EMF Exposure

[Sirius]

I have the habit of leaving chargers (phone, laptop, ipod, etc) plugged to the power source all the time. If the main source of dirty power noise is AC to DC conversion, this seems to be a very bad habit

This is a very bad habit. ;)

 

[LQB]

I have the habit of leaving chargers (phone, laptop, ipod, etc) plugged to the power source all the time. If the main source of dirty power noise is AC to DC conversion, this seems to be a very bad habit

This is a very bad habit. ;)

Yes, and when you leave a transformer plugged in - even though the device is not plugged in - it still generates noise on the grid. If you use a gauss meter you will also find very high AC mag field up close. This is why you never want one of these plugged in near your head at night in bed.

Still, your biggest dirty power offenders will be variable-speed switched power appliances - the more power they switch, the more noise you get.

 

[LQB]

On AC Magnetic fields, here are a couple of cases from Karl Riley and his career of finding the sources and fixing them:

But getting back to the magnetic field, the wire pairs for each home circuit can be run together because the voltage has been stepped down to 120/240V. As long as the wires remain together, there is no net current, and therefore, no AC magnetic field. The National Electric Code (NEC - or your country’s equivalent) is very carefully crafted to eliminate net current in all buildings. This is aptly demonstrated by Karl Riley in his book, Tracing EMFs in Building Wiring and Grounding14 in which he describes common wiring errors that can lead to unacceptable AC magnetic fields in the home/office building. Electricians, just like everyone else, take shortcuts and make mistakes, but in the case of net current, they rarely understand the consequences of the resulting AC magnetic fields on the health of people in the environment – especially children. The majority of NEC inspectors are probably unaware of this as well, and the mistakes are rarely caught. This is tragic in the sense that a simple gauss meter (measures the magnetic field) and ammeter (measures net current) can reveal the problem quickly before the wiring is encased in the internal structure. Fixing these problems after the fact can be difficult and costly – and you may need a “Karl Riley” to diagnose, locate, and correct the problem. But you can quickly determine if you have a problem with a cheap $50 gauss meter – but more on that later.

When the pair of wires begins to separate, AC magnetic fields develop in the vicinity. All wire pairs must separate widely at the panel box for connection to grid power. This makes the panel box a strong source of AC magnetic fields and explains why you do not want any living areas adjacent to or in the vicinity of the panel box. The wires must also separate at each socket, light fixture, and appliance in the home/office. In the case of appliances, the wires separate internal to the appliance in order to power circuit boards, transformers, heating elements, etc. The more current and separation of the wires - the higher the magnetic field.

Today it is generally and widely accepted that long term exposure to AC magnetic fields in the range of 3-4 milligauss (0.3-0.4 microT) results in a doubling of risk for childhood leukemia. It is, therefore, suggested that long term exposure not exceed 2mG (0.2microT). Many scientists and health organizations suggest that a wider safety margin be applied, reducing this to 0.5-1.0mG (0.05-0.1microT). A healthy safety margin makes sense since there will undoubtedly be periods of much higher exposure, and the dose should be considered cumulative – much like ionizing radiation (radioactivity).

Riley14 relates an interesting (and sad) anecdote from his experience. “The next case is unusual in that it involves a child who developed leukemia in the first year of his life. I was called in to measure the magnetic fields in his crib room since it was next to the service entrance [panel box] closet in a large LA [Los Angeles] estate. I found no unusual field level emanating from the service closet itself, since the equipment was not mounted adjacent to the wall to the child’s room, but a substantial magnetic field was coming from an under-floor source which angled out from the service closet location, ran under the crib and exited near the corner of the room. The field at the crib was 4mG and on the floor where the child crawled it was 12mG [1.2microT]. These values were measured during the day when the only loads were the washer and/or dryer. During the evening the field levels would have been much higher.

The field was due to a net current on the service lateral [circuit] which ran under the floor. I clamped the ammeter around the copper water supply pipe where it entered the building and found it was carrying amperage. Following my recommendation the owner had a plumber insert a dielectric [insulator] coupling in the water pipe down near the water meter near the curb, which was about 100’ from the house. This took the neutral current off the pipe and restored it to the neutral conductor in the service lateral and balanced the magnetic field, thus reducing the magnetic field in the crib room to tenths [of a mG].
The child underwent chemotherapy and for awhile was doing well. Before finishing this revision [of his book] I learned that sadly he had not survived. Was his leukemia due to having been exposed to 4+ mG in his crib and 12+ mG while crawling around on the carpet?”

I’ll include one more of Riley’s anecdotes because it involves a very common wiring error with devastating results in this case: “I was called in by a family living in a desert community north of Barstow CA who had experienced a sudden onset of electrosensitivity [ES]. They were sure something was wrong with the house as they could feel burning sensations, etc and had rashes on their hands which puzzled their doctor. A child born while they lived in the house was born with three kinds of brain damage.
As this was the first case of electrical hypersensitivity I had come in contact with I was cautious if not a little skeptical. But when I measured the house with the lights on I found elevated fields in the master bedroom, the baby’s bedroom, and a field of 82mG at the couch the family gathered together on to watch TV.

After a couple of hours of tracing I found the point where GCs [neutrals] of two circuits had been connected [together]. As mentioned in the text, it was at a duplex receptacle in the master bedroom where one circuit was controlled by a wall switch and the other was always energized. In such receptacles one must break off the tabs connecting the two parts of the receptacle – both the hot tab and the neutral tab. In this case only the hot tab had been broken off. As soon as the receptacle was disconnected the field dropped from 82mG one foot from the wall to below a tenth of a mG at the couch. An 82mG field one foot from the wall is generated by a net current of approximately 12 amps; in this case due mainly to an electric heater used by the family in winter.

Whether the mother’s use of this couch for sleep during pregnancy was related to both the birth defects and hypersensitivity is up to medical specialists to sort out. The hypersensitivity was real as I found by a careful experiment in which I found that the mother was able to tell if a 2mG field was on or off 11 times out of 12, with no external clues from me or the apparatus I used (a covered coil and a silent mercury switch, plus a predetermined randomized on-off sequence).”

The footprint of induced ES (electrosensitivity) is very evident in this account. The effect seems very similar to what gluten does to the Celiac sufferer, and makes one wonder: what are these EMFs are doing to the rest of us?

 

[clearmiddle]

Wow, that is more than a little scary. This quote mentions the magnetic field cancelation that I was thinking of earlier. When all is well, the varying magnetic fields around the two conductors in the cable are exactly opposed, although on slightly different centers. I imagine there is some residual field, but I wouldn't want to try to do the math (not good at that).

I can see now that a ground current, especially one that doesn't flow in the original cable, will reduce the cancelation effect. If all the current is returning by a different path then there is no significant cancelation at all.

The separation of neutrals in wall outlets when one socket is switched and the other is not is new to me. It seems like it would depend on how the switch is wired, whether this was a problem or not.

I have the computer equipment in my office connected using a single ground -- it all runs back to a single outlet. The main issue there would be dirty power from so many switching power supplies. I can see that I need to move some equipment away from me, though, and to do some measurements.

We remodeled the house two years ago and the service panel (as well as the backup generator transfer switch) is now located right through the wall from the bed in the second bedroom. Normally no people sleep there but the cats sometimes do, and it is where I have my FIR blanket. This is not good.

I am also wondering about the jacuzzi with its pump a few inches from my head. It makes me want to camp in the back yard (where there is only low voltage lighting wiring).

 

[LQB]

Wow, that is more than a little scary. This quote mentions the magnetic field cancelation that I was thinking of earlier. When all is well, the varying magnetic fields around the two conductors in the cable are exactly opposed, although on slightly different centers. I imagine there is some residual field, but I wouldn't want to try to do the math (not good at that).

The tiny separation results in no field for practical purpose.

I can see now that a ground current, especially one that doesn't flow in the original cable, will reduce the cancelation effect. If all the current is returning by a different path then there is no significant cancelation at all.

Exactly. In the first example, the neutral current in the circuit was shunted to ground creating two locations for net current to exist.

The separation of neutrals in wall outlets when one socket is switched and the other is not is new to me. It seems like it would depend on how the switch is wired, whether this was a problem or not.

In this example the problem was the electricians wiring from the start. The receptacles associated with two different circuits must be isolated from each other. In this case the "hot" was isolated but the two neutrals were tied together. This produced net current in both circuits - and the high mag fields when the family ran the heater on one of the circuits.

I have the computer equipment in my office connected using a single ground -- it all runs back to a single outlet. The main issue there would be dirty power from so many switching power supplies. I can see that I need to move some equipment away from me, though, and to do some measurements.

Yes but the computer equipment produces its own high mag fields (let alone the dirty power induced on the grid). The measurements you want to make are both dirty power at the sockets and AC mag fields in the vicinity of the equipment. All of us that use computers a lot should know where the highest fields are and place the equipment accordingly.

We remodeled the house two years ago and the service panel (as well as the backup generator transfer switch) is now located right through the wall from the bed in the second bedroom. Normally no people sleep there but the cats sometimes do, and it is where I have my FIR blanket. This is not good.

If the panel box is on the other side of same wall as the bedroom, then there are likely high mag fields at the head of the bed - not a good place for humans or animals to sleep. You can verify this with a gauss meter. You may want to move the bed.

I am also wondering about the jacuzzi with its pump a few inches from my head. It makes me want to camp in the back yard (where there is only low voltage lighting wiring).

The pump, depending on design, may produce high mag fields even when it is not on (if it uses a transformer coil at the input power). You should test it with pump on and off. The meter I recommend is the Trifield 100XE (at amazon) since it will measure AC mag fields, Elec field, and RF. Since everyone spends so much time in bed, it is best to makes sure that your head is not near a socket, plugged-in transformer, or electric clock of any kind (especially digital).

Edit: fixed quotes and added:
The only way for most of us to to sense high Mag fields is to use a meter. Ironically, the way most ES individuals become that way is through brutal overload exposure at some prior point in their life.

 

[Sirius]

what are these EMFs are doing to the rest of us?

More precisely, what do EMFs do to those 97% of the population who are not yet impacted by ES or EHS?

At best, you should not have more than 20 nT at least at night magnetic field strength. This is mostly safe for even sensitive people. Maximum overall exposure should not exceed 200 nT (mentioned also in the article). Depending on the electrical devices in use or other circumstances if, for examples, power lines and other external sources are involved, magnetic fields may vary in intensity of a factor of 10. One's environment should be always investigated thoroughly at different times and with different settings (e.g. lights on and off, all devices disconnected or some connected to the power grid).

Regarding Trifield 100XE, here is its specification: _http://www.trifield.com/content/trifield-meter/
It doesn't seem to be that useful.

Frequency Range: 40 Hz – 100 KHz (see frequency weighting)

Does not register traction current at least in several countries if that feature is needed. But it's suitable for measuring dirty electricity and normal electricity, or at least detecting it.

AC Electric Fields: […] Range/Resolution: 1000 V/m / 5 V/m (Original Version: 100 KV/m / 0.5 KV/m)

This is actually not enough.

Radio Microwave: […] Range/Resolution: 1 mW/cm2 / 0.01 mW/cm2

This is useless. Its amplification towards the lower bound needs to be 100-10,000 times greater in order to be of any relevance. Its accuracy is actually below acceptable.

Radio/microwave covers 10 to 1000 microwatts/square cm which includes the maximum permissible public exposure levels in all countries.

This is false by all means.

The only thing one could measure with this model is presumably AC magnetic fields. But for this purpose solely, there are cheaper and better alternatives out there. Forget its RF component.

 

[clearmiddle]

I have the computer equipment in my office connected using a single ground -- it all runs back to a single outlet. The main issue there would be dirty power from so many switching power supplies. I can see that I need to move some equipment away from me, though, and to do some measurements.

Yes but the computer equipment produces its own high mag fields (let alone the dirty power induced on the grid). The measurements you want to make are both dirty power at the sockets and AC mag fields in the vicinity of the equipment. All of us that use computers a lot should know where the highest fields are and place the equipment accordingly.

I will be relocating my main UPS today. It represents a sort of "panel," as well as containing a transformer.

Warnings about direct exposure to high frequency noise from "laptop" use have appeared recently (possibly in paleo blogs). There have been previous warnings about burning yourself by placing a laptop on your lap, but this is different. I'm not sure I know what to do, other than see about taking measurements soon. When I am working at my desk, I place the computer (a notebook) some distance away, but I often use it in the living room or on the patio. I don't even have a hardwired network connection in the living room. I have ethernet on the patio (thanks to the remodel) and I am using it now.

We remodeled the house two years ago and the service panel (as well as the backup generator transfer switch) is now located right through the wall from the bed in the second bedroom. Normally no people sleep there but the cats sometimes do, and it is where I have my FIR blanket. This is not good.

If the panel box is on the other side of same wall as the bedroom, then there are likely high mag fields at the head of the bed - not a good place for humans or animals to sleep. You can verify this with a gauss meter. You may want to move the bed.

Does the code actually allow placing the main panel next to a bedroom? I am going to have to convince my housemate that there is actually something to be concerned about before we rearrange the furniture. In the mean time I think we may just close that room to the cats, or at least cover the bed in some way that they won't want to use it.

The bed is against the wall with the panel, with the head against the wall with the window (below). The top of the bed is about a foot below the bottom of the meter, a few inches below the window sill. Cassie likes to sleep right in the corner, although not as often lately.

 

[Sirius]

Do you have a smart meter installed there?

Warnings about direct exposure to high frequency noise from "laptop" use have appeared recently (possibly in paleo blogs). There have been previous warnings about burning yourself by placing a laptop on your lap, but this is different. I'm not sure I know what to do, other than see about taking measurements soon. When I am working at my desk, I place the computer (a notebook) some distance away, but I often use it in the living room or on the patio. I don't even have a hardwired network connection in the living room. I have ethernet on the patio (thanks to the remodel) and I am using it now.

This does apply for WiFi and Bluetooth or similar technologies only if they are active.

 

[clearmiddle]

Do you have a smart meter installed there?...

Yes. I was just returning to mention that, since I forgot to earlier.

 

[LQB]

what are these EMFs are doing to the rest of us?

More precisely, what do EMFs do to those 97% of the population who are not yet impacted by ES or EHS?

At best, you should not have more than 20 nT at least at night magnetic field strength. This is mostly safe for even sensitive people. Maximum overall exposure should not exceed 200 nT (mentioned also in the article). Depending on the electrical devices in use or other circumstances if, for examples, power lines and other external sources are involved, magnetic fields may vary in intensity of a factor of 10. One's environment should be always investigated thoroughly at different times and with different settings (e.g. lights on and off, all devices disconnected or some connected to the power grid).

Regarding Trifield 100XE, here is its specification: _http://www.trifield.com/content/trifield-meter/
It doesn't seem to be that useful.

Frequency Range: 40 Hz – 100 KHz (see frequency weighting)

Does not register traction current at least in several countries if that feature is needed. But it's suitable for measuring dirty electricity and normal electricity, or at least detecting it.

AC Electric Fields: […] Range/Resolution: 1000 V/m / 5 V/m (Original Version: 100 KV/m / 0.5 KV/m)

This is actually not enough.

Radio Microwave: […] Range/Resolution: 1 mW/cm2 / 0.01 mW/cm2

This is useless. Its amplification towards the lower bound needs to be 100-10,000 times greater in order to be of any relevance. Its accuracy is actually below acceptable.

Radio/microwave covers 10 to 1000 microwatts/square cm which includes the maximum permissible public exposure levels in all countries.

This is false by all means.

The only thing one could measure with this model is presumably AC magnetic fields. But for this purpose solely, there are cheaper and better alternatives out there. Forget its RF component.

Absolutely. You want to make AC mag field measurements and dirty power measurements at different times of day and load conditions.

On the Elec field meter (trifield) it is useful if you want to measure the environment to the 6V/meter (recommended max level) within the bandwidth of the device.

For the mag field, it would be nice if it had one more sensitive scale (say 0-1mg) but it is just fine for detecting any problem areas (due to 60Hz power). I have both the Trifield and the Cell Sensor ($45 - it also detects cell RF, but I agree - the RF detector is useless). I like the Trifield better for AC mag measurements - it seems more stable (probably because of a 3-axis probe).

There is probably no cheap meter for doing good sensitive RF since that requires variable freq and filtering. Good meters for this get really expensive. The best the cheap ones can do is tell you if you're getting blasted by something within their measurement bandwidth.

The trifield is not for dirty electricty - for that you need a GS meter http://www.stetzerelectric.com/store/stetzerizer-microsurge-meter/.

People that do the kind of work that Karl Riley does, carry expensive meters (gauss meter, ammeter, etc) - but they need precision many times to diagnose the problem before tearing into the house to fix it.

 

[clearmiddle]

Thinking a little more about circuit breaker panels (why are they on my mind all of a sudden?), the panel wiring would seem to be asymmetric since most breakers are in the "hot" side of the line only. The neutral current seems to travel through some sort of buss bar? (I am really NOT familiar with breaker panels; I just notice things when I look. I think I may have replaced a defective breaker once, many years ago.)

Time to go reconfigure my office workspace (NOT how I had planned my afternoon). I need to do something with Wi-Fi placement, too. This would be a lot easier if I had good eyesight and mobility, but I don't. My computers and other devices are how I remain able to do useful work.

 

[LQB]

I will be relocating my main UPS today. It represents a sort of "panel," as well as containing a transformer.

Warnings about direct exposure to high frequency noise from "laptop" use have appeared recently (possibly in paleo blogs). There have been previous warnings about burning yourself by placing a laptop on your lap, but this is different. I'm not sure I know what to do, other than see about taking measurements soon. When I am working at my desk, I place the computer (a notebook) some distance away, but I often use it in the living room or on the patio. I don't even have a hardwired network connection in the living room. I have ethernet on the patio (thanks to the remodel) and I am using it now.

Does the code actually allow placing the main panel next to a bedroom? I am going to have to convince my housemate that there is actually something to be concerned about before we rearrange the furniture. In the mean time I think we may just close that room to the cats, or at least cover the bed in some way that they won't want to use it.

The bed is against the wall with the panel, with the head against the wall with the window (below). The top of the bed is about a foot below the bottom of the meter, a few inches below the window sill. Cassie likes to sleep right in the corner, although not as often lately.

If you just push the UPS out of the way against a wall it will probably be fine.

Laptops can be quite the bummer. This is because they pack all the electronics front and center under the keyboard. If you pass a gauss meter over the keyboard, you will find a spot where the field is extremely high - right over the keys (whether it is on the charger or not - remember the charger is a transformer and sometimes these are designed internally to the laptop). This can be 100+mG. The same spot shows up on the bottom of the laptop. This is why you do not want to put it on your lap for any extended period of time. It should always sit on a desk or platform in front of you so that your torso and thighs are well away from the bottom. If you type alot, your fingers will be exposed to some very high fields. I use my desktop if I need to type a lot, where I have the tower set well away from me. I'll use the laptop suspended well off my lap for internet browsing and light e-mail.

There is a pretty good electric field coming off the laptop screen but as long as your face is a foot away, it should not be a prob. I have not measured any high freq electrical noise coming off a laptop but a much better meter may be required. I do what has been recommended for ES folks just to be safe. You can take a wire and secure it to the ground in the receptacle. Take the other end and wedge it to the metal casing of any unused port (RS 232 for example) - this is supposed to reduce issues for ES laptop use.

I would definitely make sure the laptop wireless is turned off - do it through the Control Panel if you have to. And think about installing wired ethernet wherever you want internet/network access.

Yes, I think code does allow a panel box to be placed on any exterior wall but an architect (or building plans) will usually place it adjacent to a closet where people rarely spend much time. With the head of the bed on the window side, the situation might be better but if someone is sleeping close to the wall, they will get a dose. I see from your pic that the meter is here too - that is another source of high mag fields since your entire house power (amperage) splits here for the meter terminals before heading to the panel box.

You should probably get a gauss meter to get an idea of the magnitude of the AC mag field problem. The cheap "Cell Sensor" (on amazon) should do fine for this.

Now, if your meter is truly a transmitting "smart meter", then you have another problem. Check it to see if it has an FCC sticker or statement on the front. That statement indicates that it is a transmitter. If this is the case, then your entire house wing is being bathed periodically in high frequency GSM-like pulsed signals. The best solution (if you can't get the meter replaced) is to move the meter and panel box to a location out in the yard and erect a small metal fence behind the meter to deflect the RF energy away from the house.

I know all of this sounds like a lot and is very depressing, but if you go at it slowly and take the time to make the measurements, then you will feel in control and can take some action. Considering your potential EMF exposure you may even find the missing link in the diet/health issues that you have talked about - I don't know. But considering how all three EMFs have been link to blood sugar excursions in some folks, who knows what you will find? There sure is a lot we don't know ...

 

[LQB]

Thinking a little more about circuit breaker panels (why are they on my mind all of a sudden?), the panel wiring would seem to be asymmetric since most breakers are in the "hot" side of the line only. The neutral current seems to travel through some sort of buss bar? (I am really NOT familiar with breaker panels; I just notice things when I look. I think I may have replaced a defective breaker once, many years ago.)

Time to go reconfigure my office workspace (NOT how I had planned my afternoon). I need to do something with Wi-Fi placement, too. This would be a lot easier if I had good eyesight and mobility, but I don't. My computers and other devices are how I remain able to do useful work.

The hot lead closes the circuit around the breaker only for that circuit. That circuit is now completely isolated from the rest of the circuits. And remember that what current goes out on that circuit must always return, unless, the return from the load (neutral) touches another neutral or ground (Code violation) before returning to the panel box. This produces net current house-side. The neutral bus bar is just a convenient way to terminate all circuits to ensure the same voltage prior to grounding. This is why Riley refers to neutrals as GC- grounding conductor.

 

[Sirius]

Do you have a smart meter installed there?...

Yes. I was just returning to mention that, since I forgot to earlier.

This is perhaps one of the most critical sources then. As LQB explained, they are a permanent exposure, too. They emit pulsed microwaves every few seconds.

You can also rent AAA meters for a period of time which could be in your case the best and cheapest solution (if you don't need them afterwards).

The best solution (if you can't get the meter replaced) is to move the meter and panel box to a location out in the yard and erect a small metal fence behind the meter to deflect the RF energy away from the house.

This is a good solution. There are very cheap materials that shield sufficiently (metal-based). It should be measured though. The installation must be waterproof in addition.

 

[clearmiddle]

If you just push the UPS out of the way against a wall it will probably be fine.

Yes, that is pretty much what I did, except that I had to unplug everything because the cables and power cords all routed through openings in the back of my desk. The UPS was on a shelf in front of my legs. Now it is on top of the desk, almost at the ceiling and as far away from me as it can be, power cords and all. The monitor power cord is the only AC that comes near me now. This will also protect Cassie, our "sick kitty," who likes to sleep in the desk chair when I am not there (as well as on the wall where the meter is).

Laptops can be quite the bummer. This is because they pack all the electronics front and center under the keyboard. If you pass a gauss meter over the keyboard, you will find a spot where the field is extremely high - right over the keys (whether it is on the charger or not - remember the charger is a transformer and sometimes these are designed internally to the laptop). This can be 100+mG. The same spot shows up on the bottom of the laptop. This is why you do not want to put it on your lap for any extended period of time. It should always sit on a desk or platform in front of you so that your torso and thighs are well away from the bottom. If you type alot, your fingers will be exposed to some very high fields. I use my desktop if I need to type a lot, where I have the tower set well away from me. I'll use the laptop suspended well off my lap for internet browsing and light e-mail.

There is a pretty good electric field coming off the laptop screen but as long as your face is a foot away, it should not be a prob. I have not measured any high freq electrical noise coming off a laptop but a much better meter may be required. I do what has been recommended for ES folks just to be safe. You can take a wire and secure it to the ground in the receptacle. Take the other end and wedge it to the metal casing of any unused port (RS 232 for example) - this is supposed to reduce issues for ES laptop use.

I switched to a notebook PC originally because the noise from my desktop PC (fan plus disk drive) seemed to be affecting my ears. I believe that the warning I encountered recently (wish I could remember where) related to high frequency emissions. Wi-Fi should produce the stronger signal, but the microprocessor itself, running at a couple of GHz or so, produces microwave noise as well -- and it might not be picked up by a meter. And then there is the noise from keyboard and display scanning. It has to meet FCC requirements, but I doubt that that is going to be enough protection for the user.

I haven't seen an RS-232 port on a computer in a long time. I could perhaps use the microphone jack. The whole computer is aluminum. For patio use I might have to create a "bundle" containing an extension cord, ethernet cable, and ground cable.

Ideally I would just sit at my desk when I am indoors. I have a large monitor, and the computer itself can set on the far side of the desk. Unfortunately, sitting causes problems with my feet and ankles, and I need to limit it while at home.

I would definitely make sure the laptop wireless is turned off - do it through the Control Panel if you have to. And think about installing wired ethernet wherever you want internet/network access.

Yes, I think code does allow a panel box to be placed on any exterior wall but an architect (or building plans) will usually place it adjacent to a closet where people rarely spend much time. With the head of the bed on the window side, the situation might be better but if someone is sleeping close to the wall, they will get a dose. I see from your pic that the meter is here too - that is another source of high mag fields since your entire house power (amperage) splits here for the meter terminals before heading to the panel box.

You should probably get a gauss meter to get an idea of the magnitude of the AC mag field problem. The cheap "Cell Sensor" (on amazon) should do fine for this.

I am planning to add another ethernet jack in the living room. I already have them in the other areas where I use the computer. The living room has its own small desktop-type computer (used as a DVR and located in the cabinet under the TV), which uses the existing jack, but the network equipment closet is right through the wall.

I can see I am going to need several meters. For the moment, I think we're just going to have to keep the cats off the bed. I'm hoping my housemate will agree to rearrange the furniture (it's her house). I spend 10 minutes in there in the morning on days when I commute to work, and my printer/scanner/fax is located in there, but otherwise only the cats use that room.

Now, if your meter is truly a transmitting "smart meter", then you have another problem. Check it to see if it has an FCC sticker or statement on the front. That statement indicates that it is a transmitter. If this is the case, then your entire house wing is being bathed periodically in high frequency GSM-like pulsed signals. The best solution (if you can't get the meter replaced) is to move the meter and panel box to a location out in the yard and erect a small metal fence behind the meter to deflect the RF energy away from the house.

Oh yes, it has an FCC sticker. That was my first clue. I think I need some way to measure the field strength in the main bedroom. The head of the bed is maybe 12-14 feet away, toward the front of the house. I took pains not to have Wi-Fi anywhere near the bedrooms and look what we ended up with instead.

I know all of this sounds like a lot and is very depressing, but if you go at it slowly and take the time to make the measurements, then you will feel in control and can take some action. Considering your potential EMF exposure you may even find the missing link in the diet/health issues that you have talked about - I don't know. But considering how all three EMFs have been link to blood sugar excursions in some folks, who knows what you will find? There sure is a lot we don't know ...

I am considering the possibility that EMF exposure might be a factor in my health. Both of us have reason to be concerned, and it may be affecting one of our cats as well. I am also going to need to measure EMF exposure at work. But I have no time or money set aside for this. I will just have to work it in somewhere.

I thought we were making good progress. The remodel used low/zero VOC materials. We are in the process of installing blackout shades in the bedroom. (I made the room darker over a year ago, but it's not dark enough.) There doesn't seem to be an end to it, and I think these things are going to be issues for a lot of other people as well.