• Incidental Radiators include electrical motors, dimmer switches, wall warts/transformers.
• Unintentional Radiators include devices that generate RF energy for internal use, but which are not intended to emit it, like computers and other electronics and some high efficiency lights. However, often substantial RF does radiate.
• Unlicensed Intentional Radiators, ISM Radiators, and Licensed Radiators all radiate RF intentionally.

Please watch Mitigating Electronic Product Radiation a.k.a. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) - a short video to see how significant these sources of RF can be and how easily it can be reduced, even by non-engineers.

The regulation of these RF emitters by the FCC is not centered around protecting public health from biological effects, but rather preventing gross tissue heating effects and RF interference, specifically preventing devices from interfering with each other. Thus, regulation of RF interference (RFI) has focused substantially on "hardening" devices so they are not vulnerable to RF interference. Unfortunately, the human body is also vulnerable to RF interference and cannot be hardened.

It is time for the regulatory paradigm to shift for regulation of all RF emitters to one aimed at preventing RF interference with all biological systems. This will require re-engineering electrical devices to minimize RF emissions since biological systems cannot be "hardened". RF exposure limits will need to be established to prevent biological effects from deliberate, unintentional, and incidental transmitted RF and RF emissions resulting in "dirty" electricity. Dr. Martin Pall has suggested an approach that would initially allow new limits to be established to prevent RF from causing Ca2+ efflux, a detrimental RF bioeffect (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25879308).

Those limits could be lowered later if necessary to prevent additional detrimental RF bioeffects, as we become aware of them.

In the meantime, each person or family must protect themselves.

An inexpensive portable battery operated radio can provide a reasonable indicator of a problem. We have found the Radio Shack Radio #12-467 to be more sensitive than the newer version we acquired and therefore more useful for this application. It is important that the radio have a good sensitivity to RF interference in order to be a good instrument for finding it. Some radios have been engineered to minimize their sensitivity to static (RF interference). They are not as useful for finding sources of RF interference.

A radio is an excellent detector of whatever frequency it is tuned to. You will want to scan through both AM and FM ranges (not just one frequency in the AM or FM range) as you check your house and neighborhood. I have found interference in the AM range that does not show up in the FM range and in the FM range that does not show up in the AM range. The interference was eliminated with mitigation. If you use only the AM range or only the FM range, you may miss important sources of RF interference (RFI).

Static and other non-station related noises made by the radio are indicators of RF interference. If there is truly no signal, the radio will be silent. You will be using the loudness of the signal to locate sources.

Warning: At no time should the radio or its antenna be touched to or held too close to any wiring or electrical devices or components that are not commonly understood to be safe to touch with your bare hands. Death or serious injury could result. The author is not responsible for any such stupidity!

You may want to make decisions about electronics and electrical components that you use based on their RFI emissions - e.g. dimmer switches are strong RFI emitters (and cause "dirty" electricity) and many people have found that they feel better when they remove them. Computers are also strong RFI sources. Some computers and screens are much worse than others. You may want to let this guide you in selecting such electronics. Laptops and tablets can cause particularly high exposures since the processor and screen is in such close proximity to the user, or even in contact with the user. The fact that laptops, tablets, and smart phones are potent sources of RFI, even when they are not transmitting for purposes of communication, explains why people who have severe RF sickness cannot tolerate them. Both books below have excellent discussions about common electrical and electronic RFI emitters.

There are two very important sources of RF radiation exposure, other than wireless technology. One is based on the electrical grid. An excellent reference is the AC Power Interference Handbook: All about power-line and electrical interference with new insights into causes & effects, and locating and correction of interference sources by Marv Loftness (Library of Congress Control Number: 2007932878. It can be ordered from ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494; phone 1-888-277-5289). The other source of RF radiation exposure is a direct result of filling the atmosphere with RF radiation from wireless technology and is called the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" in an excellent book titled Radio Frequency Interference: How to Find It and Fix It (ISBN 0-87259-375-4).

These books are must-reads for anyone who is trying to help people harmed by RF, having radiofrequency sickness, microwave sickness, or electrotoxicity. Often these conditions are diagnosed as CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, ADD/ADHD, etc... Individuals attempting to help people mitigate their environment to minimize their RF/EMF exposure will want to invest in the more expensive equipment discussed in the books to enable them to locate RFI quickly and efficiently. Marv Loftness has a particularly nice discussion about a system for locating RFI, especially RFI originating on the electrical grid. All electrical utilities should protect public health by having in-house personnel whose sole job is to locate grid-based sources of RFI (including those originating from customers) and then getting them fixed immediately. This will result in lower equipment costs for electrical customers and the utility, and, whether the utility chooses to acknowledge it or not, better customer health.

Due to the very distinctly different origins of RFI from the grid and the "Rusty-Bolt Effect," I will discuss them in two separate sections.

Radiofrequency Interference (RFI) can be generated by both the electrical grid and cable TV systems. The strength of the RFI generated can be significant both in engineering and biological terms. Unfortunately, our regulatory system for RFI is set up to prevent interference with devices, not to protect human health. Thus, the FCC will require the cable and electrical utilities to fix problems that result in interference that impair your ability to listen to a radio station, but will completely ignore you if you complain that it is killing your family - no matter what evidence you can present. Congress can change this anytime it chooses.

Before attempting to get your utility or cable company to address RFI originating from their systems, please visit the Solutions page for a discussion about locating the sources of RFI in your own home.

In the case of RFI generated by the electrical grid or the cable system, the RFI is generated by a sparking event or even a full-out arc. Mr. Loftness spends quite a bit of time in his book, AC Power Interference Handbook: All about power-line and electrical interference with new insights into causes & effects, and locating and correction of interference sources (Library of Congress Control Number: 2007932878. It can be ordered from ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494; phone 1-888-277-5289), distinguishing between a spark and an arc, so I will let you read about it there. Henceforth, I will just call it a spark. These sparks - current jumping from one point to another - generate RFI in a manner identical to what Guglielmo Marconi first used to transmit RF. Those early transmitters were called spark-gap transmitters. The strength of the RFI signal generated depends on a number of factors, but can be quite strong.

"Sparking Consequences
The rise time of the disruptive sparking current pulse in a gap is a phenomenal 2 nanoseconds, that is 2 billionths of a second [Janischewskyj Ref. 2]. This extremely sharp current discharge, breaking down the air in a gap, really shakes up the electromagnetic environment! This causes RF (radio frequency) noise radiation over an extremely wide frequency range from below 1 MHz to above 1000 MHz.

The broad-band noise generated is radiated from any metal associated with the sparking "gap source." The metal provides an antenna effect which is essential to the effective "broadcasting" of the RF noise, and the metal objects immediately associated with the gap we call the "gap electrodes.

As an example, one of these electrodes may be a power-line conductor, and the other gap electrode may be a loose connection clamp (a hot-line clamp) on the conductor." (Loftness, p. 1-8 to 1-9)

In addition to RFI, sparks also produce audio and super-audio (ultrasonic) noise, as well as infra-red and other light frequencies.

There are some common sources of sparking that can be readily identified visually. One source is any sort of object hanging from the wires or contacting the wires e.g. trees. These can easily be addressed by the utility company.

Others require special equipment, which Mr. Loftness discusses in detail, in order to track them down. Loose or corroded hardware or bad electrical connections on the electrical grid are frequently causes of RFI. To protect public health, all utility companies should have employees whose main job is to find and remedy sources of RFI. And, if the source occurs on customer premises, work with the customer to locate and fix the source.

Common home-based sources of sparking mentioned are the door-bell transformer and accompanying thermostat, and other thermostatically controlled devices such as fish tank heaters, electric blankets, and electric heating pads. You can unplug or turn off the item and, if the RFI vanishes, you have found the source. If it only diminishes noticeably, then you have found a source, but should keep looking for a second, and perhaps even a third source. Sources in electrical panels and other areas of relatively uniform temperature can be identified with an infra-red camera. Sparks and arcs will show up as hot spots.

The fact that sparking sources can radiate, conduct, be induced onto another conductor, and re-radiate makes the source difficult to localize. However, Mr. Loftness developed a protocol to locate the source relatively quickly and easily. It is detailed in his book.

To summarize it briefly, closer to the source it becomes possible to detect higher and higher frequencies. When it becomes possible to detect 1MHz to 500 MHz noise, the source will be close. "The RFI source will be at the pole (structure) where you find the highest noise level at the highest frequency." (Loftness, p. 4-27) An ultrasonic probe can be used to confirm the final location of the source because the ultrasonic signal is only emitted at the source.

Direct Current (DC) electrical systems can also have sparking problems and, according to Mr. Loftness, can generate very potent RFI. I experienced this first-hand when the hot wire on my car battery was accidentally left loose by the mechanic after the car was fixed. I became very RF sick very quickly when I got in and drove it. The car functioned perfectly, but I became very ill every time I tried to use it. Once we figured out that the battery connection was loose and tightened it, I was again able to use the car with a minimum of trouble.

Cable systems with bad connections or problems with the integrity of the cable can be very bad sources of RFI since cable systems operate in the MHz range. It is interesting to note that the main concern with cable system leakage is that it can interfere with airplanes and radio stations, not human health. So, cable companies often perform required annual leakage checks by airplane. Since human health is affected by RF, including from cable leaks and/or faulty equipment, all cable companies should have employees continuously tracking down and fixing leaks.

According to Mr. Loftness, "It is important to realize that leakage where it escapes from the cable consists of many frequencies, that is, the TV and FM channels and other signals on the cable. All of these various leaking frequencies will not be observed at the same level at a leakage site. The TV signal levels placed on the cable are intentionally not equal to start with, to allow for the higher attenuation with distance for the higher frequencies. Metal present at the leak site radiates as an antenna; this radiating metal may be a loose connector, a broken sheath or associated hardware. A particular configuration of metal parts does not radiate equally at all frequencies." (Loftness, p. 12-7) He reports that most leaks are on the pole to house service drop cables.

Electrical and electronic equipment can have defects that result in RFI without ceasing to function. In one instance, a cable modem was replaced because it was the source of a discrete accidental RFI signal that was causing health problems. Two of the new cable modems also produced the signal. A third modem of the same make and model did not. The health symptoms improved.

Light sensors on dusk to dawn lights (now common on street lights) are notorious for having defects or "failures" that don't prevent them from functioning, but do result in the production of substantial RFI.

Any loose or corroded connections within a home or business can also cause substantial RFI and "dirty" electricity and are well worth taking the time to track down. Please visit the Solutions page for a discussion about doing that.

These are just a few basics. I strongly recommend reading AC Power Interference Handbook: All about power-line and electrical interference with new insights into causes & effects, and locating and correction of interference sources by Marv Loftness (Library of Congress Control Number: 2007932878) to get the full benefit of his knowledge about tracking down and fixing sources of RFI. It can be ordered from ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494; phone 1-888-277-5289).

Another source of exposure to RF radiation that has not been considered in research examining health effects of RF radiation exposure is the "Rusty-Bolt Effect". The "Rusty-Bolt Effect" is an increasingly common and powerful source of RF radiation exposure. Essentially, conducted RF traveling across a metal to metal junction with even a little bit of corrosion can result in the generation of a very strong RF signal. This has been called the "Rusty-Bolt Effect". Conducted RF results from ambient RF radiation signals being picked up on metal. These ambient RF radiation signals can originate from any source of RF radiation, including any wireless technology or other source of radiofrequency interference (RFI). This source of exposure is increasing rapidly.

The RF transmission generated due to the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" varies with the frequency and strength of the signals coming into the metal to metal junction and some combinations are more potent than others. This is proving to be a very biologically potent source of RF exposure, thereby adding another manner in which radiation from wireless technology causes harm, and increasing the need to minimize ambient wireless radiation levels to protect public health. Increased ambient radiation levels and the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" can cause heat ducts, plumbing, wiring (even dead wiring), and any other metal to metal junctions to become strong and biologically hazardous sources of RF exposure. The only practical way to address this public health threat is to minimize ambient RF levels.

"Nature is a prolific creator of diodes. Weathered joints between pieces of metal (such as TV-mast sections, barbed wire and fence stakes or sections of rain gutter) form crude diodes that are efficient generators of spurious signals. The associated lengths of metal on either side of the joint act as antenna elements. They feed energy to the rectifier. The resulting nonlinear current flow is rich in harmonics, which are reradiated to wreak havoc in nearby receivers. The effects of these harmonics are identical to those of harmonics produced in a transmitter."[p. 10-1 Radio Frequency Interference: How to Find It and Fix It (ISBN 0-87259-375-4)]

A rectifier is used to make DC current from alternating current (AC). A switch-mode power supply is a full-bridge rectifier generally made using four different diodes chosen so that they utilize as close to 100% of the 60 Hz AC sine wave as possible to generate the most continuous DC current possible (although most have "ripple current"). Switch-mode power supplies are notorious for causing "dirty" electricity and RFI. This is caused by each of the diodes turning on and off 60 times per second - in lay terms a sparking event occurs each time the current starts to flow and stops flowing through the diode. Sparking emits RF, see this article about early spark-gap transmitters.

Now imagine that instead of 60 Hz current going through the diode (corroded metal to metal junction) you have a 2.4 GHz signal (which is one of the WiFi signals), or an even higher frequency, going through the diode. The switching would happen 2.4 million times per second or more. The RF emitted can be substantial.

Experience has shown that even seemingly un-corroded metal to metal junctions can emit RFI, so the phenomenon may well be a combination of the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" and an RF-based "sparking" event similar to what occurs when a 60 Hz signal "sparks" across a gap, as described above in the section titled "Radiofrequency Interference from the Electrical Grid and Cable TV systems".

The vast array of commonly occurring potentially problematic metal to metal junctions in the developed world (including heat ducts, structural components, water pipes, stranded wires, metal-wrapped wire, bare aluminum window screen, etc) leads to the conclusion that the only rational way to protect public health is to minimize the presence of ambient man-made RF radiation.

Radio Frequency Interference: How to Find It and Fix It does have instructions for mitigation. Separating metal joints by inserting rubber works to mitigate the "Rusty-Bolt Effect". However, this is not always practical. Encasing pipes in rubber insulation or rubber tubing helps, but, again, is not always feasible e.g. pipes used to radiate heat in heating systems or enclosed in walls. Using silicon grease to protect connections and facilitate conduction also helps. But, again, it is not always practical. Grounding is of limited assistance. We have been sticking electricity and RF into the ground like it is a black hole, but it isn't. Electrical ground currents are now nearly ubiquitous in North America and many other places. Thus, grounding is now as likely to cause a problem as it is to solve one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7dlQxHfw6E). (Grounding works wonders for lightning because lightning is a massive sparking event that occurs to equalize charges between the ground and the clouds.) The only way to really protect public health is to virtually eliminate man-made transmitted RF. Thus, largely eliminating the problem caused by the "Rusty-Bolt Effect".

Unfortunately, it is harder to locate sources of RFI related to the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" than it is to locate power system related sparking sources. Turning off the power to an electrical system component that is emitting RFI due to the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" or RF sparking does not tell you a thing. It will continue to emit. The only way to know for sure without specialized equipment is to disassemble the joint and see if the RF disappears. Connections with slightly elevated temperatures were detected using an infra-red thermometer in a fully de-powered electrical box (so the temperature differences were not due to normal "sparking"). These connections seemed, upon closer examination, to have minor flaws. Once those flaws were corrected, the thermometer readings decreased. Often the electrical connections were a slightly higher temperature than the nearby box back even though the wires were totally dead, suggesting the possibility that even good electrical connections can experience some heating from RFI generated through either the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" or RF sparking. The temperature differences I measured that seem to relate to the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" ranged from a degree to as much as 19 degrees Fahrenheit. (The ultrasonic probe discussed by Mr. Loftness might help with locating "Rusty-Bolt" or RF sparking sources, but I have had no experience with it.)

I have seen items as small as a corroded copper pipe holder on an old galvanized zinc nail emit detectable RF, so although joints in long metal items (e.g. pipes, wires, fences, etc.) that are able to provide a large voltage differential may be the most powerful emitters, small metal to metal joints can't be ignored.

For more information on the "Rusty-Bolt Effect" and what to do about it, please read Radio Frequency Interference: How to Find It and Fix It (ISBN 0-87259-375-4).