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Electrical Sensitivity or Hypersensitivity
Electrical Sensitivity or Hypersensitivity
Source: www.powerwatch.org.uk
What is Electrical Hypersensitivity (EHS)?
Electrical hypersensitivity (EHS) is a combination of up to three factors:
1) A natural sensitivity, similar to other idiopathic or allergic reactions, which is
not typical of the general population.
2) Sensitisation by some trigger, which could be one, or more, of a variety of
commonly encountered substances.
3) Sensitisation by some incident, which has the capability of damaging the
bioelectrochemical communication within the body.
Some people are electrically sensitive, that is they are aware of the presence of
electromagnetic fields (EMFs), but are not adversely affected by them. Other people
may or may not be aware of the presence of EMFs, but can become seriously ill in their
presence. These people we refer to as electrically hypersensitive (EHS). People who
have developed EHS have a physiological disorder, characterized by neurological and
idiopathic reactions, that noticeably appear or intensify near sources of EMFs such as
electrical appliances, especially VDUs (computer monitors), power lines, fluorescent
lights, mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless computers (wLANs), mobile phone
base stations, etc.
Being EHS means experiencing recurring feelings of stress or illness when near an
EMF source. Any noticeable, recurring ill health that is triggered by an electromagnetic
field, and that diminishes or disappears away from the EMF source, constitutes a case
of electrical hypersensitivity. While symptoms may diminish quickly after the exposure is
reduced, it can take several days, weeks or occasionally months if the person has
become severely sensitised, for the effects to disappear.
It is not yet known whether EHS is an independent condition, or a kind of Multiple
Environmental Sensitivity Syndrome, linked possibly also to Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity Syndrome.
For EHS sufferers living in a high EMF environment, it is like a person with auditory
sensitivity trying to carry on normal life with someone shouting in both ears all the time.
Many electrically sensitive people seem to have quite dry skin and can carry high
electrostatic charges on their body. Not only can other people experience a 'zap' when
touching the person, but the electrostatic charges can also be transferred to electronic
equipment causing equipment to malfunction. This can sometimes give an appearance
of clumsiness or ineptitude, which can lead to a lack of confidence in using electrical
equipment. This is quite concerning when young people, even in pre-school nurseries,
are being exposed to computers, and they may develop this sensitivity, which can lead
to a lifelong lack of confidence and self-esteem problems.
How many people does EHS affect?
People who have EHS develop different symptoms, for reasons that are poorly
understood. Some people will react to power-frequency electric fields, some to
magnetic fields and some to both. They may (or they may not) also react to
radiofrequency fields such as those transmitted by the mobile phone networks, some
reacting to the phones, some to the masts, and some to both. Some people will only
react to radiofrequency fields and not to power-frequency fields. Some people will even
react to sunlight, another part of the EMF spectrum.
Because of this the condition is not an easy one to diagnose. People with EHS often
cannot go into hospital, even to visit. Hospitals are full of electrically powered
equipment, some giving off very high EMFs, and hospitals have fluorescent lights, a
common trigger for EHS and intolerable to most EHS people.
The incidence of EHS seems to be slightly higher in women than in men, and there
appear to be significant day to day variations in their sensitivity. Many people with EHS
have lower incomes and may be unemployed. These variations may be explained, at
least in part, by difference in Health and Safety practices, especially with regard to
chemical (and other) exposures in lower paid jobs, and the fact that EHS can lead to
the inability to work in a 'normal' environment.
The social, work and financial lives of EHS sufferers are likely to be affected by the fact
that fluorescent lights are used in public offices (making it hard to make claims for, or to
draw, Social Security benefits), shops, libraries, theatres, cinemas, concert halls,
restaurants, churches, trains, trams and buses.
A study by the Irish Doctors Environmental Association reported that half the people
reporting ill-health effects as a result of living near to mobile phone base stations were
unable to work due to the severity of the symptoms. They also led a very restricted
social life, feeling like 'prisoners' in their own homes, which were not always comfortable
places for them to be either.
Even cars have electrical and electronic equipment (power wiring, fan motors,
computerised controls and dashboards) that can disturb electrically hypersensitive
people, especially in the front seat.
Many trains, railway stations and planes now contain wireless computing systems, so
that passengers can access the internet 'on the move'. City centres are being covered
by WiMAX systems, making access for EHS sufferers ever more difficult. Neighbours
who are 'ham' radio operators can, even unwittingly, make an EHS neighbour's life
almost unbearable. A nearby lamp-post height mobile phone mast can make a house
uninhabitable by an EHS person. They may not even be able to go down a road where
one of these masts is situated. This makes living a 'normal' life almost impossible in
severe cases of EHS.
It is generally accepted that probably between 3% and 7% of the population are EHS to
some degree and maybe up to 35% show some mild indications of electro-stress.
What are the initiators of EHS?
Electrical hypersensitivity can have a variety of causes; computer monitors (VDUs),
fluorescent lights, mobile and cordless phones are believed to be among the most
common initiators of the problem; working in high magnetic fields, MRI scans, wireless
computing systems, chemical overload, 'closed head' injury, allergy, low energy lamps,
trauma, electric shock, metallic implants, even lightning strikes are other initiators. Many
people experience an abrupt onset of symptoms following exposure to a novel EMF
such as fields associated with a new computer, a new phone or new fluorescent lights.
Working in high electromagnetic fields can produce sensitivity. Drivers of electric trains
are members of a group in which hypersensitivity can lead to very dangerous
consequences. 10 - 25% of UK train drivers report 'missing time', time in which they
were unaware of their surroundings. However brief this 'absence' may be, if it is at a
critical place, e.g. coming up to a red light, it is possible that this could lead to fatal
accidents.
British biophysicist Peter Alexander said, "Once the individual is sensitized to an agent
the initial aggressor is immaterial. The biological reaction will be the same to all agents."
EHS commonly also develops with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Computer
monitors, and many other electronic items, give off quite toxic volatile organic chemicals
(VOCs) when the cases and electronic components 'burn in' from new.
According to the UK's Building Research Establishment, and a separate Australian
study, new houses 1-2 years old can emit many times the level of potentially
carcinogenic volatile organic compounds as houses built just 10 years ago. The
sources include formaldehyde from treated wooden floors and furniture, toxic
compounds from fresh paints and solvents, and hormone disrupting chemicals from
carpets and vinyl flooring.
Symptoms
Try this questionnaire which includes most of the symptoms experienced by people with
electrical hypersensitivity.
Source: www.powerwatch.org.uk
What is Electrical Hypersensitivity (EHS)?
Electrical hypersensitivity (EHS) is a combination of up to three factors:
1) A natural sensitivity, similar to other idiopathic or allergic reactions, which is
not typical of the general population.
2) Sensitisation by some trigger, which could be one, or more, of a variety of
commonly encountered substances.
3) Sensitisation by some incident, which has the capability of damaging the
bioelectrochemical communication within the body.
Some people are electrically sensitive, that is they are aware of the presence of
electromagnetic fields (EMFs), but are not adversely affected by them. Other people
may or may not be aware of the presence of EMFs, but can become seriously ill in their
presence. These people we refer to as electrically hypersensitive (EHS). People who
have developed EHS have a physiological disorder, characterized by neurological and
idiopathic reactions, that noticeably appear or intensify near sources of EMFs such as
electrical appliances, especially VDUs (computer monitors), power lines, fluorescent
lights, mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless computers (wLANs), mobile phone
base stations, etc.
Being EHS means experiencing recurring feelings of stress or illness when near an
EMF source. Any noticeable, recurring ill health that is triggered by an electromagnetic
field, and that diminishes or disappears away from the EMF source, constitutes a case
of electrical hypersensitivity. While symptoms may diminish quickly after the exposure is
reduced, it can take several days, weeks or occasionally months if the person has
become severely sensitised, for the effects to disappear.
It is not yet known whether EHS is an independent condition, or a kind of Multiple
Environmental Sensitivity Syndrome, linked possibly also to Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity Syndrome.
For EHS sufferers living in a high EMF environment, it is like a person with auditory
sensitivity trying to carry on normal life with someone shouting in both ears all the time.
Many electrically sensitive people seem to have quite dry skin and can carry high
electrostatic charges on their body. Not only can other people experience a 'zap' when
touching the person, but the electrostatic charges can also be transferred to electronic
equipment causing equipment to malfunction. This can sometimes give an appearance
of clumsiness or ineptitude, which can lead to a lack of confidence in using electrical
equipment. This is quite concerning when young people, even in pre-school nurseries,
are being exposed to computers, and they may develop this sensitivity, which can lead
to a lifelong lack of confidence and self-esteem problems.
How many people does EHS affect?
People who have EHS develop different symptoms, for reasons that are poorly
understood. Some people will react to power-frequency electric fields, some to
magnetic fields and some to both. They may (or they may not) also react to
radiofrequency fields such as those transmitted by the mobile phone networks, some
reacting to the phones, some to the masts, and some to both. Some people will only
react to radiofrequency fields and not to power-frequency fields. Some people will even
react to sunlight, another part of the EMF spectrum.
Because of this the condition is not an easy one to diagnose. People with EHS often
cannot go into hospital, even to visit. Hospitals are full of electrically powered
equipment, some giving off very high EMFs, and hospitals have fluorescent lights, a
common trigger for EHS and intolerable to most EHS people.
The incidence of EHS seems to be slightly higher in women than in men, and there
appear to be significant day to day variations in their sensitivity. Many people with EHS
have lower incomes and may be unemployed. These variations may be explained, at
least in part, by difference in Health and Safety practices, especially with regard to
chemical (and other) exposures in lower paid jobs, and the fact that EHS can lead to
the inability to work in a 'normal' environment.
The social, work and financial lives of EHS sufferers are likely to be affected by the fact
that fluorescent lights are used in public offices (making it hard to make claims for, or to
draw, Social Security benefits), shops, libraries, theatres, cinemas, concert halls,
restaurants, churches, trains, trams and buses.
A study by the Irish Doctors Environmental Association reported that half the people
reporting ill-health effects as a result of living near to mobile phone base stations were
unable to work due to the severity of the symptoms. They also led a very restricted
social life, feeling like 'prisoners' in their own homes, which were not always comfortable
places for them to be either.
Even cars have electrical and electronic equipment (power wiring, fan motors,
computerised controls and dashboards) that can disturb electrically hypersensitive
people, especially in the front seat.
Many trains, railway stations and planes now contain wireless computing systems, so
that passengers can access the internet 'on the move'. City centres are being covered
by WiMAX systems, making access for EHS sufferers ever more difficult. Neighbours
who are 'ham' radio operators can, even unwittingly, make an EHS neighbour's life
almost unbearable. A nearby lamp-post height mobile phone mast can make a house
uninhabitable by an EHS person. They may not even be able to go down a road where
one of these masts is situated. This makes living a 'normal' life almost impossible in
severe cases of EHS.
It is generally accepted that probably between 3% and 7% of the population are EHS to
some degree and maybe up to 35% show some mild indications of electro-stress.
What are the initiators of EHS?
Electrical hypersensitivity can have a variety of causes; computer monitors (VDUs),
fluorescent lights, mobile and cordless phones are believed to be among the most
common initiators of the problem; working in high magnetic fields, MRI scans, wireless
computing systems, chemical overload, 'closed head' injury, allergy, low energy lamps,
trauma, electric shock, metallic implants, even lightning strikes are other initiators. Many
people experience an abrupt onset of symptoms following exposure to a novel EMF
such as fields associated with a new computer, a new phone or new fluorescent lights.
Working in high electromagnetic fields can produce sensitivity. Drivers of electric trains
are members of a group in which hypersensitivity can lead to very dangerous
consequences. 10 - 25% of UK train drivers report 'missing time', time in which they
were unaware of their surroundings. However brief this 'absence' may be, if it is at a
critical place, e.g. coming up to a red light, it is possible that this could lead to fatal
accidents.
British biophysicist Peter Alexander said, "Once the individual is sensitized to an agent
the initial aggressor is immaterial. The biological reaction will be the same to all agents."
EHS commonly also develops with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Computer
monitors, and many other electronic items, give off quite toxic volatile organic chemicals
(VOCs) when the cases and electronic components 'burn in' from new.
According to the UK's Building Research Establishment, and a separate Australian
study, new houses 1-2 years old can emit many times the level of potentially
carcinogenic volatile organic compounds as houses built just 10 years ago. The
sources include formaldehyde from treated wooden floors and furniture, toxic
compounds from fresh paints and solvents, and hormone disrupting chemicals from
carpets and vinyl flooring.
Symptoms
Try this questionnaire which includes most of the symptoms experienced by people with
electrical hypersensitivity.