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Electrosmog: How to protect your children from unnecessary stress

Children's rooms where nothing flashes, rattles or shines? They are likely to be the exception. With these eight tips, parents can still protect their offspring from unnecessary exposure to electrosmog.

Completely dispensing with electronic helpers in everyday life is unrealistic. But there are a few things everyone can keep in mind to reduce electrosmog. Especially in the children's room, the following applies: pull the plug more often.

How does electrosmog develop?

There is no such thing as electrosmog. Rather, we are affected by electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields of different frequencies and strengths. Whether and to what extent the radiation, known as electrosmog, affects health is still controversial despite worldwide research.

Sensitive people complain of disorders such as chronic fatigue, nausea or dizziness under the influence of electromagnetic fields. However, whether the symptoms are causally attributable to this has not been scientifically proven.

In addition, electromagnetic fields are also associated with symptoms such as hyperactivity in children, sleep, memory and concentration disorders, headaches and migraines, tinnitus and cardiac arrhythmias. These symptoms can also have other causes. However, according to those affected, they often disappear after electrosmog sources are switched off or are mitigated.

Expose children to strong electrosmog: baby monitors. Therefore, do not place the devices so close to the child.
Expose children to strong electrosmog: baby monitors. Therefore, do not place the devices so close to the child. (Photo: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock)
 

Unnecessarily strong electrosmog due to baby monitors

As practical as they are, baby monitors expose children to unnecessarily strong electrosmog: they often transmit with pulsed radio technology, such as mobile phones or DECT cordless phones.

  • To avoid relatively strong high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, you should avoid baby monitors with digitally pulsed technology such as DECT or FHSS.
  • Choose a device with the lowest possible field intensity and one without or with range control that can be switched off.
  • Make sure that the distance between the baby monitor and the cot is as large as possible. This also applies to models that are supplied via the socket. With them, alternating electric fields can be reduced to an unproblematic minimum if power supplies and cables have Schuko plugs and are therefore shielded. Even better: devices with batteries – then low-frequency electric fields on the power supply are also eliminated.

Night lights: choose a model with warm light

As long as they are at least one meter away from the child, electrosmog is not a problem with the sleep helpers - not with slumber lights with batteries anyway. Our tip: If possible, choose a model with warm, moderately bright light. Cold, bluish, bright light can disrupt the child's sleep because it blocks the production of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for falling asleep.

ÖKO-TEST has tested night lights – simple on/off models as well as lights with colour changers and with flexibly adjustable brightness and colour temperature. You can find the results here: Night lights in the test: Many are recommended.

Which lighting is best?

Hands off fluorescent tubes and also energy-saving lamps. Their light quality is poor, they cause much more electrosmog than PC screens – and often save even less energy than promised.

Halogen lamps are an alternative. Although they consume more electricity than energy-saving lamps, their light quality is good and they last longer than conventional light bulbs in the past. However, caution is advised with low-voltage halogen lamps with transformers, as they often generate strong electric and magnetic fields.

LED lamps are very economical and extremely durable. But their light colour, although developments have progressed, is sometimes unnatural. Electrosmog is also still an issue, as a TEST from 2018 shows. Where the child comes very close to the LED lights - i.e. at the desk or bed - it is better to avoid them.

Tip: When the electronic toys are not in use, it is best to always pull the plug.
Tip: When the electronic toys are not in use, it is best to always pull the plug. (Photo: VCoscaron/Shutterstock)

Distance between multiple socket and child

Multiple sockets and the associated tangle of cables are often hidden under the bed. But that's not a good idea, because where a lot of electricity flows, there is also a lot of electrosmog.

Again, plug in as far away as possible from places where the child will be staying for a longer period of time. The strength of both high- and low-frequency fields decreases with distance from their source.

Electrosmog: What do you need to consider when it comes to playground equipment?

Smart toys such as educational tablets, talking dolls or other networked "intelligent" toys are controlled via app or voice command. On the one hand, this poses risks for data security, but on the other hand for electrosmog. As a rule, the digital game friends work via WLAN and Bluetooth, i.e. with high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

To minimize electrosmog as a precaution, parents should switch off the Wi-Fi in their own home when it is not needed - and keep an eye on the time their children spend with the smart toys.

And what about other playground equipment? Some are responsible for surprisingly strong electric or magnetic fields, for example the transformers of electric railways or radios. But at least it's not about permanent stress. As long as the devices are not permanently connected to the grid and in operation, there is hardly any need to fear electrosmog. It is best to always pull the plug when not in use - especially at night.

Playing with the tablet: Children may be more sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the less, the better.
Playing with the tablet: Children may be more sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the less, the better. (Photo: imago images/Westend61)

Choose natural over synthetic materials

Synthetic objects, such as play carpets, can become highly electrostatically charged. It is sufficient for the child to rub his clothes or stroke the carpet with his hand or foot while playing. Too high a voltage has a negative effect on the indoor climate, as it stirs up dust and pollutants.

Not all synthetic furnishings are charged. However, natural materials such as wood, cork, wool or linoleum are always a good choice in the children's room.

Play with smartphone and tablet

In general, the following applies to children: They are still developing and may be more sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The less, the better. Deactivate mobile data or the "data connection via mobile communications" whenever possible – the child can still play offline with the smartphone or tablet on the go and can also be reached by phone.

For games in online mode, it is better to use the home Wi-Fi connection - and if possible only for a limited time. And not only to minimize exposure to electrosmog.

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