Create a sleeping sanctuary reduce electrosmog.

Periodically during the past few decades, a story about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) or electricity has made a small splash in the media. These stories are quickly discounted as being untrue or hypochondriacal in nature. And yet, they continue to emerge. As reported in one publication, "In one pooled study that combined nine well-conducted studies from several countries, including a study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a twofold excess risk of childhood leukemia was associated with exposure to magnetic fields above 0.4 [micro]T. In another pooled study that combined 15 studies, a similar increased risk was seen above 0.3 [micro]T." (1)

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In yet another study, "A questionnaire survey of 2,072 people in California found that the prevalence of ES [electro-sensitive] within the sample group was 3.24% with ES being defined as 'Being allergic or very sensitive to getting near electrical appliances, computers, or power lines'" (Levallois 2002, response rate 58.3%). A similar questionnaire survey from the same year in Stockholm County (Sweden) found a 1.5% prevalence of ES amongst the sample group, with ES being defined as "Hypersensitivity or allergy to electric or magnetic fields" (Hillert 2002, response rate 73%). (2)

In addition, there is now a plethora of products that are making claims of "protection," "shielding," or "reduction" of exposure to EMF. There is no magic pill or product that can protect us, and though it is true that some of the products are effective, none of them address all of the issues. In fact, if misused, they can exacerbate the situation.

The general public is often overwhelmed with the technical terms and the complexity, so the tendency has been to simply ignore the issue. Though the majority believes that there is some risk in using a cell phone, people continue to do so because it is convenient. Just as although people know that "fast food" is not healthy, the convenience trumps the risk. What the general public does now realize is that the largest risk of EMF may not be from the cell phone (though it is bad there as well), but within the bedroom. At night, our bodies recuperate from the daily onslaught of stress; our cells and organs detoxify and replace themselves. If this process is interrupted because our cell membranes are in constant stress, then healthy cells can be damaged, while unhealthy cells (infections, mutations, neural disorders) can proliferate. (3-6) For example, several individuals link Lyme disease to electromagnetic exposure as follows:

* "Nodular, discoid morphoea-like, and widespread cutaneous fibroses in chronic Borrelia infection may be provoked by trauma, surgery or electromagnetic radiation." (7)

* "Just as Lyme Disease sufferers using rife technology experience herx reactions following treatment sessions, it is feasible that people with EMF [electromagnetic field] sensitivity are experiencing the effects of electromagnetic fields on undiagnosed infections in their body." (8)

* "Based on the growing consensus that Lyme Disease is often misdiagnosed and is spreading rapidly, it seems possible that EMF [electromagnetic field] sensitivity may in fact be due to undiagnosed Lyme Disease or similar infection. According to one author, the problem of EMF sensitivity has grown to epidemic proportions. Further evidence supporting this hypothesis is that many people who suffer from EMF sensitivity have lots of other health problems that suggest infection." (9)

Research has established that our bodies communicate first bioelectrically and then biochemically. (10) In nature, there are many electromagnetic fields that have no adverse effect on our bodies. That is because natural fields are either temporally constant (same frequency) or spatially constant (same shape), but not both. On the other hand, manmade signals by necessity for communication are both temporally and spatially constant. According to Carlo, with prolonged exposure, these constant signals can cause the protein vibratory receptors located on our cell membranes to go into resonance. (11) Once in resonance, the cell must determine whether the "signal" is a biological communication or a foreign invader. If the latter, as is the case with all manmade signals, then the cell will react by going into sympathetic lock to protect it from this perceived invasion--preventing it from taking in nutrition and releasing toxins.

This cell membrane reaction triggers a cascade of events that can then manifest itself in a variety of symptoms and diseases, starting with compromising the immune system. According to Becker, "It is well-established that exposure to any abnormal electromagnetic field produces a stress response. If the exposure is prolonged, the stress-response system becomes exhausted, and the competency of the immune system declines to below normal. In such a state, animals and humans are more susceptible to cancer and infectious diseases." (12)

Note that though the discussion here is about healthy cells, other cells within our bodies, such as viruses and bacteria, will also respond as if under attack and proliferate in order to survive.

So how does one protect oneself and one's family? The answer is by creating "sleeping sanctuaries." Read on to find the steps to take to identify and remove as much of this "electrosmog" from your bedroom as possible. In a recent article in the Townsend Letter, the "Guided Digital Medicine Management of Lyme Disease consists of four main components:" of which "Component #4 addresses blocks and potential blocks to the treatment: diet, reduction of electromagnetic pollution, emotional stress, etc." (13) (italics added)

Limiting the Electrosmog

The ultimate goal is to expose the body to as natural a background as possible. Unfortunately, in most living environments, this will require some type of protection, as the external environment is also polluted. However, we find that the indoor pollution (that within your control) is quite often much higher than that from the external environment.

Step 1: Magnetic fields

Magnetic therapy has been established as a well-known treatment, especially for those with inflammation; however, chronic exposure nightly can cause problems. Magnetic fields have a direct impact to the intercellular gap junction communication. (14)

Magnetic fields are caused whenever there is an unbalanced flow of current. They cannot easily be shielded and will penetrate through walls, floors, and ceilings. Thus, the best advice is to first determine if you have them and then distance yourself from them.

Sources:

* digital clocks with displays (move at least 6 feet from bed);

* appliances (refrigerators, televisions, stereos, air conditioning units): should not be within 6 feet of sleeping area--this includes the adjacent room or room above or below;

* breaker/fuse boxes: should not be within 6 feet of sleeping area--this includes an adjacent room;

* wiring errors; this requires you to investigate with a gauss meter. You can buy an inexpensive gauss meter and then survey your sleeping area. Levels above 1 mg are considered too high. (15)

Step 2: Electric Fields

Electric fields are present whenever there is something nearby that is energized, or "hot." They have a beginning and an end, and therefore there are ways to shield from them. Because of the orthogonal magnetic field component of electric fields, it is suspected that the biological interaction of electric fields also occurs at the intercellular gap junction. (16) One of the critical elements of exposure to electric fields is the reduction of melatonin. (17)

The biological effects of such have been attributed to neurological and malignant growth effects within the body. (18)

Sources:

* wiring in the walls and wall outlets within 6 feet of the bed--turn these off at night by flipping the circuit breaker, or install a demand switch that leaves them off unless needed;

* electrical appliances, such as lamps, extension cords, alarm clocks, or radios--do not use these at night; if you need something near your bed, use a battery-powered device.

Step 3: Radio Frequency Fields

This category includes everything that is used for wireless communications, from radios to televisions to cell phones to wireless Internet. Human bodies are not designed to live within a world with elevated radio frequency signals, yet we have created such an environment. Long-term exposure to low levels of RF can cause sympathetic lock of cell membranes and the consequential cascade of cellular dysfunction. (19)

Sources:

* Turn off all wireless devices at night. If you need something at night, don't use devices that are wireless.

* Examples of wireless devices often found in bedrooms that should not be present: cordless telephones, RF baby monitors, and speakers. Of these, the cordless phone base appears to have the worst biological impact, as many of them transmit a signal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

* Avoid any wireless device that is digital. There are baby monitors that are not digital.

* Protection from external RF sources can best be done by erecting a canopy made from RF reflective material over the bed. Films and fabric on windows may also be effective, but quite often the signal is also penetrating through the walls, floors or ceilings.

Step 4: Static Magnetic Fields

Metal bedsprings often have residual magnetism, either from when mined or due to repetitive compression over time. Though magnetic therapy can be beneficial, constant exposure to magnetic field anomalies can reduce the production of red blood cells and disturb the REM sleep. (20) And as with electric fields, static fields can also reduce melatonin. (21)

Sources:

* Replace any bed where a liquid-filled compass slid slowly over the bed has a needle deflection.

* Note that cribs with metal are especially susceptible to this.

Notes

(1.) National Cancer Institute. Magnetic field exposure and cancer: questions and answers [web page]. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/magnetic-fields. Cited Dec 2007.

(2.) Wikipedia. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity [web page], http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/electrical sensitivity. Cited Dec 2007.

(3.) Dutta SK, Subramoniam A, Ghosh B, Parslad R. Microwave radiation-induced calcium ion efflux from human neuroblastoma cells in culture. Bioelectromagnetics. 1983;5:71-78.

(4.) Savopol T, Moraru R, Dinu A, Kovacs E, Sajin G. Membrane damage of human red blood cells induced by low power microwave radiation. Electro-Magnetobiology 1995;14:99-105.

(5.) Becker RO. Cross Currents: The Perils of Electropollution, The Promise of Electromedicine. New York: Tarcher Inc.; 1990:206.

(6.) Boorman GA, Rafferty CN, Ward JM, Sills RC. Leukemia and lymphoma incidence in rodents exposed to low-frequency magnetic fields. Radiat Res. 2000;153(5);627-636.

(7.) Marsch WC, Mayet A, Wolter M. Cutaneous fibroses induced by Borrelia burgdorferi. Br J Dermatol. 1992;128(6):674-678. Epub 29 Jul 2006.

(8.) Rosner B. When Antibiotics Fail. BioMed Publishing Group; 2005. Available at: http://www.Iymebook.com/electromagnetic-field-sensitivity-emf.

(9.) Ibid.

(10.) Lipton B. The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles. Hay House; 2008.

(11.) Carlo G. Effects of EMR. Speech given in Nashville, TN; April 2009.

(12.) Becker RO. Cross Currents. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.; 1990:195.

(13.) Yurkovsky S. Guided Digital Medicine[TM], Lyme disease, and petri dish mentality. Townsend Lett. April 2007. Available at: http://www.townsendletter.com/April2007/guided0407.htm.

(14.) Carlo; op cit.

(15.) Maes W. Standard of Baubiologie methods of testing (SBM-2008) [web page]. 2008. Available at: http://www.baubiologie.de/site/english.php.

(16.) Carlo; op cit.

(17.) Griefahn B et al. The effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the melatonin synthesis in man. 2000. Paper presented at: RTO HFM Workshop on Individual Differences in the Adaptability to Irregular Rest-Work Rhythms/Status of the Use of Drugs in Sleep-Wakefulness Management' Venice, Italy; 3-4 June 1999. Available at: http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADP010456

(18.) Becker, Cross Currents, 195.

(19.) Carlo; op cit.

(20.) Ruhenstroth-Bauer G, Ruther E, Reinertshofer S. The dependence of a sleeping parameter from the N-S or E-W sleeping direction. Z Naturforsch. 1987;42c: 1140-1142.

(21.) Reiter RJ. Melatonin suppression by static and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Environ Health. 1994; 10:171-186.

Vicki Warren, is an electrical engineer. She is a Council-Certified Indoor Environmentalist by the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmlAQ), certified by the International Institute for Bau-Biologie and Ecology (IBE) as a Building Biologist Environmental Consultant, a certified partner with the Environmental Data Resources (EDR), and a Certified Electromagnetic Safety Advisor (CERSA) Consultant with the Science of Public Policy Institute. For 25 years, Ms. Warren Vicki has worked in the power industry as an electrical engineer, teaching courses, testing high-voltage equipment, and developing products.

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Because of her awareness that our "buildings are sick," Vicki works with the staff of IBE as the executive director and as an Indoor Environmental Consultant. In addition to her duties with IBE, Vicki is also the founder of a local nonprofit in middle Tennessee, Wings of Eagles Healthy Living (WEHL), that is dedicated to educating teaching individuals how to improve the quality of their indoor environments. WEHL conducts seminars, programs, home surveys, and provides low-cost consultation to building healthy. You can contact Vicki at [e-mail].