There has been a dramatic increase since World War II in the use of systems and devices emitting EMFs; humans are exposed to these fields in the home, in the workplace, and in the external environment. Even though life on earth developed in a sea of weak natural EMFs ranging in frequency from a few cycles per second to the extremely high frequencies of radioactive and cosmic radiation, the intensity of EMFs from man made devices and systems are typically far above the levels of this natural background radiation in our urban environments. More importantly, the man made EMFs are completely different from natural EMFs in terms of their oscillation properties which show a constant rather than a random pattern of variation.

The rapid development of higher and higher intensities of man made, constantly oscillating EMFs from new technologies is expected to continue and even accelerate, as we adopt an increasing number of systems and devices emitting such fields. This development can not and should not be stopped, as most of these devices are extremely helpful and provide improved quality of life to millions of consumers.

However, with the present scientific knowledge in mind, it is obvious that something must be done to protect consumers against potential hazards associated with the EMF emissions. And users are definitely worried; in a poll conducted in the UK by Mori (May 1999), it was reported that 40 % of regular mobile phone users are afraid of potential health problems on the background of the scientific reports.

Industry associations are eagerly trying to downplay the risks and frequently state that there is no proof of any health risks of EMF exposures. However, the fact is that:

• Man made EMFs evidently induce significant biological effects in human cells, tissues and whole animals. These biolgical effects are linked to biochemical and physiological events believed to be associated with the development of adverse health conditions; whenever there is evidence of such interactions, there is justified reason for concern;
  
  
• A majority of epidemiological studies point to an association between adverse health conditions and EMF exposures; this is another reason justifying public concern.

Added together, these two individual dimensions of "circumstantial evidence" brings a third dimension into the matter of concern. Therefore, the only statement which can be made for certain is:

"There is no scientific evidence that man made EMFs are safe".

The options available to consumers who are concerned about being "guinea pigs" in the large scale experiment set up by the electrical, electronics and telecommunications industries are the following:

• Prudent avoidance of the near field of systems and appliances emitting strong EMFs such as cellular phones and base stations, computers, hair dryers, power line systems, transformer stations, TV transmission towers, photocopying machines, food processors, microwave ovens, sewing machines, electric motors, etc. This is often not practical, and consumers may not be knowledgeable about the proximity of transformer stations, underground power lines, cell phone towers, etc. In many occupations it is not possible to cut down the use of devices like cellular phones and computers. Besides, as research has shown, nobody knows what safe levels of EMF exposures are.
  
  
• Use of devices like the ear piece for mobile phones; however, many cell phone users place their handsets in their belts when they use their ear piece, thereby exposing large deposits of blood cells in the hip bone marrow or their genitals to the radiation. Furthermore, even at a distance, the radiation from a mobile phone antenna may induce significant biological effects.
  
  
• There are physical shielding devices available in the market, especially for cell phones, and some of these sell well. The problems associated with shielding are the following:
  
  
  • It is not practical to shield against ELF fields which penetrate virtually all materials except a special metal alloy (mu metal) which is as expensive as 24 ct gold; thus, a shield for a cell phone would do nothing to the ELF emission from the handset body;
    
    
  • The shield may take away some of the microwave radiation of the cellular phone antenna; however, the level of the radiation will still be far above the thresholds for induction of biological effects which may to be thousands of times below the level actually emitted from the antenna;
    
    
  • The shield will in many situations hamper the operation of the phone, depending on the direction to the nearest base station; if the head of the user is in the direction of the nearest base station, the phone will have to increase its output power to reach an alternative base station.
    
    
  • Shielding devices may appear clumsy and unattractive.
    
    
• There are products being offered in the market consisting of little containers filled with "magnetized water", claimed to emit a protective magnetic field which eliminates potential hazards of the radiation. There is no published and peer-reviewed scientific backing for these claims.
  

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