A Growing Hysteria Angry citizens’ groups in hundreds of
different communities across the United States protest against
the location of new cell-phone towers. Larry King airs another
discussion on cell phones and brain cancer. The European
Parliament passes a motion criticizing the World Health
Organization (WHO) and its own science advisory board over these
issues. What’s going on here? It’s a growing hysteria over the
possible effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on health.
Electromagnetic fields are produced by every electrical or
electronic device, including power lines, computers, microwave
ovens, and wireless technologies such as cell phones, WiFi, and
radio and TV broadcasting. Radio waves, visible light, and
X-rays are all forms of EMF and are part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Electromagnetic waves cover a vast frequency range
from extremely low frequency (ELF) of 30 Hz (cycles per second)
or less up to hard gamma rays at over 300 EHz (an EHz is 1018
Hz). There are only three scientifically est