures and displays the electric field (50/60 Hz) radiation in V/m, magnetic field (50/60 Hz) radiation in mG/μT, and RF field strength (MHz to GHz) in μW/m²‐mW/m² or μW/cm² or mV/m‐V/m or mA/m or dBm in the surrounding environment of electronic devices & electric installations. It can measure the EMF from low-frequency ranges to the RF range. The EMF meters are available to measure both static/permanent magnet (DC) and alternating magnetic (AC) fields (EMFs).

Excessive EM radiation can be harmful. Hence, these measurements from EMF meters can help manage the radiation power from various devices in a surrounding environment to ensure the public people/person health or RF technicians working in the vicinity of a base station (especially in front of the antennas).

The handheld EMF meter is equipped with a built-in electromagnetic radiation sensor (coil/antenna), amplifier, comparators, ADC, a micro-chip processor, LCD display, buzzer alarm &LED for providing accurate readings. The buzzer will sound or LED blink when the measured results exceed the safe value.

An EMF meter may use an external electromagnetic sensor called an EMF probe. An EMF probe consists of a sensor, a preamplifier, a transmission line, and a connector. The EMF probe can be thought of as an antenna (usually isotropic antenna) used to measure EMF radiation which is then connected to a spectrum analyzer or EMF meter (that uses an EMF probe as the external sensor).

The EMF meters are available in single-axis and tri-axis categories. The single-axis EMF meter measures one dimension of the EMF at a time. Thus, a single-axis meter needs to be tilted and turned on all three axes to obtain the full measurement. A tri-axis EMF meter measures all three axes (X, Y, Z) simultaneously; hence EMF measurement can complete quickly.

Usually, an EMF meter is equipped with a built-in electromagnetic sensor (coil/antenna) that converts the EMF in the surrounding environment into an electric signal (V). This electric signal is then amplified and converted into digital form by ADC. Now the LCD screen of the EMF meter shows the reading with the help of ADC and microprocessor. The measured readings are always compared with predefined safe limit values by the comparator circuits. If the measured reading exceeds the safe value, the buzzer will sound or LED blink. An EMF meter may use an external sensor (EMF probe) for measurement.

Magnetic fields (50/60 Hz) range: Represents the magnetic field range that can be measured by the EMF meter. The magnetic field is measured in Gauss/mG or Tesla/ μT.

RF strength (MHz to GHz) range: Represents the frequency range and the RF field strength that can be measured by the EMF meter. It is measured in μW/m²‐mW/m² or μW/cm² or mV/m‐V/m or mA/m, or dBm.

Resolution: Resolution represents the smallest change that can be measured by the EMF meter. In EMF meters, the resolution of the magnetic field is represented in Gauss/mG or Tesla/ μT, the resolution of the electric field is represented in V/m, and the resolution of RF strength is represented in μW/m²‐mW/m² or μW/cm² or mV/m‐V/m or mA/m, or dBm.

Accuracy: Represents the measurement accuracy of the EMF meter. The accuracy of the EMF meter refers to the closeness of the measured reading to its true value. The EMF meter has a magnetic field and electric field accuracy represented in ± (X%+Y digit) and the RF strength accuracy in ± dB.

EMC Directory has listed EMF Meters and Probes from the leading manufacturers. Narrow down on EMF meters based on the configuration and various specifications. View product details, download datasheets and get quotes.

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been implicated to influence a range of bodily functions. Given their ubiquitous nature, widespread applications, and capability to produce deleterious effects, conclusive investigations of the health risks are critical. Accordingly, this paper has been constructed to weigh the bioeffects, possible biointeraction mechanisms, and research areas in bioelectromagnetics seeking immediate attention. The several gaps in the existing knowledge do not permit one to reach a concrete conclusion but possibility for harmful effects cannot be underestimated in absence of consistent findings and causal mechanisms. Several studies with appropriate methodologies reflect the capacity of electromagnetic radiations to cause adverse health effects and there are several credible mechanisms that can account for the observed effects. Hence, need of the hour is to activate comprehensive well-coordinated blind scientific investigations, overcoming all limitations and demerits of previous investigations especially replication studies to concretize the earlier findings. Furthermore, appropriate exposure assessment is crucial for identification of dose-response relation if any, and the elucidation of biological interaction mechanism. For the time being, the public should follow the precautionary principle and limit their exposure as much as possible.

The terrestrial electromagnetic environment has been and is being rapidly altered by humans as a result of technological advancements. This was well recognised very early in the seventies by Dr. Robert O. Becker (twice nominated for Nobel Prize) who said “I have no doubt in my mind that, at the present time, the greatest polluting element in the earth’s environment is the proliferation of electromagnetic fields (EMFs).” On one hand, these electromagnetic waves (EMW) provide immeasurable benefits; on the other hand, they may also create potential hazards through uncontrolled and excessive radiation emissions. There are various types of electromagnetic radiations (EMRs) and depending upon their frequency and wavelength they are categorized into different types. Broadly the EMFs are categorized into two groups, namely, extremely low frequency (ELF) EMF (>3 Hz–3 kHz) and radiofrequency radiation (RFR) EMF (3 kHz–300 GHz). Scientific investigations concerning the interaction of EMF with living systems, especially its health effects, are increasing in number. There are arguments for both positive [1–3] and negative bioeffects [4–8]. However, the lack of sufficient knowledge on biological effects of the vast majority of frequencies even below the safety limit leads to several apprehensions [9–11]. The discussion is still ongoing especially regarding the contentious nonthermal effects. It is considered that the energy absorbed calculated in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) [12] is too low to produce biological effects [13]. At the same time, several studies have demonstrated the influence of EMF by energies that are much lower than those capable of producing temperature changes in living tissues [10, 14]. The cell physiology either in vitro [14] or in vivo [15] can be affected by these temperature-insensitive reactions. Whether this could result in pathological alterations in higher life forms is a matter of debate [16]. Despite the documentation of temperature-insensitive biological effects, they have not been considered in the existing EMF safety standard; rather it is principally based on heating effect of EMF [17]. The current SAR values for general and occupational groups are presented in Table 1. As a result, current recommendations are e