EMF Questions and Answers with Margaret Glaser: Updated

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Our advisory board member Margaret Glaser, MA, served on the national EMR (Electromagnetic Radiation) Network board, which focused on a precautionary approach to wireless radiation. She also worked with an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) panel, with efforts to include human health as a factor in their voluntary Sustainability of Mobile Phones Standard criteria, as well as with the International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety. She has updated this article to include emerging approaches to EMF safety.

Latitudes: An ACN Latitudes reader asked, “Do you know how to find out about cell phone headset safety? I know all cell phone use is discouraged, but which is safer — the headset with a wire from the phone or a headset with wireless BlueTooth technology?”

Margaret Glaser:

There are several layers to this answer. First, you definitely should avoid putting a cell phone against your head. Most of the radiation from the phone goes into your head and body; a much smaller percentage actually connects to a cell tower.

Next up, wireless earbuds. They are better than nothing. They do still expose the head and brain to radiation, although it is somewhat reduced. They communicate with the cell phone itself rather than the cell tower. When used, it’s important to remove them after the call is finished. They should not be left in the ears when not in use.

Then there are wired headsets. These reduce the radiation exposure to the head even more than wireless earbuds. However, some radiation does still travel up the wire.

Another option that allows even less radiation to travel to the head is the air tube headset. It is like a wired headset, except that the last several inches of the headset leading to the ears are made of thin, hollow air tubes that do not conduct radiation up to the ear.

And finally, some headsets use a ferrite bead near the bottom of the headset wires. This can block the cell phone radiation from traveling up the wires to the ears, although the wires might still pick up other ambient radiation, based on comments I’ve read. I’m not yet well versed with this emerging approach.

Something to keep in mind is that the cell phone itself is still radiating as long as it is in operational or ready mode, so you want to keep it away from the body as much as possible, even if you are using the above mitigation devices.

It is best to keep your cell phone on a table, in a valise, purse, backpack, etc., and not near the body or in a pocket or bra. The reason for this is that cell phones in ready mode send frequent signals to nearby towers to communicate their position.

If you must carry a cell phone in your pocket, put it in airplane mode and check for calls or messages from time to time.

Latitudes: What about cordless phones and baby monitors?

Margaret Glaser:

Modern cordless phones and their base stations emit radiation similar to cell phones, so their long-term effects are also of concern. The old, non-portable, wired phones are preferable. Scientists advise you not to keep a cell phone, cordless handset, or base beside your bed. Your body needs time to repair itself overnight.

Importantly, if you are holding a baby or young child, do not use a cell or cordless phone. I’ve seen some moms hold the phone to their ear, close to their little one’s head. This is the second-hand “smoke” of radiation, something people may not consider. The same thing is true with tablets.

Tablets

Tablets are radiating when in use. You should avoid having your baby or young child positioned next to an operating tablet unless the material has been downloaded first and is played back while the tablet is no longer connected to the internet.

Baby Monitors

Baby monitors use wireless radiation to connect the baby to the parent for monitoring. While manufacturers advise placing the monitor no closer than 8 inches from the baby to stay within FCC exposure limits (which are far too lax), the fact is that this is still much too close to protect the child from radiation exposure. It is best to place such monitors as far from the child as possible while still allowing a signal. And parents should not carry the end of the monitor against their body.