It’s an exciting time. The holiday season is just around the corner. At one time Christmas was all about roasting chestnuts on an open fire, but now for many of us it means “travel” and often traveling long distances. There is a health aspect to long distance travel which is of growing importance but is often overlooked… exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Why Are EMFs So Important?
There are literally thousands of studies linking exposures from what many people consider to be innocuous electrical devices commonly found in our homes and workplaces to numerous adverse biological effects, including:
- DNA strand breaks
- Rupture of the blood-brain barrier
- Major organ damage
- Cell membranes compromised
- Immune system suppression
These exposures are linked to many serious diseases including cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, brain tumors… and cancer.
Wired And Wireless EMF Exposures
Awareness as to the dangers posed by wireless devices, particularly cell phones, is increasing. This is particularly since the World Health Organization classified cell phone type radiation exposures (which includes WiFi) as a possible Class 2B carcinogen in 2011.
This year the National Institute of Health published the world’s largest and most well-designed study of its type − at a cost of $25 million − on this question. They found a clear link between an increased occurrence of brain tumors and cell phone radiation. In the light of these recent studies a growing number of experts are calling for the WHO classification to be upgraded to “probably carcinogenic.”
Unfortunately EMF exposures are not limited to emissions from wireless devices. Wired electrical devices and electrical wires themselves also emit potentially harmful EMFs. But hasn’t this always been the case? Yes and No.
Electrical devices and electricity have been present in most of our homes for over 100 years. But what has changed significantly is the quality of that electricity. We have become a society obsessed with saving power through technological advances. Energy saving lights, Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), LEDs, smart meters, solar power − all these technologies all save power. But many of them bring a significant but little known disadvantage. They introduce another layer of potentially harmful frequencies onto our household wiring, commonly known as dirty electricity.
We now have a proliferation of these wired and wireless EMFs on a level that we have never experienced before. Studies tell us that these exposures are cumulative. Then added into the mix of these every day exposures are other “extra-ordinary” exposures from traveling, which is what we’ll discuss here.
Radiation Exposure at the Airport
Do you ever feel headaches, dizziness, or other inexplicable symptoms in airports? It’s not surprising given the exposures from airport WiFi, aircraft radar, and from the security scanners you’re obliged to pass through before boarding your plane. With the perceived rise in the terrorism threat, full body scanners have become the norm in many airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initially played down claims that these scans were dangerous. It has since come to light that the radiation from these devices may be more harmful than the ionizing radiation during the flight itself.
The full body scanner exposes your body to about 130,000,000 microwatts/m² of radiation. That sounds a lot because it is. To put this number in context, the Institute of Building Biology considers exposures over 1000 microwatts/m² to be in the category of extreme anomaly. These extreme exposures have the potential to induce gene mutations, nerve damage, sterility, and even cancer.
A different type of screening technology has subsequently been introduced, the millimeter wave machine which emits microwave frequencies. Unfortunately the publicly accessible data does not allow us to make a clear decision as to the safety of these devices. But make no mistake these exposures are not completely inoffensive. I’ve never attempted to measure these exposures with a radio frequency meter but I know many electrically sensitive people who are affected to the point of not being able to travel.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report has revealed that millimeter waves can heat the skin, damage eyesight, and cause cancer − particularly leukemia.
The Best Way to Avoid Airport EMFs
The low-EMF way of getting through airport security is to join the “opt out” line for a pat-down. This allows you to bypass the TSA screening by choosing a physical pat-down by a security agent.
Though physically invasive and unconstitutional, a manual pat-down is better than being zapped with a concentrated vortex of electromagnetic energy.
How Much Radiation Do You Get From a Plane Ride?
The first thing to be aware of is that airline travel subjects you to significant levels of radiation from the cosmos. This cosmic radiation is a form of ionizing radiation. When you are on the ground you are protected by the earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field. But when you fly this protection is greatly diminished because of the altitude.
Flying from Los Angeles to New York exposes you to approximately 6 times as much radiation as a typical dental x-ray. A 10-hour transatlantic flight exposes to more than double that amount.
Then there are EMFs from various sources in the plane, from:
- jet engines
- communications equipment
- cockpit computers
- electrical wiring
- electrical sensors
- static electricity in the fuselage
Over the last few years another layer of EMF exposures has been added in the form of WiFi. That’s to say devices that use radio-frequency microwave radiation to send data back and forth through the air, wirelessly. Most people already have WiFi at home, so what’s the big deal?
EMFs in the plane are a particular concern because a plane’s metallic structure can intensify the effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure. This is particularly due to the Faraday cage effect. The radiation is effectively trapped in a metal enclosure which can exacerbate the effects of this radiation.
Choosing the Safest Plane Seat to Reduce Your EMF Exposure
WiFi is a growing problem on planes, largely because there is a big demand for it, so the airlines are in a race to equip as many of their planes as possible.
According to a survey conducted by Routehappy, 73% of airlines worldwide now have WiFi fully rolled out. Using the data from their survey I’ve compiled a WiFi radiation in planes analysis in the form of a bar chart:
According to this data your best chance of flying WiFi free is to fly with Kuwait Airlines, Garuda Airlines, Iberia, Philippine, Singapore, and Virgin Atlantic airlines.
Tips for Limiting EMF Exposure in Your Hotel Room
Let’s not forget the last step of your journey − your destination. Most hotels and accommodation rentals these days are equipped with WiFi. The WiFi is useful for keeping in contact with folks back home, but you don’t have to have the WiFi router in your hotel room!
Most hotels are equipped with a router or a series of routers per floor. Before you book ask to be situated away from the antennas.
When you arrive in your hotel room or rental look round for the obvious, cordless phones, a utility room next to your room containing that floor’s electrical box. The cordless phone can be unplugged and if you are really not happy with your room go to reception and ask to be moved. Plus, be sure to follow the tips here for minimizing radiation from your mobile phone.
Wishing you a happy, low EMF vacation!
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Article Summary
There is a health aspect to long distance travel which is of growing importance but is often overlooked… exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Awareness of the dangers posed by wireless devices, particularly cell phones, is increasing. This is especially so since the World Health Organization classified cell phone type radiation exposures (which includes WiFi) as a possible Class 2B carcinogen in 2011.
With the perceived rise in the terrorism threat, full body scanners have become the norm in many airports. While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initially played down claims that these scans were dangerous, it has since come to light that the radiation from these devices may be more harmful than the ionizing radiation during the flight itself.
The full body scanner exposes your body to about 130,000,000 microwatts/m² of radiation. To put this number in context, the Institute of Building Biology considers exposures over 1000 microwatts/m² to be in the category of extreme anomaly. These extreme exposures have the potential to induce gene mutations, nerve damage, sterility, and even cancer.
A different type of screening technology has subsequently been introduced, the millimeter wave machine which emits microwave frequencies. A World Health Organization (WHO) report has revealed that millimeter waves can heat the skin, damage eyesight, and cause cancer − particularly leukemia.
The low-EMF way of getting through airport security is to join the “opt out” line for a pat-down.
Airline travel subjects you to significant levels of radiation from a variety of sources. On the plane, try to get a seat with the least radiation:
- Seats situated away from where the jet engines are located will avoid unnecessary exposures from magnetic fields
- Seats away from the onboard WiFi will minimize your exposure to WiFi radiation
Hello Family; Yes, this is important information and I have seen the meters to show us what the outputs of devices emit. Again, we hold and emit frequencies too. The more issues you have you emit frequencies that attract the same frequencies, so “Like attracts Like”. If somewhere in your energies you harbor hate and anger and fear you mayl attract those same frequencies to you causing cancer and other health issues. If there is dark energies within you, you will attract that of equal value. Forgiveness is the de-programmer, is the vibrational frequency enhancer- up lifter. It requires you to buy nothing, and only takes minutes if you can Love the abuser and be brave enough to Forgive the Unforgiveable, Then you will be free at last. Love. Yourself called alan.
If ever I make any trips in the future, I should neither bring my IPad nor laptop, if radiation is causing so much trouble and damage to our health. When we go to airports, we just do not know anymore how much radiation that we get exposed too. Sometimes, we just do not know what to do anymore in order to try and prevent us from being exposed to EMF radiation.
The thing is, that on a plane you cannot chose to get off if you don´t make it. If your heart is severely affected you can actually die. On the tube you can go off and take the next train. But in a plane you don´t have that choise. I can put up with quite a lot of radiation, after trying to recover from EHS for about 15 years. I can spend a couple of hours in a big city if it is not extremely crowded. But when I tried to go by bus, crowded with smartphones, it was a “near death” experience. I realize now that flying will never be an option for me. But thanks anyway for an exellent article.
TTAC, can you give us ideas on how to use supplements while flying to reduce the effects of the exposures we just received? I hear chorella (Dr Mercola’s brand is a safe one) is good after flight to help absorb some of the radiation along with high (absorbable) Vit C, is there any food choices that could help too? I always like solutions given in these type articles along with the facts. Thanks for the article and helping us think.
Hello! My friend and her family wear something to protect themselves whenever they travel with a plane or even with a car. Yes, they use it also in the car whenever they pass expressway/freeway. Her husband is a general practioner and they don’t have wifi, microwave tv, and digital gadgets at home. Have you learned something about what’s best supplement to take after the flight?
David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe says that the least amount of EMF radiation is in the center of the plane. There is much more of it if you sit by the windows.
What do you think about Blueshield tesla or Q-link products. Do those really helpful with EMF?
Great article, but I am surprised that EMF/EMR blockers/reducers weren’t mentioned, To limit your exposure you can also purchase EMF/EMR protection such as an EP2 pendant, cell phone and computer radiation patches, or any number of other devices for in and around you and your home. Using these helpful devices and wearing them wherever you go, in combination with the above suggestions will no doubt Greatly diminish your exposure to harmful energy waves.
Etelka Fodor I assume that you are not severely ill from microwave exposure. Everyone suffering from EHS (electro and/or microwave hypersensitivity ) know that it simply doesn´t work !! If you are not sensitive, or very little affected, you can experience some kind of good feeling, because some of these devices (not all) can increase your own energy field AND that means ONLY that you will not feel, the damage these extremely harmful frequences are doing to your body. And that is whether you are sensitive or not.
DON´T rely on these kind of devices !! If you can detect the radiation on an electrosmogmeter IT IS THERE !
I got by for many years with a shielded hat because most of the sources (except on public transport, which I gradually became unable to use) were overhead. Recently I’ve had to add a veil for any travel, even by car. I’ve stitched my own “bee hat” and it looks like a fashion choice, especially when I’ve flipped it over off my face. I initially used it at airports, standing in lines and in a badly EMF polluted classroom. Of course, at this stage people are not ready to hear the truth, so if asked, I usually say “It’s for an allergy.”
Where I live, smart meters have been recently installed, usually facing the road, sometimes just a few feet from where we stop at lights. It’s been a nightmare for me for the past year, but Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt is saying that his patients are recovering better when using shielded clothing, so from a couple of weeks ago, I started using the veil in the car. It is sheer enough I can drive with it. Recently there has been a spate of bad accidents caused mostly by older people suddenly having “issues,” and I wonder if they are having the same problem as I, but don’t realize it. After two weeks of trying this, I can say my condition has improved significantly. Even my eyesight, which was started to go, has improved. I am really really happy.
When the weather cools down, I’ll add a shielded jacket.
Thanx for putting this to the forefront. Myself and many others can not even think of going near an airport. I have had so many TIAs courtesy of neighbors’ wifi and heart and autoimmune issues courtesy of smart meters. But, this is about cancer here. I think RF radiation has got to be the biggest threat to causing cancer. It is like grow lights, for skin cancer. I have taken lots of percaustions to avoid RF radiation, but it is hard. I know some wealthy who have and have healed their ails, and they fly private jet, but most are not in that bracket. If you click on my strange name [that is such, because I can no longer hook to grid power/smart meters]. You can see how hard it is to avoid. I still get hit w/ so much and I do not live in the standard American housing tract.
I know there would be no surviving the common airline trip. Sadly another issue is any medical facility. Just can’t go near-even as close as the parking lot. That even goes for the holistic ones you show in your series. Electropollution has gone way way over the top and it’s not stopping. It’s way too good for all the big business, especially healthcare industries.
Interesting article. I would be interested in knowing what the stats are, for pilots & assisting flight staff who have developed some form of cancer ?
Future articles could inform us as to what devices we can attached to our cell phones, laptops tec., to reduce the R. kI appreciate the proactive
approach to living.