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What is EMR & EMF?
Okay, so what does electromagnetic radiation really mean in easy-to-understand terms? Well, anytime an electrical current passes through wiring an invisible field of force is produced around the wiring. This “force field” is called electromagnetic radiation or EMR. Some people as refer to this force field as an electromagnetic field, or EMF. Powerlines, appliances, and electrical wiring all carry a current of electricity and consequently produce an electromagnetic field. A cell phone also produces such a field from its power source, the battery, and through its conncetion to the cell tower via an invisible signal or current.
As you can see, the word “electromagnetic” implies that two fields are produced and this is indeed the case. Those two fields are an electric field and a magnetic field. The electric field that is produced is measured in volts and the magnetic field is measured in a unit called Gauss. It is the flow of electricity through a wire, or conductor, that produces electromagnetic radiation. For example, when an appliance, like a hairdryer or a lamp, is plugged into an outlet but not turned on, an electric field is generated. But when current is added, by turning the hairdryer or lamp on, a magnetic field is now added. Hence, an electromagnetic field is produced.
Electromagnetic fields also be produced in a wireless manner as with a cell phone or wireless internet connection. See the discussion on “How Cell Phones Work” to learn more. Most appliances today operate on an alternating current or AC. The current is called alternating because the electricity can flow back and forth moving in both directions. Direct current or DC, on the other hand, only moves in one direction. AC current moves back and forth alternating at a cycle of 60 Hertz (Hz). Hertz is defined as one cycle per second so most of our electricty used today operates at 60 Hz. AC fields induce electric currents in objects that can conduct electricity, including humans. Remember this. It will be important later in the dicussion of health issues.
Electromagnetic radiation is often referred to by many other names. Some of those are EMR, EMFs, electromagnetic fields, radio frequency radiation, radio waves, and microwave radiation, to name a few. These terms are often used interchangeably.
Remember, too, that the human body is electrical and uses very subtle electrical currents and circuits to function normally.
What is a safe level of EMR exposure?
Robert Becker, MD, pioneered research in the area of electromagnetic exposure. He recommends the safe level at 0.3 mG (milliGauss) with 1 mG as the maximum safe level for continuous exposure. As we’ll see in further research our living and working environments often exceed these recommendations.
It’s important to realize that electromagnetic radiation does occur naturally through forces on the earth and in the atmosphere. Electrical activity is also a necessity for us to live, not only from the standpoint of convenience, but it is also a necessary part of our lifeform, our biochemistry. The human body simply could not function without the proper use of this electricity. However, electromagnetic radiation can also be very damaging and dangerous to the sames cells in our body that depend upon it to function properly.
