Babies and electromagnetic waves: recommendations

Transcription

1 Babies and electromagnetic waves: recommendations

2 We re flooded with waves every day Some revealing figures Wireless systems are expanding, fast. From the latest Smartphone to your Wi-Fi network, we re literally living amongst the waves. These technologies feel so familiar, but they ve only been around for ten years. Vital statistics: 130%: the penetration rate of cellphones in the UK population. There are more mobile telephones as there are UK citizens. 33 million: how many UK people are logging on to the Internet every day. 48 hours: the average time spent online per month in the UK times/month: how often the phrase anti-wave is Googled. 5%: the percentage of the UK population who suffer from electrosensitivity (migraines, flushes, difficulty concentrating ) linked to waves, many of whom are not even aware of their condition. 0: the number of scientists who have stated with complete certainty that there are no risks relating to waves. In particular: Every electrical appliance emits waves, but there are two different types of device: Wave-receiving devices: television, radio, GPS these emit far fewer waves as they only need to receive information. These represent a lesser risk. Wave-emitting devices: DECT telephones, cellphones, the Wi-Fi router these emit electromagnetic waves which are potentially damaging to your health. 2

3 Indoor and outdoor electromagnetic pollution Electromagnetic pollution, or electrosmog, is everywhere and it is difficult to get away from it. High-tension power lines High-tension power lines are a real and present danger, as they create an extremely powerful electromagnetic field. Some studies have shown a link between certain forms of leukemia and housing proximity to hightension power lines. Wimax terminals Wimax is a new technology, enabling much greater range for Wi-Fi networks. This means that they emit many more waves. Microwave ovens The microwave oven uses the thermal properties of radiofrequencies. Even if the waves emitted are supposed to be trapped within the oven, in reality there are often leaks. Mobile telephones Your cellphone emits waves to connect to the nearest antenna. These days, we rely heavily on our Smartphones with 3G and Wi-Fi connections. It s not just the immediate proximity but also the intensity of the waves emitted by these devices that turn them into a potential danger. DECT telephones DECT telephones emit the same type of waves as a cellphone, and are emitting them all the time. What s more, they are fitted in almost every household, and prolonged usage greatly increases an individual s exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Wi-Fi routers You can t avoid Wi-Fi: it s everywhere. In the street, in your neighbors houses This is a potentially harmful technology which we are exposed to all the time. Baby monitors A Baby monitor has two parts: an emitter and a receiver. To enable them to communicate to one another, both units emit waves. Car + telephone The metallic body of your car tends to block the waves emitted by your telephone, making wave diffusion (i.e. communication) more difficult. What s more, you are moving, so your telephone is constantly searching for a new signal. These two factors combine to effectively double the intensity of the waves in your car. 3

4 A growing concern Parents are worried.. After mobile telephone antennae, the high-tension power lines were the second greatest source of worry in Europe in % of the EU- population thinks that they have an effect on their health. 46% of Europeans are concerned about the impact of electromagnetic waves on their health. Source : Eurobaromètre 73.3 Rapport de Commission Européenne sur les champs électromagnétiques. 4

5 ...And the results of controversial studies There are huge conflicts of interest on the topic of electromagnetic waves. Players operating in the field of health protection and industrial and telecom lobbies have engaged in a merciless war against each other. This is easily understandable when one considers that for instance in 2010 revenues from mobile services amounted to more than 5 billion euros and this figure is constantly on the rise! In this context, the results of studies on waves effects on our health are often questioned. And with good reason: data varies considerably in relation to who commissioned the study! % % No health effects % Health effects % 0 Studies carried out by the Government and by Telecom companies Studies carried out by independent institutions Only 1/3 (4 out of 12) of industryfinanced studies have found at least one significant psychological effect. However, these were found by 82% (9 out of 11) of publicly- or charityfunded studies. Source: Robin des toits, Des résultats d études variant selon les financeurs (Study results vary according to the backers) AFP September Along with issues relating to interests, our quickly changing lifestyles might influence the analysis of the results of studies conducted in the past. Indeed, people considered as heavy mobile phone users a few years ago for instance, today would be considered as average users! 5

6 Suspicions start to materialise Resolutions taken on a large scale The wave summit (France) The priority here was reinforcing precautionary measures regarding mobile telephones. The main points were to recommend a ban on cellphones in schools, to promote the use of hands-free kits and to ban mobile phone advertising aimed at the under-12s. The WHO WHO resolution: In July 2011, this key public health institution took a stance and declared that the use of mobile phones must be considered as potentially carcinogenic (category 2B in the classification of carcinogenic products). The government also made a commitment to allocate more resources to people with electrosensitivity. Insurance Since 2003, certain insurance companies are refusing to insure companies against risks relating to electromagnetic waves. The same trend occurred with asbestos, from No insurance company was willing to insure companies, and it took almost a century before asbestos was officially made illegal. Cellphones are so widespread today that the consequences would be even greater if the threat was confirmed: around 1000 cellphone victims for 1 asbestos victim. 6

7 Growing scientific evidence Evidence from medicines There is a proven link between electromagnetic fields, cancers and leukemia. Doctor Dominique Belpomme, a graduate of Further Studies in cellular biology Studies show overwhelming results Namely, they identified a new condition: the hyper-sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation. This one is characterized by intolerance to various wave levels. It is thought to have an impact on stress proteins, thereby favouring childhood leukaemia and the risk of brain cancer... With the result that this condition has been acknowledged as a handicap in the US, in Sweden and in the UK. Studies continue Despite a lack of scientific clarity, we have to realize that there are still questions to be answered Two new European studies have been launched in 2011, one of them focusing on children: Mobikids, and the other on adults: Cosmos. However, this type of study requires a long and complex procedure in an ever-changing environment. It would take 20 to 30 years to know with any degree of certainty the results of these studies. 7

8 Over-exposed children. A special physiology There is evidence that babies are much more sensitive to waves because their brain, which is still developing, absorbs 60% more waves than the brain of an adult*! * Source: Gandhi O. P., Lazzi G., Furse C.M., absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the human head and neck. Aggravating factors 8 Today babies are the very 1 st generation to be exposed to waves at every stage of its biological development, from pregnancy onwards. A child has a limited perception of the world, and does not realize that a telephone is a source of harmful electromagnetic radiation.

9 .but regulations that struggle to keep up with it Standards have not been updated in France since However, in the meantime, we are well into the Wireless Age! Other European countries have decided to react. In England, Germany and Austria, Wi-Fi is banned in schools. The German government highly recommends the use of cable connections. In particular: 0.6V/m is the exposure limit agreed upon by many specialists and independent experts. A comparison of the average public cellphone radiation exposure from country to country. 41 V/m Source: Syndex Formation Ondes Électromagnétiques (Electromagnetic Wave Formation) September ,6 V/m 9

10 Babymoov takes a stance The application of the precautionary principle Electromagnetic pollution has seen a 400-fold increase over the last century, and the international scientific community is suffering from a real lack of perspective: from 2006, Babymoov believes that we mustn t under-estimate a threat of this magnitude. It decided to apply the precautionary principle and became the first brand to take into account the issue of electromagnetic waves in developing its baby monitors. Choosing low-power emissions The focus is placed on analogue technology right from the start, while other brands pursue performance with DECT baby monitors, which emit large amounts of electromagnetic waves. The baby monitors developed have high performance levels and their emission power levels are far below the 10 mw standard set for this technology: 1.25 mw! In 2012, the brand put its ability for innovation to the service of well-being by creating a brand new technology called Digital Green, which combined the performance levels of digital technology (its clear, zero interference) with the safety of low-emission power levels. Once more, waves emitted at 2.99 mw are far below the 25 mw standard set for this technology. Babymoov s quality and safe products are all certified by independent labs. 10

11 Tests prove it A study carried out in April 2013 by the EMC laboratory at the Institut Pascal, connected to the CNRS, certified that Babymoov s baby monitors emit a lower amount of waves. The figure is striking: the brand s appliances emit up to 33 times less waves! Up to times less waves In particular: The tests were carried out in a mode-stirred reverberation chamber, which recreates a «Faraday cage», in other words a space that seals waves in and out, i.e. no waves can get out and no external waves can get in. The study also revealed that Babymoov employs one of the weakest frequencies: up to 2 times lower. 11

12 More info: Wiredchild International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety World Health Organization 16, rue Jacqueline Auriol Parc Industriel des Gravanches Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 2 France Tel : 0033 (0)