EMF Protection Basics

You've probably gathered by now that the world of EMF exposure is complex and vast. That's why at Tech Wellness, we recommend a common sense approach to all EMF’s and turn our attention to the problematic Man-Made EMF.

Not All EMF's Are a Problem!

Let’s be really clear that the topic of EMF is confusing because EMF is a HUGE CATEGORY and certainly NOT ALL EMF’S are dangerous.

Watch Out For This Man-Made EMF 

Let’s simply focus on the man-made EMF that comes from our cell phones and smartphones, our smart devices, WiFi’s and smart meters, cell towers, 5G towers and anything else that emits the invisible wireless energy that’s specifically man-made radio frequency waveforms that carry information.

I get that it can be a little scary, because this invisible energy is so prolific.  I always encourage my community to not take a fear-based approach (fear alone, can make you sick) but rather approach protection proactively and positively. There's a lot we can do to protect ourselves actually and we'll get to that at the end.

There Is SO MUCH Wrong With Information About EMF And What To Do About it.  It's Time You Heard The Truth, Verified By One Of The World's Top Experts On The Subject

* This Article Has Been Edited For Accuracy and Clarity by Dr. Dimitris Panagopoulos, whose work is referenced.

We’ll Cover WhatYou Really Need To Know, Including:

• What Is An EMF?
• Do You Need EMF Protection? 
• The Difference Between Natural and Man-Made EMF.
• How Man Made EMF, The Information Carrying Radio Waves That Power Our Devices, Can Mess With Our Biology.
• How A Tiny Component In Our Cells, Voltage Gated Calcium Channels Are The Key.
• The Easy Steps You Can Take To Lower Your Exposure.

Over the last several decades, studies published in scientific journals from around the world have shown that human made EMF does have biological impact- up to and including damaging your DNA. 

Even the United States Government, which refuses to warn consumers about potential health risks, spent 30 million and 5 years and found we do need to be mindful of wireless signals.

When To Worry About EMF

Amazingly even though the results sound a clear and LOUD warning, many scientists from around the globe submitted comments on the study and pointed out it was not a very good study in reality for many reasons, including inaccurate exposure systems, Many believe that this expensive taxpayer funded study likely underestimates of actual risk. Here’s what the NTP found:

• Clear Evidence of Cancer Tumors In the Heart in Rats and Mice They Studied
• Some Evidence of Adrenal and Brain Cancer in the rats Exposed to Wireless EMF  

Check  this US Fact Sheet, it makes you wonder, why on earth policy makers and community leaders aren't stepping in and trying to protect you- and me and us!

How Do I Protect Myself From EMF How Does EMF Affect Me?

How Does Invisible EMF Cause Things Like Cancer and Infertility?

• Once people become aware that Man-Made EMF can make them sick, the number one question I get is, “How can I protect myself from man-made EMF?”  EMF protection is now a billion dollar industry filled with gadgets, chips, clothing and shields. No gadget provides any protection, and shielding might even be dangerous if not applied cautiously.  I’m always happy to myth bust and bring clarity and I’ve got ideas for common sense EMF protection at the end of this article. 

• The second most asked question and it’s becoming much more common, is “How can this invisible wireless energy actually hurt my body?”  This of course is a very reasonable question to ask, especially because you can’t see it or smell it or touch it.  Plus, people also have trouble believing that something everyone has and everyone uses and is sold everywhere on earth could do anything besides make life better

Man-Made, Non Native EMF. That's Part Of The EMF-Harm Story

It's very important to understand that what we do to the EMFs to enable them to carry data is what makes them "biologically active."  Even if you don't feel anything happening to you when you hold a smartphone up to your head, EMFs are having an impact on your body.   But the reaction is real and clear and scientifically proven over the course of decades in hundreds of peer reviewed research studies. 

MAN MADE EMF IS AN INVISIBLE STRESSOR FOR LIVING CELLS

In my twenty years of studying this, the best explanation I've seen is in the work of Dimitris J. Panagopoulos, I first saw his lecture in 2018 in London, where he shared his 2002 discovery on the biophysical mechanism of exactly what EMF does to actual cells. It was eye-opening! To date, he’s led 55 studies on EMF and written the advanced level college text book on the topic.

There are natural EMFs and then there are man-made EMFs.

The first thing to know about how an EMF works is what it is. Man-made EMFs like those of wireless communications differ from natural EMFs from the sun and the earth. Natural EMFs from the sun like visible, infrared, ultraviolet light -even gamma rays for example, don’t attempt to transmit a movie or the entire internet.

But man or human-made EMFs are different and the key-difference is in something called Polarization. All man-made EMFs including those used in wireless communications are totally polarized meaning the transmitted waves oscillate on a single plane, while natural electromagnetic waves (e.g. of natural light) oscillate on every possible plane. Moreover, all man-made EMFs are coherent, meaning their transmitted waves have the same frequency and waveform and take simultaneously their maximum (and minimum) values— while this doesn’t happen with natural EMFs.

I like to think of coherence as two dancers on opposite sides of the stage flawlessly performing the same choreography -separate but together. If the EMF waveforms become incoherent they may cancel each other out and as result, there's no communication. And you know the same thing happens if two waveforms have different polarizations.

The fact that all man made EMF's are totally Polarized and Coherent is Part A of how and why wireless communication magic and biological effects happens.

Wireless Signals That Carry Data Are Invisible and Complex.

Information carrying wireless signals are created using a blend of different frequencies or wavelengths.

The Blend of High Frequencies and Extremely Low Frequencies is Part B of the How Wireless Communication Works equation. The high frequencies are called Radio Frequencies and Microwave Frequencies.  The Low Frequencies are called ELF.  You can see them both on this handy EMF Spectrum chart:

The Wireless EMF Blend: We always talk about RF when we describe wireless EMF. RF stands for Radio Frequencies and yes, it's true,  the EMF that's used in wireless signals to transmit the information or data to our devices are RF.  But the actual stuff it's carrying, that data- the voice on the call, the text message email, movie etc--, that data uses a different type of EMF that's not RF at all, it's the ELF(for example the power line EMF’s with their ELF frequency of 50-60 Hz) Together, ELF and RF make up the wireless EMF Blend

The invisible EMF Blend and the fact that this EMF Blend is polarized  and coherent is a core of why Human Made Wireless EMF is problematic to our health. 

Why is Man-Made EMF Harmful?

Well,  if you turn to the pages of the International Journal Of Oncology, Dimitris Panagopoulus  explains very scientifically and very thoroughly how wireless EMF can make a cell stop working the way it’s supposed to and how that disrupted cell can lead to cancer in your body.

Let me try and break it down for you.

CELLS IN OUR BODY CAN BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY WHEN WIRELESS ENERGY IS AROUND

To recap,  human made wireless communication works by powering an EMF Blend of the various frequencies and pulsations that's polarized and coherent. All these components work together to get you a call, an App, a scroll online and even a text. Wireless EMF can seem like magic.

Except for the fact tha the fine and subtle endogenous (that means made within our own body) physiological electrical signals in the cells don't exactly thrive when man made EMF is around.

Did you know all of our cells generate electrical signals so it follows that something like an un-natural human-made electromagnetic field could affect what Dr. Panagopoulos refers to as our "electro-sensitive cell"

This is how it works. Every cell is enclosed by a membrane and in every cell membrane lie hundreds/thousands of ion channels. These tiny channels are membrane proteins that open and close to let ions in and out of the cell.

Wondering what an ion is? Technically an ion is a molecule or atom that has a net electric charge.  Practically speaking ions that I can relate to are, for example, calcium, potassium, magnesium or sodium ions. These are abundant in all living tissues.  So the "channel" is a protein in the cell membrane that forms an opening in the membrane and a gate that lets the ions flow in and out of the cell.

Why People are Talking About Voltage Gated Calcium Channels or VGCC

The gate of an ion channel opens and closes when it gets a specific stimulus. The voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs), including VGCCs, open and close as a response to the voltage that goes across the membrane.  So doesn't it make sense that the body electric and the "electric" signals that flow to and from digital devices can clash? Professor Panagopoulos called them"electro-sensitive ion channels.”

Scientists call these electrosensitive channels, “voltage gated ion channels” (VGICs). Wikipedia tells us that Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) play crucial roles in many bodily functions including: cardiac action potentials, neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction.

The professor has been telling us for two decades that man-made EMFs can disturb the gating process of the VGICs disturbing the number of ions flowing in or out of the cells. When this happens the cell’s integrity and function are disrupted. That gating allows specific numbers of ions go where they're supposed to and when they're supposed to so our bodies can work the way they're designed to.

Bottom Line: Wireless EMF Can Make Our Cells Not Work The Way They’re Supposed To.

When the functions that cells are supposed to do naturally are disrupted by some outside force serious consequences can happen. 

Exposing our cells to the the tech toxin of man-made EMFs, especially the kind we use in wireless communications, can create an over-production of free radicals that can eventually lead to DNA damage.  DNA damage can manifest all kinds of unpleasant sickness from Alzheimer's to Cancer.

How much exposure it takes to damage a cell and how many cells have to be damaged before we start to manifest illness isn’t something we know now. It’s  like being exposed to any other toxin, some people get sick from pesticides, some from particulates, some from smoke. And of course, some bodies “adapt” or withstand the insult toxin’s wreak on their bodies and do just fine.

Right about now, you might be wondering Why On Earth Is It Okay To Even Sell Cellphones? 

Would you believe that the government and the Telecom industry began researching biological effects just as cellphones started to sell 3 decades ago?  They did and you can get a quick summary of the whole story in the video below.

And the news got to come out now because back in the 80's the FCC asked for an industry Association be created to help make guidelines for how the wireless spectrum could be used.  That association is called the NSMA and at a recent conference they introduced,The Wireless, Competing On Safety panel! 

Dr. George Carlo lead the distinguished panel that included other experts like  Devra Davis, founder of the Environmental Health Trust. I'm sharing the talk from the conference so you can hear how the heck cellphones ever got the green light to be sold.  Why we think its safe and okay to put them in our hands, next to our heads, in our pockets and under our pillows.  You get the truth straight from the man who was there. We can learn and then join the force for change.

What Can We Do, What Should We Do About Man-Made, Data-Transmitting EMF?

The most important thing for me to tell you is this:  Be Aware, but do not fear. Being fearful will not solve the problem.  I expect that someday, this technology will be re-worked and allow us to communicate wirelessly in a much safer way.  How? I really don't know.  But I've heard smart people like former Microsoft President, Frank Clegg say he believes engineers could figure it out IF they had to.

Another thing about fear is that it can lead to irrational decisions.  Like deciding that a glowing orb of glass with 3 crystals glued together inside is all you need to prevent man-made wireless communication EMF’s from hurting you.  Or thinking that sticking a chip with "powerful encoding" to the back of your phone or WiFi will magically solve the problem.  Before you try these highly advertised and marketed "EMF protection" products, instead of being moved by the marketing claims, read the research. When you really take the time to read what the little chips that you attach to your phones and WiFi's doesn't come close to matching the claims, like "lowers the

EMF protection is now a multi-billion dollar industry filled with gadgets, chips, clothing and shields. But here is the truth: No gadget provides any protection, and shielding might even be dangerous if not applied cautiously. It’s my job to bust myths wherever I find them and bring clarity to this subject that has been confusing so many people for so long. But don’t worry, I’ve got proven ideas for common sense EMF protection at the end of this article.

The research on these chips, items to create harmony or "harmonizers" pendants, crystals, Shungite and colored glass products is typically not published in a reputable scientific peer reviewed journal. Peer reviewed means the paper is reviewed by experts to determine if it's worthy of being in the journal.  Peer reviewed does not mean an "expert" reviews a study so the manufacturer can call it "Peer Reviewed" as they advertise the study on their site.  Usually, the research is bought and paid for by the manufacturer and sadly the products are not tested for safety or efficacy. They all say they "work" but they often say it's at an immeasurable level or the sub-atomic level.  

But, even with all the research manipulations, what I typically see is the BEST outcome of anything studied is almost always NO EXPOSURE or NO DIRECT EXPOSURE. From plants to rats to honeybee to people, it's TRUE, the healthiest and safest way to deal with man-made EMF’s is to avoid them.

The Easy Answer is this: Distance.

The way I like to visualize EMFs is similar to the smoke plume coming form the end of a cigarette.  It's dense right at tip--then you can watch as it "spreads out" in the air, getting lighter and lighter- but filling more and more space.  Finally it floats so far away, you might not even be able to detect it all.

This also applies to the sources of EMF's  - whether your cell phone, laptop, WiFi router, or Smart speaker- The farther away you are from the source, the less EMF you are being exposed to. Of course, how far you need to be from the source for safety all depends on how strong the EMF is. 

The first time I used the "Distance Is Your Friend" idea was on a video in 2008.  It's really caught on because it cements the concept of how EMF dissipates with distance so beautifully. There's actually a law in science that works to explain how much the EMF lessens as you get away from it.

That being said, try to be aware of the EMF sources closest to you

As technology evolves, more and more products are utilizing non-ionizing radio frequencies and emitting EMF radiation, especially when it comes to communication and more notably, convenience. First, we had microwave ovens, then came cell phones and now we have wireless communication spewing in, out, and around every smartphone, WiFi, smart meter, smart TV, smart ovens, smart so-many-things. Plus, a wide variety of Bluetooth and WiFi spouting toys and smart home gadgets from wearables to security cams and climate controllers. All these connected devices are called The Internet of Things (IoT).

The amount of EMF around us is overwhelming. But the good news is you have the power to control most of the sources that are affecting you the most! Locate and turn off the EMF sources in your space and make your home a low-EMF sanctuary! 

Why An EMF Detector Is Key To The Best Protection

• Smartphone
• Smart Meter
• Wearables
• Laptops
• WiFi

EMF meters are a great way to practice EMF mindfulness. I recommend investing in one if you are beginning your journey to keep you and your family safe from EMF. If it's not in the budget, find a few friends or neighbors to go in on it with you and pass it around when you need to find hidden sources of EMF. 

This Little EMF Meter Does a Great Job - Sensitive and Accurate!

This EMF Meter Has All The Bells And Whistles.  Great For When You're Serious About EMF Protection!

How Do WE Measure or Detect EMF?

All electromagnetic fields are measured in terms of power density. Think about  power density as representing the energy over the surface area.  When you see me using a meter to detect the invisible  EMF being emitted from a wireless device,the meter is giving a read out of the level of the energy over a certain area--The power density levels will be strongest directly over the surface area of the antenna and then as the EMF energy is detected further and further and further away from the antenna, the strength of the energy dissipates as the energy "spreads out" and eventually lessens enough that  it can't be detected at all.

The Inverse Square Law Is a Lovely Scientific Fact

It's called the  inverse-square law and it states that a physical quantity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.  What that means to you and me is this: If you double the distance from your device's wireless transmitter or antenna, you'll be exposed to 75% less radiation as the signal dissipates. Keep in mind, the opposite is true as well - exposure increases quickly with proximity.

How Much EMF Is Safe?

If you're sensitive, the less the better. If you're NOT sensitive, the less the better! The Biointiative Report recommended a safety level of .0003 microwatt/cm2. The  Institute of Building Biology has these guidelines for sleeping areas  You can see in our videos, the measurements from my test meters are much higher. I test everywhere I go and very rarely do I even find levels as low as .1. Most houses have 2 or 3 times that much when I set my meter to the max level and get ambient energy readings. When we measure the peak wave, or maximum peak, near the wireless energy source, the levels go much higher which is why the level I advise below is with the hope that people keep their distance from wireless devices.

What Can I Do About It?

Practically speaking avoidance and distance are the keys for the time being. The top 15 easy ways to creating less interaction with RF are in the tips above.  You can also become active in any of the many activists' groups. 

We hope you'll share our tips and this wireless energy guide and begin another person on the journey to Tech Wellness.

The 15 Best Ways to Protect You and Your Family From Wireless EMF Radiation

There are easy and effective things you can do to enjoy wireless technology, yet still be mindful of your health and create a safer and environment.

1. Turn devices OFF or put them in Airplane Mode whenever you can.

Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and smartphones are sending or receiving wireless energy even when you're not using them.  Control the unnecessary RF radiation by simply powering off. Make sure Bluetooth and WiFi are disabled too.

2. Don't carry your cell phone in your hand or your pocket  (or your bra) when it's on. 

There's plume of RF radiation all around your device and it dissipates the further it gets from the device. Consider a purse or man-bag or a cell phone case with straps or a simple phone leash so you can either dangle it from your wrist or keep it long so it stays away from your tummy and hips--we don't want RF energy there!!

 IF "ANTI RADIATION PHONE CASES" ACTUALLY WORKED, WE WOULD OFFER THEM AT TECH WELLNESS.

EMF radiation protection that is guaranteed come only with a Faraday bag that completely blocks signal. Another good idea is to distance yourself from your device.  Like smoke from a cigarette, RF radiation dissipates as it gets further and further from the antenna.  Carry your phone away from you. 

3. If you hold your phone to Facetime, Zoom, watch videos, or scroll social media - Try a phone stand instead.

Your body is safer when the wireless energy from your smartphone is at least 8 inches from you.  Try this - it's great for preventing Tech Neck as well. 

4. Eliminate WiFi and use internet via a wired connection. 

Instead of a wireless mouse, use a wired mouse. Instead of a wireless keyboard, wse a wired keyboard. Hardwired connections eliminate RF energy from wireless energy. A bonus is that your internet is faster and more secure.  It's great because all this hard wiring allows you to turn blue-tooth and WiFi off.  Make sure you toggle off the Bluetooth setting and the WiFi settings on your laptop or device. The result: almost no RF radiation! Use this to assure no electro-smog which can occur with some cabling or check out our favorites all in one bundle in our Hard Wire Kit!

5. If you're home just can't exist without WiFi, turn it off whenever you can.

Especially at night! Any time the WiFi router is off, it's not sending a signal so there's no RF radiation. Turn it off using a low-tech remote switch so you don't have to come in close contact with the RF energy from the router. You can turn the router off anytime and turn it back on when you need it.

6. Keep your computer and cell phone out of all sleeping areas. 

Being clear of all EMF radiation makes for a lovely nights rest for you and your family.  Instead of awaking to the sounds of your smartphone, we found a lovely EMF free alternative.

7. Find the hidden sources of EMF and disable WiFi and Bluetooth

Here are a few places to look: 

8. Remove your Smart Meter. 

It's actually a very powerful WiFi router that's consistently pulsing EMF's all day and all night. It could be the strongest EMF source in your home. Call your power company and ask them to switch it out to a non-wireless analog or digital meter. We did this and we noticed a big difference! If you can't remove it, try to cover it with this Smart Meter cover to block up to 98% of the RF.

9. Prioritize a safe baby monitor

 Turn off the baby monitor anytime you're not using it AND make sure it's at least 15 feet from you and your baby. Try this no-EMF radiation baby monitor set-up.

10. Try a stylus

To keep your hands and fingers from being exposed to wireless energy directly, use a stylus when texting or emailing from your device. Too much? Compose in airplane mode: then send when the device is on or enabled.

11. Try to avoid using a phone or computer on a plane, in a car, or on a train.

The wireless radiation increases as the device searches for the signal. It can become quite high. Not good for you or anyone around you. You can watch this video demonstrating the magnification of RF radiation when WiFi is accessed in a plane.

12. Find out where they keep the WiFi router when you're choosing your flight seat.

Choose a seat as far from it as you can to distance yourself from wireless EMF.

13. A laptop is not for your lap! 

Even with no WiFi or Bluetooth connection, there are magnetic EMF's oozing from it. At the very least use a thick 12" pillow. Best is on the desk a good 2' from your tummy with a wired mouse and keyboard attached to the laptop. Check out a great folding desk option here!

14. Ditch the AirPods or wireless headphones for a wired option (AirTube Technology is preferred!) 

The tube of air acts as a buffer between the RF energy coming from the cell phone or smartphone and makes sure none of it gets to your head. Here's the one we use. It works beautifully, plus has a nice long wire for more distance from our device.

15. Be WiFi, cell phone, and Bluetooth aware

Not just in your home, but out and about as well. If you see the flashing lights of a WiFi router, know that you're being exposed to less as you move further away. Wifi router boxes or low power Wifi routers can help reduce some of the WiFi radiation in your home or office environment.

(Back to Top)

What I DO NOT Recommend To Protect You From EMF Radiation

I know, the world of EMF Protection is confusing! And now more than ever there are a TON of "EMF Protection" companies trying to sell you their product - but what really works and what doesn't?

My EMF Journey began long ago.  I've seen all manner of chips, shields, stickers and fabrics along the way that claimed to mitigate EMF and purchased dozens of products to try.

There are materials that do in-fact block EMF- they block the natural EMF from the earth as well as the chaotic man-made EMF that leads to the negative health effects.  But most materials don't block all EMF and when all the wireless RF/EMF is blocked, it's impossible to get a signal to or from the device.

Harmonizers that claim to be EMF protection don't have compelling published peer-reviewed studies to prove their efficacy, though they may enhance the environment.

Both the harmonizer and EMF protection/shielding market's are growing. If you're looking to block EMF or shield your home or body from EMF you really must approach harmonizers and shielding with caution.

You'll find the details as well as recommendations for using shielding properly in our article, Does EMF Protection Work? There's also a research study that details the how partial shielding from clothing as well as cases can increase EMF with reflection and hot spots.

EMF Protection That Isn't Backed by Science:  

• Anti-Radiation Phone Cases or Device Cases - These can make the radiation worse by magnifying it on the edges of what the case is covering.  Covering the front of the case does not protect you from the radiation coming from all sides and TOP of the phone.
• Laptop Shields - As with phone cases, the edge of the laptop shield is oozing EMF.  Add to that, in order for the shield to protect your lap, which is usually your legs, the radiation is multiplied on the top of the shield. That means more radiation to your hands, tummy, chest, and face.
• Anti-Radiation or Shielding Clothing - Clothing with metallic fibers can keep direct radiation exposure off the area that it's covering-but it can also magnify that radiation to other parts of your body in what the new research calls Hot Spots.  Also, we really aren't sure about the health mechanism of EMF exposure. Just because one part of you is covered, what's happening to the rest of you?  Building Biologist Bill Cadwallader puts it this way: "Which body part isn't important to you?"
• Shungite - It pains us to see that Shungite is the number one term that comes up when you Google EMF Protection.  Shungite is cool and it is beautiful. It's a black stone that was discovered in Karelia Russia and that's why you may see people talk about only trusting Kareilian Shungite.  The trouble is that although  Shungite does have electrical conductive properties because it actually has carbon and (sometimes) fullerene content. As a matter of fact,  It has been confirmed to have shielding capabilities from 10-30GHz, as well as attenuating 50Hz electric fields (Mosin and Ignatov, 2013)  THE problem with using it as shielding is that you have to have a lot of it, not just a chunk of it sitting on a table. Shungite can have shielding capabilities IF it COVERED an entire wall or created a large barrier between you and the wireless antenna or transmitter. Shungite, and any crystal by the way, does NOT attract or diffuse EMF.