Health Issues

    Special Health Topics

    Breast Cancer - Autism - Children and Radiofrequency Sickness

    "Dirty" power and wireless technology: The world's largest health experiments.
    What you don't know can kill you.

    Basic Background About Electrical Pollution and Radiofrequency Sickness

    What you don't know about electrical pollution can hurt you!

    In the laboratory, chronic exposure to low level electromagnetic fields clearly affects growth and development, stress response, immune response and many neurological functions. This is not surprising because at the cellular level we are all electrical beings. Epidemiologic studies relate electromagnetic fields to birth defects, psychosis, childhood leukemias and to other cancers, especially brain and reproductive tumors.

    What is radio frequency sickness?

    Radio frequency sickness is an environmentally induced functional impairment caused by exposure to radio frequencies. In other words, remove the environmental pollutant that is causing the impairment which results in the symptoms and the symptoms go away. Sources of exposure to radio frequencies are electrical pollution and wireless technology. If a person has had radio frequency sickness long enough permanent damage can result, so it is imperative that exposure levels be reduced as much as possible as soon as possible. See the Solutions page for a list of steps you can take to reduce your exposure to high frequencies in your environment most effectively.

    What are the symptoms of radio frequency sickness?

    From the first awareness of health effects related to electromagnetic radiation decades ago, non-localized neurological symptoms have been very prominent. These include: headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, altered reflexes, muscle and joint pain, leg/foot pain, "Flu-like" symptoms and fever. More severe symptoms can include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke. These complaints, along with numerous non-specific multiple systems symptoms, constitute radio frequency sickness.

    When should you suspect radio frequency sickness?

    You should suspect radio frequency sickness when you have a significant number of symptoms on the list and there does not seem to be another cause for the symptoms. Radio frequency sickness should be suspected if you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, attention deficit disorder, and multiple sclerosis as a number of people with those disorders have substantially recovered after being treated for it. Asthma, headaches-including migraines, blood sugar control, allergies, and sleep quality have all improved with reducing exposure to radiofrequencies. Please read these articles for a more in-depth discussion of children and radiofrequency sickness and autism and the probable relationship to radiofrequency radiation. Links to other topical articles can be found at the top of the page.

    How can radio frequency sickness be positively diagnosed?

    The extensive list of symptoms relates to the multiple cellular and sub-cellular effects of electrical pollution. The BioInitiative Report is a comprehensive compilation of research on the extensive effects exposure to radiofrequencies has and is a good resource for those wanting a detailed scientific report. Lab tests, including EEG (as described by Marha et al.) may be done as a baseline but are not definitive.

    The best way to diagnose and confirm radiofrequency sickness is to reduce exposure. This is not as simple as it once was. It is essential to address both electrical pollution and wireless technology sources of exposure.

    A simple meter provides accurate measurements of electrical pollution in most situations. In rare situations, frequencies are outside the meter effective range. In these situations, measurements require specialized instrumentation and a trained technician to interpret the data. The simultaneously diagnostic and therapeutic measure is to eliminate "dirty" power and unplug/turn off all transmitters in the home and/or workplace and determine whether or not symptoms improve, often within days. There are many stealth transmitters. They can be in stoves, refrigerators, fans, TVs, etc so a meter that measures RF is needed to track them all down. I have used both the HFE-35C and the Cornet ED85EX with sound. They each have their strong points.

    The filters needed to "clean" up "dirty" electricity only need to be "plugged in," and are inexpensive when compared to multiple medical office visits and/or medications. Please see the Solutions page for more details on how to make your home safe from high frequencies, including wireless technology.

    To treat electrical pollution, the average home requires approximately twenty filters. If improvement occurs only slowly, more filters may be necessary. It is important to install enough from the beginning because if too few are installed initially, no difference may be observed. Instructions for filter installation can be found at http://www.stetzerelectric.com/filters/filter_instructions.html. The instructions can be used to help estimate how many filters will be necessary for optimal filtering.

    Filters are available through Stetzer Electric: (608) 989-2571; dave@stetzerelectric.com.
    Disclaimer: The author is a recovering patient, motivated by a desire to learn and teach about electrical pollution,
    who does not make filters or possess any financial interest in the company that produces them.

    How can "dirty" power affect you?

    In addition to being part of an electrical circuit because of the electrical earth currents, each person is capacitively coupled to the wires running around them through the walls, floor, and ceiling of the building where they live or work. Electrical engineers know about capacitive coupling, but they have also been taught that the result is insignificant. They have not read or choose to ignore publications like The Body Electric by Robert O. Becker, MD in which he discusses the extreme sensitivity of the human body to electromagnetic fields/radiation and Electromagnetic Fields and the Life Environment by Karel Marha, Jan Musil, and Hana Tuha in which they describe the symptoms humans experience with chronic exposure to high frequencies. The description of the symptoms of exposure to high frequencies in Electromagnetic Fields and the Life Environment touches on all of the most minor and puzzling symptoms of CFS and Fibromyalgia, as well as all of the widely accepted ones. The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War Syndrome are all virtually identical to those of radio frequency sickness. Exposure to high frequencies seems to be linked to a myriad of other health problems including depression, attention deficit disorder (ADD), cancer, infertility, miscarriages, birth defects, allergies, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease. The news has been full of speculation regarding why the rates of these ailments have increased over the last several years. Since there is evidence linking exposure to high frequencies to each of these ailments, it seems likely that the growth in non-linear, time-varying loads relates to the increase of the ailments listed above. Until recently only a few people were aware of the source of the exposure. People are becoming sick who do not seem to be at risk. Unbeknownst to them, they are being exposed to high frequencies through exposure to "dirty" power. Without an oscilloscope or a meter, it is impossible for the average person to detect. (See the News page for a more comprehensive article on the easy to use Microsurge Meter.) Electricity is the most widely accepted and most poorly understood of the modern conveniences.

    A paper titled "Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels to produce beneficial or adverse effects" by Dr. Martin Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Washington State University, discusses mechanisms by which RF can have biological effects without tissue heating.

    Are there any other treatments?

    There are no treatments that can substitute for reducing or eliminating exposure to high frequencies. However, there are some nutritional approaches that may be helpful in rebuilding the body's damaged systems after exposure high frequencies is substantially reduced or eliminated. The literature indicate that the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the immune system are impaired or damaged by over-exposure to radio frequencies. Many references cite oxidative damage as a problem. Increased inflammation is also frequently mentioned. Dehydration also seems to be a problem. Consult with your physician or a qualified health care professional to determine what might be appropriate to help with recovery from the damage done by radio frequency sickness.

    It is important for physicians to be aware that exposure to radiation from wireless devices can increase membrane permeability for a substantial period of time. According to Disconnect by Devra Davis, one 5-minute phone call can increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for 50 days. This can allow pollutants across the blood-brain barrier and cause leaky gut syndrome, allowing food components to enter the bloodstream that would not normally be there and also causing enough intestinal damage to impair nutrient uptake.

    Radiofrequencies are well documented to interfere with normal melatonin secretion, as well as the activity of melatonin already present in the blood. The brain cannot properly process and recharge without melatonin. Lack of melatonin may result in an excess of serotonin in the brain which may be linked to various mental disorders see http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory.htm for more information about serotonin and melatonin in the brain. This is important information for all doctors prescribing antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, to read. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for mental and physical health. Supplementation of melatonin may be helpful if good, restful sleep does not resume in spite minimizing RF exposures as much as possible using the steps found on the Solutions page.

    Some cognitive difficulties related to radiofrequency sickness seem to be caused by irregularities in glucose metabolism caused by radiofrequency exposure. One way to get around this was discovered by a doctor trying to help her husband recover from Alzheimer's disease (http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/article879333.ece#email). She found that one of the most effective treatments was an oil composed of medium chain triglycerides known as MCT oil. Medium chain triglycerides can be found in high concentration in coconut oil.

    There are multiple metabolic processes that are upset by radiofrequency exposure. However, the methylation cycle has received individual attention. It can to be severely upset and seems to have trouble righting itself without a little help. According to a paper by Rich Van Konynenburg, Ph.D. and Neil Nathan, M.D. titled “Application of the Yasko Protocol to the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”, chronic partial block of the methylation cycle leads to significant draining of folate from the cells, and a chronic depletion of glutathione which they hypothesize results in chronic fatigue type symptoms. Experience has shown us that many people with chronic fatigue syndrome are, in fact, suffering from radiofrequency sickness, thus it is likely that treatment of blocked methylation cycle either using their modified Yasko protocol or the original (vitamin protocols that have been developed to help get the methylation cycle going again) would be helpful to people with radiofrequency sickness. The methylation cycle is also involved in clearing some metals and toxins from the body. Anecdotally, the protocol has improved depression and cognitive function. It is very important to note that this research protocol recommends starting the vitamin regimen very, very, slowly - a quarter dose or less and slowly increasing. They have found that people can feel transiently worse if the cycle re-starts too quickly. They recommend only using the protocol under a doctor's supervision.

    According to Anne Louise Gittleman's book Zapped, radiofrequency exposure depletes zinc, selenium, magnesium, vitamin D, CoQ10, and a few others so supplementation of these vitamins may be considered in addition to the above, also with a doctor's supervision.

    Additionally, exposure to radiofrequencies has been documented to change hormone and neurotransmitter levels.

    Why is it difficult for physicians to accept that exposure to radiofrequencies from both electrical pollution and wireless technology can have serious adverse health effects?

    Regrettably, to date, articles in main-stream medical journals featuring the human health risks of exposure to electrical pollution or high frequencies have not received the notice they deserve. Each time an article appears, a carefully prepared highly publicized study that reportedly shows inconclusive or negative results is released. These studies have ties, generally funding, to an industry or organization that fears it would be negatively impacted by the new study. These highly publicized, "damage control studies" are probably the ones you and your doctor recall seeing.

    Although the human health effects of exposure to high frequencies were well researched and documented in Eastern Europe over fifty years ago, this body of literature was largely disregarded because the government viewed it as communist propaganda designed to curtail the development of further military and/or technological advances. Still, today Eastern Europe has some of the strictest regulations regarding acceptable levels of radio-frequency exposure for civilian populations.

    Do not be put off by some of the hostile responses you may receive from medical professionals. This information is new for your doctor. This is where physics meets human biology. The scarcity of people who are well enough versed in both physics and biology to fully understand the effects of high frequencies on biological organisms is what has allowed this problem to persist for so long. There are a number of papers and resources available today for them to review. A good place to start is The BioInitiative Report.

    Symptoms of radio frequency sickness (aka radio wave sickness and microwave sickness) (excerpted from No Place To Hide April 2001):

  • Neurological: headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, altered reflexes, muscle and joint paint, leg/foot pain, "Flu-like" symptoms, fever. More severe reactions can include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke.
  • Cardiac: palpitations, arrhythmias, pain or pressure in the chest, low or high blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, shortness of breath.
  • Respiratory: sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma.
  • Dermatological: skin rash, itching, burning, facial flushing.
  • Ophthalmologic: pain or burning in the eyes, pressure in/behind the eyes, deteriorating vision, floaters, cataracts.
  • Others: digestive problems; abdominal pain; enlarged thyroid, testicular/ovarian pain; dryness of lips, tongue, mouth, eyes; great thirst; dehydration; nosebleeds; internal bleeding; altered sugar metabolism; immune abnormalities; redistribution of metals within the body; hair loss; pain in the teeth; deteriorating fillings; impaired sense of smell; ringing in the ears.

    Why is the symptoms list so broad?

    Symptoms are affected by body type, duration and regularity of exposure, and frequency (hertz). Each frequency can have a very different effect on the human body and different body types are affected differently by different frequencies. This makes electrical pollution as a causal agent difficult to identify, especially if you do not know about radio frequency sickness. One article in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry notes that the stress response is activated in cells exposed to even low levels of electromagnetic radiation both by directly affecting DNA, as well as by activating membrane receptors. They note that cells respond to amplitude and frequency differently. Changes of amplitude in either direction also stimulate the stress response.

    What can you do to support enactment of meaningful biologically-based RF safety limits?

    There is a petition that you can sign:

    What if I need a bit more information for myself and others in order to understand?

    There is now a lot of information available on the hazards of RF exposure, contrary to the industry propaganda about the inconclusive evidence. Please take the time to watch the videos below about the toxic effects radiation from wireless devices and electrical pollution. Most people are completely unaware of the toxic soup they live in which might cause them to experience headaches, poor sleep, and various other symptoms. The damage is progressive and dose is related to physical characteristics, including mass, and 24 hour exposure levels. These exposures have changed rapidly over the last few years.

    Video links of interest:

    Movies of interest:

    • www.takebackyourpower.net - for more information about what to do, see the page on Smart Meters
    • RESONANCE - BEINGS OF FREQUENCY By James Russell - This movie has helped technically minded people to understand why radiation from wireless devices is so dangerous. It may be the movie for the technically-minded skeptic in your life. It is a great movie.
    • Full Signal This movie makes a good tool to introduce lawmakers to the public health threat posed by the microwave radiation that is the basis for wireless technology.
    • Is your cellphone killing you? investigates whether the electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones, cell and broadcast towers, Wi-fi and powerlines could be hazardous to our health.


    Articles links of interest:

    • American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) letter to the FCC. It contains a clear concise statement related to the urgent need for biologically-based RF safety limits.

    • No, Your Patient Is NOT Crazy Information for doctors on radiofrequency sickness, diagnosis, mechanisms, and treatment. Hopefully, this will help you get the support from your doctor as you work to clean up your environment and regain your health.

    • The BioInitiative Report

    • "Electrical Sensitivity: A Growing Global Concern. How wireless technology may impact child development and central nervous system functioning: A Possible Association Between Fetal/neonatal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation and the Increased Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders" by Robert C. Kane, Ph.D. at ACN Online (Association for Comprehensive Neurotherapy): http://www.latitudes.org/articles/electrical_sensitivity_articles.html#A%20Possible%20Association

    • Articles in the January 2004 National Foundation of Alternative Medicine Newsletter

    • Excerpts of a letter written by Lloyd Morgan (Part 1 and Part 2), an Electronic Engineer with a BA in Electronic Engineering from University of California - Berkeley, and a member of Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States. His letter contains a nice explanation of the problem, complete with scientific references and anecdotal evidence.

    • For the three articles below take the link, click the journal & articles button on the left, and go to the journal section by author.: http://www.acnem.org/opening_material/opening_page_with_contents.htm
        "Maisch D. Rapley B. Rowland RE Podd J. "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - Is prolonged exposure to environmental level powerline frequency magnetic fields a co-factor in treatment?" ACNEM Journal, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp 29-35, December 1998.

        Maisch D. Podd J. "Changes in Health Status in a Group of CFS and CF Patients Following Removal of Excessive 50 Hz Magnetic Field Exposure" ACNEM Journal, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp 15-19, April 2002.

        Ivan Beale : "Association on Health Problems with 50- Hz Magnetic Fields in Adults Living Near Power Transmission Lines". ACNEM Journal, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp 9-12, 15, 30. April 2002.

    Books of interest:

    • Cellular Telephone Russian Roulette: A Historical and Scientific Perspective by Robert Kane, an engineer for Motorola. This book lays to rest any doubt that the industry had the data all along that cell phones are dangerous. Unfortunately, the print editions have become exceedingly expensive, some have gone for $300 to $700 dollars. It can be printed from a pdf which can be found at: http://microondes.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/robert_c_kane_cellular_telephone_russian_roulette.pdf

    • Dirty Electricity by Sam Milham, M.D.

    • Dirty Electricity and Electromagnetic Radiation: Understanding Electromagnetic Energy by Donna Fisher

    • Disconnect by Devra Davis, PhD

    • Zapped by Anne Louise Gittleman

    • Electromagnetic Fields and the Life Environment by Karel Marha, Jan Musil, and Hana Tuha - This book includes a discussion about shielding and absorbing RF that might be useful to technically oriented people in addition to a thorough discussion of RF sickness.

    • Electric Wilderness by Andrew Marino and Joel Ray

    • The Body Electric by Robert O. Becker, M.D
    • Crosscurrents by Robert O. Becker, M.D.

    • "Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic: The implications for the epidemiology of cancer and cardiac, neurological and reproductive effects" by Dr. Neil Cherry

      Where can you go for printable information?

      There are a number of handouts available on the Further Info page.

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      Last updated November 16, 2013