Published: 08/02/21
Updated: 10/31/23

Nobody Is Talking About the EMF Radiation Coming From Your Apple Watch. Is it Safe?

But it's so small! How can that be a problem?

Apple says that the transmitters in the Apple Watch are smaller than an iPhone, but we've shown that the radiation is significant--you can see for yourself in the demonstration videos below.

Your Apple Watch Exposes You to EMF Radiation From Cellular, WiFi and Bluetooth.  Just Like Your Smartphone.  

It's especially significant when you consider that most people wear their watches pretty much ALL. THE. TIME.  So day after day, week after week, year after year, your body is being exposed to radiation that has been proven to have biological effects. And like sun exposure, EMF exposure is cumulative.  So some scientists think that Apple Watch exposure over time may be worse than a phone.

So yeah... If you're a dedicated Apple Watch wearer, let that settle in for a second. 

Does that mean that the radiation is hurting people? We have had a number of reports from people who have linked wearing their watch to trouble sleeping, headaches and anxiety.

Yes, Apple watches are extraordinary! They are fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, and they connect to the Apple health app. But even some Apple users say the watch does not make them feel good.

Look on Apple's own user forums, you'll see people complaining of migraines, nausea and ringing in the ears. And this is really interesting - if you Google "Apple Watch Causes" look what auto-fills to show you what others have searched for:

• Apple Watch Causes Rash
• Apple Watch Causes Cancer
• Apple Watch Causes Anxiety
• Apple Watch Causes Burns
• Apple Watch Causes Arm Pain
• Apple Watch Causes Wrist Pain
• Apple Watch Causes Tingle
• Apple Watch Causes Stress
• Apple Watch Causes Debilitating Migraines

When you think about it, it's amazing that it's been estimated that Apple has sold over 100 million watches, in recent years, more than every other manufacturer combined. 

Many of These Symptoms Are a Sign of EMF Sensitivity Syndrome

When you have a collection of symptoms that are brought on by a wireless item, it's called EMF Sensitivity Syndrome.  The condition was first called "Screen Dermatitis" when a research paper by world renowned Professor Olle Johansson came out it 1994. You can find the research here. 

Take a listen to my podcast with Olle. He's really interesting and he's the man who knows what's happening when it comes to what EMF wireless radiation can do to us and our environment.

My friend Robert noticed he had symptoms of EMF Sensitivity Syndrome from his Fitbit. Watch our the video below.  A couple of weeks after this, he took off his Fitbit and stopped experiencing the physical anxiety that he was feeling.

The main thing is that since this was first discovered 30 years ago, EMF radiation exposure has increased wildly for all of us.  I have EMF Sensitivity Syndrome and when I was first diagnosed, it was estimated that between 1% and 3% of the population had it.  Now the estimates have grown between 7% and 10%. That's because just like a lot of allergies or sensitivities, the more exposure you have to the allergen or the thing you're sensitive to, the more your body starts to let you know.

My recommendation is if you have any of these symptoms, try avoiding any and all wireless devices for a few days and see if you feel better.

I know - avoiding wireless isn't so easy these days.  The most important thing you can do is know where the wireless is!  Here's a video that shows why I keep a meter handy.

Check your Apple Watch and see the
radiation for yourself with this SAFE & SOUND PRO METER!!

All these symptoms are similar to what people report when exposed to all different kinds of EMFs. You can read more about it in our big Tech Wellness EMF Protection Guide. Recently, U.S. State Department employees have reported very similar, but much, much worse symptoms that have been dubbed "Havana Syndrome" after they have been exposed to what is believed to be a "Directed Energy Weapon"--and those weapons are firing microwave energy--EMFs.

The really good news is, as we've been saying for years, distance is your friend when it comes to EMFs. So you can always keep the source of the EMF far enough away from you to minimize the impact to your beautiful body. After you see the video demonstration below, you may want to slip that watch off!

See How Much EMF Radiation An Apple Watch Emits And How Far You Should Be Away From It

In this demonstration, we show the EMF from a friend's Apple Watch and  compare it to radiation coming from the iPhone.

The ONLY Way to know EMF radiation is there, that it's happening, that the invisible waves are in fact touching your body, is with an EMF meter. This one is the absolute finest, calibrated and certified (and if you ask me, worth the price) because it does it all! See the amount of EMF radiation AND colored lights from green to red letting you know if you're getting a Slight to Extreme amount of radiation.

Why Aren't Apple Watches Safe? 

Since I'm especially sensitive to wireless radiation, I have always recommended keeping cellphones out of your hands and pockets.  But, did you know that even the state of California advises keeping your smartphone away from your body?   So, it follows that putting an Apple Watch with the same functionality of a smartphone directly against your body is not a smart thing to do because we are absorbing the absolute maximum amount of radiation.

We know that RF radiation exposure in the near-field drops nicely when we are around 8 to 10 inches away from our smartphones. So, if you're using an Apple Watch with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, your body is way too close a source of RF radiation and is being exposed to this man-made electromagnetic radiation in an intense and direct way.

Does Your Oura Ring Give Off EMF Radiation?
Our Video Shows How Much and How To Turn It Off!

So What is EMF Radiation?

If you found this article chances are you're wondering, What's an EMF? EMF's are electric and magnetic fields that are invisible (but very real) energy and come from, or “radiate” from,  sources of natural and man-made electricity.

In physics, EMF is defined as a field of force that consists of both electric and magnetic components, resulting from the motion of an electric charge and containing a definite amount of electromagnetic energy.

Basically, if it has an electrical component, it has EMF associated with it or emanating from it.

Thunderstorms and the earth's magnetic field are examples of naturally occurring EMF. 

The unnatural, man-made EMF comes from things like electric blankets, power lines, wiring, appliances, computers, everything wireless, including Bluetooth, Airpods, WiFi, Cell towers, smart meters, smartphones, any wireless item you have.

Just one more environmental toxin for your body to deal with...

That's how I like to define it - a Tech Toxin. So the same way I avoid non-organic food, plastics, toxic cleaning supplies and unfiltered drinking water, I avoid EMF so my body has the opportunity to thrive. 

So many people are in LOVE with their Apple watch! I get it.  The ease and connectivity are awesome, but Tech Wellness wonders if the risks may simply not be worth the convenience. Because of researching wireless radiation for many years now, I know the impact that significant exposure to EMF radiation can have on health and well-being. Scroll down for a deep dive on EMF and the potential risks including cancer.

Our Favorite Tips to Avoid EMF:

 TECH WELLNESS TIP:
Never put your cell phone up to your head or use wireless headphones like AirPods! Instead, text, talk using speakerphone, OR use my favorite anti-radiation airtube headphones.

Important EMF protection starts with anti-radiation shielded wires, then continues to a hollow, clear air tube and completes with super-comfy earbuds. Toss those Airpods for the safer options! 

 TECH WELLNESS TIP:
Ditch the wireless watch as much as you can.  Less is best! If you're using it as fitness tracker, try this Fitbit Alternative that lets you disable bluetooth!

 TECH WELLNESS TIP:
Remember how we talked about reducing your overall exposure to EMF? Your smartphone is a major source of EMF in your life because it's your most personal possession. It's rarely more than 10 feet away from most people.  But you can beautifully reduce your exposure by carrying your smartphone in a Faraday bag. That prevents all RF radiation from getting out--and getting in. 

By the way, don't waste your money on so called "Anti Radiation or EMF Protection Cases" and Anti-radiation chips.  The FCC warns they're scams and I don't use or recommend them either.  Try one of these options instead:

 TECH WELLNESS TIP:
It's important to limit your EMF exposure, especially while your body is recuperating while you sleep. An easy way to do this is by turning off the WiFi when you aren't using it. We love this handy WiFi Kill Switch that turn your WiFi off in one click from up to 100 ft away. 

Here are commons symptoms of exposure: 

• Chronic headaches
• Excessive fatigue
• Feeling stressed or "wired"
• Trouble sleeping through the night
• Tingling skin sensations
• Buzzing or static feeling in the brain
• Ringing ears
• Unexplained rashes or hives
• Body pain
• Weakened immunity
• Hormonal imbalances that don't respond to treatment

If you wear an Apple Watch or Fitbit and notice any of these symptoms, you may want to try an easy self-evaluation. Try going without wearing it and avoiding contact with other wireless devices. If you feel better or symptoms improve, you may want to consider re-thinking the inclusion of a wireless wearable in your daily routine.

If you do notice Fitbit radiation symptoms and you're interested in EMF protection or in getting a meter of your own, see the body collection in our Tech Wellness store.  We offer only items we actually use--and love!

Also, I'm really excited our team found a fitness tracker with bluetooth that you can turn off. So you can track steps, heart rate, distance and more, without radiation!  We think it's a great Fitbit alternative. 

And what about serious diseases like cancer?

The Background on EMF Radiation & Cancer

I started looking into the “energy effect” over 25 years ago, simply trying to identify what I was feeling. At about the same time, major research on the topic was underway. To date, the Wireless Technology Research or WTR remains the most seminal work on the topic of adverse health effects and cell phone use.

The WTR was founded in 1993 by CTIA back when it was known as US Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, but now this trade organization just goes by CTIA and represents the U.S Wireless Communications Industry.

EMF Radiation and Cancer

Dr. George Carlo headed this research project which resulted in the findings of genetic damage to human blood, increased risk of brain neuroepithelial tumors in those who use cell phones on the side of the head where their tumors were found, as well as increased risk of acoustic neuroma with increasing minutes of phone use. Other research around the world followed and then in 2011, the World Health Organization classified RF exposure as a Group 2B possible carcinogen. This was big news! In fact, I did a video recap of it back then to explain what that means.

I've been doing EMF measurement videos on cell phones and mobile phones since 2000 because I wanted to show people the "energy waves" that can't be seen, felt, or touched. In many of the videos, I talk about my belief that the energy coming from this Smartphone or that Bluetooth speaker negatively effects the energy of my body or that I feel this energy isn't interacting with my body's energy in a good way.

Since we're electrical in nature and we now know our brains respond to the fields of energy, we can make the connection between how man-made EMFs might possibly be messing with our bodies by interfering with our natural bio-electromagnetic functions.

Because radio frequency or RF energy power has come on strong in the last 35 years and is increasingly used in more areas of our life every single day, our main focus is reducing your exposure from wireless sources.

We advocate what’s referred to as the Precautionary Principle. Basically, this means that because there’s so much research saying the energy that powers our cellphones (RF radiation) could be causing health concerns including tumors and cancer, then we ought to take care when using our cell phones and all devices that emit RF and use them mindfully.

For years we've seen study after study showing how wireless energy can effect our health. I know it effects me—I get headaches, anxiety, and tingling. Research points to possible effects that range from infertility to cancer (in some cases and for some people). If you start digging into, you'll quickly find that the news is pretty scary--frankly, I don't like to think about it.

Epidemiologist, Tech Wellness Expert, and author, Dr. George Carlo has been studying this type of EMF RF (radio frequency energy) for decades and he tells us,

"The health effects aspect is complicated. There is now no doubt scientifically that radio waves carrying information trigger some type of biological response in almost everyone exposed. However, what happens after the triggering is variable. For some people, the triggering causes debilitating biological cascades that manifest as EHS, other symptoms and frankly, disease."

Millions of people rely on Wikipedia for every imaginable kind of information--but in the case of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) they are doing the people who have it a big dis-service. Here's what they claim: "It's a claimed sensitivity to electromagnetic fields to which negative symptoms are attributed. EHS has no scientific basis and is not a recognized medical diagnosis."

Tech Wellness has curated and included hundreds of studies reporting biological effects from exposure to RF radiation. Here's one example: A European study from 2015 showed that heavy cellphone use for over ten years correlated to a double risk of brain cancer. Even more alarming, kids who begin using cell phones as teenagers had a four to five times higher chance of being diagnosed with brain cancer.

How the heck did this happen? How did we get to the point where cellphones are everywhere and wireless energy now blankets the world without doing all the research first? We should've known the potential hazards before putting the devices on the market.

Our public policy and science expert Dr. George Carlo explains how the cell phone industry was able to get this technology to market before it was properly tested. His book, Cellphones: Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age details industry corruption and how research about health impacts have been suppressed for years.

So, when it comes to wireless RF, is there a safe level?

“During testing, Apple Watch radios are set to their highest transmission levels and placed in positions that simulate use against the head, with 10mm separation, and on the wrist with no separation. When placing the Apple Watch near your face, keep at least 10mm of separation to ensure exposure levels remain at or below the as-tested levels.”

Apple advises that the watch stays 1/2 an inch away from your face so levels don't go above the "tested" levels. Hmmmmm... 

Apple Watch has been tested and meets applicable limits for radio frequency (RF) exposure. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) refers to the rate at which the body absorbs RF energy. SAR limits depend on whether Apple Watch is used against the head or on the wrist. In some countries, the SAR limit is 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over 1 gram of tissue for use against the head and 4.0 watts per kilogram averaged over 10 grams of tissue for use on the wrist. In other countries, the SAR limit is 2.0 watts per kilogram averaged over 10 grams of tissue for use against the head and 4.0 watts per kilogram averaged over 10 grams of tissue for use on the wrist. During testing, Apple Watch radios are set to their highest transmission levels and placed in positions that simulate use against the head, with 10 mm separation, and on the wrist, with no separation. When placing Apple Watch near your face, keep at least 10 mm of separation to ensure exposure levels remain at or below the as-tested levels. Although this device has been tested to determine SAR in each band of operation, not all bands are available in all areas. Bands are dependent on your service provider’s wireless networks.

DNA is the genetic material that makes us who we are and defines how our bodies operate. Mutations in DNA are believed to be an initial step in the creation of cancer cells in the body.

Another review of 16 studies done over a period of time concluded that risk of developing a brain tumor on the same side of the head as our typical cell phone use was increased nearly 2.5 times.

Yet another study conducted in Israel determined that cell phone users who were using their phone more than 20 hours a month had nearly double the chance of developing cancers in the salivary gland.

If you want to detect the RF wireless energy in your life, here's a simple easy meter to make sure you and your home are at safe levels. It's FUN, it's INTERESTING and it's very HELPFUL for avoiding it.

Tech Wellness only sells meters that are CALIBRATED
so you can be sure they are accurate!

Meters don't measure SAR, they measure the power density of the radio frequency waves.  SAR is the amount of energy (measured in heat) that the body absorbs. 

What can you do about Apple Watch radiation? As we mentioned earlier, go ahead and try the symptom test.  If you notice any of the RF radiation exposure sensitivity symptoms, please try removing the Apple Watch and see if that helps.

If you're concerned about the results of research studies on EMF exposure and health effects, avoid using the Apple Watch as much as possible. 

I can tell you for certain that I would never wear an Apple Watch, a Fitbit. or any other wireless wearable.

Be Well!!