What Are Safe EMF Levels

The first thing we look to for guidance in this question is the
epidemiology. There have been a fair number of epidemiological studies in
the area of childhood brain cancer and leukemia all of which indicate an
association with EMFs - two to three times the number of cases - at
magnetic field levels above 2-3 milliGauss (mG). This implies, of course
that EMF levels below that are safer than levels above that. However other
have suggested guideline levels of 1 mG or even 0.65 mG.

The fact is none of the studies compared exposed subjects to unexposed
subjects but only compared relative levels of exposure - because there are
no unexposed people in our wired world. For all we know, all cases of
childhood leukemia and brain cancer may be related to EMFs. We also do not
know for certain whether long term chronic exposure is a key factor -
although it certainly appears to be. And we do not know the role that such
electrical events as power spikes and transients, etc., may play.

We do know however that for power line fields most people that are exposed,
even to relatively high levels, do not seem to be affected. It is not a
simple cause and effect relationship. In fact many, myself included,
suspect that EMFs may not be a cause of cancer, but a promoter that acts
when other factors such as exposure to other environmental pollutants, or a
genetic disposition are present.

These are all factors that need to be studied. If the scientific and
political community would accept the obvious facts - that there is indeed
an association between EMFs and higher levels of cancer and other diseases
and disabilities then we could get on with the important research in
finding what the key factors are.

So where does that leave us. Most of us cannot run off to a desert island
with no electricity or radio transmission. What we can do is reduce our
exposure as much as possible. We can start with personal exposure. Most
appliances have high levels of EMFs that drop off very quickly and we are
not exposed to them for long periods of time. But there are some exceptions
where we can take avoidance measures such as not using electric blankets or
keeping electric clocks right beside our beds or placing our children's
beds in the bedrooms with the lowest EMF levels. We can also check our
homes for hot spots - in some cases improper grounding systems can cause
high EMF levels that can easily be corrected.

And we can be cautious when buying a home - including a satisfactory EMF
inspection requirement in the offer to purchase and avoiding homes with
levels above the 2-3 mG magnetic field level.

I have not referred to electric field readings simply because most of the
studies have looked at magnetic fields and most of the meters available to
the general public at reasonable cost measure magnetic fields. [A NOTE TO
THE EXPERTS READING THIS - WOULD THE FOLLOWING BE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT: As
well, since higher magnetic fields indicate higher relative electric
fields, by measuring the magnetic field you are also getting an indication
of the relative size of the electric field.]

I have also not referred to radio frequency or cellular telephone fields
because I am not as familiar with that area which is very complicated with
research just being begun in that area.

What EMF Level Is Safe?

There's a heated debate as to what electromagnetic field (EMF) level is considered safe. Since the experts have not come to an consensus, you'll have to decide for yourself... Many government and utility documents report the usual ambient level of 60-Hz magnetic field to be 0.5 mG.

Thus, any reading higher than 0.5 mG is above the "usual" ambient exposure. Many experts and public officials, as well as the few governments that have made an effort to offer public protection, have adopted the 3 mG cutoff point. The EPA has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG. Sweden has set a maximum safety limit of 1 mG.

Dr. Robert Becker, an MD who has been studying the effects of EMFs for 20 years, states a lmG safety limit in his book Cross Currents. When electricians try to solve a magnetic field problem they do their best to drop the level to 1 mG or below.

Dr. Nancy Wertheimer, a Ph.D. epidemiologist who has been studying EMFs for 20 years, has been looking at the epidemiological data in a different way -- she is trying to associate EMF levels with

health rather than disease. The level she is coming up with is a cut off of 1 mG.

The BioElectric Body believes that there are several stages of health between "optimum wellness", "degenerative disease" and "Cancer". Thus, we maintain our own living and sleeping quarters at 0.5mG and below.

Government and utility documents report the usual ambient level of 60-Hz magnetic field to be 0.5 mG. A reading of more than 0.5 mG may be too much exposure.

Some experts say that 3 mG is the cutoff point, and the the EPA proposes1 mG.

However, what is the level that sustains health vs. the level that causes disease? We don’t know.

Some researchers claim that 1/1000ths of a mG should be the standard!

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