WiFi. Mobile phones. Smart meters. Power lines. Microwaves.
Modern life runs on electricity — and with it comes electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
For some, they’re just background noise. For others, they raise real questions about long-term, everyday exposure.
So what does the science actually say — and is our current approach to exposure keeping pace with modern life?
What Are EMFs?
Electromagnetic fields are energy fields produced whenever electricity moves.
In daily life, they come from:
- Household wiring
- Cell towers
- Power boards
- WiFi routers
- Bluetooth devices
- Mobile phones
- Microwave ovens
- Batteries
EMFs fall into two broad categories:
Ionising radiation (X-rays, gamma rays)
– High energy
– Can damage DNA
– Not typically present in homes
Non-ionising radiation (radiofrequency, microwaves, visible light)
– Lower energy
– Does not directly break molecular bonds
– Common in modern environments
Most household EMFs are non-ionising.
Are EMFs Harmful?
It depends on:
- Frequency
- Intensity
- Duration
High levels of ionising radiation are clearly harmful. That’s well established.
For non-ionising radiation, current safety standards are designed to prevent heating effects — the level at which tissue temperature measurably rises. International guidelines keep exposure well below those thermal thresholds.
In most homes, measured levels fall within those limits.
But heating isn’t the only question being studied.
What About Non-Thermal and Long-Term Effects?
Exposure standards were developed around short-term heating models. Critics argue they may not fully reflect modern reality — where wireless signals are present around the clock.
Research over the past two decades has explored biological responses below heating thresholds. Laboratory and animal studies have reported findings such as:
- Increased oxidative stress
- Changes in cellular signalling
- Altered calcium channel activity in some models
Large animal studies from the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) also reported tumour findings at higher exposure levels, prompting ongoing scientific discussion.
At the population level, human studies show mixed results. Long-term data covering decades of continuous, global wireless exposure are still developing.
The situation isn’t black and white.
The absence of definitive proof of harm is not the same as definitive proof of safety — particularly when exposure patterns are historically new.
A Precautionary Approach
For many people, the decision becomes practical:
If small adjustments reduce exposure without disrupting life, why not make them?
Simple steps include:
- Avoid placing WiFi routers next to beds
- Turn devices off overnight when practical
- Use wired connections where convenient
- Keep phones off the body during long calls
These changes are low effort and low cost.
Precaution doesn’t require rejecting technology. It simply means being intentional about how we live with it.
Learn More
For a structured breakdown of key EMF studies, see the
EMF Research Library.