ELECTRIC FIELDS
SUMMARY:
Electric fields can be either static, or alternating. But unlike magnetic fields, it is relatively easy to eliminate electric fields by using a grounded shield. Since the human body depends on very weak electrical signals for many biological processes, having no electric fields near you, especially when you are sleeping, is very important to maintain excellent health. The lamp next to your bed can create a large low frequency electric field radiating from the un-grounded power cord, even when it is not switched on. An EMF safety consultant can do multiple measurements to determine your exposure to health degrading electric fields and help eliminate them.
DETAILS:
Static electric fields are created with the displacement of electrons on the surfaces of dissimilar materials. A net charge builds up, and it can be discharged quickly (nanoseconds) when contact to ground occurs. This is what you experience in the winter when you walk across a synthetic carpet in leather soled shoes and touch a grounded appliance. Positive electric charges are attracted to negative electric charges, just like north poles of magnets are attracted to south poles of magnets. The reason you experience shocks in winter is because the relative humidity is lower. With humidity above about 50%, the water molecules in the air lend enough electrons to keep static voltage fields lower.
When the flow of electrons reverses over time. like in the power supply to homes and businesses, you have an alternating current, and an AC electric field. In the case of electric supplies to houses and businesses, the magnetic field produced by current flow in one direction in the hot conductor, is eliminated by the equal current flow in the opposite direction in the neutral conductor, if the building was wired correctly. So, in general, the predominant field of all house wiring is an electrical field. It is interesting to note that the wavelength of 60Hz power is 3,100 miles!
Electric fields can be shielded or eliminated easily in most cases. For in the wall wiring, this is most easily done during the design and construction process. Wiring in the walls produces an electric field whenever the breaker is on in the main panel for that circuit, even when there is no current flowing. Designing the layout of rooms so that large electric appliances like in a kitchen, do not have wiring in walls adjacent to bedrooms or other resting areas is a first step. Running wiring in grounded metal conduit is a sure way to eliminate electric fields, but it is very expensive. There are shielded wires that can be used, also at a significant additional cost for material and labor. Complete shielding, of course has to include the junction boxes and switches and receptacles and light fixtures. Un-shielded wiring may propagate an electric field many feet into the room, and this would include your head and chest while lying in bed if there is wiring in the wall there.
Wiring outside of walls is also a problem that needs to be addressed. Extension cords or lamp cords have a field that may extend out 6 feet. Many home offices have a multiple outlet box under the desk and four or five cords plugged into it. Most lamp cords have no ground or shielding and make a large electric field next to the bed. Of course when the bulb is on it also creates an electric field. And if it is a compact fluorescent bulb, there is also dirty electricity created, which is discussed in another section.
There is a product that can be used to eliminate electric fields when you go to bed. It is most important to eliminate any electric field possible at the bed in the bedroom when you are sleeping. An EMF safety consultant can hire and work with a skilled electrician to analyze your wiring and possibly install automatic demand switches that will turn off the electricity to your bedroom all the way back at the circuit breaker panel, eliminating all local electric fields in the room. Alternately, you can walk to the electric panel and shut off the breakers yourself!
EMF SAFETY ANALYSIS
An EMF safety consultant will measure the electric field throughout your house, and do a series of potential-free electric field measurements on the bed to establish the electric field environment there, measured in volts/meter. A body voltage measurement can also be taken while lying in bed, measuring the actual voltage on the surface of your body relative to ground - ideally established with a metal stake actually pushed into the ground outside.
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Plug-in alarm clocks and alarm radios might create large magnetic and electric fields, right next to your head. Much worse would be to use your cell phone as an alarm clock. It should not be in your bedroom. That is a very unhealthy decision.
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SCIENCE vs EXPERIENCE
Scientific studies on the health effects of ELF electric fields reach very limited conclusions, just as with ELF magnetic fields. They look for specific biological effects at the cellular level under controlled conditions for a very short amount of time. About all they come up with is - exposure at lower levels induces changes in the excitability of nervous tissue in the central nervous system which may affect memory, cognition and other brain functions.
A power company in Germany issued results of a study in an internal memo in 1988 It states “A nerve cell recognizes an electrical stimulus of about 15-20 millivolts…” It continues: “Within alternating voltage the sensibility is dependent upon the frequency. The highest sensibility of nerves is around 50 hertz.” So here is a real biological effect caused by a very weak electric field that will confuse the normal behavior of our nervous system. And 50 hertz is the frequency of all electricity in Germany! It is a very similar frequency of 60 hertz in North America.
The human body is a very sensitive electrical machine with communications and reactions depending on high frequency and low frequency, low level electric fields. It is obvious that these processes could be quickly interfered with by external artificial electric fields. The experiences of Building Biologist specialists in electromagnetic radiation provide real examples. They often see very quick improvement with distressed electrically hypersensitive people after the removal of ELF electric and magnetic fields and/or "dirty" electricity.
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Wolfgang Maes was a building biologist that started his own path of learning in the 1980's. He had numerous chronic illnesses that defied treatment by any conventional or unconventional means he tried, for years. He finally found and hired a professional building and electrical biologist - a very rare occupation at that time. Many electrical and magnetic fields were found in his bedroom. After removing all of them he started getting better, and in two months was no longer taking any medications.
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After that experience he became an expert in the profession and examined thousands of houses and buildings, and provided relief from chronic problems for countless people. His life is proof that ELF magnetic and electric fields can create serious health problems.