How dangerous are electromagnetic fields?

During the Article 08 exhibition I was assisted by Geir Tore Aamdal who works as an environmental health consultant in Stavanger. While watching the fountain, we had several conversations about how the health issues connected to the use of cell phones was the main issue that both the public and press referred to in connection with its appearance in the town square.

He asked me what my intention was with the fountain. I told him I was  interested in exploring electromagnetic phenomena as a potential source of artistic material. By attempting to reveal electromagnetic activity in public space, to create a temporary, emotional/emotive place which the public could discover, enjoy and interpret as they wish. Perhaps a playful, aesthetic experience could initiate reflection and discussion over issues connected to the usage of the EM spectrum, in particular the part of it which is used for telecommunications, but perhaps from a wider perspective too. For me the main issue is more territorial. (As such, I am also interested in the appearance and effect of transmission and reception towers, needles, etc, in/on both urban and remote landscapes.) Anyway, I asked him if he could write briefly about his thoughts, and here they are:

How dangerous are electromagnetic fields?
By Geir Tore Aamdal

Lately there has been a lot of attention drawn to the electromagnetic fields in the urban landscapes. Stavanger municipality has been sued for allowing a network of wireless internet in the town centre, parents in Bekkefaret kindergarden demand that a mobile network antenna in the vincinity is removed, and environmentalist Kurt Oddekalv calls electromagnetic fields the largest threat to human health. But how dangerous are electromagnetic fields really?

In my job as an environmental health consultant I get several questions about electromagnetic fields. I always point to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (Statens Strålevern)

The knowlegde we have today about mobile phones and wireless networks shows no connection between these electromagnetic fields and health problems. But these are quite new phenomenons, with not enough experience yet. Many studies show no connection, some few indicate that there might be some connection. Just to be on the safe side, some measures for protection are recommended, like keeping the phone calls short, using handsfreegear, avoid placing the router in the bedroom, and avoid keeping the laptop in your lap.

Antennas for mobile networks are sending the signals horizontally, which means that higher-than-normal radiation only is directly in front of the antenna. Higher values than international standards only occur within a range of 0,5 meter. And the antennas usually do not send at maximum range.

There is little information about young children using mobile phones, so caution is recommended.

My advice to the worried public is to read only serious information on Internet, like the NRPA pages. And in planning new buildings, antennas and home networks having the recommendations from NRPA in mind, just to be on the safe side. When it comes to which is the largest health threath, for instance smoking and unhealty food are much more damaging , and the connection is well documented.
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My question to Geir is whether the Electromagnetic Fountain served to cause more paranoia in relation to health risk issues ……

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Listening to the Electrosmog detector

THIS page describes how to identify the sources of electromagnetic radiation as heard using the Electrosmog detector that I used in my field survey for the Electromagnetic Fountain, and gives sound sample examples of them (listed below).

– Background Hiss (MP3, 79 KB)
– GSM (MP3, 45 KB)
– DECT (MP3, 111 KB)
– TETRA (MP3, 77 KB)
– 3G (MP3, 104 KB)
– WiFi

(It also demonstrates how to extend the sensitivity of the sniffer.)

US Navy tests electromagnetic gun

From Livescience, Feb 01, 2008
Link: http://www.livescience.com/technology/080201-electromagnetic-record.html

[ …..The U.S. Navy test fired an incredibly powerful new big gun designed to replace conventional weaponry aboard ships. Sci-fi fans will recognize its awesome power and futuristic technology.

The big gun uses electromagnetic energy instead of explosive chemical propellants to fire a projectile farther and faster. The railgun, as it is called, will ultimately fire a projectile more than 230 miles (370 kilometers) with a muzzle velocity seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7) and a velocity of Mach 5 at impact.

The test-firing, captured on video, took place Jan. 31 in Dahlgren, Va., and Navy officials called it the “world’s most powerful electromagnetic railgun.”….

… “I never ever want to see a Sailor or Marine in a fair fight. I always want them to have the advantage,” said Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead. “We should never lose sight of always looking for the next big thing, always looking to make our capability better, more effective than what anyone else can put on the battlefield.”]

Link: Mast victims

Mast Victims is website dedicated to raising awarenss about the potential harmful effects of cellphone masts.

(The link was suggested to me by Jon Refsdal Moe during a conversation at Black Box Theatre after watching Verk’s version of The Answering Machine by Finn Iunker in which I have been working with video. Currently a research fellow at the faculty of Theater Science of Oslo University, he also works as a theatre and visual arts critic.)