For many decades allergic reaction to food has been the greatest cause of concern for the growing number of us suffering various forms of chronic illness affecting our daily lives. This shows no sign of abating. But now over our shoulder we are beginning to see the advance of an equal, perhaps even greater, challenge to health: exposure to electro-magnetic radiation.
The advances in technology over the last couple of decades have resulted in us all being surrounded by electrically and electromagnetically powered devices to a greater or lesser degree, depending on how many you have accepted into your home or lifestyle and have been imposed upon in the workplace.
Computers and WiFi, cordless and mobile phones, mobile phone masts, smart meters and low energy lighting are some of the key hazards to health for all who are affected by radiation.
Symptoms of electrical sensitivity (ES) are many and varied. Most commonly they include head or ear pains, skin irritation and rashes, depression, sleeplessness, memory problems, joint pains and heart palpitations. Since these are present in a number of other allergic conditions it is hardly surprising that GPs do not readily diagnose ES, often assuming the cause is psychological. However, diagnostic tests have shown that ES is a physical reaction to electromagnetic (EM) exposure and in 2000 the international Nordic Council of Ministers classified ES in the International Classification of Diseases, based on the environmental toxin test where the removal of EM exposure also removes the symptoms. There are now a number of centres abroad which diagnose and treat ES but as yet none in the UK – and few, if any, consultants here who include it in their special interests.
With the scarcity of help to be expected from your doctor, there are steps you can take yourself to reduce or even abolish your symptoms. Just as those with food allergy plan their diet to avoid the trigger foods, if you suffer from ES you need to avoid or at least minimise your exposure to it.
Here are the essential first steps. The list looks horribly long but actually it is really all very simple. It was drawn up by AAA trustee Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, who suffered severe ES for several years before taking matters into her own hands with the actions described below – and it proved totally effective.
THE FUTURE SPARKS AN ALARMING ALLERGEN
- Use wired connections for your computers, not WiFi.
- Use a wired mouse.
- Ensure WiFi and bluetooth are always turned off on your computer.
- Ensure that your BT/hub is not WiFi enabled even if you are not using WiFi. (BT, certainly have a tricky way of setting up your router so that it acts as a small hub or way station for the surrounding houses without you knowing anything about it.)
- Do not use a hands free phone – the base station is permanently on and emits radiation 247
- Only ever use a mobile phone on speakerphone – never to your ear. Ideally text rather than speak on the phone.
- Put your phone on airplane mode except when you are actually using it.
- Do not have a smart meter installed (you are entitled to refuse one.) They also bathe your house in WiFi 24/7.
- Do not use fluorescent or low energy light bulbs – both generate radiation as they flicker. Use LED, tungsten or halogen.
- Do not use your telephone as an alarm clock. Use an old fashioned alarm clock.
- Do not have a radio alarm in your bedroom.
- Ideally do not have any electrical devices in your bedroom, including electric blankets. (The theory is that when you are sleeping is the time that the body renews/refreshes itself and it needs to be in the least stressed situation possible to do that.) In a perfect world, turn off the electricity supply to your bedroom while you are asleep – but this is not always practical.
5G – the risks ahead
The potential for possible harm to health caused by developing technology is now a matter of concern to many scientists and doctors.
It is focused on the emergence of 5G – a means of providing ever faster internet connections affecting mobile phones and all other devices using radio frequencies. Its very nature increases exposure which may affect human health. Yet it is being rolled out in our major cities and destined to reach all parts of the UK.
At a conference held this October by the British Society for Ecological Medicine (BSEM) on “5G-Risks and Remedies” it was reported that in 2017 a 5G Appeal prepared by 240 scientists and doctors was launched urgently calling upon the EU to “halt the roll out of 5G due to serious potential health effects from this new technology.
“5G will substantially increase exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on top of the 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, etc. for telecommunications already in place. RF-EMF has been proven to be harmful for humans and the environment.
“The Appeal primarily urges the EU to:
Take all reasonable measures to halt the 5G RF-EMF expansion until independent scientists can assure that 5G and the total radiation levels caused by RF-EMF (5G together with 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi) will not be harmful for EU-citizens, especially infants, children and pregnant women, as well as the environment.
“So far the EU’s response has been to refer back to the evidence from ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) that ‘exposure to electromagnetic fields does not represent a health risk, if it remains below the limits set by Council Recommendation 1999/519/ECl.”
It was also stated that the mass roll out of 5G offends against every article of the Nuremberg Code. This inspired the blog (below) from Michelle Berriedale-Johnson which she kindly allows us to share.
Does 5G breach the Code?
The Nuremberg Code of medical ethics was devised in the aftermath of the Doctors’ Trial of 20 of the physicians who had conducted medical experiments on prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. The Doctors’ Trial was part of the larger Nuremberg trials of 1946-7.
Although it has never been officially adopted by any nation or medical association, the code is seen to be ‘the most important document in the history of the ethics of medical research’. Its influence on medical ethics and human rights law has been profound – especially its first and most basic principle, that of informed consent.
The telecoms industry may claim that that 5G (and indeed 2G, 3G and 4G) are purely technology but a huge body of research now exists showing that mobile telephony has significant effects on the health of humans, animals and the environment.
So, far from being ‘just a technological development’, the roll out of 5G should be recognised for what it is: a massive medical experiment in which we are all involved whether we wish to be or not. And as such it should abide by the provisions of the Nuremberg Code on medical ethics.
So what does the code say and how does the roll out of 5G breach its provisions?
The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential.
This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, over reaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved, as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that, before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject, there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person, which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment.
Given how little is known about the effect of 5G radiation on the health and wellbeing of humans, animals and the environment (since no trials have been carried out) do we have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved, as to enable us to make an understanding and enlightened decision about whether we want it? No.
Have the effects upon our health or person, which may possibly come from our participation in the experiment been made to us? No.
And which of us has been asked, let alone made an affirmative decision, whether we want our homes, our workplaces and our streets bathed in 5G radiation?
A useful resource for information on all aspects of ES can be found on www.es-uk.info, the website of a charity offering support to anyone suffering from this condition. It is particularly helpful in providing a directory of services and suppliers of shielding products for house and home as well as for office equipment and firms offering surveys.
If you would like to study papers relating to the current dismissive attitudes of the WHO (World Health Organisation) and the NHS, which are open to challenging arguments from scientists and medical experts highlighting the risks to health, contact ES-UK and ask for some useful references.
This article was first published in Allergy Newsletter No. 127 Winter 2019