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Every youth in this generation knows about the iPhone series. Whether you hate or love the ‘over-hype’, you can’t deny the fact that it has become a symbol of sophistication over the years.
Personally, I’m not a fan but I do know that the “cool kids” absolutely love these phones (the newer the version, the more the love).
But let’s wait up for the older generation who don’t know the difference between a Wiko smartphone and an iPhone, that’s even if they know about the Wiko phones (no offense, we respect you).
iPhones are a series of smartphones designed and marketed by a tech company called Apple Inc and it is one of the most widely used smartphones in the world.
Does My iPhone Emit Radiation?
For years since the invention of cell phones, there have been concerns about the safety of smartphones and the probability of them causing cancer and other health problems because of the radio waves (radiation) they emit.
Even though the kind of radiation emitted is a form of non-ionizing radiation which is known to be the “non-harmful” kind, there are still a lot of reservations on the safety of frequently used smartphones. Parts of the body nearest to phones have been said to be able to absorb this energy.
How To Protect Yourself From iPhone Radiation
Current public concern is focused on possible long-term health effects caused by exposure to radiofrequency at levels below those required to trigger acute biological responses.
Even with the inconclusive scientific research on this topic, you and I have nothing to lose by taking adequate measures to prevent ‘had I known’ stories in the near future.
Below are some protective measures against iPhone radiation that we can take either by changing our habits or buying one or two equipment:
- Turn your iPhone off more often
- Keep a safe distance
- Use hands-free
- Consider alternatives like skype
- Keep the iPhone away while sleeping
- Try EMF radiation shielding
- Protect your kids (don’t give them cell phones)
- Seek good reception
- Limit Bluetooth use
- Use an EMF meter to check on radiation levels
- Eat right
1. Turn your iPhone off more often
Because as long as your iPhone is on, it will send out radiation for connectivity intermittently. Even if you keep your phone in your pocket all day, it will continue to expose the part of your body closest to your pocket to radiation.
2. Keep a safe distance as often as you can
Reduce exposure by holding your phone away from your head and any other part of your body. For people like you, and I who are not satisfied with the FCC’s standard and want to further reduce our exposure, putting our phone on airplane mode before putting it in our pocket until we’re ready to use it will at least grant us peace of mind.
Some experts believe that cell phone radiation is the tobacco of today and we may not fully understand the consequences of our negligence until a whole generation is sick.
3. Use a hands-free accessory
Research has shown a probable increase in cancer of the parotid gland which is just inside the cheek so holding your iPhone to your ear all the time can expose your salivary gland to consistent RF.
I use a speakerphone or a hands-free accessory like a wired headset but because the radiation may still travel through the wire, you could buy a ferrite bead to attach to the wire. This bead absorbs radiation traveling through the wire.
4. Consider Alternatives
Sometimes, you could just use an alternative like Skype, at least you wouldn’t have to hold anything too close to your body plus it lets you stay in touch without using your iPhone consistently.
5. Protect yourself while sleeping
A lot of us like to keep our phones beside our heads just before drifting off. Always keep your phone away from your bed and preferably on airplane mode.
6. Try an EMF shielding device
There are a lot of claims by manufacturers of cellphone holders and holsters that these shields block radiation. My top recommendations are the cases from Defendershield.
7. Protect your kids too
Personally, I’m of the opinion that under no circumstances should you give your phone to your child for entertainment or to make a phone call.
A child’s brain is not only still developing, but their skulls are way thinner than adults’. This means that they are more susceptible to RF radiation and the potential health effects that come along with this type of exposure whether low level or high level. Read my article on this.
Also, have a look at the video below. The radiation levels measured are high and hence, your children should not be playing with iPhones.
Try as much you can to keep your phones from your children or ensure you switch your phone to airplane mode before handing it over to them to play with.
8. Seek good reception
Research has shown that phones with better reception transmit at a lower frequency than those that need to work harder. In other words, the more the bars, the safer you might be.
9. Limit Bluetooth use
As soon as you finish your call, remove your Bluetooth headset. Also, try to switch ears between calls in order to reduce the exposure of radiation to one ear.
You could also consider using a special Bluetooth headset called the Blue tube (Amazon link) which was designed to reduce RF.
10. Use an EMF meter
An EMF meter measures the electromagnetic frequency in your home or workplace and it is inexpensive. I recommend the Trifield TF2 (check price on Amazon).
You can also read my review to know why this is my favorite EMF meter.
11. Eat right
It is important to note that the nervous system is the first system attacked by EMFs. Organic fruits and vegetables are very important in the fortification of both the nervous and immune systems.
Dairy products, eggs, and proteins, in general, are very important Also vitamins, which have anti-oxidant features will help clear away radicals from your body.
Don’t forget your supplements like Omega-3 fatty acid which helps support the cell membrane integrity. You can never be too fortified!
What’s the Big Deal About Radiation?
“Radiation can be defined as the emission, propagation, and transference of energy through any medium, in the form of electromagnetic waves.”
Radiation exists across a spectrum from very high-energy to very low-energy radiation. I don’t know if you remember, but in high school, during Physics class, we were taught an acronym to easily remember this spectrum, which is sometimes referred to as the electromagnetic spectrum. RIVUXG, with R being of the lowest frequency and G being the highest frequency.
- R= Radiofrequency (radio waves from cell towers and cell phones, microwaves)
- I= Infrared
- V-=Visible light
- U= Ultraviolet rays
- X= X-rays
- G= Gamma rays
(Sorry, I particularly loved Physics in high school, so well, I remember this stuff.). Take note that the higher the frequency, the more hazardous for human health.
Examples of high-energy radiation include x-rays and gamma rays as well as some higher energy UV radiation all of which are called ionizing radiation.
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation is at the low-energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum and is called non-ionizing radiation.
Generally, radiation can be classified into two;
Non-Ionizing radiation
This does not carry enough energy to break molecular bonds and ionize atoms. Examples include Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radio Frequency (RF) radiation.
Ionizing radiation
This is the type of radiation that carries enough energy to break bonds between molecules and ionize atoms (even in body tissues). Examples include ultraviolet and higher frequencies, such as X-rays or gamma rays.
The ever-increasing demand in electronics and advanced technology has only abetted our inadvertent chronic exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Our exposure to radiation has been steadily increasing and is no new phenomenon in the 21st century.
Up to date research results have provided no convincing scientific evidence that particularly verifies the theory that states that the ‘weak’ RF signals from smartphones and their wireless networks cause adverse health effects. Even more unsettling is the absence of evidence disproving the danger of radio-frequency emitted from our phones.
Specific Absorption Rate
The SAR values of top smartphones are listed in my article here. Go check it out.
Specific absorption rate (SAR) is defined as a measure of the rate of absorption of energy by the body when exposed to a radio frequency (RF), which is an electromagnetic field.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guide, were mindful of the limitations of the calculated SAR values and then provided fundamentals for the public;
“ALL cell phones must meet the FCCs RF exposure standard, which is set at a level well below that at which laboratory testing indicates, and medical and biological experts generally agree, that adverse health effects could occur.”
There is a minute difference in SAR values between individual cell phone models, and this is an undependable comparison of RF exposure to phone users, especially given the variables of individual use. As a result of this, it is best to reduce body contact with phones as much as possible.
The FCC limit for public exposure for cell phones is a SAR level of 1.6watts/kg, therefore, the FCC mandates the SAR levels of phones sold to be less than or equals the figure; 1.6w/kg.
There is still a lot of uncertainty and no specific answers to questions relating to how human health will be affected by smartphones with higher SAR levels.
Notwithstanding the vagueness and uncertainty, cell phone manufacturers usually include information about the SAR levels of their devices on the pack of the device or in the manual leaflet in the phone pack.
Biological Effects Of Radiation
Biological effects are the responses of the body to a stimulus or to a change in environment; which are not compulsorily hazardous to your health, but they are changes all the same. Suffice to say that, a biological effect may or may not result in an adverse health effect.
Generally, all electromagnetic radiation above certain levels can trigger biological effects but it has been ascertained that short term exposure at levels present in the environment or in the home cause no apparent deleterious effects. Long term, low-level exposure, on the other hand, can cause harmful biological effects.
Despite the fact that most acute exposures to harmful levels of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, are immediately apprehended, the health effects due to chronic or exposure may not manifest for months or years.
The Adverse Effects
X-rays and ultraviolet light were discovered to be very carcinogenic almost a century ago, but now there are studies that show non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation can produce cancer and other harmful effects.
For RF radiation particularly, when it is absorbed in high levels by materials containing water, like food, fluids, and body tissues, it can produce heat which can lead to burns and tissue damage. For example, people who are unwittingly exposed to high levels of RF radiation have developed severe burns.
The American cancer society stated that even over long periods of time, it’s not definitive if exposure to low levels of RF radiation can cause hazardous health effects.
Although it is very improbable that RF radiation can cause cancer by damaging DNA in cells the way ionizing radiation has the ability to, it is still a concern that it might have biological effects that could result in cancer.
In fact, the WHO recently classified Radio-Frequency (RF) radiation as a group 2B carcinogen which happens to be in the same class as DDT pesticide, heavy metal lead, and some other banned pesticides. Here is the PDF report.
This happened, in part, because a recent study has shown that the RF from cellphone use is associated with increased risk of developing malignant brain tumors.
Even though no scientific evidence supports or disproves any link between the following symptoms and exposure to RF, these are the probable adverse effects on;
1. General Health
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Loss of libido
- Forgetfulness
- Insomnia
- There is also a possibility that RF increases the rate of growth of fungi and the biotoxins they produce in the body
2. Pregnancy
It is important to note that exposure to fields at typical environmental levels do not increase the risk of adverse effects unlike in the case of prolonged exposure to low or high levels of RF. These adverse effects in pregnancy include
- Abortions
- Low birth weight
- Congenital diseases
- Malformations
3. Eye Damage
As an occupational hazard, cataracts and eye irritation have sometimes been reported in workers exposed to high levels of RF and microwave radiation.
Animal studies, however, do not support the idea that such forms of eye damage can be produced at levels that are not thermally hazardous.
Therefore, there is no evidence to prove or disprove the claims that these effects occur at levels experienced by the general public
4. Cancer
Studies on this effect have been inconsistent, nevertheless it is safe to say that the possibility of radiofrequency increasing the risk of cancer is extremely small.
5. Interference With Homeostasis
RF at extremely high levels can interfere with the body’s natural electrical system and disrupt sleep, immune system function, hormone production, and the healing process.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity And Depression:- Recent studies show that people show inconsistent reactions under properly controlled conditions of electromagnetic frequency exposure.
Conclusion
As much as there is a new rave for sophisticated technology like we see in the evolution of iPhone, it’s best we protect ourselves from the event of a blow-back in the future.
Keep your iPhone away from your body as often as you can and be more cautious. You are better safe than sorry! I hope this article was helpful in your search for a safer future.
Check out my top recommendation for cell phone radiation protection.