What the Latest EMF Science Means for Families Today

This September, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Strategy Report brought attention to environmental contributors to childhood chronic disease. It promises an increase in research into exposures that may influence children’s health, meaning more studies, funding, and public guidance are on the horizon. 

Specifically, it brings electromagnetic radiation, commonly referred to as EMFs, into the spotlight. As we grow increasingly reliant on our tech, it’s more important than ever for parents to understand what EMFs are, what the science says about exposure, and where more research is needed.

Electromagnetic radiation, or electromagnetic fields, are energy fields produced by anything that uses electricity. This includes common household sources like the wiring in the walls to the radiofrequency EMFs emitted by our wireless devices like cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, and smart appliances.  

EMFs from everyday devices are non-ionizing, meaning the radiation from these devices do not break chemical bonds the way X-rays do. Safety guidelines surrounding non-ionizing radiation are based on thermal, or heating, effects. While our modern tech has to fall within “safe” SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) levels, researchers are beginning to investigate possible non-thermal biological effects from the long-term exposure we’re facing today. 

The MAHA Strategy Report will lead to further research into how electromagnetic radiation impacts health. Up to this point, most of the research relies on animal studies or observational studies, but findings suggest a wide range of potential complications due to EMF exposure. Here’s what we know so far:

In 2011, the World Health Organization categorized electromagnetic radiation as a class 2B carcinogen, meaning “possibly carcinogenic” to humans.

Animal studies conducted by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) reported increased rates of certain tumors, specifically malignant gliomas and heart schwannomas, in some groups of male rats exposed to EMFs. These findings are enough to motivate future cancer research to understand if EMF exposure could be responsible for the rising number of gliomas in humans as well. 

A number of studies have explored EMF exposure during childhood. Some studies have reported a link between exposure and developmental differences, but these studies are limited by a wide range of factors such as lifestyles and how much screen time the child averages. While much is still unknown, many families often choose to reduce close, prolonged exposures during pregnancy and infancy out of an abundance of caution. 

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common symptoms people link to their EMF exposure. Studies show mixed results, but evidence suggests that nighttime EMF exposure can affect sleep quality. While outcomes vary based on exposure frequency and duration, creating an EMF-friendly sleep environment is an easy step families can take to see if reducing exposure improves sleep.

Studies from the last couple of years show a link between EMF exposure and reduced sperm quality (count and motility) in human and animal studies. For couples trying to conceive, simple behavioral changes such as avoiding keeping phones in pockets for prolonged periods of time and keeping laptops off the lap are simple precautionary measures that could potentially make a big difference. 

A growing body of research suggests EMFs may contribute to oxidative stress, an imbalance between the amount of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Increased oxidative stress can lead to inflammation and reduced immunity.

There are significant gaps in current EMF research. Small sample sizes, inconsistent exposure doses, and external factors such as lifestyle differences and amount of screen time test subjects get outside of the experiment all create some level of uncertainty.  

But there are also areas where the evidence aligns, such as sperm quality, animal tumor findings, and oxidative stress measures. These strengthen the case for closer scrutiny in other areas as well. After all, our technology is growing rapidly. Research should evolve alongside it. 

There’s no need to ditch your devices while we wait for the scientific community to reach a consensus. Here are some simple, common-sense steps that reduce close, prolonged exposure and promote a cleaner electromagnetic environment:

• Create an EMF-friendly bedroom. Keep phones, tablets, and other tech out of children’s bedrooms at night. Distance reduces exposure, so moving devices away from your kids cuts their overall EMF load.

• Go hands-free. Use speakerphone or wired headphones during long phone calls.

• Be mindful of phone storage. Avoid putting phones in pockets, especially when trying to conceive. 

• Distance the baby monitors. If using a smart baby monitor, place wireless transmitters several feet away instead of right at your infant’s bedside.

• Consider EMF wellness technology. Devices like Aires clean up the electromagnetic environment by restructuring chaotic EMFs into a more coherent, biologically-friendly form.

With EMFs brought under scrutiny at the federal level, we can expect better-designed studies that will hopefully include real-world dosing levels, more human trials for sleep and cognition results, and continued work on oxidative stress. The MAHA Strategy Update’s research emphasis may accelerate funding for work like this, leading to clearer public guidance.

In the meantime, take simple steps to reduce the potential impact of EMFs on your family through changes in your tech habits and wellness tools like Aires. While we wait for the science to catch up, precaution is key.