This trendy wireless bluetooth headphone fits right into the ear canal, the close proximity of AirPods to the brain and inner ear may raise cancer risks, as such 250 scientists from over 40 countries have signed a petition to the UN and W.H.O to warn against radiowave radiation from these wireless technologies.
Very little research exists on such bluetooth technology and related health effects, but we do know they use radiowave radiation in addition to a magnetic field that passes through the brain to talk to one another. “Use of these technologies is basically conducting a health experiment on yourself, and current regulations are oblivious to these kinds of exposures,” says Dr. Moskowitz.
Around the globe scientists are increasingly growing concerned over potential health risks of wireless technology in which they say national and international regulations fail to limit, and new technologies are constantly arriving all the time due to trendy customers that can’t seem to get enough of them in their attempts of keeping up with the Jones’.
Dr. Joel Moskowitz of the University of California explains, “Apple’s wireless Airpods communicate with each other using a magnetic induction field, this is a variable magnetic field that is sent through the brain to communicate with the other one which is doing the same.” Dr. Moskowitz focuses on cell phone exposure, and says “there isn’t even any research on what it could be doing to the brain, let alone regulation to limit potential effects.. Can’t imaging this possibly being all that great for you”.
Advent of new wireless technologies are outpacing research and regulation, and its effects could have dangerous even disastrous health effects, such as the untested 5G posed to roll out using broader and far stronger signals than ever before. Scientists are warning that microwave radiation from many popular wireless technologies could pose serious health risks, this petition has quickly collected 250 signatures.
The debate may still be on regarding whether or not particular devices can cause cancer, what can not be denied are the emerging studies on the kind of radiofrequency radiation that they all emit, including bluetooth, cellular, and Wi-Fi transmissions showing them to have very real links to cancer. In some cases the levels of radiation being used that were found to be carcinogenic were lower than that of the levels suggested to be safe by federal and international guidelines.
Apple sold 28 million pairs of their wireless earbuds last year, and 16 million the year before; with a new design said to be on the way this company is set to profit even more, but the real cost is not known. Beats and Apple wireless headphone together account for over 40% of the product market, but these devices may be pumping more than sounds into the heads of their users.
All wireless headphones connect via bluetooth using electromagnetic energy, bluetooth uses a form of low power radiowaves. Scientists are working on establishing effects of long term exposure to such devices, other than the most obvious and well established risk of generating heat and causing burns. “Very little research has been done on Bluetooth itself, as it tends to be low intensity it could open the blood brain barrier, and there is concern that there is probably more neurological disorders and diseases as opposed to cancer..” explains Dr. Moskowitz.
Animals exposed to these forms of radiation have been observed to develop reproductive, genetic, and neurological damage which has become more common in those animals than would be expected. These forms of energy are powerful enough to shake up atoms that compose cells but not powerful enough to change their structures, which means their radiowaves are less dangerous than radiation from X-rays or UV, but are still dangerous.
NIH has published further evidence of cellular transmission causing certain kinds of cancer. Scientists are calling for more warnings and oversight for all manner of radiowave based technologies and they are especially concerned over proximity and intensity of bluetooth radiation to the ear canal and brain. Related cancer and EMF research has shown that cell phone radiation which is similar to what emits from bluetooth may cause tumors to form along nerves that connect the brain and ear, plus add to this bluetooth magnetic fields must pass through the brain to talk to each other.
Electromagnetic field radiation has been declared a possible carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer. W.H.O developed guidelines for the level of EMF that various devices are allowed to expose users to, however those who have signed the petition argue research has shown evidence that EMF may be carcinogenic at even lower levels; even WiFi itself has been shown to pose cancer risks.
Among the reports that research links to EMF radiation brain cancers are of great concern, this petition was written “in regards to human exposure to broad EMF radiation which includes but is not limited to devices such as cellular/mobile/cordless phones and bases, Wi-Fi, smart meters, baby monitors, broadcast antennas, gaming devices, laptops, tablets, wireless earphones, as well as electric devices and infrastructures used in the delivery of electricity that generate low frequency electromagnetic fields.”
Clearly there is a great and present need for more research to be done to clarify the exact risks associated with each kind of EMF, scientists believe the current use of these technologies is throwing caution to the wind very dangerously, and they want to hold regulators accountable as such they write: “..various agencies setting safety standards have failed to impose sufficient guidelines to protect the public, particularly children who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMF… by not taking action W.H.O is failing to fulfill its role as the preeminent international public health agency”.
“Collectively we also request:
- children and pregnant women be protected;
- guidelines and regulatory standards be strengthened;
- manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer technology;
- utilities responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution, and monitoring of electricity maintain adequate power quality and ensure proper electrical wiring to minimize harmful ground current;
- the public be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies;
- medical professionals be educated about the biological effects of electromagnetic energy and be provided training on treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity;
- governments fund training and research on electromagnetic fields and health that is independent of industry and mandate industry cooperation with researchers;
- media disclose experts’ financial relationships with industry when citing their opinions regarding health and safety aspects of EMF-emitting technologies; and
- white-zones (radiation-free areas) be established.”
