Radiation from electronic gadgets

CEBU, Philippines — There has been much hushed discussion about radiation from electronic devices that have become so common in life today. For example, it is said that holding a cell phone close to the head for too many minutes a day exposes the brain to electromagnetic radiation. What many people do not realize is that in this age of modern technology they are increasingly surrounded by gadgets that emit radiation – WiFi routers, Bluetooth transmitters, microwave ovens, television and more, aside from cell phones.

The radiation alarm centers on cell phones and complementary technologies – all because these are currently the novelties that everyone are excited about. Some people have resorted to Bluetooth headsets so they may not have to hold their cell phones close to their heads. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that uses pulsed radio frequency signals.

Perhaps only few are familiar with the term “pulsed radiation.” Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy explains: “Pulses carried by microwaves are particularly dangerous. This is because their very short wavelength allows the transmission of pulses with extremely rapid rise and fall times, and it is the rate of change of the fields (rather than their total energy) that does most of the biological damage.” 

Bluetooth is now used extensively – in cell phone headsets, computer accessories such as keyboards, printers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal media players, GPS, gaming equipment, and also in various medical health and wellness devices. The use of Bluetooth technology is increasing, in both personal and commercial applications.

Majority of the people that use Bluetooth technology do not fully understand its workings – and its potential dangers, if any. All they care about is that it expands the convenience of using their electronic gadgets, because it’s wireless. The science on Bluetooth radiation itself can seem confusing. There is said to be a huge amount of funding bias and outright manipulation of the science in order to publish studies which show favorable results for some interest groups.

Lloyd Burrell, at www.electricsense.com, lays down the basic facts about Bluetooth technology:

Bluetooth Classes

Bluetooth transmits at frequency levels in the 2.4 GHz band. There are three power classes and it’s these power classes which are your best indicator as to what level of Bluetooth radiation you’re exposing yourself to:

Class 1 transmitters – are the most powerful, have a range of 100 meters and peak transmission power of 100 mW (milliwatt);

Class 2 transmitters – are usually found in mobile devices and they have a range of 10 meters and operate at 2.5 mW peak transmission power;

Class 3 transmitters – these are the weakest and operate in a range of less than 10 meters and have a peak transmission power of 1 mW.

The first thing one shall do, Rurell advices, is to check what class of transmitter a Bluetooth headphone is. This information is found in the manufacturer’s specification. It seems, though, that some manufacturers deem it unnecessary to share this information. Class 1 Bluetooth headsets can expose one to similar radiation levels as cell phones, if these are operated in close proximity to the body.

Bluetooth Versions

Bluetooth version shall not be confused with Bluetooth class. It’s common to see terms like “Bluetooth V2.1 compliant” or “Bluetooth version 3.0” on device packages. It tells the Bluetooth software the device uses, but Bluetooth version has nothing to do with Bluetooth class.

Bluetooth versions, Burell writes, are all about offering enhanced data speeds. These data speeds are improving all the time as the technology evolves. Bluetooth version 1.0, the earliest Bluetooth version, offers a data transmission rate of 721kbit per second. Version 3.0 HS offers a transmission rate of 24Mbit per second.

It’s possible that a Bluetooth version with a lower transmission rate is safer, but it’s not certain as yet. There have been no studies on it.

Burell mentions various studies that support (American Cancer Society 2008, Martinez & Burdalow 2009) the view that Bluetooth headsets when used in conjunction with cellphones decrease the overall levels of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) exposure to the head. Whereas, other studies show a diversity of hazards from these exposures. SAR is the rate at which the body absorbs radiation.

Burell cites one study which found that “men who keep cell phones in a trouser pocket in the talk mode while using a Bluetooth device may experience decreased fertility.” High-frequency electromagnetic fields can lead to a significant increase in blood pressure and affect biological processes in the body just the same as cell phones. Just two hours of exposure to high-frequency EMFs from a cell phone or Bluetooth headset can supposedly cause irreparable DNA damage.

In general, Bluetooth is not necessarily safer than cell phones with regards to radiation, Burell points out. He cites research that shows that Bluetooth devices that fit in or around the ear typically have a SAR of 0.23 watts per kilogram (W/Kg). By comparing this average Bluetooth SAR level with any website that shows cell phone SAR levels, one will find that some Bluetooth devices are worse than some of the low SAR cell phones.

Even the headphone cable that’s physically plugged into the phone can supposedly transmit radiation. The headphone can act as a sort of antenna for one’s cell phone giving the radiation a fast route into his brain. The science is sketchy on this, but from his personal experience in having tried wired headphones, Burell thinks wired headphones are no solution to reducing radiation exposure.

On the other hand, other experts contend that while radiation from electronic devices is true, most of it is nonionizing: it may heat molecules in the body but does not ionize them (that is, set electrons free). Ionizing radiation, which can tear molecules apart and therefore potentially damage DNA – is the one to worry about. It usually ushers in headaches, sleeplessness – and even cancer. Lean Arnoco