Positive Health Online

Electro sensitivity (ES) is a spectrum condition. Everyone is electro-sensitive, since all cells in the body can react subconsciously to magnetic and electric fields. But some people are more consciously sensitive or perceptive than others, and yet others become hypersensitive and severely disabled by RFR (Radio Frequency Radiation) and EMF (Electro Magnetic Field/s). Other words describing the condition are Environmental Intolerance, Microwave Sickness and Radio Wave Sickness, This can be caused by mobile phones, power lines, radio, TV and phone masts, Wifi, smart meters,  Bluetooth, Fitbits, and even such household equipment as cooker hobs, electric motors, hair dryers, shavers and washing machines.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Rainbow-History-Electricity-Life/dp/1645020096/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title

‘The Invisible Rainbow’ by the late Arthur Firstenberg details the history of electro-hypersensitivity from the invention of static electricity in 1746 in Leyden, Holland. It then spread to other European countries during the second half of the 18th century. Some of the foremost names amongst senior researchers of electricity, for example Nikola Tesla, were amongst the early sufferers from static electricity.

This discovery was met both by scientific interest and the thrill of novelty. It was exciting to see sparks flying around a Leyden jar, or to feel one’s  body twitching in response to touching a source of electricity. It was not then known that this experience could play havoc with one’s own electrical system in our body.

ES develops as a result of a breakdown in the organism’s health. It is a very real illness. 

Common symptoms of this are:

• Fatigue
• Poor quality sleep
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Pressure in the head
• Disturbance in speech and thinking.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Overpowered-Science-Dangers-WIFI-Era-Devices/dp/1609806204#

‘Overpowered’ by Prof Martin Blank (2014) is an excellent overview of the subject, including the politics... disturbance, brain fog, dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, tingling and odd sensations in the limbs, joint pains, heart palpitations, rashes and others. Classically, there are exacerbations from exposure, and relief of symptoms from elimination of exposure (though often a time lag) Mechanisms include changes in cell membrane calcium efflux, failure of repair of DNA breaks, blood brain barrier permeability, heat shock protein production, disruption of vital melatonin European Academy of Clinical Environmental Medicine. www.es-uk.info Available from Amazon.co.uk

Many thousands who are affected by it can testify to this. There is a school of thought that dismissed the issue as purely psychological. Twenty years ago other thinkers might have dismissed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) as psychological, and therefore unimportant and non-existent illnesses. Time has moved on. Indeed, there might be shared mechanisms since a number of people with CFS and ME also suffer from ES. There may be links in mitochondrial function implicated in CFS.

A substantial number of people sleep better when doing simple things like turning off wifi and cordless phones at night and keeping all unnecessary EMFs away from the bedroom. Others have to take more drastic steps. However what is most important is to be aware of the influence on all of us, to a greater or lesser degree.

The author writes ''My own EHS was (possibly) caused initially by a serious powerful electric shock while rewiring a cowshed on the farm I was running at the time, in the late 1960s'.

Dr Andrew Tresidder MBBS MRCGP (1989) Cert Med Ed Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0SB is the Medical GP Trustee of ES-UK, who wrote to his medical colleagues as below: -

''To whom it may concern, June 2020.

Dear Medical Colleague,

I am writing at the request of many patients. In the early 1980s I suffered a gigantic environmental insult when the vehicle I and my partner were using developed an exhaust leak in the car we were driving which our garage were unable to fix. So we kept on driving it as we could not afford to buy a new one.

Both these insults triggered both electrical and chemical hypersensitivities. First came the chemical sensitivities when I started reacting severely to creosote and paint, gradually increasing to many other and various strong chemicals. Then the electrical sensitivities, first experienced when my head was too close to a light-bulb, even my electric watch which I stopped wearing. Later when I started wearing hearing aids, which caused discomfort, time wore them - and still do!”

https://www.es-uk.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ES-GP-patient-letter-June-20.pdf

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bioelectromagnetic-Subtle-Energy-Medicine-Rosch/dp/1482233193#

Photo Credit: Dr Andrew Tresidder and Michael Bevington, “Electrosensitivity: Sources, Symptoms, and Solutions”, chapter 47 in Bioelectromagnetic and Subtle Energy Medicine, Paul J. Rosch, MD (ed.) (CRC Press, 2^nd ed., 2015).

Do Electrosensitivity and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) Exist?

““Electrosensitivity doesn’t exist because it can’t!”

This was heard recently from an eminent authority, writer of many peer-reviewed papers on a number of health subjects.

“If it doesn’t heat tissue, it can’t cause damage!”

Two hundred years ago, eminent authorities might have denied the existence of electricity itself – as a mere fairy story told to amuse them – whilst some 300 years before that everybody knew that the sun revolved around the earth (that is until Copernicus published his De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, just before his death in 1543).

“Electrosensitivity doesn’t exist because it can’t!” is merely an evolutionary position of (mis)understanding, held at a point where a person does not yet comprehend the mechanism. Personally, though I learnt physics at medical school, the concept of electrons moving along a wire is as good as a fairy story to me – I’ve never seen an electron!– but I am happy to take the explanation on trust, and turn the switch and accept that the lights will come on!”

A GP Doctor Discovering and Solving Electrosensitivity

Dr Andrew Tresidder wrote in 2020:

“Over 20 years ago as a GP in Chard, Somerset, I was puzzled by a child’s six week history of headaches. A careful history was taken, and all usual and serious causes excluded. After reading widely, I wondered if they were caused by an electric or magnetic field from the TV in the next room placed near the head of the bed 6 weeks previously. The mother reliably proved this by leaving the TV plugged in some nights, and not on others – the child’s headaches correlated with the TV being on standby.

This led me to study the area from literature and research available, and diagnose a number of others with symptoms caused by environmental agents. The key issue was that peoples’ symptoms resolved when the EM field was switched off, and returned when on again. This occurred for some people with wifi routers. My suspicions were supported when the Powerwatch Handbook was published in 2006. More recently, as a trustee of charity ES-UK, I have seen many cases of people affected by EM fields, some severely, and been privy to much recent scientific research. The widespread use of wifi (transmitting 24/7), cordless phones (transmitting 24/7), alarm sensors (transmitting 24/7), and other domestic hi-tech use, including the frequently transmitting smart meters, is causing some people symptoms that range from mild to severe. In fact, with smart phones next to them, and blue tooth in their cars and computers, many people are irradiated 24/7 by what much of the insurance industry calls a ‘pollutant’ – and declines to cover liability for. Those unaffected by symptoms may be tempted to ridicule those who are.

The whole issue is an inconvenient truth, and unfortunately because doctors are not taught about the issue, most people will not be diagnosed except when they themselves observe cause and effect.”

Electrosensitivity is Essential to Life

Electrosensitivity affects all humans. All human life, like all plant and animal life, depends on Electrosensitivity for converting the electromagnetic radiation from the sun into vitamin D or through photosynthesis. These processes are the result of electromagnetic effects, not heat, although heat can be one of the many results of electromagnetic exposure.

Electrosensitivity and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)

The term ‘Electrosensitivity’ as used in this article typically refers to the adverse effects caused by electromagnetic exposure, and from magnetic and electric fields, at nonthermal levels, or levels below those which cause heating.

This use of the term ‘Electrosensitivity’ here can also include Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS). EHS is a more severe and disabling condition, where the body is triggered into reacting strongly against many forms of electromagnetic exposure. Although some of the mechanisms of ‘Electrosensitivity’ are now well established, the process of this triggering of further sensitisation or hypersensitivity is less well understood at present. It seems to have similarities to the way in which people can be suddenly hyper-sensitised to chemicals, pollens, foods, light, sound, movement and other physical sensations. Usually, hypersensitisation follows increasing sensitisation and exposure until the body is suddenly ‘tipped’ into a more severe set of reactions or symptoms of intolerance.

Treating Electrosensitivity

The key treatment is avoiding radiation, especially from mobile phones, masts, Wifi and in bedrooms. Some sufferers use military-style shielding or protective clothing. Others are forced to live in a remote area away from man-made radiation, if they can find one, often in cars or tents.

The Mechanisms of Electrosensitivity

Various mechanisms and pathways of Electrosensitivity are well established. These include voltage-gated calcium and ion fluxes through cell membranes, cryptochromes, demyelination and Hsp70 – a heat shock protein.

Electrosensitivity effects can be measured through cerebral blood perfusion, reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, subtle energy, along with numerous biological markers. However, because every cell in the body can be affected by magnetic and electric fields, the effects of Electrosensitivity vary for every person and vary according to the energy and immune state of that person at any given time.

Genetic aspects of Electrosensitivity

Since 2014 it has been shown that Electrosensitivity is up to ten times more prevalent among people with certain genetic makeups. Consequently Electrosensitivity can have a higher incidence in certain families or groups of people. It has also been associated with people who are also sensitive to other environmental factors, such as pollens, food allergies and sensitivity to certain chemicals.

Prevalence of Electrosensitivity

About 4% of the UK (2.7 million people) have some Electrosensitivity, according to a UK government-sponsored study. An estimated 0.65% has severe sensitivity preventing employment. All people have subconscious Electrosensitivity with some 80% of adults having chronic inflammatory conditions being adversely affected.

Medical status of Electrosensitivity

The World Health Organization recognises Electrosensitivity and classifies Electrosensitivity as an Environmental Intolerance which, it states, can be disabling. A scientific consensus report by 32 international experts in 2021 concluded that Electrosensitivity is a distinct neuropathological disorder. Various ICD-10 codes for injury from non-ionising radiation apply.

Diagnosis of Electrosensitivity

In the year 2000, an international definition of ‘El-Allergy’ included a diagnosis where the removal of the electromagnetic fields and radiation causing Electrosensitivity symptoms also caused an absence of the Electrosensitivity symptoms.

Since 2012 some UK NHS hospitals, GPs and consultants have diagnosed EHS. Most use a detailed clinical history, including the situations in which Electrosensitivity symptoms occur.

In addition, some studies have shown the benefits of using physiological tests, including 3d fMRI, cerebral blood perfusion scans (UCTS), DNA breaks and heart rate variability, along with markers, such as those for histamine, heatshock proteins and melatonin.

Legal Recognition of Electrosensitivity

In 2001 a phone mast was dismantled and nearby residents compensated in Geneva.

Since 2006 employers have recognised Electrosensitivity and provided employees with protection and a safe working environment by removing Wifi and mobile phones from the workplace, as required under the Health & Safety At Work Act of 1974. Electrosensitivity has been recognised legally by UK lower tier tribunals as a disability since 2012 for adults and children.

In 2022 a UK upper tier tribunals set a precedence as specifically recognising the disabling effects of Electrosensitivity as coming under the Equality Act of 2010 and requiring that the persons with this functional impairment should have reasonable adjustments made, such as the removal of all mobile phones and Wifi from their vicinity.

Insurance against Electrosensitivity Symptoms

Since the 1990s insurers at Lloyds and in Switzerland have refused to underwrite any claims for Electrosensitivity symptoms except as a high risk, as for cancer from asbestos.

Cancer as a Symptom of Electrosensitivity

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified EMFs, both extremely low frequency (ELF) such as from power lines and household wiring, and Radio Frequency (RF) such as from mobile phone masts, phones, Wifi and ‘smart’ meters, as 2B possible human cancer agents in 2001 and 2011 respectively. Cancer has been known as a symptom of Electrosensitivity since the 1940s. Since 2013 experts have said that Radio Frequency (RF) such as from mobile phone masts, phones, Wifi and ‘smart’ meters should be reclassified as a class 1 certain human carcinogen. In 2018 a $30 million US ‘gold standard’ study to test mobiles confirmed that mobile phone radiation causes cancer.

International limits to prevent Electrosensitivity

Since 2008 international groups have published safety limits on radio frequency radiation to prevent Electrosensitivity. These include Building Biology in 2008, Seletun in 2010, the Bioinitiative Group in 2012, EUROPAEM EMF 2016 and the International Guidelines on Non-Ionising Radiation of 2018. These are all nonthermal or biological guidelines designed to prevent symptoms of Electrosensitivity like EHS, infertility, cardiovascular harm and cancers.

At present the UK government and some groups favouring the wireless industry still apply only heating limits, designed to prevent the body’s temperature from rising more than one degree within 10 or 30 minutes. However, this heating myth, adopted by Schwan in 1953, does not explain why radio frequency exposure can cause EHS, infertility, cardiovascular harm and cancers without a temperature rise or one or more degrees.

In 2009 the European Parliament voted to replace these short-term and heating-only limits with nonthermal limits which protect against EHS, cancer and all the other known adverse effects. However, this has not yet happened.

The History of Electrosensitivity

Some symptoms of Electrosensitivity from electric currents were first described in 1733, and some symptoms of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) were first described in 1746.

Some symptoms of Electrosensitivity from radio frequency were first described in 1893, and the symptoms of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) were first described in 1732, in this case for electrical workers and workers in radio transmission stations.

Since then Electrosensitivity has spread into the general population, as wireless devices like mobile phones, masts and Wifi became common.

From the year 2000 studies have shown Electrosensitivity symptoms among people living near a phone mast and among people using mobile phones.

From the 1990s national associations were established for people affected by Electrosensitivity. Electrosensitivity UK was founded in 2003 and is in contact with many hundreds of people who suffer from this condition.

Evidence or proof of Electrosensitivity

From 1991 provocation tests have confirmed, often with 100% accuracy, that people with Electrosensitivity can react consciously as well as subconsciously to electromagnetic exposures.

Similarly, many studies have shown an increase in Electrosensitivity symptoms, such as disturbed sleep and cancers, among people living closer to a phone mast as opposed to those living further away. Other studies have confirmed similar effects among children in schools with Wifi or nearby phone masts compared with children in schools without Wifi or with phone masts further away.

More recently the use of personal measuring devices has confirmed that the adverse symptoms of a person with Electrosensitivity occur in the presence of high levels or sudden increases in electromagnetic exposures.

Difference between Electrosensitivity and Electrophobia

Since some regulators and government agencies still cling to the invalidated short-term heating hypothesis, that the only adverse effects of radio frequency radiation are thermal, they have been unable to accept Electrosensitivity which is a nonthermal and long-term effect. Therefore, such people have tried to explain Electrosensitivity by confusing it with the different condition of Electrophobia (EPh) or radiophobia. This is a psychological ‘nocebo’ response, which requires prior cognitive conditioning. It therefore cannot apply to children, animals or unaware adults, all of whom can suffer Electrosensitivity, but people advocating this confusion do not seem to be concerned with this since it suits the profits of the wireless industry to maintain its extraordinarily high levels of manmade radio frequency exposure. It appears that only about 1% of people with EHS people also suffer from EPh.

Ecology and Electrosensitivity

As stated above, all life on earth is Electrosensitive. The conscious symptoms of Electrosensitivity are indicators that plants and animals are also affected adversely by man-made electromagnetic fields and radio frequency radiation. As present there are particular concerns that the decline in insect populations of about 70-80% including nature reserves without the presence of chemical pesticides is the direct result of the greater prevalence of extraordinarily high levels of manmade radio frequency exposure. Studies show adverse effects especially on bees and small birds, while the massive amount of radio frequency energy deposited in plants and the lower atmosphere appears to be having widespread consequences.