Electromagnetic fields are all around us. They are a part of our natural environment, produced by the Earth and the sun. But they are also becoming increasingly prominent with advancements in technology, such that we are surrounded daily by many different sources of electromagnetic energy.
Mobile phones, Wi-Fi, personal computers, smart meters, radio, television and even the TV remote control – they all emit this kind of energy. Mobile phone base stations are continually being installed, and Wi-Fi hotspots are increasing all of the time.
Cafés and restaurants, libraries, hotels and even some city centres and parks now offer free Wi-Fi. But with all of this new infrastructure it is also getting harder to avoid exposure to the electromagnetic fields that these technologies emit.
And the question often asked is what does all of this exposure mean for our health?
It is an issue that has continued to gain exposure, culminating this month in what’s being touted as a “breakthrough” case, with a French woman being awarded compensation for an allergy to Wi-Fi.
Martine Richard, who suffers from what is called electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), was granted disability payments due to claims that her symptoms, which she attributes to electromagnetic energy, prevent her from being able to work. This ruling was made despite the science saying that no relationship between exposure to these fields and symptoms exists.
So what is EHS, what do we know and what don’t we know about this condition? And what does this case mean for the future?
What is EHS?
EHS is a complex condition. It is characterised by sufferers reporting a variety of non-specific symptoms (for example, headaches, nausea and sleeping difficulties) when in the proximity of devices that emit electromagnetic fields. In severe cases it can have large and negative impacts, with people unable to work or function in modern society.
The prevalence of this condition varies widely. In general the number of patients presenting with symptoms that they attribute to electromagnetic field exposure seems to be increasing.
There is no doubt that the symptoms experienced are very real. But the fact remains that there are no clear diagnostic criteria for this condition. It is a self-diagnosed disorder that currently has no medical or scientific basis.
What does the evidence say?
Research has consistently failed to find any association between electromagnetic field exposure and reported symptoms, or health more generally. This raises the question, if it is not the electromagnetic energy, then what is causing EHS and the symptoms that these people suffer from?