When my oldest son went to college last year, we gave him and some of his friends a copy of the book “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College.” The book covers a wide range of topics from how to do laundry to how to deal with a nightmare roommate. The only problem is that it was missing information on the newest campus safety issue that concerned me the most: wireless radiation. This paper will present simple tips for surviving and thriving in wireless environments in college. Most of these tips also apply to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, home, and work environments.
Cell Towers
Find the cell tower(s) on or near your campus and minimize your time near them to reduce exposure to microwaves . If you have the ability to choose your dorm, consider the distance to cell towers as one of the most important deciding factors. Ideally, you would not want to be in a dorm that was within a quarter mile of a cell tower, and the further away the better (go to antennasearch.com to find the cell tower(s) in your area).
Wi-Fi
Many classrooms and lecture halls have Wi-Fi routers installed inside them. Sit as far away from Wi-Fi routers as you can.
If you can choose your location in your dorm, ask for one that is as far from the Wi-Fi router as possible. The ends of buildings may often have lower Wi-Fi levels than the middle. To measure the signal strength and the number of signals you are exposed to in each location, you can walk around the building with your phone or laptop and watch the Wi-Fi signal level(s) rise and fall.
Cell Phone
Part of your wireless (microwave frequency) exposure comes from your cell phone, even when you are not using it. Buy a phone that has a low SAR (specific absorption rate) rating. Radiation levels drop off quickly--every time you double the distance, the radiation level goes down by 75%. Conversely, moving twice as close (for example, from two inches to one inch away) will quadruple the radiation level. This is why the FCC and the cell phone manufacturers warn you to always keep your phone at least 5 mm (about two-tenths of an inch) from your body. (See the “show the fine print” website to look up the exact distance for your phone).
Carrying the phone on your body will likely increase your exposure to a level above the FCC’s guidelines. Try to develop a habit of not carrying your phone in your hand, pocket, bra, or any other place that is in contact with your body. A good solution is to keep your phone in a backpack or purse as much as possible. If you must carry your phone in your hand, pocket, or bra, turn the phone to airplane mode and make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are off. If the phone really must be on and against your body, use a shielding product like a Blocsoc.
When you use your phone, either text, use speakerphone, or use an airtube headset to avoid exposure near your head. You can also turn off the stronger LTE connection to reduce exposure (on the iPhone->Settings->Cellular-“Enable LTE”->Off). Another option is to use Apple’s iMessage or Google Voice texting to keep up with text messages on your computer, ideally from a wired connection.
Computer
Spending hours working with a laptop can dramatically increase your stress and EMF exposure. Also, after sunset, it can increase your exposure to blue light, which can disrupt your circadian rhythms and sleep cycle. To prevent this, you can install a free app called f.lux to reduce blue light exposure at night.
Working on your laptop while it is plugged in and charging will increase your exposure to harmful electric fields, so use it unplugged as much as possible. If you have a wired Ethernet connection available, use that and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If you only have a Wi-Fi Internet connection, turn it off when you don’t need to connect to the Internet. This is also a great tactic for removing distraction and interruptions when you need to focus. Place your laptop on a desk, instead of your lap. If this is not an option, consider a shield like a HaraPad to put under your computer, especially if you are using Wi-Fi. The HaraPad can also be kept right against your back in a backpack to protect your body from cell phone exposure if your cell phone is on and in your backpack.
Electromagnetic Fields and Electrical Noise
Keep LED electric clocks (a major source of magnetic fields) and light and power cords as far from your bed as possible, especially away from your head. An Alan Maher Designs Tech Ground Mini is a great device to plug into a dorm room outlet to reduce electrical noise and field effects in the room. Another Alan Maher Designs product that would be useful on campus is a shoe insert that can filter electrical noise around the body and in the nervous system. This is a discrete and very effective way to stay calm and keep your brain and nervous system sharp and focused.
I hope these tips help you survive and thrive in your college years and beyond.
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