CHAPTER 9

Having looked at evidence of the potential perils of our electromagnetic world, we will now summarise some of the main methods of coping with many of the problems.
We will start by examining in more detail some precautions you can take and devices that you can use to reduce the level of unwanted electromagnetic fields which occur in your environment. You will find some suggestions for the sources of suitable equipment or services in the 'Suppliers'section at the end of this book.

        We will discuss some of the ways in which you can try to reduce the effect which unavoidable exposure may have on your body. Finally we will look at some of the ways in which power generators and other producers of large-volume electromagnetic radiations, such as telephone companies and the military could help (or be made to help) the situation.
 

A theme which runs through this book is avoidance. There is still much debate about exactly what a 'safe' level of exposure to any given wavelength or waveform might be. Since we are still far from certain which frequencies may be the most hazardous, it seems logical to avoid tempting fate (without becoming paranoid). It makes sense to avoid using electrical equipment that, while sometimes helpful or novel, is not by any stretch of the imagination essential: for example the 'electrical gimmicks' you see advertised in newspapers and by mail order companies. We should also try to minimise use of the types of apparatus that give off strong fields or those to which we are likely to be exposed for long periods. We have to recognise that the convenience and efficiency of much electrical equipment is such that there will be considerable reluctance to do without it.

        Where continued exposure is likely because of personal choice or conversely, lack of choice (perhaps because of your occupation), there are several possible ways of minimising the effects, some more complex than others. There is certainly quite a lot that can be done with some careful thinking about the problems and with little expenditure.

        Firstly, you can do your best to keep as far as possible from the source. Remember that electromagnetic fields roughly obey the 'inverse square law'. This means that if you move twice as far away from the source, the effect on you will be reduced not to one half but to a quarter. As a result you can often achieve a real improvement by working, sitting or sleeping in a more favourable position, or by moving the source of the problem if this !s possible. Increasing the distance is particularly important in the bedroom or any other place where you spend long periods. If your problems come from a power line in the garden, a factory down the road, or even the three computers in your neighbour's flat, there may be little alternative to moving house!

        Secondly, you should try to select equipment producing low emissions. Though matters have improved, making an informed choice is not always easy as manufacturers are often reluctant or unable to disclose the information you need. For instance it is possible in theory to find lower radiation television sets, but they are still hard to identify and obtain. In contrast, low emission VDUs have become widespread in the last few years and are virtually standard equipment with leading computer makers although there is still no absolute definition of what qualifies as low emission. If possible, check whether the VDU conforms to the more stringent Swedish standards. The current standard (known as MPR2) came into force in 1991, replacing MPR1 which was introduced in 1987. However, any statement such as 'meets the Swedish standard' should be acceptable. Who knows, now that Sweden has joined the European Union, Europe may at last get an EU standard for VDU emissions to go with rules about ergonomics, working hours and so on.

        The screens on lap-top and notebook computers employ quite different technology and can be counted as virtually emission free for all practical purposes provided they are used on a desk or table rather than on the lap. However, portable computers are significantly more expensive, especially those with high quality (TFT) colour screens. Domestic equipment can be more of a problem; the maker of a microwave oven will have a lot to tell you about turntables and power settings, but little to say about magnetic field emissions to the surrounding area (it has possibly never even been measured).

        Thirdly, you should try to use equipment producing high emissions as sparingly as possible. Some of the main types to be wary of have been identified for you in this book. You may feel that you must use an electric hair dryer or razor, but you should keep the length of use and number of times it is used to a minimum. Generally, try to limit the length and degree of your exposure to high fields which you know exist. For instance, you do not need to stand right next to a microwave oven or many other appliances at home or at work while they are working.

    Fourthly, ensure that equipment is kept in good working condition, and that known potential hazards like microwave ovens are regularly checked and serviced.

        Finally, it is a good idea to unplug (not just switch off) apparatus not in use. Not only will all flexes give off electric fields night and day if this is not done, but in particular, electric blankets, televisions and some other equipment will often produce strong fields even when apparently turned off.

        It should, by now, be obvious that it is possible to take all of these sensible precautions and still be left with significant problems, particularly at work where people generally have less control over their environment. The extent to which you are able to do anything about it other than change your job, may depend on the attitude of your employer. It is to be hoped that eventually awareness of these hazards will increase to the point at which Health and Safety regulations are as concerned with electromagnetic hazards as they are with toxic chemicals and falling objects.
 

Demand switches are ingenious devices that originated from Germany (where they are called Netzfreischalter) and can be installed next to or in the consumer unit (fuse box) on any domestic circuit. About the width of two mains fuses or miniature circuit breakers, a demand switch is simply wired in as shown in fig.S, a job that takes an electrician only a few minutes. It incorporates special electronics that continuously produce around 4 volts DC (direct current), and this is applied to the mains circuit. As DC is biologically friendly at low voltages it produces none of the fields which have been concerning us.

        The purpose of this small voltage is to tell the switch as soon as anything connected to the circuit is turned on, as this will allow the DC current to flow. Until this happens, the demand switch remains in the off position and so the whole circuit is disconnected from the mains and none of the usual disturbing AC fields will be generated from any of the mains cables, flexes, etc. However, as soon as any switch is turned on, the DC current is able to flow. This in turn causes a solenoid in t e demand switch to operate, restoring mains electricity to the circuit in a fraction of a second. Conversely, a second or two after the last appliance on the circuit is turned off, the demand switch disconnects the mains at source and the AC electromagnetic radiation ceases.

Fig.8: Demand switch.

Such a device is obviously ideal at night, when it is possible to turn off all lights and other apparatus connected to the circuits supplying the bedroom area. The advantage over simply removing the fuses (apart from convenience!) is that should you awake while it is still dark, switching on any light will immediately restore normal power for as long as you need it.

        In a typical house with a ring main or ring circuit, two demand switches are needed, one to control the ring mains serving the bedroom area, and one to control the lighting circuit. This assumes that all the lights are on one circuit, their cables passing below and above the bed to supply both floors. Occasionally, the lighting may be split into two circuits, in which case an extra demand switch may be necessary.

        The situation is simpler in houses supplied by the spur system, as all that is then necessary is to insert a demand switch intp the spur serving the sleeping area in question. This will generally isolate both power and lighting circuits. It is much easier in this case to identify and monitor the total supply to any given location.

        Of course, such a system does mean that anything consuming power will need to be turned off at night (so no more mains clock radio!). There can be a problem if you have anything that has to be left switched on at night (for instance, boilers, immersion heaters, freezers — or home office equipment such as computers and fax machines etc.). Provided these are far enough away from the bedroom, are on a separate circuit and you can ensure that no cables connected to such circuits pass near to the bedroom — a minimum of 6-10ft (2-3m) should be sufficient (remember the inverse square law — you will probably be all right). Otherwise demand switches will be of no use to you. But it must also be noted that If a significant amount of the problem originates outside the building, a demand switch will be, at best, a partial solution.

        Every case is different, and there is no space to go into all the possibilities here. However, demand switches can certainly offer a simple and effective answer in many cases where the night time environment is of concern.

        There are one or two limitations to the use of these switches. For instance they are not triggered by fluorescent lights unless a simple adaptation to the light is carried out. Remember that this includes the new low-energy bulbs (which are effectively small fluorescent tubes). Nor can demand switches be used on circuits with dimmer controls. (Since dimmers and fluorescent tubes produce their own electromagnetic hazards, they are best avoided in any case as you have seen.)

Fig. 9, above: A protective undersheet grounds electromagnetic fields

Another way to tackle the problem of the electrically polluted bedroom is to place an earthed protective undersheet under the mattress. Such a sheet is of particular value because it helps to shield the sleeper from all electromagnetic fields wherever they come from — indoors or out. A bed with a sheet is illustrated in Fig. 9 (above) and you will see that radiations coming from above the bed are dealt with just as effectively as those which originate below. This is because the sheet provides an excellent earth, fields are attracted to it preferentially and are then discharged harmlessly to earth.

        The action is demonstrated simply and convincingly using the earthed voltmeter method described earlier. A high induced voltage previously found when lying on the bed will be reduced to background level or less once a protective undersheet is in place. As the diagram indicates, the protected zone is in the form of a tunnel over the mattress. This can be demonstrated if the 'sleeper' sits up, when the reading will rise as the head and upper body leave the 'tunnel', increasing still further if the subject stands on the bed and returning to normal when standing beside the bed.

        A typical undersheet is made from a thin aluminium film (anodised to prevent oxidation) bonded to a strong non-woven fabric sheet. A flexible wire bonded to the metallic sheet is connected to the earth pin of a suitable plug that is then placed in a convenient socket. The mains earth can normally be used for convenience and reliability, but other earths such as a pipe buried in the ground can be employed. There are circumstances where this is necessary for full effectiveness as discussed below. Adequate earthing of an undersheet is essential if it is to be effective. Simply placing a piece of foil under the bed will not provide reliable protection, nor is it easy to connect a wire effectively to ordinary aluminium foil.

        Where electrical pollution from outside is a significant part of the problem, a protective undersheet under each bed may be an alternative to moving house. Of course, if the external source is a power line above the roof, you may not consider this an adequate safeguard.

        Installing a protective undersheet provides a good example of just how aware we need to be today about the complications of even a simple task like arranging an earth connection. Not so long ago you could simply attach a wire to a bare water pipe or to the earth pin of a plug and be sure it would do the required job. However, that was in the days of old-fashioned earthing systems which typically consisted of a copper wire run from the house and connected to a piece of copper pipe that was buried a foot or two in the ground. From this comes the name 'earth' or in America 'ground' for the connection. These were not always too efficient, for instance if the ground the pipe was buried in dried out, or the wire was broken when someone dug the garden, a dangerous situation could arise.
Now most houses have an earth provided by the electricity company which runs along a return cable to a central earthing point. The only problem is that for technical reasons this cable typically carries unbalanced return currents and apparatus earthed to it will tend to radiate energies at mains and other frequencies. This is not usually a problem for small domestic equipment, but a large metallised sheet above which you sleep could easily produce in these circumstances, more disturbance than it removes.

        This sort of earthing arrangement is becoming very common and checks show that the level of emissions from any large metal object (including such things as metal sink units or other kitchen equipment) can reach significant levels. So if you cannot have your installation professionally checked, the safest recommendation is that such sheets are earthed in the old-fashioned 'inefficient' way with a buried pipe to ensure a quiet night's sleep. Not so easy, but far safer.
 

In parts of mainland Europe special shielded mains cables to reduce electrostress have been produced for some time. These have a metallic layer wound around the conductors underneath the insulation. You will by now realise that if this layer is earthed, all radiating mains electrical fields will be eliminated, as will a proportion of the magnetic fields.

        Wiring regulations do vary widely from one country to another, so it is not generally possible simply to import cable for installation in your own home. However, similarly shielded cable (often made for installation in circuits serving fire alarms and other protective devices) is available in most countries, and it should be possible to identify a local supplier by contacting an electrical wholesaler or a professional electrician.

        The alternative is to run the mains supply in conduits (metal tubes screwed together) which are earthed at intervals and this will achieve much the same effect, if not quite so conveniently. It is certainly worth thinking about if you are building a new house, but would not be as easy to install in an existing building.
 

In really bad cases of electromagnetic radiations coming from outside a building, a possible (though radical) protective measure is to line the walls facing the hazard with some sort of earthed conductive mesh. If the concern is with mains frequencies (for instance if there is a nearby pylon) then any normal mesh size will be effective as the wavelengths are extremely long. As you have learned earlier, screening will be effective mainly against the electrical component of the field so the measure is at best partial, but it may be the best that can be done. You will find in Table 3 (see page 29) the degree to which a number of common materials will shield against electrical and magnetic fields. You will see that while all of them will effectively block almost all of the electrical field, only 60cm (2 feet) of concrete will provide the similar protection against magnetic fields. These figures (by the way) are only for 50Hz (mains) fields. Radio and higher frequencies, having much shorter wavelengths, are even more difficult to deal with.

        If a troublesome source is a radio transmitter then a very fine mesh will be needed and this will work only if any windows facing the transmitter are also shielded, which is not generally possible. Some time ago 1 saw a sample of a non-woven synthetic fibre randomly interspersed with metallic strands. This looked very promising, although I have not had the chance to test it in use for protection. It was originally developed to stop one form of industrial espionage, the reading of sensitive information on computers by picking up the radio-frequency broadcasts from their screens on receivers located nearby. Because of the random nature it was said to be effective over a wide frequency spectrum and because it was very thin, could be pasted to walls under normal wall coverings.

        Another method which I have not tested — lining walls with the type of plasterboard that is backed with an aluminium foil layer (designed to minimise heat losses through walls) — should theoretically give a measure of protection from mains frequencies if properly earthed. However, earthing these boards effectively is difficult and it is known that if they are not earthed the foil can radiate large amounts of electro-pollution into the rooms. So on balance such wall lining is better avoided altogether.

        If the source of concern is a local microwave transmitter (such as is used for communications links) then there really is little you can do. Because the wavelengths are so short, simply covering the walls and windows with a very fine mesh with a pitch of a millimetre or less would have little effect and that would be at best partial. Nothing short of lining the house with solid steel a centimetre or two thick or living in a deep cellar could be considered truly effective.

        You can buy devices designed to be placed in affected areas of your house or office which are said either to disperse or block the intrusive radiations or else to enable those in the fields to resist their effects. In my experience you cannot test the effect with a meter or other mainstream scientific method, but those using muscle testing or dowsing claim that the results can be demonstrated.

Because there is no practical way in which you can exclude totally all hazardous electromagnetic fields from your environment. In any case, we still do not know for certain exactly which fields are dangerous — so it is only prudent to do what you can to protect yourselves from any ill effects resulting from unavoidable exposure.

        I discussed earlier (Chapter 1) why the general level of stress which we experience is important in determining how we react to electro-stress. As you may recall, I suggested a number of measures to help.

        One of the key processes which leads on to cancerous conditions and other types of degeneration is the production of potentially dangerous molecules called 'free radicals' in the body. In Chapter 8 we saw that microwave cooking can produces higher levels of these in some foods and it may well be that other types of electromagnetic fields directly stimulate their production in the body. A result of this heightened awareness is the growing popularity of anti-oxidant mixtures of vitamins, herbs and other ingredients with properties known to help reverse the effects. These are certainly worth considering and as a bonus they are said to slow down the ageing process.

    It is a medical truth that a healthy immune system is central to our bodies' fight against disease. It is only common sense that anything which can boost our immune system must help to protect us. As with anti-oxidants, a healthy diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables is an important starting point, but there are various specialised food supplements and natural remedies which can also help. A nutritional consultant, naturopath or even a good health food shop should be able to give you advice in this connection.

        There are also several of devices designed to be worn or carried with you which are claimed to increase the body's ability to resist the stressful effects of external fields, whether man-made or natural. Examples are Harmonisers, the Charged Card and Electronic Field Generators. It has to be said that there is little scientific evidence of their efficacy, but it is claimed that users' experience backs up the claims made for them. As most of them are not particularly expensive you may feel that they are worth trying, at least as a way of reducing stress levels.
 

A question that is natural to ask is why government and science do not act to stem the increase in microwave towers, warn of the dangers of portable telephones, allow people to live under power lines or next to transforming stations?

        It should be apparent to most that government is hardly impartial. Inevitably and increasingly it responds to the pressure of powerful special interests, like the electricity industry, the farming lobby, the pharmaceutical industry, and big business generally. Increasingly, universities are dependent on industry to fund research, and the poor consumer is left to discover the truth for him/herself, and to take appropriate action.

        There are various steps, some of which we have touched on earlier, that could be taken to decrease electromagnetic hazards, but which are beyond the scope of individual action. They could only be achieved by voluntary codes of practice adhered to by power producers and equipment manufacturers, or by legislation. Realistically, only the latter means is likely to be successful at an international level.

    Dealing with power distribution first, if the establishment of corridors along power lines within which the building of houses, factories or offices was banned, this would avoid a lot of future problems.

        Another change that could bring benefits is the replacement of pylons by underground lines in built-up areas. While this does not eliminate all hazards (as you have read in Chapter 6), it could reduce levels of exposure by a useful amount. Against this must be set the fact that, since it is generally not obvious where such cables run, they are harder to avoid than pylons — and we do have the evidence of links with mental illness, even from underground cables. There is also the question whether such a move might unintentionally bring about unpredictable clashes or interactions with earth energy fields.

        The number of broadcast communications transmissions (another major source of trouble) could be greatly reduced if wider use were made of fibre optic cables, sending the messages harmlessly underground instead of beaming them from mast to mast across the country. In Germany a programme to do just this has been under way for some years, but it is relatively little used in the USA and the UK, at least for long-range connections. This method is useless for police or other emergency broadcasts that need to be picked up by mobile receivers in vehicles, but a high proportion of microwave broadcasts is between fixed points.

        Turning to domestic and commercial equipment, you have already read of some of the potential areas for improvement, such as the production of low-emission television sets and computer monitors or the provision of some easy, preferably automatic way of detecting microwave leakages. The consumer can do much to speed these improvements by creating a demand for them. Ask manufacturers and suppliers what is available and if nothing is, ask why not. Ask them about the field levels produced by their equipment — and if they cannot or will not — ask why not. Ask your MP or Congressman as well, and press for legislation to be framed. Do not be put off by being told that there is no demand or that the cost is prohibitive. You can create the demand and costs have a way of shrinking when there is no alternative, but to provide something!
 

Slowly but surely, public and other authorities are beginning to show more interest in this important subject. We need more research - and that means funding — especially into the possible serious, even fatal, effects of chronic exposure to different types of electric field. There is a very urgent need for the results of exposure to microwave radiation, whether from ovens, from computers, radar or from communications to be investigated and for clear and responsible exposure limits to be set.

        If you are convinced that a case has been made for the existence of less serious, but still distressing effects of ELF exposure such as sleep disturbance and rheumatism, then in the short term the protective measures discussed are available to you. In the longer term there is no substitute for the fundamental changes needed. We must all play our part if change is to be achieved speedily.

        Truly the discovery of the means of production and transmission of electricity and our ingenuity in exploiting it has led to undreamed of complications. We must wake up to the perils before we may have done terrible damage to ourselves, to our environment and to future generations. The situation has never been more urgent.

Click on Following Chapters to Read or Download:-

Electrostress-
Chapter 01 Disease
Chapter 02 Vibrations
Chapter 03 Facts and Figures
Chapter 04 Bedtime Story
Chapter 05 Around the House
Chapter 06 Power Lines
Chapter 07 Computers
Chapter 08 Microwaves

Chapter 10 The Positive Side?

Geopathic (Earth Energies) Stress
11  Earth Stress, Earthquakes, Earth Sensitives
12 History of Ley Lines, Ionization Under Cancer Beds, Scientific Measurements
13 How to Use Divining Rods, Protect Yourself, Allergies
14 Unhealthy Earth Energies, The Hartmann Net and Curry Grid
15 Black Spirals, Crop Circles, Demons, Oscilloscope Measurement
16 Crossing Leys, Ion Effect, Allergic to Microwave Ovens, Graveyards, Quarries
17 Natural and Man-made Sources of Unhealthy Energies
18 Imprinting Your Own Energy
19 Eliminating Unhealthy Earth Energy
20 Cup-marked Stones or Petroglyphs
21 Human disease and Mother Earth

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