Electromagnetic Fields and YOU!

By Shea on September 24th, 2008

What are Electromagnetic Fields (EMF’s) and how do they affect me? EMF (or ElectroMagnetic Field) is a broad term which includes electric fields generated by charged particles, magnetic fields generated by charged particles in motion, and radiated fields such as TV, radio, and microwaves.

I got tired of always hearing on Ghost Hunters and other places that what people are seeing, hearing, whatever may be caused by exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF). There simply isn’t enough scientific research to back up these claims. All current research and studies that have been conducted over the last 20 years concerning EMF have only been able to find a possible link with Childhood Lukemia. Nothing associated with adults has been found. Because the use of electric power is so widespread, humans are constantly exposed to electric and magnetic fields. Studies conducted in the 1980s showed a link between magnetic field strength and the risk of childhood leukemia. After reviewing more than two decades of research in this area, the National Institue of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS) scientists have concluded that the overall pattern of results suggests a weak association between increasing exposure to EMFs and an increased risk of childhood leukemia.(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/">1) The few studies that have been conducted on adult exposures show no evidence of a link between residential EMF exposure and adult cancers, including leukemia, brain cancer, and breast cancer.

The World Health Organization (WHO)(http://www.who.int/peh-emf/research/database/en/">2) has created an EMF research database as a tool for the research community, international agencies, and the general public. Its purpose is to offer information about global projects that examine the effect of electromagnetic field exposure on biological systems (your body is a biological system). It contains information on studies conducted in humans (epidemiologic and laboratory provocation), animals (in vivo), and in cultured cells and artificial systems (in vitro). It also contains engineering studies that characterize and quantify EMF exposure in these systems, and theoretical studies that consider feasible mechanisms for EMF energy interaction. The database contains studies spanning the non-ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum ranging static (0 Hz), extremely low frequency (ELF, >0-300 kHz), intermediate frequencies (IF, >300Hz to 10MHz), and radiofrequency (RF, 10 MHz-300 GHz) fields. - basically everything below visible light and ionizing radiation. To access this research online please visit  http://www.who.int/peh-emf/research/database/en/. 

 

One study conducted by WHO’S International EMF project, EMF ID study number 1848, exposed Humans to 50 Hz magnetic and electric fields over an extended period of time. Human subjects were exposed to electric and magnetic fields and assayed for perception. The authors report the subjects could not distinguish whether the field was on or off. This becomes more relevant when you understand what you are exposed to as a person on a daily basis. Electromagnetic field sources to which people may be exposed are predominantly in three frequency ranges:

1) The static (0 Hz) and extremely low frequency range (ELF, > 0 to < 300 Hz) incorporates the 50 and 60 Hz frequencies of the electric power supply and of electric and magnetic fields generated by electricity power lines and electric/electronic appliances. Sources of static magnetic fields include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and industrial use of direct currents for electrolysis;

2) The intermediate frequency range (IF, 300 Hz to <10 MHz) are used in computer monitors, industrial processes and security systems

3) The radiofrequency range (RF, microwaves, 10 MHz-300 GHz) includes radars, radio and television broadcast and telecommunications.

 

Study number 1468 entitled AMBULATORY ECG MONITORING IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS studied Intermediate freuqency exposure to workers (IF, 300 Hz to <10 MHz from radio broadcast towers) and analysis of heart rate and circulatory endpoints. The authors report that Workers occupationally exposed to intermediate frequency electromagnetic fields had statistically significant correlations between exposure classification and electrical measurements of the heart, and conclude that chronic occupational exposure may result in impairments in cardiovascular function.

I could site case studies until the cows come home but that would make your eyes glaze over and you’d probably forget why you were reading this at all which is why I included the link above. So, why do ghost hunters use this as an answer to the “is my house haunted” question. I’m not sure other than it’s an easy out, but I decided to research the symptoms they were describing and find out what else fits. 

The symptoms as follows: Dizziness, Fatigue, Fearful, Jumpiness or easily startled, Nerviousness, Delusions, Hallucinations, Hearing voices, Paranoid behavior, Sense of impending doom, Unusual behavior, and let’s not forget Skin Irritation.

The possible conditions associated with the selected symptoms well there’s about 20. Here’s a list: Schizophrenia (surprised, nah), Generalized anxiety disorder, Contact Dermatitis, Epilepsy (temporal lobe), Bipolar disorder, Acute stress reaction, Panic attack, Dry skin, Poison (Ivy, Oak or Sumac), Atopic Dermatitis, Medication reaction or side effect, Hyperthyroidism, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Methamphetamine use, Depression (Adult), Heart rhythm disorder, Viral syndrome, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Depression (post partum), and Multiple Sclerosis. (3)

Whew! That’s a whole lot of things that can be wrong even before you jump on the band wagon and say that it’s due to EMF exposure. As you can see by the information I’ve provided here everyone, everywhere is exposed to some sort of electromagnetic field on a daily basis. If EMF exposure was the reason behind paranormal issues we’d have a whole lot more people seeing ghosts and itching out of their skins. So please, if you feel like you or your house or loved ones are being haunted or exposed to paranormal activity, do yourself a favor and do some research. If your symptoms match any of the symptoms listed above, please contact your doctor and have them checked out. If your doctor cannot find anything physically wrong with you then start looking into wether or not you should consult a paranormal investigator. Sonoran Paranormal Investigations is always here to help answer any questions you may have and help you find the answers to your unique situation. And please don’t start forking out money to fix electrical problems that may not be problems at all, call a certified Electrician.


Footnotes:
  1. National Institue of Environmental Health Services,  http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/ [?]
  2. World Health Organization,  http://www.who.int/peh-emf/research/database/en/ [?]
  3. conditions provided by WebMD after a search of symptoms was entered, www.webmd.com [?]