Understanding the Cause and Effect of Electric and Magnetic Fields

Ever since Edison threw the switch on the first commercial power plant in 1882, mankind has been increasing the use of electric energy. Today we live in a sea of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that did not exist during our biological development.

Work done by Robert O. Becker, MD, research professor at the Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, N.Y., suggests that this enormous sea of EMR may be producing stress and disease by interfering at the most basic levels of body functioning.

The electromagnetic spectrum and evolution

The electro-magnetic spectrum consists of energy vibrating at various rates from a single vibration per second to billions of vibrations per second. The term frequency is used to describe this vibration and is measured in cycles per second or Hertz. The frequency of electricity used for power is 60 Hertz. AM radio frequencies are 55,000 to 160,000 Hertz. FM radio runs from 88 million (mega) Hertz to 180 mega Hertz. Television is higher. Cellular phones are 900 million to 1.9 billion Hertz. Microwave ovens are 2.5 Billion Hertz.

Before man, the electromagnetic spectrum was nearly empty of energy. The Extra Low Frequencies (ELF) part of the electromagnetic spectrum was filled by resonant vibrations between the Earth’s surface, its magnetic field and the ionsphere  (1 to 30 Hertz). The only other energy energy in this low range of the spectrum was produced by lightning (1000 Hertz).

All life began and evolved in this relatively constant and low level radiation environment over the past 3 billion years. It is significant that major body organs and brain wave vibration patterns all animals and humans lie in the 1 to 30 Hertz ELF range, as do the resonant frequencies of the Earth.

It seems reasonable to assume that basic body and brain functions are likely regulated by naturally occurring ELF radiations. How might these functions be affected by man’s more recent introduction of much stronger ELF energies?

New York Upstate Medical Center

The New York Upstate Medical Center where Robert O. Becker did his research has concentrated research on the effect of man-made 60 Hertz EMR using field strengths similar to those found near high voltage transmission lines, in buildings with wiring errors, and near many appliances.

This work with mice has shown a pattern of changes in hormones, body weight, and blood chemistry similar to those found in animals under stress. Three generations of mice were raised with similar results. Additionally, the infant mortality rate in the third generation was 50% greater than the expected 5%.

A recent pilot study into the effects of grounding humans showed that most subjects produced too much cortisol at night and too little  during the day. It also showed that in most subjects the sympathetic nervous system was over-energized and para-sympathetic nervous system was under-energized. Normalization of cortisol production and balancing of the nervous system occurred after sleeping grounded for 60 days.

The stress adaptation mechanism described by stress authority Hans Selye activates certain brain areas in preparation for maximum effort to meet the challenge at hand. This is designed to be temporary. If it is constant, the body’s defense mechanisms become exhausted. The body is less able to defend against disease and less able to heal itself.

In mice or humans the continuation of such stress could be expected to yield an increase in conditions like hypertension and behavioral abnormalities. The degenerative diseases related to poorer immune function (cancer) would steadily increase. Previously non-pathogenic organisms would begin to produce new maladies – Legionnaire’s Disease and Reye’s Syndrome may be examples.

The pragmatic response to these and other findings should be to methodically search for and reduce sources of stress. Likely sources are polluted indoor air due to chemicals and molds, polluted drinking, cooking and bathing water, processed and other devitalized foods and electromagnetic radiation – particularly in the bedroom.

Bedroom a healing place

The bedroom should be designed to be a healing place because sleep is when the greatest healing and rejuvenation of the body takes place. Over a period of years, allowing your immune system to repair the body at night keeps you healthier, and helps you fight off problems. However, if your bedroom interferes with your immune system’s repair and rebuilding process, sooner or later it will catch up with you. If you want to have a healthier immune system, your bedroom needs to be safe.

What’s a “Safe Bedroom”?

A safe bedroom is a room that does not have major environmental irritants. There are numerous studies on how these interfere with the immune system – from chemicals, to molds, to electrical fields. If you are exposed to any of these (and you probably are), your immune system is affected at some level – particularly at times of personal distress, environmental stress, or illness.

Primary irritant in the bedroom

Building Biologists in the US and Europe have been investigating homes for environmental health problems for over the last 30 years. Over 90% of the time, the investigation leads to the bedroom. In the bedroom over 90% of the time the investigators find that the house electrical system is the primary environmental irritant. In 95% of the cases the Electric Field component of the radiation from the house electrical system is the most important factor.

House electrical system

The house electrical system vibrates at 60 cycles per second in the Extra Low Frequency (ELF) part of the electromagnetic spectrum. We describe house electricity as being AC (alternating current). Electricity produces both and AC Magnetic and an AC Electric field. These together are termed electromagnetic radiation or EMR (sometimes referred to as EMF). Since EMR can not be sensed by most people, instruments must be used to find and reduce the fields. Magnetic fields are present only when current flows in a wire to power appliances and lights.

Magnetic fields are also produced by a transformer. The little black box you plug into the wall to power (or recharge) certain types of electronic equipment is a transformer. All electronic  equipment contains a transformer either internally or externally. So long as a transformer or the equipment is plugged in, it will radiate a very strong Magnetic Field. This field decreases rapidly as you move away from the transformer so that at four feet the field is 1/16th as strong as it was next to the device.

Electric fields are present at all times so long as a wire is energized. Electric fields emitted by the wiring in the walls, floors and ceilings and by the cords to appliances, lamps, clocks, and electronic equipment. As soon as the device is unplugged the electric field from the wire disappears. However, for all wiring that is still energized – and this is most of the wiring in the house – the electric field output is continuous.

Body voltage as a surrogate for the electric field

The electric field strength at a point in a room is very difficult to measure. Rather than measure the electric field directly, The International Institute for Baubiologie and Ecology (IBE) (www.baubiologieusa.com), educator for U.S. Building Biologists, has developed another approach. This approach is based on the fact that the electric field generates an AC Voltage on the external and internal parts of the body. This approach uses a voltmeter to measure the Body Voltage generated by the electric fields. The meter is a simple digital voltmeter with sufficient sensitivity. One lead from the meter is touched to the skin at any point. The other lead is connected to the Earth, which is at zero volts AC. Thousands of measurements have shown that people are sleeping with a body voltage of 2000 to 10,000 millivolts AC. A millivolt is 1/1000 of a volt. The average Body Voltage level is about 3000 millivolts.

Sleeping Room Guidelines

The International Institute for Baubiologie and Ecology (IBE) (www.baubiologieusa.com) has developed sleeping room guidelines including exposure to irritating AC Electric fields. These guidelines have been refined over 30 years of work with medical practitioners in Germany and in the US. The guidelines are divided into four biological risk levels:

IBE Sleeping Room Guidelines

IDEAL: Less than 10 millivolts

Unavoidable minimum imposed by our technological civilization, and often found in homes.

WEAK: 10 to 100 millivolts

Biologically active but no large risk for healthy people with intact immune systems, without chronic diseases or special sensitivities. If client is not healthy, remediation must be done.

STRONG: 100 to 1000 millivolts

Unacceptable biological risk for all people, especially if multiple stress factors are acting together. Remediation must be done quickly.

EXTREME: Over 1000 millivolts

A critical biological risk to all people. Remediation must be done quickly even without the presence of multiple stress factors.

[Note: You can take measurements in your home or workplace by purchasing an E-Field detector from PPNF. See order form on page 31 of this Journal, or call the PPNF offices at (619) 462-7600.]

What is to be done?

You can take the following steps to reduce your exposure to AC Electric and Magnetic Fields while in bed:

• Remove all extension cords from under and around your bed.
• Unplug your bedside lamps before going to sleep.
• Place 120 volt AC clocks and other electronics at least eight feet away from the bed and plug these devices in at least eight feet from the bed.
• Alternatively, you can change to a battery operated clock. (I recommend the Timex T300B Digital Tuning Clock Radio with Nature Sounds, $30 (Amazon.com)
• Relocate black box transformers to an outlet at least four feet from the bed.
• Discard your electric blanket or heat up the bed before retiring and then unplug the blanket.
• Unplug the power to adjustable (hospital) type beds.
• Unplug the power to air beds that have the pump under or in the bed.
• Preheat your waterbed and then unplug the heater when you retire.
• Install the Earth Tether grounded mattress pad in your bed (800-620-9912). See the Health & Healing Wisdom Journal, Spring 2002 Vol 26 Number 1). (When using the Earth Tether you may leave your bedside lamps plugged in while sleeping.)
• Purchase the inexpensive Dr. Gause AC Magnetic Field meter and check your sleeping area for unusual AC Magnetic Field levels ($40 from IBE, 727-461 -4371).
• Purchase an Earth Tether Intl. Body Voltage meter to measure the actual voltage effect of AC Electric Fields, $79, (800-620-9912)
• Purchase the less expensive Electric Field Sensor from Price-Pottenger and check your sleeping area for AC Electric Fields, $19.95(619-462-7600).

Lawrence Gust, BBEI, EE, is a certified Building Biologist and Electrical Engineer specializing in the evaluation of buildings’ environmental health factors. See www.gustenviro.com or contact him at 760-599-5892.

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Published in Health & Healing Wisdom
Summer 2002 | Volume 26, Number 2
Copyright © 2002 Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, Inc.®
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