As the modern age becomes more and more dependent on electricity, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are an unfortunate by-product. Our homes are wired for wireless connections, our work environments are using technology to make our lives easier, oftentimes these technologies bring with it invisible dangers. EMFs can be found in most forms of modern technology, from microwave ovens to gas ranges, hairdryers to powered drills – just about every appliance that uses electricity leaves behind some kind of EMF field. The unassuming electric outlets that dot the walls of your home may pose less danger than the cell phone in your pocket or desktop computer nearby, but they still offer up some serious risks if you aren’t careful. But don’t despair! There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from these invisible dangers.
The following 10 EMF Protection Scams should be avoided (or at least questioned)
1. Mobile phone anti-radiation pockets or pouches
These days, everyone is using mobile phones of various kinds, and it’s hardly a surprise that people want an easy way to mitigate the risk of radiation. Scammers love playing on peoples fears for their own benefit (of course), so they’ve devised all kinds of tricks to make you spend your hard-earned cash on things like this:
“EMF protection pocket. Prevents cell phone radiation.”
These cheap little pouches supposedly block out most if not all radiation coming off the devices in your pockets, and in some cases will even protect you from radiation coming from outside the phone! Don’t believe it. These anti-radiation pouches are about as effective against your mobile phone’s radiation as a piece of aluminum foil is at stopping a speeding bullet. In short: not very.
2. Mobile phone Anti Radiation stickers
These claims aren’t restricted to bags or pouches alone – they actually come in sticker form too! If you’re wondering how that works exactly, well, we’d prefer if you didn’t ask. The idea here is that simply slapping a sticker on the back of your cell phone will somehow dispel the waves of radiation the device emits. According to manufacturers, these stickers are made with “negative energy” which will “block harmful mobile phone waves.”
The problem with this? The supposed science behind these stickers is bunk, and the stickers themselves are nothing more than glorified (and admittedly rather stylish) pieces of aluminum foil. It’s like trying to use tin-foil as a communications satellite – it just won’t work! You’ve been warned.
3. EMF Protection Jewelry
Some people really, REALLY want protection from electromagnetic fields, so much so that they’ll invest in jewelry specifically made for the task. EMF protection rings are very popular with scammers because there is at least some remote scientific evidence suggesting that EMFs can have an effect on your body even if you don’t feel anything. According to these fraudsters, wearing an EMF protection ring will neutralize your body’s absorption of some of the harmful energy.
4. EMF Protection stickers for some electronics
As it had been mentioned above, if you slap a sticker on something it instantly becomes “anti-radiation,” and apparently there are actually a number of scammers out there trying to sell anti-radiation stickers that can be placed on televisions or computers from computer companies such as HP. There is zero evidence that these stickers have any effect on radiation whatsoever, so buyer beware!
5. EMF protection bracelets and pendants
Similar to the last item in our list of scams is jewelry made with supposedly special materials that protect you from electromagnetic fields. For the most part, these items don’t actually protect you from radiation – they just look pretty. There is a small amount of evidence that some people may feel a slight difference in their energy levels with certain materials attached to them, but no real evidence that it has any effect on EMFs at all.
6. EMF Protection cooking utensils
EMFs can have an adverse health effect on living beings due to the damage they can cause to your DNA and other important cellular structures. As such, many scammers have begun selling various kitchen tools as “emf protection” including chopping boards or non-stick pans which supposedly increase your body’s resistance against harmful electromagnetic fields. Normally we advise these claims with extreme caution because there is very little evidence that they have any effect on your health whatsoever.
7. EMF protection hard drive enclosures
If you’ve heard of the infamous “black box” hoax, then you know how these scam artists try to sell their items with fear tactics and pseudoscience. In most cases, you’ll hear from people claiming that putting an electromagnetic field against an HDD can erase information from it which is completely false. This is a great example of how scammers take real-world problems and twist them into a way to make a quick buck off unknowing consumers who are worried about losing important files.
8. EMF protection strip outlets/grounded surge protectors
This one is different from the rest in that there *is* some scientific evidence that a ground current could help reduce the effect of an electromagnetic field on devices plugged into it. There is also a decent degree of evidence that suggests a burst protector can be effective against voltage surges, which might protect your devices from damage caused by large amounts of electricity flowing through it.
Whether or not this level of protection has any impact at all on EMFs – we cannot say for sure, but one thing is certain: these products do NOT make you immune to radiation or even reduce the amount you’re exposed to. If anything, they should only provide slight resistance to moderate magnetic fields and/or electric fluctuations, but even then there’s no guarantee that it will work as intended.
9. Electromagnetic Field Protection gadgets for your home
As you might expect, many scammers will sell just about anything to anyone if they think it can make them a quick buck. This is why we see so many home appliances that claim to “protect you from EMFs” or at least offer some sort of beneficial feature. One such example is the Isotron and Isopole, which supposedly help reduce radiation and improve cell function in any room where they’re placed. Unfortunately, there’s very little evidence that these products actually do what their sellers claim and plenty of evidence suggesting otherwise.
10. Electromagnetic field protection mattress pads/covers
Another popular item for quackery stores is electric blankets (usually advertised as mattress pads) which tell people they can be used to protect themselves from EMFs. These do not actually offer any type of protection against electromagnetic radiation and they will not block or weaken the amount of radiation you’re exposed to on a regular basis. The only real effect that these pads may have is to help insulate your body from temperature fluctuations, which would otherwise make it harder for some people to fall asleep.
Conclusion
While some “EMF protection” products might have a kernel of truth to them, their actual benefits are often misunderstood by consumers who are looking to spend money on something they don’t fully understand. Remember – just because someone sells an item does not automatically mean that item works as advertised! Think carefully about each product you’re considering buying and make sure you understand the risks that come with products promising to shield you from EMFs.
