Lap top? Really?
It’s highly ironic, but your laptop computer (LTC) is dangerous on your lap. Researchers are warning laptop computer companies that they need to change the name of the product to protect users’ health.
Like holding a cell phone too close to your head, holding a LTC so close to your body means the radiation flows directly into your body — and into some of your most vital organs. And if you’re pregnant, of course, the dangers are even worse.
If you measure the electromagnetic radiation levels of a LTC on a gauss meter, you’ll find that many have levels higher than 200 milligauss — and safe ranges are less than 0.3.
It’s not like the computer manufacturers don’t warn us. If you take the time to look in your manual (which many of us don’t), you’ll probably find wording something to this effect: “Warning: Do not place on lap.” And actually, these days, you just need to look at the bottom of your LTC and you’ll likely find this kind of warning: “Warning: Do not block the outlet of fan grill. Place the machine on hard surface only. Caution: This surface is hot. Avoid body contact and do not place this notebook on your lap while it is operating.”
And if you research the subject, you’ll find that even the FCC report regarding safety from EMFs way back in 1996 states that a LTC needs to be placed at least 20 cm from the body.
Non-Thermal Dangers
But all this just refers to thermal dangers of radiation—the ionizing kind. The warnings are telling us to be careful so we don’t cook ourselves. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story when it comes to your LTC being dangerous. Even if you use your LTC on a desk, there are still dangers from the non-ionizing type of radiation it emits.
Research published in the Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health shows a study in which researchers evaluated five commonly used LTCs of different brands.
They found that EMF values were within the guidelines created by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); however, they were “considerably higher than the values recommended by two recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development.”
The researchers also found that the radiation values became alarmingly high when the LTC was used close to the body. The power supply induces strong intra-corporal electrical current densities in both adult and fetus subjects —71%-483% and 1882%-263% higher, respectively, than ICNIRP basic restrictions recommend to prevent adverse health effects.
They concluded:
“Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.”
The radiation values in LTCs were actually deemed risky in these guidelines for tumor development.
Your Reproductive Health May be at Risk
Using your LTC on your lap is dangerous if you want to have children. If you’re a man, you need to be particularly careful. Using a LTC is
dangerous on your lap, especially if you’re hoping to have children. A study evaluating the direct impact of LTC use on human sperm was published in January 2012 in Fertility & Sterility, showing a significant decrease in sperm motility (movement) and an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. And this was after just four hours of exposure.
The results of this study are similar to those done in studies with men wearing cell phones on a belt or in pants pockets, published earlier in 2008 in Fertility & Sterility, which showed statistically significant changes in the men’s sperm count.
Although these studies on LTCs measured non-thermal effects, there are other studies that have showed that sperm may also be damaged through thermal effects when a LTC is used on a lap if a man’s legs are held close together.
Laptop Computer Radiation Linked with Testicular Cancer
Men’s testes are endangered by LTC use in yet another way. According to environmental consultant Cindy Sage, “overwhelming evidence shows that RF can cause DNA damage, and DNA damage is a necessary precursor to cancer.”
Really bringing the point home, David Carpenter, MD, director of the institute for Health & Environment at the University of Albany, states:
“when you hold your laptop on your lap, what you’re essentially doing is radiating your pelvis. So that all the concerns that affect that area are of concern.”
He cites a number of studies that point to a heightened risk of testicular cancer for men who keep radiation-emitting devices close to their pelvises.
Carpenter adds a note about pregnant women: “the studies aren’t quite there yet, but I think we can say that anything that might cause cancer almost always causes birth defects, so pregnant women — or those wanting to become pregnant soon — should take extra precautions.”
Dangers of WiFi
Much has been studied about the dangers of the non-ionizing radiation of WiFi in particular. Researcher Dr. Magda Havas, Professor of Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent University, ON, Canada, states:
“The scientific evidence clearly shows that microwave radiation at levels well below [international] guidelines …with Wi-Fi routers causes cancer in laboratory animals, causes heart palpitations in sensitive adults, causes reduced sperm motility and viability, and is associated with symptoms of electrosensitivity that include – but are not limited to – cognitive dysfunction, pain, fatigue, mood disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability), dizziness, nausea, weakness, skin problems, and tinnitus.”
A number of organizations, as well, have also given strong warnings about all technology that emits radiation similar to that of WiFi. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Toxicology Program have also studied the research on the effects of non-thermal radiation on human health. Their updated results are that, among other things, radiation can significantly increase the risk of glioma, a deadly brain tumor. They have classified RF as a possible carcinogen, the same as lead and DDT.
Is Wired less Dangerous than Wireless?
There are conflicting reports on this question. Some claim that using WiFi or 3G connectivity is more dangerous because of the radiation from these sources (on top of that coming off the LTC itself). They say it’s better to use cable connection and keep the wireless ability switched off.
Other experts say LTCs are even more dangerous when they’re plugged in and charging, because computer-charging devices are ungrounded. They claim that the amount of radiation you’re exposed to when your LTC is plugged in, compared to that running on a battery, is 100x higher.
How to Make your Laptop Computer Less Dangerous
Either way, it’s clear you should be cautious in using your LTC. For protection from thermal protection, keep it off your lap and away from all your vital organs. And for non-thermal radiation, the easiest and most effective thing to do is to get laptop radiation protection.
In the same way we use sunscreen to prevent being harmed by the sun and we wash our hands to keep from getting sick, using laptop radiation protection in today’s world is simply common sense.
The next time you want to conveniently place your LTC on your lap, think about the dangers you're exposing yourself to and keep it on a solid surface, about 20cm away from your body, to reduce the risks. I know this post is full of technical terms. The summary is that using a laptop computer on your lap or close to your body is very dangerous.
Like holding a cell phone too close to your head, holding a LTC so close to your body means the radiation flows directly into your body — and into some of your most vital organs. And if you’re pregnant, of course, the dangers are even worse.
If you measure the electromagnetic radiation levels of a LTC on a gauss meter, you’ll find that many have levels higher than 200 milligauss — and safe ranges are less than 0.3.
It’s not like the computer manufacturers don’t warn us. If you take the time to look in your manual (which many of us don’t), you’ll probably find wording something to this effect: “Warning: Do not place on lap.” And actually, these days, you just need to look at the bottom of your LTC and you’ll likely find this kind of warning: “Warning: Do not block the outlet of fan grill. Place the machine on hard surface only. Caution: This surface is hot. Avoid body contact and do not place this notebook on your lap while it is operating.”
And if you research the subject, you’ll find that even the FCC report regarding safety from EMFs way back in 1996 states that a LTC needs to be placed at least 20 cm from the body.
Non-Thermal Dangers
But all this just refers to thermal dangers of radiation—the ionizing kind. The warnings are telling us to be careful so we don’t cook ourselves. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story when it comes to your LTC being dangerous. Even if you use your LTC on a desk, there are still dangers from the non-ionizing type of radiation it emits.
Research published in the Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health shows a study in which researchers evaluated five commonly used LTCs of different brands.
They found that EMF values were within the guidelines created by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); however, they were “considerably higher than the values recommended by two recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development.”
The researchers also found that the radiation values became alarmingly high when the LTC was used close to the body. The power supply induces strong intra-corporal electrical current densities in both adult and fetus subjects —71%-483% and 1882%-263% higher, respectively, than ICNIRP basic restrictions recommend to prevent adverse health effects.
They concluded:
“Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.”
The radiation values in LTCs were actually deemed risky in these guidelines for tumor development.
Your Reproductive Health May be at Risk
Using your LTC on your lap is dangerous if you want to have children. If you’re a man, you need to be particularly careful. Using a LTC is
The results of this study are similar to those done in studies with men wearing cell phones on a belt or in pants pockets, published earlier in 2008 in Fertility & Sterility, which showed statistically significant changes in the men’s sperm count.
Although these studies on LTCs measured non-thermal effects, there are other studies that have showed that sperm may also be damaged through thermal effects when a LTC is used on a lap if a man’s legs are held close together.
Laptop Computer Radiation Linked with Testicular Cancer
Men’s testes are endangered by LTC use in yet another way. According to environmental consultant Cindy Sage, “overwhelming evidence shows that RF can cause DNA damage, and DNA damage is a necessary precursor to cancer.”
Really bringing the point home, David Carpenter, MD, director of the institute for Health & Environment at the University of Albany, states:
“when you hold your laptop on your lap, what you’re essentially doing is radiating your pelvis. So that all the concerns that affect that area are of concern.”
He cites a number of studies that point to a heightened risk of testicular cancer for men who keep radiation-emitting devices close to their pelvises.
Carpenter adds a note about pregnant women: “the studies aren’t quite there yet, but I think we can say that anything that might cause cancer almost always causes birth defects, so pregnant women — or those wanting to become pregnant soon — should take extra precautions.”
Much has been studied about the dangers of the non-ionizing radiation of WiFi in particular. Researcher Dr. Magda Havas, Professor of Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent University, ON, Canada, states:
“The scientific evidence clearly shows that microwave radiation at levels well below [international] guidelines …with Wi-Fi routers causes cancer in laboratory animals, causes heart palpitations in sensitive adults, causes reduced sperm motility and viability, and is associated with symptoms of electrosensitivity that include – but are not limited to – cognitive dysfunction, pain, fatigue, mood disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability), dizziness, nausea, weakness, skin problems, and tinnitus.”
A number of organizations, as well, have also given strong warnings about all technology that emits radiation similar to that of WiFi. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Toxicology Program have also studied the research on the effects of non-thermal radiation on human health. Their updated results are that, among other things, radiation can significantly increase the risk of glioma, a deadly brain tumor. They have classified RF as a possible carcinogen, the same as lead and DDT.
Is Wired less Dangerous than Wireless?
There are conflicting reports on this question. Some claim that using WiFi or 3G connectivity is more dangerous because of the radiation from these sources (on top of that coming off the LTC itself). They say it’s better to use cable connection and keep the wireless ability switched off.
Other experts say LTCs are even more dangerous when they’re plugged in and charging, because computer-charging devices are ungrounded. They claim that the amount of radiation you’re exposed to when your LTC is plugged in, compared to that running on a battery, is 100x higher.
How to Make your Laptop Computer Less Dangerous
Either way, it’s clear you should be cautious in using your LTC. For protection from thermal protection, keep it off your lap and away from all your vital organs. And for non-thermal radiation, the easiest and most effective thing to do is to get laptop radiation protection.
In the same way we use sunscreen to prevent being harmed by the sun and we wash our hands to keep from getting sick, using laptop radiation protection in today’s world is simply common sense.
The next time you want to conveniently place your LTC on your lap, think about the dangers you're exposing yourself to and keep it on a solid surface, about 20cm away from your body, to reduce the risks. I know this post is full of technical terms. The summary is that using a laptop computer on your lap or close to your body is very dangerous.
Culled and edited
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