That man-made electromagnetic pollution exists is well documented. It seems to be proliferating at an alarming rate. That electromagnetic pollution affects organic life deleteriously is also not in dispute. It does not seem likely that it will abate due to the desire of those in power to use electromagnetic phenomena for the purposes of gathering and disseminating information and in using it to control those not in power.

In 1994, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the term "Biofield." A Biofield is a matrix of different energies that extend outward from each person's body and is a more "scientific" term than "aura", but means the same thing. According to the latest theories and research in biophysics, the Biofield comprises the life energies of cellular metabolism, organ systems and the human morphogenic field.

Electromagnetic waves are composed of two different but related fields -- the electric component, known as the "E-field", and the magnetic component, called either "H-field" or "B-field". Electric fields are created by voltage and measured in volts per meter (v/m). The higher the voltage, the stronger will be the resultant field. An electric field will exist even when there is no current flowing. Magnetic fields are created when electric current flows: the greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field.

So just what can we of the proletariat do to protect ourselves? The answer is very little actually. There is a lot of web presence devoted to those promoting their own particular brand of protection from electromagnetic pollution. The purpose of this article is sort out the claims and discover the real means of protection, if it exists.

Ask any research scientist or electrical engineer about shielding against the effects of ambient EMF and they will inevitably begin a long discussion concerning grounding, Faraday cages and shielding. This is a topic that concerns them deeply as the proper workings of their very sensitive electrical equipment deepends upon adequate grounding and shielding. It seems very odd to me that they do not take the same care of their bodies that they do of their equipment. The reason for this is that the deleterious effects of spurious EMF on the human body is dependent upon the capacity of the human body to maintain rheostasis (a better term than homeostasis) until some weaker system starts to show the signs and symptoms of disease. Their sensitive equipment will not function at all unless adequately grounded and shielded. This is quite different than an organic entity.

The best way to shield anything is to block the incident EMF with sheet metal or a wire screen. The wavelength shielded against will be twice as long as the physical dimensions of the screen. Sheet metal shields against all EMF except magnetism. A easily understood article about electromagnetic fields and antenna radiation may be found here http://www.majr.com/docs/Understanding_Electromagnetic_Fields_And_Antenna.pdf

Edward Leeper in his book "Silencing the Fields" says that shielding does work easily and well for static or low-frequency electric fields - using any sheet of metal, metal screen, or metal fencing, provided that the metal is grounded. But he says that to really shield power-frequency AC magnetic fields is difficult. You may be able to do so, but the cost is typically prohibitive, compared with some better approach. Partly this is due to the fact that the best magnetic shielding materials contain copious amounts of nickel, and they must be used in fairly thick layers for any large job and are costly. He also states that the best solution is too move your self out of the field. A chart that shows "EMF Shielding & Mitigation Alternatives" may be found here at http://www.emfservices.com/emf-shielding.htm

It occurs to me that many of the websites devoted to EMF remediation are aimed at the gulability of the public. Caveat Emptor - "Let the buyer beware"!

1. Neurological: headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, altered reflexes, muscle and joint pain, leg/foot pain, "Flue-like" symptoms, fever. More severe reactions can include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke.
2. Cardiac: palpitations, arrhythmias, pain or pressure in the chest, low or high blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, shortness of breath.
3. Respiratory: sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma.
4. Dermatological: skin rash, itching, burning, facial flushing.
5. Ophthalmologic: pain or burning in the eyes, pressure in/behind the eyes, deteriorating vision, floaters, cataracts.
6. Others: digestive problems; abdominal pain; enlarged thyroid, testicular/ovarian pain; dryness of lips, tongue, mouth, eyes; great thirst; dehydration; nosebleeds; internal bleeding; altered sugar metabolism; immune system abnormalities; redistribution of metals within the body; hair loss; pain in the teeth; deteriorating fillings; impaired sense of smell; ringing in the ears.

Not a pleasant list of symptoms is it.

So now what are we to do? Well, let us break down the possible solutions into two groups: Behavioral and Engineering.

Behavioral Solutions

Behavioral solutions involve the changing of our behavior in such a manner as to lessen our burden of electromagnetic stress.

The easiest method of eliminating EMF is to remove yourself for as far as you can get from a source. As all EMF obeys the inverse square law, the intensity diminishes rapidly the farther you get from a source. This is particularly relevant when sleeping as we stay in one location for 6 to 8 hours, on the average. All electrical equipment and alternating current (AC) supply outlets are sources. Move your bed to the least EMF polluted spot that is convenient. You might want to learn to dowse in order to determine the effects upon your body and find a "still" location. Your work environment is more difficult to deal with in removing yourself out of the way of spurious EMF. Many people work in an environment that is very highly polluted with EMF or work with equipment that produces large quantities of EMF.

Living in the country is also a very good way to eliminate unwanted EMF. This must be done with the nearest AC transmission line and stepdown transformer at least 5 miles away. How many of us want to live this way? I would like to relate my own personal experience concerning this topic. In the summer of 1975, I moved from living in San Diego, CA to Auckland, New Zealand. San Diego at the time was rated as one of the three cities in the USA most polluted by EMF (the other two being Honolulu, HI and Washington, DC). The USA is on a 60 Hz AC grid and New Zealand is on a 50 Hz AC grid. I immediately noticed a more calm and restful feeling upon the first few weeks in Auckland. During the summer if 1977, I got the opportunity to stay at a property that had never been forested, 309 acres, for 3 months. This was just south of the town of Kaitaia, Northland, NZ near the northern tip of the North Island. The nearest AC transmission line and step-down transformer was 5 miles away. When I returned to Auckland, for a period of about one month, I felt as if my brain was not functioning properly. I found it difficult to concentrate, to be clear headed and to feel at ease. Then I returned to the USA, to San Diego, CA again in the summer of 1978. The period of non-optimal brain functioning lasted for three months until I again became used to and adapted to the EMF of the area.

I am of the opinion that the solution lies in making as many of our appliances work with direct current (DC). This is done with recreational vehicles so why not houses? Photovoltaic sources of electrical energy are great for this as they produce DC.

Engineering Solutions

Engineering solutions involve the use of various manufactured gadgets and strategies for usage to lessen our burden of electromagnetic stress.

Strategies

1. Feng Shui

   Feng Shui is the Chinese way of solving issues and problems with environmental stressors. The focus is mainly on geopathic stress but also upon the effect upon the mental and emotional state of the person living or working in any particular environment. The Form School is the oldest form of feng shui. It concerns understanding the energy of landforms and waterways. It is based on their shape, size and relative positions, as to how they will affect the people living on the land and in the buildings upon the land. The orientation of homes and burial sites is a major part of form school. This is a more visual approach, relying on analysis of the specific energies of the land, buildings, waterways, and roadways and then recommending proper placement of buildings and burial sites in relation to the environment. Feng shui uses light and color, sound, living objects, moving objects, heavy objects, symbols and materials that absorb specific EMF frequencies to ameliorate spurious EMF in a more personal environmental context. There have been many books written concerning feng shui remediation techniques. If one does not want to hire a feng shui expert, you will need to do a considerable amount of personal research into the subject.

2. Natural Fibers

   Synthetic fibers have the property of generating considerable electric charge upon rubbing with many materials. This static charge in turn produces EMF. If worn upon the body, these fields can interfere with many biological processes. Thus, wearing natural fibers like cotton and linen is better. Wool, silk and rayon also produce static fields when rubbed by various materials but they are not as large as those produced by synthetic fibers. Also, polyester clothing absorbs Radon gas bringing increased radioactive levels close to the skin. Polypropylene is used for sports clothing as it "wicks" well and is durable. However, it absorbs "smelly" chemicals that are difficult to wash out in water.

3. Sleep Systems

   Time spent in bed during sleep is one that should have as little geopathic stressors and spurious EMF as possible. This means that the area will need to be dowsed for stressors and the bed placed in a neutral zone. This is where adequate preparation in building and constructing your home is vital. Obviously existing buildings will need some kind of remediation. Various materials may be placed under the bed to counteract the geopathic stressors but it is best to simply move the bed to a better location. Also, any electrical equipment, outlets and wall wiring must be considered. The head needs to be as far away from any of these as possible. Here is where battery powered clocks come into usage. Twisted pair wiring is used to reduce EMF. DC rather than AC house wiring is preferred. Locate large appliances in locations where one does not spend any appreciable time and not next to a bedroom wall. Metal springs in mattresses are a cause for concern as they focus EMF to the immediate area. Cotton filled futon type mattresses are preferred. Also, metal bed frames are to be avoided for the same reason. Supposedly, waterbeds with a high salt content in the water will focus EMF in the immediate area as well. Definitely do not use an electric blanket as it brings AC and its EMF close to you as you sleep. If you use it to warm the bed before use, remove the electric blanket from the bed after warming, do not sleep under it.

4. Color & Light

   The bright lights of our cities is causing much sleep pattern disruption in many people. Alexander Schauss, director of the American Institute for Biosocial Research, said color had a direct physiological impact. The electromagnetic energy of color, he said, interacts in some still unknown way with the pituitary and pineal glands and the hypothalamus, deep in the brain, These organs regulate the endocrine system, which controls many basic body functions and emotional responses, such as aggression. The minute amounts of electromagnetic energy that compose light affect one or more of the brain's neurotransmitters that regulate these glands in the brain. The natural rhythm of light/dark has been disrupted and results in altered melatonin production by the pineal gland. Melatonin production normally begins to occur at dusk. Sleep is induced by increased melatonin levels. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_symbolism for Color Psychology.

5. Meditational Exercises

   Meditational exercises are ideal for assisting one to restore a sense of centeredness. An easily learned series of meditational exercises can be found at http:// diamondhead.net/meditational.htm in the Meditational Arts Section.

6. Nutrition

   Eating properly is paramount in maintaining health in the face of any type of stressor. Taking the amino acid supplements of l-tyrosine and l-phenylalanine assist the nervous system and adrenal glands in the production of neurotransmitters and steroids. Omega-3 fatty acids, folate and vitamin B-12 are essential to nerve health. Eating a well-prepared variety of foods is preferred to pills and other supplements but one needs to maximize your chances.

Equipment

1. Negative Ion Generators

   Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy. Ions are molecules that have gained or lost an electrical charge. They are created in nature as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. You may have experienced the power of negative ions when you last set foot on the beach or walked beneath a waterfall. While part of the euphoria is simply being around these wondrous settings and away from the normal pressures of home and work, the air circulating in the mountains and the beach is said to contain tens of thousands of negative ions, much more than the average home or office building (which contain dozens or hundreds of air pollutants) and many register a flat zero. Air conditioning depletes the atmosphere of negative ions, but an ion generator re-releases the ions that air conditioners remove. "The action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods," says ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University in New York. In fact, Columbia University studies of people with winter and chronic depression show that negative ion generators relieve depression as much as antidepressants. "The best part is that there are relatively no side effects, but we still need to figure out appropriate doses and which people it works best on," he says.

2. Light Systems

   Natural light systems are by far the best to use in the workplace. Full spectrum incandescent lamps are available in most hardware and lighting stores. People with a high requirement for natural light during the winter months use natural light sources to reduce winter depression. Sodium vapor lamps are better than mercury vapor lamps for street lighting and do not pollute the environment with mercury when broken. Sodium vapor light is softer than the mercury vapor light and helps to reduce background light levels at night.

3. Direct Current Systems

   Moving electrons create magnetic fields. Static magnetic fields of DC electrical systems are not as hazardous as the fluctuating magnetic fields of AC electrical systems. Some DC equipment using brushes produce considerable EMF. This is the reason that grounding straps were used on automobiles before alternators came to be used exclusively for battery charging. Appropriate use of technology is the key.

4. EMF Protective Devices
   1. Scalar Resonators

      A scalar wave is generated whenever one wave is matched in frequency and amplitude by another wave such that they cancel each other out. The result is not zero, but rather another dimension is activated, which is non local (everywhere at once). Websites selling these say that they ground the EMF using their circuits. However, they do not mention the theory as to why their products are effective.

   2. Crystals

      Crystal Technology has a unique composition and structure which allows it to absorb and then rebroadcast harmful electromagnetic radiations in a cleaner form. It is not said how this is achieved.

   3. Diodes

      The Diode works by helping to neutralize and block EMF’s by giving you a shield while working with your own body’s electrical system. You will experience less stress and more energy by the balancing and stabilizing effects of the Diode. Again, there is no explanation as to how this is achieved.

   4. Rare Earth Devices

      These "neutralizers" supposedly emit a naturally occurring Tachyon Field from grounded and activated rock minerals and crystalline matrices. Just how the tachyon field is supposed to neutralize the EMF is not mentioned.

5. Shielding Devices
   1. A general guide for shielding may be found at http://www.lessemf.com/guidelines.pdf
   2. Silver and copper coated nylon cloth clothing.
   3. Electrical wire with special internal configuration to maximize cancellation of magnetic field emissions.
   4. Foils, conductive tubing, conductive films, ferrite beads and high frequency noise suppression devices are readily available.