EMF (Electromagnetic Fields)

Over the past two decades alarms have sounded about possible health effects linked to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) radiating from anything and everything powered by electricity.  This raises an important question: How safe are workers exposed to a wide range of electrical devices as a routine part of their jobs?  For about 100 years in North America, electricity was used with little suspicion of any negative health effects other than accidental burns and rare but tragic deaths by electrocution.

But all that changed in 1979 when EMFs suddenly made headlines.  That year, results of a study by a pair of American scientists, Wertheimer and Leeper, showed that children living near power lines experienced a two to three-fold increase in deaths from cancer.  Many citizens, workers, and their respective representatives reacted with immediate concern.  A new breed of hazard came to light.  Soon researchers turned their attention to a series of follow-up power line studies, as well as a host of other possible EMF-related health problems.

What are EMFs?

EMFs are invisible lines of force that radiate from every source of electricity including transmission and power lines, transformers, all electrical appliances, gadgets, and machinery.  These fields have both an electric and magnetic component, hence the name EMFs.  The electric component of the field may be partially or fully blocked by physical barriers, such as trees, walls, and partitions, but the magnetic component is much less easily shielded, causing more concern.

Measuring EMFs

Magnetic fields are measured in units of gauss (G) or tesla (T). Electrical equipment in offices typically measures between 5 to 100 mG about six inches from the source of power, and 0.5 to 4 mG at about three to four feet.  Two critical levels in the scientific literature about EMFs include:

2 to 4 mG for the development of childhood leukemia;

12 mG for the growth of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells.

How are office workers exposed?

Computer monitors are just one of many electrical devices found in a typical office environment. Photocopiers, fax machines, printers, overhead lights and desk lamps, baseboard heaters, telephone lines, mainframe computers, pencil sharpeners, and adding machines are often part of the mix.  Not to be overlooked are wall and ceiling cables, jiffy poles, switching rooms, and electrical panel boards, all of which are associated with high magnetic fields.

What are the possible health effects?

Since Wertheimer and Leeper’s study on power lines and children’s cancer in the late 1970s, hundreds of scientists around the world have studied EMFs and the effects of exposures to electric and magnetic fields.

These studies have included:

  • exploration of links between extremely low frequency EMFs – those associated with devices such as video display terminals
  • and various cancers;leukemias and workers in electrical vocations exposed regularly to high levels of EMFs, such as phone line and TV/radio repair workers;
  • increase in female breast cancer incidence linked to EMF emissions and decreased levels of melatonin, a hormone that suppresses breast cancer cell growth;
  • increased risk of miscarriages and other reproductive effects, especially among women exposed to higher frequency magnetic fields;
  • links between EMFs and sleep disturbances, Alzheimer disease, depression, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and cardiovascular disease.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has weighed in on the subject of extremely low frequency EMFs and cancer.  In a June 2001 report its expert scientific panel concluded that magnetic fields were “Possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on epidemiologic studies of childhood leukemia.  “Evidence for all other cancers in children and adults, as well as other types of exposures…was considered not classifiable either due to insufficient or inconsistent scientific information.”

To office workers concerned about the possible effects of EMFs on their health, these reports offer little guidance or reassurance.  As EMF-prevention advocate and breast cancer survivor Lorna Wilson of Brantford, Ontario says, “No scientific proof means just that. No proof it causes harm, and no proof it doesn’t!”

How can we reduce exposure?

We suggest a precautionary principle in the case of EMFs and office equipment – that it’s “better to be safe than sorry”.  While avoiding all exposure to EMFs is impossible in an office, we advocate “prudent avoidance” – minimizing exposures.

Exposure to EMFs in an office depends on three things:

  • the strength of the fields in the work environment;
  • distance from these sources;
  • time spent in the fields.

Once EMF readings have been taken most problems can be solved by simply increasing the distance between the worker and the source.  This is often as simple as rearranging the office layout.   Another approach is for workers to reduce time spent near higher EMF sources, or to stand farther back while they are operating photocopiers, for example.  The best approach of all is to purchase and install electrical equipment with the lowest emissions.

The bottom line with EMFs is— there’s power in prudent avoidance!

It takes effort and information to keep the home work space clear of those factors that can contribute to many common illnesses.  In many cases, we are unaware of the damage that may be caused by our personal choices in the home office area, because it is hard to believe that computers, printers, and lighting sources were not designed with our health interest in mind.   As you are about to discover, safety in the chemical industry is not much different than that found in office electronics.

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