Wearing
wireless earbuds may be convenient but it could be increasing your risk of
neurological disorders as they send a magnetic field through your brain to
communicate.
23/09/2022
STORY
AT-A-GLANCE
* Wireless headphones, like
Apple’s popular AirPods, could be dangerous to human health, according to a
petition signed by 250 scientists
* The petition to the United Nations (U.N.), led by the International Electromagnetic Field Alliance takes aim at nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which are used by AirPods and other Bluetooth devices, as well as cellphones and Wi-Fi, which emit radiofrequency radiation
* The devices, which include not only AirPods, but also other wireless Bluetooth headphones, communicate with one another by sending a magnetic field through your brain
* One scientist who signed the petition believes the use of earbuds is akin to a giant experiment and could increase your risk of neurological disorders
Wireless headphones, like Apple's popular AirPods,
could be dangerous to human health, according to a petition signed by 250 scientists.1 The
devices, which include not only AirPods but also other wireless Bluetooth
headphones, bring a new level of function and convenience to those looking to
listen to music, podcasts, audio books and more while on the go.
Since their introduction, more than 44 million
AirPods have been sold,2 with
another 55 million predicted to be sold in 2019 alone. Forecasts were that 80
million would be sold in 2020,3 but when
the final tally came in, they actually hit over 100 million.4 It's an
undeniably alluring bit of technology — one that was further made into a
"necessity" of sorts when Apple removed the headphone jack from its
iPhone 75 — but
it's one that may come at a steep price.
The petition to the United Nations (U.N.), led by
the International Electromagnetic Field Alliance, takes aim at both nonionizing
electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which are used by AirPods and other Bluetooth
devices, as well as cellphones and Wi-Fi, which emit radiofrequency radiation.
Scientists Warn
of Danger From EMFs
The petition, which was originally released in 2015
and updated in 2019, is an international appeal from scientists who work
closely in the study of the health effects of nonionizing EMF. For decades, the
industry has claimed that nonionizing radiation is harmless and the only
radiation worth worrying about is ionizing radiation. On the contrary, the
scientists state:6
Noting the International Agency for Research on Cancer's classification
of EMF as a possible human carcinogen, they also stated numerous scientific
publications show EMF affects organisms at levels "well below" most
international and national guidelines. Among the potential risks of exposure
include:7
· Cancer
· Cellular stress
· Increase in harmful
free radicals
· Genetic damages
· Structural and functional changes of the
reproductive system
· Learning and memory
deficits
· Neurological
disorders
· Negative impacts on general well-being
By failing to take action, the petition states, the
World Health Organization is "failing to fulfill its role as the pre-eminent
international public health agency," adding that damage from EMF
"goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful
effects to both plant and animal life."8
Why Wireless
Earbuds Could Be Particularly Problematic
Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D., University of California,
Berkeley and one of the petition's signers, explained that earbud technology is
so new that research hasn't yet been done to detail what effects it could have
on the brain.
However, he stated in a news release, "I
couldn't imagine it's all that great for you," noting that AirPods
"communicate with one another using a magnetic induction field, a variable
magnetic field [one] sends through your brain to communicate with the
other."9
Bluetooth technology like that used by AirPods is
typically low intensity, but it's the close proximity to your brain that could
make earbuds particularly dangerous, especially since they tend to be used for
longer periods. Moskowitz said the technology could "open the blood-brain
barrier, which evolved to keep large molecules out of the brain."
He believes that with earbuds, exposure leading to
neurological disorders and diseases may be more likely than cancer. "From
a precautionary standpoint, I would argue you shouldn't experiment with your
brain like this by keeping these kinds of wireless headphones on your head or
in your ears," Moskowitz said in a news release. "You're conducting a
health experiment on yourself, and current regulations are completely oblivious
to these kinds of exposures."10
EMFs May Damage Your Cells by Causing
Excessive Free Radicals
Martin Pall, Ph.D., professor emeritus at
Washington State University, is another one of the scientists who signed the
petition. He discovered more than two dozen bodies of research asserting that
EMFs work by activating voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), which are
located in the outer membrane of your cells.
Once activated, they allow a tremendous influx of
calcium into the cell — about 1 million calcium ions per second per VGCC. When
there's excess calcium in the cell, it increases levels of both nitric oxide
(NO) and superoxide. While NO has many beneficial health effects, massively
excessive amounts of it react with superoxide, forming peroxynitrite, which is
an extremely potent oxidant stressor.
Peroxynitrites, in turn, break down to form
reactive free radicals, both reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen
species, including hydroxyl radicals, carbonate radicals and NO2 radicals — all
three of which do damage. Peroxynitrites also do their own damage.
EMFs are not, therefore, causing damage by having a
thermal influence or heating your tissues; they are not "cooking"
your cells as some suggest. Rather, EMF radiation activates the VGCCs in the outer cell
membrane, triggering a chain reaction of devastating events that, ultimately:
· Decimates your mitochondrial function, cell
membranes and cellular proteins
· Causes severe
cellular damage
· Results in DNA
breaks
· Dramatically
accelerates your aging process
· Puts you at higher risk for chronic disease
Like Moskowitz, Pall believes consequences of
chronic EMF exposure to the brain can include neurological changes leading to
anxiety, depression, autism and Alzheimer's disease.11 Further,
it's known that elevated VGCC activity in certain parts of the brain produces a
variety of neuropsychiatric effects. According to Pall:
Nine Measures
to Protect Human Health From EMFs Requested
In their petition to the U.N., the scientists state
there are inadequate nonionizing EMF guidelines on an international level, and
the agencies responsible have failed to create and impose sufficient guidelines
and safety standards to protect public health and populations that may be
especially vulnerable to EMF, such as children.
They're calling for the United Nations
Environmental Programme to fund an independent multidisciplinary committee to
figure out ways to lower human exposure to RFR and ELF, noting that while
industry should cooperate in this process, they should not be allowed to bias
the findings. They also made the following nine requests regarding EMF:
1. Children and pregnant women be protected
2. Guidelines and regulatory standards be strengthened
3. Manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer
technology
4. Utilities responsible for the generation,
transmission, distribution and monitoring of electricity maintain adequate
power quality and ensure proper electrical wiring to minimize harmful ground
current
5. The public be fully informed about the potential
health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm-reduction strategies
6. Medical professionals be educated about the
biological effects of electromagnetic energy and be provided training on
treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity
7. Governments fund training and research on
electromagnetic fields and health that are independent of industry, and mandate
industry cooperation with researchers
8. Media disclose experts' financial relationships
with industry when citing their opinions regarding health and safety aspects of
EMF-emitting technologies
9. White-zones (radiation-free areas) be established
Protections
Needed Before 5G Technology Becomes Widespread
The scientists' petition is a somber warning as 5G,
or "5th Generation," networks continue to roll out. Unlike the
"4th Generation" (4G) technology currently in use, which relies on
huge 90-foot cell towers with about a dozen antenna ports on each, the 5G
system uses "small cell" facilities or bases, each with about 100
antenna ports each.12
Expected to be 10 to 100 times faster than 4G
technology and capable of supporting at least 100 billion devices,13 5G relies
primarily on the bandwidth of the millimeter wave (MMW), which is between 30GHz
and 300GHz, according to EMF coach and author Lloyd Burrell.14
MMWs have not been widely used before, but there
are some concerning findings to date, including that sweat ducts in human skin
act as antennae when they come in contact with MMWs.15
In addition, there is a possibility the technology
could worsen the problems with antibiotic-resistant bacteria already plaguing
the world, as they cause changes in E. coli and many other bacteria, depressing
their growth and changing properties and activity.
This also raises concerns that the technology could
lead to similar changes in human cells. According to researchers in the journal
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology:16
Studies have even shown that MMWs may invoke stress protein changes in plants such as wheat shoots,17 while low levels of nonionizing radiation have been linked to disturbances and health problems in birds and bees.18
Skip the
Earbuds — and Other Tips to Lower Your EMF Exposure
It's clear that when it comes to the use of
earbuds, the use of the precautionary principle is warranted. Don't become part
of the experiment — skip earbuds and listen to your media content the
"old-fashioned" way instead.
Apart from that, here are 19 more suggestions that
will help reduce your EMF exposure and help mitigate damage from unavoidable
exposures.
1. Identify major sources of EMF, such as your
cellphone, cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth headsets and other
Bluetooth-equipped items, wireless mice, keyboards, smart thermostats, baby
monitors, smart meters and the microwave in your kitchen. Ideally, address each
source and determine how you can best limit their use.
Barring a life-threatening emergency, children
should not use a cellphone or a wireless device of any type. Children are far
more vulnerable to cellphone radiation than adults due to having thinner skull
bones, and developing immune systems and brains.
2.
Connect your
desktop computer to the internet via a wired Ethernet connection and be sure to
put your desktop in airplane mode. Also avoid wireless keyboards, trackballs,
mice, game systems, printers and portable house phones. Opt for the wired
versions.
3. If you must use Wi-Fi, shut it off when not in use,
especially at night when you are sleeping. Ideally, work toward hardwiring your
house so you can eliminate Wi-Fi altogether. If you have a notebook without any
Ethernet ports, a USB Ethernet adapter will allow you to connect to the internet
with a wired connection.
4. Avoid using wireless chargers for your cellphone,
as they too will increase EMFs throughout your home. Wireless charging is also
far less energy efficient than using a dongle attached to a power plug, as it
draws continuous power (and emits EMFs) whether you're using it or not.
According to Venkat Srinivasan, director of Argonne
Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science, keeping your cellphone or
tablet fully charged at all times will also reduce the life of the battery,
which will necessitate the purchase of a brand-new phone.19
As a lithium ion battery charges and discharges,
ions pass between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The higher the
battery is charged the faster the ions degrade, so it's better to cycle between
45% and 55%.
5. Shut off the electricity to your bedroom at night.
This typically works to reduce electrical fields from the wires in your wall unless
there is an adjoining room next to your bedroom. If that is the case you will
need to use a meter to determine if you also need to turn off power in the
adjacent room.
6.
Use a
battery-powered alarm clock, ideally one without any light. I use a talking clock
for the visually impaired.
7. If you still use a microwave oven, consider
replacing it with a steam convection oven, which will heat your food as quickly
and far more safely.
8. Avoid using "smart" appliances and
thermostats that depend on wireless signaling. This would include all new
"smart" TVs. They are called smart because they emit a Wi-Fi signal
and, unlike your computer, you cannot shut the Wi-Fi signal off. Consider using
a large computer monitor as your TV instead, as they don't emit Wi-Fi.
9.
Refuse a
smart meter on your home as long as you can, or add a shield to an existing
smart meter, some of which have been shown to reduce radiation by 98% to 99%.20
10.
Consider
moving your baby's bed into your room instead of using a wireless baby monitor.
Alternatively, use a hard-wired monitor.
11.
Replace CFL
bulbs with incandescent bulbs. Ideally remove all fluorescent lights from your
house. Not only do they emit unhealthy light, but more importantly, they will
actually transfer current to your body just being close to the bulbs.
12.
Avoid
carrying your cellphone on your body unless in airplane mode and never sleep
with it in your bedroom unless it is in airplane mode. Even in airplane mode it
can emit signals, which is why I put my phone in a Faraday bag.
13.
When using
your cellphone, use the speaker phone and hold the phone at least 3 feet away
from you. Seek to radically decrease your time on the cellphone. Instead, use
VoIP software phones that you can use while connected to the internet via a
wired connection.
14.
Avoid using
your cellphone and other electronic devices at least an hour (preferably several)
before bed, as the blue light from the screen and EMFs both inhibit melatonin
production.21
15.
Since we now
know the effects of EMFs are reduced by calcium-channel blockers, make sure
you're getting enough magnesium. Most people are deficient in magnesium, which
will worsen the impact of EMFs.
16.
Pall has
published a paper22 suggesting
that raising your level of Nrf2 may help ameliorate EMF damage. One simple way
to activate Nrf2 is to consume Nrf2-boosting food compounds.
Examples include sulforaphane-containing
cruciferous vegetables, foods high in phenolic antioxidants, the long-chained
omega-3 fats DHA and EPA, carotenoids (especially lycopene), sulfur compounds
from allium vegetables, isothiocyanates from the cabbage group and
terpenoid-rich foods.
Exercise, calorie restriction (such as intermittent
fasting) and activating the nitric oxide signaling pathway (one way of doing
that is the Nitric Oxide Dump exercise) will also raise Nrf2.
17.
Molecular
hydrogen has been shown to target free radicals produced in response to
radiation, such as peroxynitrites. Studies have shown molecular hydrogen can
mitigate about 80% of this damage.23
18.
Certain
spices may help prevent or repair damage from peroxynitrites. Spices rich in
phenolics, specifically cinnamon, cloves, ginger root, rosemary and turmeric,
have exhibited some protective effects against peroxynitrite-induced damage.
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1 EMFScientist.org
January 1, 2019
2 Notebook
Check March 12, 2019
3 Digital
Trends December 2, 2018
4 Business
of Apps. Apple Statistics 2022. August 31, 2022
5 Notebook
Check March 12, 2019
6 EMFScientist.org
January 1, 2019
7 EMFScientist.org
January 1, 2019
8 EMFScientist.org
January 1, 2019
11 Journal of Chemical
Neuroanatomy 2016 Sep;75(Pt B):43-51
12 Electric
Sense May 12, 2017
13 Electric
Sense May 12, 2017
14 Electric
Sense May 12, 2017
15 Phys Med Biol. 2011
Mar 7;56(5):1329-39
16
Appl Microbiol
Biotechnol. 2016 Jun;100(11):4761-71
17 International
Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 1(9), pp. 217-223,
2013
18 Electric
Sense May 12, 2017
19 TechWorld,
September 30, 2017
20 The Global
Healing Center November 13, 2014
21 Journal of
Advanced Research March 2013; 4(2): 181-187
22 Sheng Li Zue Bao 2015
Feb 25;67(1):1-18
23 Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications November 27, 2009; 389(4): 651-656
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Source: https://takecontrol.substack.com/p/wireless-earbuds-health-risk
