To answer the question from the headline: Absolutely not. Internet Wi-Fi routers emit EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation harmful to fully grown human beings, not to mention babies and toddlers that are still in both physical and mental development.
Should we completely get rid of the Wi-Fi devices then?
The reality is simple – there are routers, tablets, smartphones, and computers everywhere in our house. Often even several pieces of equipment. The router provides us with comfort and supports technological progress; the wireless connection is easy to connect, allows us to follow our favorite YouTube channels, surf the Internet, work, and so on. Internet is available to us everywhere.
However, not everything is as fairytale-like as presented to us. The problem arises when we start to investigate the health consequences in a little more detail and when we go a little deeper into the topic outside the official media. Normally, you will not find almost anything about the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation on health in the official media because it is not an interesting topic for them.
The harmfulness of the electromagnetic radiation of these devices is hardly talked about at all. It seems that with all these devices life is much better and easier now and we don’t have to worry about anything. But it’s not all sunny like that, especially if you have small kids at home.
Of course, it is possible to have Wi-Fi routers at home and make them not be harmful to your young ones. There are a few things you need to know first.
How/Why do Wi-Fi routers emit EMF/Radiation?
Internet routers, like cell phones and other devices, send and receive information using radio waves, which are a form of electromagnetic radiation.
All home appliances are sources of electric and magnetic fields of low frequencies that belong to the group of non-ionizing radiation. Volume values are most pronounced in the immediate vicinity of the device, while they decrease with distance from the source.
At a distance of 30 to 50 centimeters from a certain device, the level of electric and magnetic fields drops drastically, so a person at these distances can be calm. Special attention should be paid to leaving electrical appliances and mobile phones next to the bed, and you should even be careful with alarm clocks. Even grown people are susceptible to radiation, not to mention toddlers.
If you want to find out more about EMF Radiation in general please read our EMF – Questions and Answers article.
How/Why is it harmful?
Research on radio waves for human health dates back to at least 1950 due to concerns about the Navy being exposed to the ship’s powerful radar. Research has shown that electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies can stimulate tumor and cancer growth. The sun’s ultraviolet rays and their association with skin cancer are one example. Even at lower frequencies, very high levels of exposure to electromagnetic radiation can injure a person.
Some experts have expressed great concern about the intensity of radiation from wireless devices. “Some animal research suggests that even low levels can have negative health consequences,” said Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Health Care at the University of Berkeley.
In his research, he also mentions neurodevelopmental problems, cancer, and reproductive health impairments. The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified cell phones as “potentially carcinogenic,” meaning that there is currently not enough research to say whether or not they cause cancer.
Earlier this year, research on rats showed increased risks for developing heart and brain cancer with high radiation exposure. But Foster points out that much of the research conducted on animals often does not apply to humans.
Is It Safe to Have a Wi-Fi Router Near a baby/toddler while they are sleeping?
A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRIC) suggests that Wi-Fi exposure is more dangerous for children than previously thought, and we may need to limit it where possible. The authors of the study, published in the Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure, argue that children and adolescents are at considerable risk from devices that generate microwaves, including Wi-Fi devices. At the same time, they argue that adults are at lower but still significant risk.
The study highlights that children absorb a greater amount of microwave radiation than adults. Besides, fetuses are, naturally, even more vulnerable than any other human being. Therefore, pregnant women must avoid any kind of exposure to microwave radiation.
Children are daily exposed to these radiations for several hours, and for this part, many consider that Wi-Fi should be removed from schools because they emit electromagnetic radiation at very high power. The consequences are harmful to everyone, especially to children, as their bodies and brains are still in development and therefore are more vulnerable.
In fact, in England, France, and Sweden, Wi-Fi networks are already being withdrawn from some schools, museums, libraries, and public places.
Why does electromagnetic radiation affect children more than adults?
It is interesting to know that experts have largely studied the effects of electromagnetic waves on the body of adults, probably because it is easier to report research with adults.
But in the last ten years, there has been a growing awareness that our first concern should be children because they are exposed to these waves in the most critical period of life and from the very beginning of their existence. The World Health Organization is also of the opinion that it is necessary to pay special attention to this problem.
The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones has published a study examining the impact of mobile phones on our health and pointed out that a child’s body, especially their brain, absorbs more electromagnetic radiation than the adult brain.
In numbers, it looks even scarier:
our children absorb up to 60% more radiation per kilogram of the body than we do.
Experts say that this is most likely because the body of our children contains a larger amount of water.
And precisely because the body of our children is developing, electromagnetic waves cause them more damage than us. Electromagnetic waves penetrate the bone marrow of children ten times more than adults.
Consequences
The consequences of harmful electromagnetic radiation on the health and development of our children are yet to be seen.
Earlier generations have not been exposed to the effects of harmful radiation to such an extent since conception, so we cannot even imagine what consequences our children will feel in adulthood.
However, there are health problems that we know for sure are at risk:
- Fertility problem in reproductive age;
- DNA alteration and damage;
- Electro Hypersensitivity (EHS);
- Neurological and psychological disorders;
- ADHD (hyperactivity of the child);
- Autism;
- And even obesity.
In fact, the greater the exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the more cause for concern.
Final Words
Luckily, we now know how radiation works and what measures we should take to prevent our kids from being exposed to harmful EMF. There are many things you can do to reduce EMF radiation at home and protect your little ones that are still in physical and cognitive development (including yourselves).
5 Tips How to Reduce WiFi EMF Radiation
Here are just some of the recommendations that you can follow to reduce the harmfulness of EMF radiation at home.
1. Switch it OFF at night!
When sleeping, we don’t need the internet. And as EMF can have negative consequences on our sleep, avoiding screens (phones, tablets, TV) before sleep is highly recommended. Besides, if we are not to browse through the internet or answer our calls while we’re sleeping, you can always turn off all Wi-Fi devices, including routers, at night.
2. Keep Safe Distance during the night, when it has to be switched on
If, for some reason, you do need an internet connection during nighttime, the router and all other Wi-Fi devices should be placed as far away as possible from any living being in the house. Never place any internet devices near your head, especially the heads of your little ones, while sleeping. Put your phones and Wi-Fi routers as far away as possible from beds.
3. Switch to Hard Wired internet connection
Laptops, personal computers, and TVs have cable internet connections as well. Any device that can be linked to the internet via a cable should be connected that way. This way you will reduce the need for wireless connectivity and you can turn it off more frequently.
4. Get a WI-FI Shielding Guard
You can cover your Wi-Fi router with some guards. For example, NewBeau has an EMF protection that is put over the router, which will absorb or contain the further spread of radiation around your home. Of course, even if you do buy such shields, it is always recommended to follow the first three steps as well. Remember, we are talking about children’s health.
5. Use an EMF protection canopy
Cribs and children’s beds can have possibilities of putting canopies around them. Of course, you can put them around your beds as well.
There are canopies that protect from EMF that you can buy. The best way is to visit Amazon or any other specialized store and order a few for your home. For example, check this canopy from RyuMD.
