What's the Deal with EMFs?
Valerie Burke
EMFs, or electromagnetic frequencies, are invisible areas of energy emitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, computers, smart meters, and all manner of electronic devices. Research is mounting that long-term exposure to manmade EMFs poses real health risks — from DNA damage and hormone disruption to increased cancer risk. Understanding EMFs is the first step toward protecting yourself and your family.
Are EMFs Dangerous to Your Health?
There is significant science about the dangers of EMFs. Long-term exposure to manmade electromagnetic radiation has been linked to cardiac arrhythmias, reproductive abnormalities and increased risk of miscarriage, brain and heart tumors, hormone disruption, cognitive issues, DNA damage, insomnia, fatigue, malaise, digestive maladies, and cataracts.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences defines EMFs as “invisible areas of energy, often referred to as radiation, that are associated with the use of electrical power.” We are electrical beings — everything in the natural world produces an electromagnetic field, from animals to humans to the earth herself. The problem is the unnatural, manmade variety.
How Do EMFs Actually Damage the Body?
One of the most important breakthroughs in EMF research is the discovery of the mechanism by which EMFs inflict biological damage. Research by Professor Martin Pall has identified voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) as the primary pathway. VGCCs are proteins embedded in cell membranes that regulate the flow of calcium ions into cells.
When cells are exposed to EMFs, these channels are activated, causing a massive influx of calcium into the cell. This triggers a cascade of damaging biochemical reactions — including the production of free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation — that can damage DNA, disrupt hormones, and impair cellular function throughout the body. This mechanism helps explain why EMF exposure is linked to such a wide and seemingly unrelated range of health effects.
This is not a fringe theory. The VGCC pathway is supported by a substantial body of peer-reviewed research and helps explain why standard safety guidelines — which focus only on thermal (heating) effects — fail to account for the real biological harm EMFs can cause. See Dr. Pall’s peer-reviewed research for a full review.
Do EMFs Cause Cancer?
Disturbing evidence points to EMFs being a cause of cancer. In 2016, the National Toxicology Program released the preliminary results from the largest ever cell phone study showing a link between cell phone radiation and cancer. Rats exposed to cell phone radiation developed two kinds of cancerous tumors: gliomas in the brain and schwannomas in the heart — results that align with observational studies finding the same tumor types in humans, plus acoustic neuromas and meningiomas.
A meta-analysis led by Joel Moskowitz at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health found that cumulative cell phone usage of 1,000+ hours — roughly 17 minutes a day over 10 years — was linked to a 60% increased risk of tumors.
It is a little-known fact that in 2011, after extensive scientific review, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) — part of the World Health Organization — classified cell phone radiation as a possible human carcinogen.
And now we have 5G. According to EMF expert Dr. Martin Pall, this latest generation of wireless is associated with brain damage, cell death, hormone disruption, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, and DNA damage. In spite of all this, the US government continues to insist cell phones and wireless communication are completely safe.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to EMF Exposure?
While EMFs affect all living tissues, certain groups face heightened risk.
Children are especially vulnerable because their skulls are thinner and their brains are still developing. Holding a cellphone to your ear allows between 10 and 80 percent of the EMFs to penetrate two inches into the brain — a risk that is significantly greater for infants and young children. Research has linked EMF exposure in children to increased cancer risk, cognitive effects, and behavioral changes.
Read our deep dive: Children and EMFs →
Pregnant women face a particularly sobering risk. A 2017 study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that women with higher EMF exposure had nearly three times the risk of miscarriage compared to those with lower exposure. The study involved 913 women and used objective measuring devices to track real-world EMF exposure.
People with electrohypersensitivity (EHS) experience acute symptoms from EMF exposure — including headaches, fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations, and sleep disruption. Not everyone feels the effects of EMFs, but research has shown that EMFs affect all living tissues whether we “feel” it or not.
How Can You Protect Yourself from EMFs?
Anyone spending time around cell phones, computers, cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens, TVs, radios, or baby monitors would benefit from some protection — which is to say, virtually everyone.
For more information about EMFs, how to limit exposure, and some info about radon, check out this article by Pamela Tatam: “How to Limit Exposure to EMF and Radon at Home.”
To read my original 2018 special report about shungite, go to Shungite: The Electropollution Solution.
Ready to protect yourself from EMFs?
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are EMFs?
EMFs, or electromagnetic frequencies, are invisible areas of energy emitted by electronic devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, computers, smart meters, and microwave ovens. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences defines them as “invisible areas of energy, often referred to as radiation, that are associated with the use of electrical power.” Manmade EMFs differ from the natural electromagnetic fields produced by the earth and living organisms.
Are EMFs dangerous to your health?
Research is mounting that long-term exposure to manmade EMFs poses real health risks, including DNA damage, hormone disruption, cardiac arrhythmias, cognitive issues, and increased cancer risk. The IARC (part of the World Health Organization) classified cell phone radiation as a possible human carcinogen in 2011 after extensive scientific review.
How do EMFs damage the body?
Research by Professor Martin Pall has identified voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) as the primary mechanism by which EMFs cause biological harm. When exposed to EMFs, VGCCs are activated, flooding cells with calcium and triggering a cascade of free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation that can damage DNA and disrupt hormones throughout the body. This explains why EMF exposure is linked to such a wide range of seemingly unrelated health effects.
Do EMFs cause cancer?
The National Toxicology Program’s largest-ever cell phone study found a link between cell phone radiation and cancerous tumors — specifically gliomas in the brain and schwannomas in the heart. A meta-analysis led by Joel Moskowitz at UC Berkeley found that 1,000+ hours of cumulative cell phone use — about 17 minutes a day over 10 years — was linked to a 60% increased risk of tumors.
Who is most vulnerable to EMF exposure?
Children are especially vulnerable because their skulls are thinner and their brains are still developing, allowing EMFs to penetrate more deeply. Pregnant women also face heightened risk — a 2017 Kaiser Permanente study found nearly three times the miscarriage risk among women with higher EMF exposure. People with electrohypersensitivity (EHS) may experience acute symptoms including headaches, fatigue, brain fog, and heart palpitations.