The modern age

It has been less than a century since the discovery of electricity. Since then we have crisscrossed the world with wires and come to depend on electric appliances. But the electrical and electromagnetic fields generated by these conveniences affect nerve and cell function. In addition we are broadcasting electromagnetic radiation throughout our environment in frequencies our bodies never adapted to.

To avoid

Becker (in Cross-Currents, see The Body Electric) says not to sleep with an electric blanket going, or with a plug-in clock near your head (battery operated is okay); not to use fluorescent lights near your head; and not to live anywhere near high-tension lines or within 50 feet of an electrical transformer. The fields generated by hair dryers and by electric shavers are also dangerous — especially near the head — but since we expose ourselves to them for relatively short periods of time, probably less of a problem.

Heating substances (even water) in a microwave oven changes their molecular structure. The result is at best not what the body has evolved to deal with, and at worst fatal.

The story

Most people don't want to think about health problems from the modern use of electricity. I certainly didn't. And the story has been suppressed. But it's getting out.

For more information

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

• Electrosensitivity / FEB; the Swedish Association for the Electrosensitive — Much information, but not recent. No search engine.
• International EMF Project — extensive, up-to-date documentation by The World Health Organization, of research on the issues. A Google-powered search engine.
• Special Report on Electromagnetic Fields, by Annie Berthold-Bond — gives gaussmeter readings on common appliances.
• EMF-Link — "a biomedical science and engineering clearinghouse on Electrical and Magnetic Fields (EMF)." On the site of Information Ventures, Inc. "substantive information on biological and health effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) from common source ssuch as power lines, electrical wiring, appliances, medical equipment, communications facilities, cellular phones, and computers. Additional Services are available to organizations who wish to consult with our technical staff."
  Although several sections of this site require subscription, there are some pages with useful technical information, as well as references to literature and links to other sites. The site is sponsored by industry, but includes information on dangers of EMF and sensitivity to EMF.
• The Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) — "an independent organization of biological and physical scientists, physicians and engineers interested in the interactions of non-ionizing radiation with biological systems." Focused on networking for the pros. A Google-powered search engine.
• Bioelectromagnetics Discussion Group at Yahoo! Groups — "a forum for scientists and non-scientists alike to share their views on the science of bioelectromagnetics, which is the scientific study of the interaction of electromagnetic energy (at frequencies ranging from zero hertz through those of visible light) and acoustic energy with biological systems. Open, public group, moderated by members of BEMS, but not an official activity of the society.

Microwave Radiation

• Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking, by Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell — a lot of information. No references per se, but sources are fairly well described. Good detail about mechanisms. On the site of Joseph Mercola, DO.
• Food prepared in the microwave oven lead[s] to changes in the blood - The best detail I've found yet on the biochemistry. Cites sources.
• Nexus: Dangers of Microwaved Foods — The article on this page is also titled "Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking, but it's not the same as Wayne & Newell's piece, above. It says it's "extracted from" an article "Microwave Tragedy" by Tom Valentine, originally published in the April, 1994 edition of Acres USA. There's more here than on the previous page, about the persecution of Dr. Hans Hertel, who blew the whistle on the medical consequences of microwave cooking. Cites sources.

See also my pages

• The Body Electric
• The Body Magnetic
• Electromagnetic Sensitivity - I describe my experience here.
• E-Healing: Healing with Energy
• Support