EMF radiation is all around us. If you use an electronic device, such as a cell phone or tablet, you are being exposed to EMF radiation. It is invisible to the naked eye, but our bodies know the EMF radiation is there.
EMF radiation has to go somewhere when it is emitted, and the easiest place for it to go is into our bodies as we use these electronic devices that emit the radiation. It may seem impossible to protect yourself from so many sources of EMF radiations, but it much easier than you think!
Don’t worry – blocking EMF radiation doesn’t mean that you wrap everything within your home or workplace in tin foil and wrap yourself up in a space blanket in order to protect yourself.
Blocking EMF radiation can be as simple as buying a protective case for your electronic device in order to stay safe and EMF radiation-free. There are many methods you can take to block EMF radiations.
Blocking EMF radiation can be simple, safe, and easy to do if you follow these methods! No more sci-fi techniques – these are the 5 best methods to block EMF radiations and stay safe!
What Is EMF Radiation?
EMF is an acronym that stands for electric magnetic frequency, also known as electromagnetic frequency. Electromagnetic frequency is emitted in three different ways: extremely low frequency, radiofrequency, and heat/thermal/infrared frequency. Electromagnetic frequency can be either ionizing or non-ionizing.
It is important to know the different types of electromagnetic frequencies and their ionizing capabilities. Because each electronic device will emit a specific type of EMF radiation, each EMF radiation can be blocked differently. Knowing the type of EMF radiation you need to protect yourself from will help you know the best way to put that protection into place.
The chart above illustrates low-frequency levels to high-frequency levels (from left to right) and the associated frequency of common devices. See our articles on many of the devices listed here, such as smart meters and common household microwaves.
What is the Difference Between Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation?
EMF radiation will be classified as ionizing or non-ionizing. Ionizing EMF radiation is much more dangerous than non-ionizing radiation, so immediate protection is required before coming in contact with ionizing radiation.
There’s a standard unit of measuring it. You can get the details here.
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation means the energy within the radiation is so high that the electrons of the atoms detach and become ionized. The radiation now consists of ions and subatomic particles with high energy moving at a high rate of speed. Many sources (here and here are just a couple) confirm ionizing radiation is harmful to a person’s DNA, skin, and vital organs when coming in contact with the radiation.
Examples of Ionizing Radiation
- Ultraviolet Rays
- Gamma Rays
- X-Rays
Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation
- Skin burns
- Eye irritation
- Vision loss
- Cell damage
- Organ damage
- Gene mutation
- Reproductive issues (infertility, sterilization, miscarriages)
This is why you should protect yourself from ultraviolet rays by using sunscreen, and why a lead blanket is placed on you before receiving an x-ray. Doses of ionized EMF radiation can have mild to severe health effects on a person’s internal organs and skin.
Non-Ionizing Radiation
This type of radiation has less energy than ionizing radiation and is, therefore, less dangerous in small doses than ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation does not carry enough energy to detach electrons from the atoms that make up the radiation; therefore, the radiation is less energetic and has less of an immediate effect on a person’s skin, organs, or DNA.
While non-ionizing radiation is less dangerous in small doses than ionizing radiation, it is important to protect yourself from non-ionizing radiation. Knowing the types of non-ionizing EMF radiation and where it comes from will help you protect yourself.
There are three types of non-ionizing radiation: extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation, radiofrequency (RF) radiation, and heat radiation (also known as infrared radiation or thermal radiation).
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Radiation
Extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation is non-ionizing radiation. This means that the radiation does not have enough energy within it to detach the electrons from the atoms. While non-ionizing radiation has less severe health effects on humans, you should still protect yourself from extremely low-frequency radiation when possible.
Health Effects of ELF Radiation
- Skin redness
- Skin irritation
- Headaches
- Sleeplessness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
There are multiple studies on the health effects of ELF radiation (here and here are just a couple).
Where is ELF Radiation Found?
ELF radiation is emitted from A/C electricity found in power lines, electrical wires, and common household appliances. A/C electricity is also known as alternating current. Other sources of ELF radiation include power plants, welding machines, and induction heat appliances.
Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation is another type of non-ionizing radiation. While the energy within the radiation is too low to detach the atom’s electrons, non-ionizing radiation can still have an impact on a person’s health.
Health Effects of Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Ringing ears
- Possibly carcinogenic (World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer)
Where is Radiofrequency Radiation Found?
Radiofrequency radiation is found within electronic devices that use radio frequencies to communicate with one another. These devices include cellular phones, cordless phones with bases, radio transmitters, MRI equipment, wireless internet (Wi-Fi), radio and television broadcasting equipment, wired headphones, microwave ovens, and radar equipment.
Heat/Infrared/Thermal Radiation
Heat radiation is also called infrared radiation or thermal radiation. It is non-ionizing radiation that comes from or produces heat. Heat radiation is likely to cause more health effects on humans than extremely low-frequency radiation and radiofrequency radiation.
Health Effects of Heat/Infrared/Thermal Radiation
- Skin burns
- Eye damage
- Retina damage
- Vision loss
- Cataracts
Where is Heat/Infrared/Thermal Radiation Found?
Heat radiation is found in electronic devices that emit or produce heat. This includes remote controls, heat lamps, laptop computers, electric heater, weather satellites, and sunlight.
Protection Against Ionizing Radiation
Now that we know the difference in ionizing and non-ionizing EMF radiation and the sources for each, we can focus on how to block these EMF radiations to stay safe from day to day.
Ionizing radiation is typically blocked before we come in contact with it because we know the dangers of the radiation. For example, a radiology technician will place a lead apron over your body before administering an x-ray. This is because the x-ray is made up of ionizing radiation that can penetrate your skin and directly affect your vital organs, so we protect ourselves accordingly.
But how do you block non-ionizing radiation that is found all throughout our homes, businesses, and workplaces? Find out below!
5 Methods to Block EMF Radiations
Because we know that non-ionizing EMF radiations come from normal, everyday electronic devices, such as cell phones, wireless internet, power lines, A/C electrical lines, electric heaters, welders, radio equipment and television equipment, we can take appropriate measures to block these EMF radiations and stay safe on a daily basis.
Here are the 5 best methods to block EMF radiations!
1. Use an EMF Radiation Shielding Case, Cover, or Headphones etc with Electronic Devices
EMF radiations from everyday electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops have a stronger effect on your body when they are in close proximity to you, especially if they are physically touching your body.
Check out: Best Laptop Radiation Shields
For example, a laptop computer sitting directly on your lap with no protective shield is emitting EMF radiation. Therefore, you are receiving doses of EMF radiation as the laptop sits on your lap during use.
Instead of placing the laptop directly on your lap with no protection, place the laptop on an EMF radiation protective shield pad. This will block the amount of EMF radiation by 99%, leaving you safe and protected from the EMF radiation emitted from the laptop.
Laptops placed directly onto your lap during use subjects you to a variety of health risks including, but not limited to skin burns and skin irritations. Large doses of EMF radiation from a laptop may also have an effect on a person’s reproductive system. These are all health issues from EMF radiation that laptops impose when you improperly protect yourself.
In addition to laptop shields, you can also protect yourself by using a cell phone or tablet with an EMF radiation shielding case or sleeve covering it. These protective cases will block 99% of EMF radiation when using the device to keep you safe.
Most cell phones come with a pair of wired earbud headphones. While these are a great accessory for the manufacturer to include with your purchased cell phone, wired headphones emit EMF radiation when using them.
Instead of using the wired electronic headphones that come with the cell phone, change them out for hollow tubular headphones. These headphones use hollow tubes instead of electrical wires to transmit sound through the headphones.
Even after cooking, turn the induction cooktop (it also radiates, check here) off and cover it with an antiradiation fabric.
Check out: Best Airtube Headphones and Headsets
2. Distance Yourself from Electronic Devices
Electronic devices are all around us throughout the day. If you take a look around, you will probably see a cell phone, cordless phone, wireless internet router, tablet, or computer. You might even see all of the above. All of these electronic devices emit EMF radiation because they require electricity to operate and communicate.
Apart from your phone if you use airpods every now and often then give your ears rest while sleeping, Sleeping with airpods on ear is harmful.
Did you know that these electronic devices emit EMF radiation just by sitting on a shelf? You may think that you are not being exposed to doses of EMF radiation simply because you aren’t holding the phone.
While the dose of EMF radiation is definitely less than the amount you receive when you hold the phone, you are still exposed to EMF radiation as a phone or electronic device sits nearby.
To protect yourself from electronic devices in your home or workplace, distance yourself from the devices. During the day, try to limit the time you spend on these electronic devices, if possible.
If you do not have to be on your cell phone, tablet, or computer during the day, place the device across the room or in another room of the house. It is even more imperative that you distance yourself from these electronic devices at night.
Most people use the built-in alarm clock function of their cell phones to wake them up each morning. While this is a convenient feature to have, it is not the safest.
In order to benefit from the alarm clock feature within your phone, you will need to sleep with your phone nearby. This means that anywhere from six to eight hours, at least, you are continuously being directly exposed to EMF radiation, as little as a few inches away from your head.
While you may not spend much time on your phone during the day or you may follow all proper precautions for reducing the amount of EMF radiation you receive during the day, you could be completely undoing all of your hard work at night without even realizing it.
If you choose to use the alarm clock feature within your cell phone, as most of us do, you can do this safely by switching your phone to airplane mode before going to sleep. Airplane mode does not reduce all EMF radiation, but it does reduce some. It is a better option than not enabling airplane mode.
Distancing yourself from electronic devices isn’t just limited to when the device is not in use. You can also distance yourself from electronic devices while they are being used, especially when it comes to your cell phone.
Use your cell phone’s speaker function when talking on the phone. This will reduce the amount of EMF radiation going directly in your ear, alleviating symptoms such as headaches or ringing in the ears.
Lastly, don’t carry your phone in your pocket or especially in your bra (we’re looking at you, ladies).
Having your phone on, directly touching your body, and not in airplane mode is a direct pathway of EMF radiation from the device to your body. If you must carry your phone on your persons, turn your phone onto airplane mode to reduce the amount of EMF frequency being emitted.
3. Turn Off Wi-Fi
Wireless internet, commonly known as Wi-Fi, is successful because it uses radiofrequency to communicate between internet service providers, modems, routers, and devices. All of these components need to communicate with each other in order for your device (cell phone, tablet, or Wi-Fi computer) to access the internet or internet-based application.
Today, smart home devices are everywhere. If you see a product is “smart home enabled” or has “smart home technology” built into it, then the device has the ability to communicate with wireless internet to give you voice control or smartphone control over the device.
This means your home’s Wi-Fi is sending out radiofrequency signals to many devices within your home. You could have all of the following devices communicating with your home’s Wi-Fi at any given time:
- Cell phone
- Tablet
- Computer
- Doorbell
- Security camera
- Door locks
- Light bulbs
- Thermostat
- Smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors
- Television
- Google/Nest Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit
- Swimming pool pump/heater
- hair dryer (Check the list of best low EMF hair dryers)
These are 13 different devices, and you may have more than one of each within your home that is communicating with your home’s Wi-Fi. This is undoubtedly an enormous amount of radiofrequency EMF radiation running through your house during all hours of the day and night.
To reduce the amount of radiofrequency radiation in your house, limit the amount of Wi-Fi being transmitted during the day and night. The best way to do this is to turn off the Wi-Fi when it is not being used. This may be most beneficial or only possible at night.
If turning off Wi-Fi is not a possibility, try to reduce the amount of devices that are connected to Wi-Fi. The fewer devices that are communicating to the wireless internet via radio frequencies, the less EMF radiation is being dispersed.
4. Enclose the Smart Meter on Your Home
The power company will need to record your monthly power usage so they can bill you accordingly, and they get this information from the smart meter located at your home.
The smart meter records your power usage multiple times an hour and transmits the information wirelessly back to the power company. This happens all day, every day, and depending on where your smart meter is located can determine just how much EMF radiation you are exposed to on a daily basis.
As the smart meter reads your electrical information, it sends the information to the power company by radiofrequency. Depending on where the smart meter is located at your home can determine how much radiofrequency EMF radiation you are exposed to on a daily basis.
If the smart meter is located outside of a bedroom or living room, you will be exposed to a great amount of EMF radiation than you would if the smart meter was outside of a basement wall.
To avoid the radiofrequency EMF radiation from your smart meter while you are home, you can request a manual meter from the power company. A manual meter will record the power wattage used within your home the same way a smart meter does.
Instead of transmitting the information to the power company via radiofrequency communication, an employee with the power company will visit your home and collect the information on power usage from a manual reading.
If your power company does not replace the smart meter with a manual meter, you can enclose the smart meter by using a smart meter cover. This will block the EMF radiation from entering your home and keep you safe. Smart meter covers block over 98% of EMF radiation emitted from the smart meter.
Read about the best smart meter covers in this article.
5. Create and Reinforce a “Device-Free” Area in Your Home
With so many devices that are used on a daily basis, it may be nearly impossible to remove these devices from our homes completely; but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a room in your home that is protected as device-free.
A device-free area of your home means there are no electronics, no communication equipment, no wireless internet equipment, etc. It is a place you can retreat to cleanse yourself from the toxic radiation you have received during the day.
Consider a space where you and your family spend a lot of time, like your bedrooms(s) and family room (if possible). How can you do this? Read on!
How to Create a Device-Free Area Within Your Home
No Electronic Devices
First, there will be no electronic devices or sources of EMF radiation allowed within the room. No cell phones, tablets, computers, televisions, radios, wireless internet routers, smart home technology, or fluorescent light bulbs.
All of these devices and sources transmit EMF radiation as extremely low-frequency radiation, radiofrequency radiation, or heat radiation. To benefit from a device-free room within your home, you will need to prohibit all sources of EMF radiation within the room.
Replace Fluorescent Lighting
Replace any harsh fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient incandescent light bulbs. These light bulbs will transmit less EMF radiation than non-energy efficient or fluorescent light bulbs.
Filter Dirty Electricity
You will also want to block EMF radiation within the home by filtering dirty electricity. Dirty electricity is unusable electricity found within the electrical wires of your home.
The frequency of the dirty electricity is too low to be used, but not low enough to withhold emitting EMF radiation; therefore, you will want to filter this dirty electricity from your home.
A dirty electricity filter will take the low unusable electricity and convert it to a level in which it can be used. This means no more stagnant electricity sitting within the electrical wires of your home radiating electromagnetic frequency.
There’s another non conventional way to reduce emf radiation in our home. We can plant anti radiation plants around our home and we can use this for in house decoration purpose also.
Benefits of a Device-Free Area Within Your Home
Reducing the amount of EMF radiation you are exposed to can have a positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing, both long and short term.
EMF radiation can cause vision impairment, headaches, hormonal imbalances, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurry vision, and skin irritation. Reducing the amount of EMF exposure on a daily basis by spending time in a device-free area can reduce the many health effects of constant EMF radiation exposure.
A device-free area within your home can also save you money from having to purchase EMF radiation shielding equipment, such as covers and cases.
What to Do in a Device-Free Room?
It seems as though we should be playing on our phones if we want to unwind or have some personal downtime, so having a room free from electronics may seem like a foreign concept.
Here are some things you can do in a device-free room:
- Read a book
- Meditate
- Pray
- Rest/sleep
- Play a game (cards, board game)
- Put together a puzzle
- Draw/paint
- Write
- Craft
A device-free room doesn’t mean you have to sit alone in silence. You can easily and affordably enjoy a variety of activities in a device-free room without sacrificing happiness, enjoyment, or creativity.
Other Tips to Block EMF Radiation
In addition to these five methods, you can also use these tips to keep you safe and protected from EMF radiation.
- Set a time each day to turn devices off. It may seem like a simple concept, but setting a time aside each day to be electronic device-free can help reduce the amount of EMF radiation you receive each day, especially with how many electronic communication devices are around us each day. You need to be device-free for a period of time each day.
- Use wires instead of Wi-Fi. Wireless internet uses radio frequencies to communicate with one another. This means that EMF radiation is being emitted via radiofrequency while these devices are communicating. To prevent this, you can hardwire and electronic device directly to an internet router by an Ethernet cable.
- Use EMF radiation shielding paint. You can purchase EMF radiation shielding paint to block EMF radiation from entering through walls, ceilings, or floor. The paint is intended to be used as a primer to go on the walls, ceilings, or floors. EMF radiation shielding paint blocks 99% of EMF radiation from outside sources. This can include power lines, wireless internet routers in adjoining rooms/apartments, and the smart meter outside your home.
- Use EMF radiation window treatments. Another easy entryway for EMF radiation to enter your home is through windows. To block EMF radiation from entering your home through windows, you can apply EMF blocking window treatments to the glass. These window treatments will be an adhesive film that will apply directly to the glass. This will block up to 99% of EMF radiation from entering your home through the windows. In addition to EMF radiation shielding film, you can also add EMF radiation shielding curtains or drapes. EMF shielding curtains or drapes will block at least 50% of EMF radiations, adding an extra layer of EMF radiation protection to your home.
What Happens if I Don’t Block EMF Radiations from my Devices?
When you choose not to block EMF radiations from your electronic devices, you are choosing to directly absorb the EMF radiation into your body as it is being emitted directly from the device. This happens when you hold a cell phone up to your ear during a phone call or when you place a laptop computer on your lap while using it. The EMF radiation from the device is directly absorbed into your body rather than the protective shield, exposing you to a variety of health issues.
When your body absorbs EMF radiation from cell phones, laptops, and wireless internet communications, you are likely to experience frequent headaches, blurry vision or vision loss, ringing in the ears, hormonal imbalances, dizziness, and fatigue. Blocking EMF radiations from your devices will keep you healthy and feeling well both short and long term.
How Can I Test My Home for EMF Radiations?
To know how much EMF radiation is being transmitted through your home, you will need a high-quality meter. An EMF meter will read EMF radiation levels to tell you how much EMF radiation is being emitted and what rooms have higher levels. This will tell you which rooms you need to protect more than others.
For example, if you have a bedroom that is where your home’s smart meter is located, the EMF radiation levels may be higher in this room than another room in the house (consider a smart meter cover if this is the case). Alternatively, your device-free room should have little to no EMF radiation reading on your EMF meter.
If EMF radiation is being recognized in your device-free room, you should find the source and block or remove it. You can block EMF radiations by covering your home’s smart meter, painting the walls with EMF radiation shielding paint, or filtering your home’s dirty electricity. These methods will all block EMF radiation and keep you safe.
Things to Remember When Blocking EMF Radiation
- If you have electronic devices within your home, you are being exposed to EMF radiation. These electronic devices include cell phones, tablets, laptop computers, wireless internet routers, smart meters, wired headphones, power lines (check how to measure), and smart home technology.
- EMF radiation can cause a variety of health issues when exposed. This is why you should block as many EMF radiation sources as possible.
- Health issues from EMF radiation include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, mood swings, hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, ringing ears, and vision issues.
- If using a cover, case, clothing, or shield to block EMF radiation, make sure the product indicates how much EMF radiation will be blocked. Some products may only reduce EMF radiation by 50%, while other products may reduce over 98% of EMF radiation. Knowing the EMF radiation reduction amount will tell you if the product should be combined with another method of EMF radiation blocking.
- You can combine more than one EMF radiation blocking method for the best results. For example, you can paint a room with EMF radiation shielding paint as well as add EMF radiation shielding film to the windows in a room.
Conclusion
EMF radiation is all around us. While it is unavoidable, you don’t have to be unprotected. Protection against EMF radiation doesn’t mean you have to live in or leave your home in a space blanket. You can block EMF radiation without anyone even noticing.
Ionizing radiation is much more dangerous than non-ionizing radiation. The good news is that non-ionizing radiation is the EMF radiation found emitted from our everyday electronic devices.
While this means that the radiation does not have enough energy to detach electrons within the atoms and ionize them, this does not mean the EMF radiation is not dangerous. We still need to protect ourselves from the everyday exposure from this EMF radiation.
The best way to safeguard yourself against EMF radiation is by using a protective shield, such as a case or cover for your electronic device. The protective shields look like any cell phone or tablet case; the only difference is that these cases block 99% of EMF radiation emitted from your electronic device. This means that your body is not absorbing the EMF radiation that it otherwise would while using the device.
Cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers come in direct contact with a person’s body when using it. Cell phones are pressed to our ears, and laptops are placed on our laps. This means that EMF radiation is being directly absorbed into your body while the device is being used.
With an EMF radiation protective shield, the EMF radiation is being blocked and absorbed by the protective case instead of in your body. This is important because your body will stay healthier and feel better both short and long term.
When your body is exposed to EMF radiation, even for short periods of time, you are susceptible to a variety of health issues. Headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blurry vision, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances are all possible with EMF radiation exposure if you are not properly protected.
The most serious health issue associated with EMF radiation is the increased risk of facing reproductive health issues that radiation from laptop computers emit. A laptop placed directly on your lap during use can increase the risk of facing reproductive health issues, such as infertility or temporary sterilization. Using an EMF radiation protective shield underneath the laptop to protect your lap will eradicate the risk of facing reproductive health issues from EMF radiation.
You should also try to limit the amount of smart home gadgets you have connected to your home’s Wi-Fi. There can be as many as 15 different devices connected to your home’s Wi-Fi at one time, with each of these electronic devices emitting different levels of EMF radiations. To lower the levels of EMF radiation emitted in your house, try to limit the number of electronic devices that use wireless internet to communicate.
Try to combine more than one of these methods to maximize your protection from EMF radiation. For example, you can use a protective case on an electronic device as well as turning off the electronic device’s Wi-Fi. This will maximize your protection from the EMF radiation emitted from the electronic device. EMF radiations are impossible to avoid, but they are not impossible to block. Blocking EMF radiations is more easy, safe, and effective than ever. By following one, two, or all of these methods, you can stay EMF radiation-free all throughout your home.
References
AIHA expanded position statement on extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields. American Industrial Hygiene Association. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va). 2002 Nov-Dec; 63(6):678.
International Labour Organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the World Health Organization. Extremely Low Frequency Fields Environmental Health Criteria Monograph No.238.
Baan R, Grosse Y, Lauby-Secretan B, El Ghissassi F, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Guha N, Islami F, Galichet L. Carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12:624–626. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70147-4
International Agency for Research on Cancer. Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. WHO Press; Lyon, France: 2013. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, Volume 102
