EMF are electromagnetic fields (EMF) that have been present since creation. They are invisible forces that are found in nature.
However, with the exponential rise of technology in our modern world, EMF production has increased tenfold. In this era, technology has become one of the staples that we cannot live without.
TV antennas, mobile networks, and radio stations all emit higher frequency EMF. Even the electricity in our houses produces low-frequency EMF. This increase in exposure to EMF has been the source of concern for many scientists.
There are various contradictory studies on the effect of EMF on our health. With no concrete evidence, our best bet is to minimize our exposure to EMF radiation.
Could we find refuge in our house? Can the walls of our house protect us from EMF radiation?
Can they get through walls?
There are some questions about the safety of our homes. Can the buildings protect us from the EMF radiations?
The ability to penetrate walls depends on the frequency of the radiations. ELF-EMF is able to go through almost all types of materials.
Whether your house is made of brick, wood, or concrete, the low-frequency waves will penetrate without any trouble.
However, higher frequency radiations like radiofrequency (RF) radiation can be blocked by various materials. Walls usually stop most of the RF transmission because they bounce off on surfaces.
What material is best to prevent EMF from passing through?
A study done by Chrousos in 2019, stated that the only material that can be used for shielding is metals. Buildings can protect us from EMFs if they have metal grids or paints and films containing metals.
There is a variety of different materials that have been designed to incorporate metal for our protection.
There is a mixture of rubber with iron powder mixture that can be used as a shielding material. Other garments have also been adapted to prevent EMF penetration.
All of their shielding characteristics depend on the conductivity of the metal that they have used. Metals reflect EMFs because they contain free electrons. Metals with higher conductivity are able to reflect more waves.
This effect is called electromagnetic coupling and was first discovered by Faraday. The most effective metals are iron, copper, and nickel. They decrease the magnetic fields and thus have a greater shielding effect.
The study also stated that EMFs with higher frequency have a smaller chance of penetrating materials. People suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) have reported that metal grids or paints used to shield buildings help to alleviate their symptoms.
More research has not been done to analyze the effect of metal shielding on the patients. Some people have also opted for partial shielding.
They have chosen certain walls of their house to place the metal grids or paint. Results have shown that for partial shielding, radiation is diminished behind the metal grid but other locations can get an increase in EMF.
This is due to the interference caused. The study also discussed the benefits of a shielding bed canopy and garments compared to the permanent shielding of the house.
Researchers stated that bed canopy and clothing shielding are safer than the metal grids for house shielding. This is because there is still a risk of interference with partial and permanent shielding of the house.
EMF radiation and to what distance can they travel?
Electromagnetic waves can be pictured as regular waves. Each wave has its own frequency and wavelength. The wavelength of the EMF is the distance between two waves.
The frequency of the wave is the number of cycles that can be obtained in one second. EMF radiation moves at the speed of light.
As the distance from the source of the EMF radiation increases, the force of the EMF decreases. There are three rules that can be used to calculate the distance and the rate at which the EMF decreases.
These are the inverse first power rule, the inverse square rule, and the inverse cube rule. It is recommended to not live near high voltage powerlines due to the higher exposure to EMF than usual.
The distance respected will depend on the amount of current that the powerline carries.
Usually, a 50m – 100m distance from substations, transformers, and powerlines is advised. Houses outside of this circumference are typically safe from high-frequency EMF exposure.
However, we are also exposed to low-frequency EMF (ELF-EMF) in our houses. Electrical appliances, WiFi, and our phones all emit ELF-EMF. Studies have shown that low EMF has a less direct impact on our health.
Yet, long exposure to ELF-EMF has been linked to changes in our central nervous system and a cause for cancer. There are many questions that are still unanswered regarding the impact of low-frequency EMF on our health.
For two decades, scientists have debated about the effect of these radiations on our health. There are still numerous limitations to the studies already done.
No one can say with 100% certitude that EMF is harmful or not to our health and well-being.
Their impact on our health
It is especially important to protect ourselves from high-frequency EMF. These radiations are known to directly change our DNA and cells in our body.
High-frequency EMF includes X-rays and gamma waves. These radiations are also categorized as ionizing radiations. They have higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths.
Because of their characteristics, the body is more likely to absorb high-frequency EMF compared to ELF-EMF. The radiations can take away electrons from atoms in water and living bodies.
These break the chemical bonds and therefore change the structures of our body tissues.
If you get high doses of ionizing radiation, you will immediately get burns, hair loss, skin and organs injury, and degeneration of your bone marrow.
Conclusion
EMF radiations differ in frequency and wavelength. Their properties affect their ability to penetrate various materials. EMF blocker companies are using different innovative technologies to protect people against those harmful radiations.
The use of metal grids, paints, and films can protect buildings from external EMFs. However, there is still a risk of interference and spots of increased EMF. It is recommended that you use two or more EMF blockers to guarantee 100% protection against EMFs.
This could include using metal grids and shielding clothing. There are various products on the market to choose from.
