What does EMF stand for?
EMF stands for electromagnetic field: the field of energy that surrounds anything carrying electricity or sending a wireless signal. You’ll also see the terms EMR (electromagnetic radiation) and RF (radiofrequency). RF is the wireless part of the spectrum used by phones, Wi-Fi and 5G.
Natural vs human-made EMF: what’s changed
Electromagnetic energy isn’t new. Life on Earth evolved surrounded by natural fields: the planet’s magnetic field, sunlight, lightning, and the faint natural resonances of the atmosphere known as Schumann resonances. What is new is the sheer amount of human-made EMF in our daily lives, and how quickly it has grown. In a single generation we’ve gone from a landline and a radio to a home full of connected devices, a phone in every pocket, and networks everywhere we go.
Human-made wireless signals differ from natural fields in several ways. They’re often pulsed (switched on and off rapidly to carry data), they’re constant (many devices transmit around the clock), and they come from many sources at once. We describe these signals as “incoherent”: lacking the organised patterns found in nature.
The electromagnetic spectrum explained
Electromagnetic energy is described by its frequency, measured in hertz (Hz), meaning cycles per second. Picture a long line running from low to high frequency:
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Extremely low frequencies (ELF): the 50 Hz mains electricity in Australian, New Zealand, UK and European homes, and the fields around wiring, appliances and power lines.
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Radiofrequency (RF) and microwaves: AM/FM radio, TV, mobile phones (3G, 4G, 5G), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, smart meters, baby monitors and microwave ovens.
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Infrared, visible light and ultraviolet.
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Ionising radiation: X-rays and gamma rays, which carry enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms.
Everyday technology produces non-ionising fields: the ELF and RF ends of the spectrum. Safety standards for RF are based mainly on avoiding heating of body tissue. Some researchers argue that non-thermal biological effects also deserve attention, and that’s where much of the current debate sits.
Common sources of EMF in your home, car and workplace
EMF at home
Your Wi-Fi router, phones and tablets, smart TVs and speakers, smart meters, baby monitors, cordless phones, solar inverters, and the wiring and appliances in your walls. Neighbours’ Wi-Fi networks reach in too. In an apartment you may see dozens.
EMF in the car and on public transport
Mobile towers and small cells, other passengers’ phones on trains and buses, and modern cars with Bluetooth, sensors and connected systems.
EMF at work and school
Rows of computers, routers, printers and phones, and, in many schools, a wireless access point in every classroom.
EMF in public spaces
Public Wi-Fi, shopping centres, airports and hotels.
Is EMF harmful? What the WHO and researchers say
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) (WHO). Health authorities, including the WHO, ARPANSA in Australia and the UKHSA in the UK, maintain that exposures within international guidelines haven’t been shown to cause harm. Many independent scientists and groups, such as the authors of the BioInitiative Report, argue that the guidelines need updating. The research is large, mixed and still evolving.
Phone makers also include RF exposure information in the phone’s settings or manual, along with suggestions such as using speakerphone or headphones and keeping the device a short distance from your body.
EMF sensitivity symptoms: what people report
Does this sound familiar? You’ve been feeling off for a while. Poor sleep. Fatigue that doesn’t lift with rest. Brain fog by 2 pm. Low-grade headaches. Wired but tired in the evening.
You’ve tried the obvious things: supplements, sleep apps, magnesium, a wind-down routine. Nothing has quite stuck.
What most people haven’t looked at is their environment.
You’re not alone. In 2021, 31 researchers published an international consensus report in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. It called for electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) to be formally recognised as a distinct condition. The symptoms they listed as most commonly reported are:
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sleep disorders
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headaches and migraines
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fatigue and weakness
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lack of focus and concentration
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memory problems
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anxiety and depression
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heart problems and high blood pressure
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hormone disruption
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joint and muscle pain
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skin problems
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nausea
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numbness
Health authorities don’t yet recognise EHS as a medical diagnosis. But the people living with these symptoms aren’t waiting for the guidelines to catch up. They’re looking at what’s in their homes, and what’s beside their bed.
If a symptom is persistent, see your GP as well.
How to measure EMF at home
Different meters measure different parts of the spectrum:
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RF meters measure wireless signals, typically from about 10 MHz to 8 GHz.
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Gauss meters measure low-frequency magnetic fields from wiring and appliances.
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Body voltage meters or multimeters are often used by building biologists to gauge electric fields.
Meters are useful for finding and reducing strong sources. But they measure the strength of a field, not how your body responds. For this reason, we test Blushield on people, not with meters.
5 ways to reduce EMF exposure at home
The most effective step is reducing what you can control. None of this means giving up technology.
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Mind the distance. Keep your phone off your body when you can, out of your pocket and away from your pillow. Use speakerphone or wired or air-tube headphones for calls.
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Create a calmer bedroom. Phones on flight mode overnight, no chargers or devices by the bed, and Wi-Fi off at night (a simple timer plug works).
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Wire up where you can. Ethernet for desktops and TVs, and turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on devices when you’re not using them.
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Be choosy with smart devices. Ask whether you need the smart kettle, the smart plug or the always-on speaker.
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Give yourself screen-free time. We suggest putting screens away 2 to 3 hrs before bed, and getting outside barefoot when you can.
How Blushield fits into your EMF plan
You can’t control the tower down the road, the neighbours’ Wi-Fi or the phones on the train. This is the part Blushield is designed for. It doesn’t block or reduce signals. Instead, it’s designed to give your body a strong, coherent, nature-inspired field to tune into, alongside the signals already around you. The authors of the 2024 pilot study described the device as “a reasonable component of a more comprehensive EMF mitigation strategy”, which is how we suggest using it: alongside the habits above.