skip to Main Content

EMF Radiation and Cordless Phones

Cordless Phone Radiation

How to Reduce Exposure to Radiation

Landlines in the modern home are almost nonexistent. The closest thing you will come across are cordless phones. This is understandable considering that cordless phones are more affordable and offer mobility within the house. Almost everyone is aware that cell phones emit radiation. However, not many individuals understand that a significant amount of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation comes from a cordless phone.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Radiation and Cordless Phones

The base station of a cordless phone system serves as the point of transmitting and receiving information. In other words, every call passes through the base station before reaching the hand set you are talking through. To make this wire free connection between the base and the phone, a significant amount of cordless phone radiation is required. In using the cordless phones, some of the radio frequency passes through the brain as part of the mechanism of connection.

Possible Risks of Exposure

Cordless phone radiation is linked to several health conditions. The most common is glioma, which is a form of brain cancer. According to a study conducted in Sweden, an enhanced risk of having glioma – including other forms of cancer – is possible from long-term exposure to cell phone radiation. Although the study worked on cell phones, cordless phone radiation are similar to those coming off cell phones. More importantly, they are positioned close to the head during use.

Furthermore, cordless phone radiation contributes to the overall amount of EMF at home. An individual sensitive to EMF radiation may experience symptoms like itchiness, depression, insomnia, nausea, or headaches. When the exposure happens over a long period, it can result in illnesses like leukemia. Other severe complications include poor sperm motility and sperm potency, which can lead to infertility problems.

How to Reduce Exposure to Cordless Phone Radiation

The most obvious method is to choose corded phones over cordless phones. However, sometimes that is not possible. In this case there are some measures available to limit EMF radiation and reduce exposure to you and your family.

First off, when the handset is not in use, power it off. Next at night unplug the base. By disconnecting the base station, it’ll reduce the overall EMF exposure considerably at least for part of the day.

Here is another measure: Get a wired headset and use it with your phone. With this tip, you still enjoy the portability value while maintaining a considerable distance between the phone and your head. Ensure that you refrain from purchasing a Bluetooth as it emits its own radiation.

Better alternatives

You can minimize exposure to EMF radiation by using a specific model of cordless phones. For instance, while in a standby mode, Gigaset emits only a small amount of radiation. Although you are still exposed during use, combining the model with a wired headset will reduce emissions to the barest level.

Conclusion

It is important to pay attention to cordless phone radiation as it can result in serious health issues. Fortunately, you can minimize your exposure to emissions by using corded phones. If not possible, then consider some of the options discussed in this article.

I come from an R&D engineering background. Safely dealing with EMF was part of my work. As technology evolved and EMF moved from my work into the home, it became more important to deal with it in a sensible way. There is lots of controversy on EMF's impact to health. Fortunately, there are some simple principles you can apply to minimize impact and exposure until the science of EMF's impact on humans is resolved.

Back To Top
Search