EMFs are a controversial topic. There are many people making exaggerated claims about the health risks, but at the same time, the government and the general public generally present EMFs as totally harmless.
While the research around the health effects of EMFs continues to evolve, we believe the current body of scientific evidence supports taking a precautionary approach. Our co-founder, Andy Bromberg, wrote a review of the scientific literature on the health risks from RF EMF if you want to evaluate the evidence yourself (warning: it’s quite long). We also educate physicians on how EMF exposure can contribute to the health issues they see in patients.
With that context, here are the three types of EMFs in your home and practical ways to reduce exposure and improve your sleep.
Radiofrequency (RF) radiation is the type most people think of first. It comes from Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, cell phones, and other connected devices.
RF is the easiest type to reduce on your own:
- While Wi-Fi is a convenient technology, it emits constant RF radiation, which is why our ultimate health recommendation is to eliminate Wi-Fi entirely and switch to hardwired Ethernet connections and cellular service. However, making this switch does come with some challenges and lifestyle adjustments. As a more accessible alternative, turn off the wifi at night using a kill switch, remote switch, or outlet timer, and position your router and access points away from high-use areas like bedrooms and offices.
- Put your phone on airplane mode before bed (on iPhones, make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also toggled off in settings).
- Remove or unplug wireless devices in the bedroom.
- Replace smart home devices with wired alternatives or turn them off when not in use. Opt for wired accessories wherever possible (e.g., headphones, keyboard, mouse).
When external cell towers are the main source, the steps above won’t be enough. Shielding paint or bed canopies can help, but only after taking specific measurements first.
AC electric fields are created by any live electrical wire or circuit, even when devices are turned off, so as long as something is plugged in, the field is there.
In the homes we test, elevated AC electric fields in bedrooms are one of the most common findings. Here are three things you can do tonight:
- Move your bed 6 to 8 inches from the walls. Wall wiring is the main source of exposure we see, so moving your bed away from the wall can make a big difference.
- Unplug all bedside electronics before bed. Lamps, chargers, power strips. If it’s plugged in, it’s producing a field, regardless of whether it’s switched on.
- Turn off your bedroom breakers. If you want to go further, flipping the breakers to your bedroom circuit de-energizes all the wiring in those walls.
Use grounded equipment. Proper grounding provides a pathway that equalizes voltage with the earth and lowers the electric field that reaches your body.
- Use three-pronged grounded plugs whenever possible.
- Replace ungrounded power strips with grounded versions.
- Swap unshielded extension cords for shielded extension cords. These will contain electrical fields within the cord.
These steps reduce exposure in many homes. But homes with unshielded wiring, which is the norm in most residential construction, often have higher levels that need more targeted solutions. In those cases, we typically address the issue with shielding paint applied to specific walls, bedroom circuit kill switches, or by replacing unshielded wiring with metal-clad wiring.
ELF magnetic fields are the hardest to address on your own. The sources are often external, e.g., power lines or stray current on plumbing. Professional testing is important to identify the source before doing anything.
An EMF-free sleeping environment is actually one reason we suspect sleeping outside in nature feels so restorative. There are a lot of other factors, but out in nature, you’re genuinely non-native-EMF-free…
Elevated Electrical Fields From Bedroom Wall Wiring
During one assessment, we measured significantly elevated AC electric fields coming from the wall wiring in the headboards in two bedrooms. This resulted in high body voltage readings while the occupants were sleeping.
Body voltage measures the electrical charge that accumulates on the body when exposed to AC electric fields. Research on long-term impacts is still developing, but we believe the current evidence supports a precautionary approach in sleeping areas, where recovery occurs.
Our investigation revealed a wiring issue: lamps wired into the headboard were miswired, leaving power running through them even when switched off.
Because this was an electrical fault, we brought in an electrician to pinpoint the underlying issue, carry out the repair, and verify that it was resolved.
In other cases, if elevated electrical fields are coming from wall wiring and there’s no electrical fault (and other interventions aren’t sufficient), we typically recommend one of the following approaches:
- Install a bedroom circuit cut-off switch that de-energizes all wiring during sleep
- Replace unshielded wiring with metal-clad wiring (a more involved solution)
- Apply properly grounded EMF-shielding paint to the specific walls to block the exposure. This creates a barrier that blocks electrical fields from wiring within that specific wall. Also note that the shielded paint must be properly grounded to address this issue.