Are we enough protected against electromagnetic fieldsof our bluetooth headphones? Markham Heid, American journalist, revives the controversy in an article published on the medium site. It is based on a petition addressed to the United Nations and the WHO in which 247 scientists from 42 countries are alarmed about the dangers to the health of users linked to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields.
In this tribune, written in 2015 and updated in 2019, the scientists express their concern around “the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by electrical and wireless devices”. The authors of the petition claim that the electromagnetic waves “affect living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines”. They warn of “an increased risk of cancer, cellular stress, an increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damage, structural and functional changes in the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders and negative effects on the general well-being of man “. Scientists plead for the implementation of protective and preventive measures for the general public and in particular the children.
Debate revived around the dangerousness of airwaves
Should these scientists’ warnings encourage people to be wary of wireless devices that work with bluetooth, such as headphones, as the American journalist Markham Heid does? Should we fear a risk of cancer from listening to music over bluetooth? The shortcut seems excessive at the moment, in the absence of scientific consensus on the subject. On his site, the National Institute for Health and Safety at Work (INRS), confirms: “Sensory effects (such as dizziness, nausea, visual disturbances) without consequences for health can be felt at very low frequencies”. From there to considering health risks like those put forward by the authors of the petition, there is a step. “To date, there is no scientific consensus concerning long-term effects due to low but regular exposure”, further specifies the INRS.
On his side WHO also agrees by considering that to date the health risks have not been demonstrated in the scientific literature. “Over the past 30 years, around 25,000 scientific papers have been published on the biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation. (…) The scientific knowledge acquired in this field is now more comprehensive than that of the on most chemicals. Based on an extensive review of the scientific literature, the WHO concluded that current data do not support the existence of any health effects resulting from exposure to fields. low intensity electromagnetic “. The organization concedes, however, that the knowledge still contains “certain gaps” and that “research must continue to fill them”.
One thing is certain: the debate around electromagnetic waves is far from over.
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