Smart TVs and EMF Radiation

Smart Television

Some of you may remember growing up with your parents telling you not to sit too close to the television screen. Well, they were right – at least for today’s TVs. In fact, newer televisions are a culprit when it comes to electromagnetic field radiation. Learn more about smart TVs and EMF radiation in this article.

Smart TVs and EMF Radiation

Televisions are a part of our lives – or most of us. And Smart TVs gave us the ability to do a lot. From streaming your favorite shows to pausing live TV – things have certainly changed over the years.

The problem is that they emit EMF radiation. Now the amount you receive does depend on a few factors. These include the size of the television, how often you use it, and even the screen resolution and brightness.

Your parents were right though. Older television sets actually emit more radiation. These are the old CRT monitors that most of us no longer use. Flat screen sets are better, but still emit EMF radiation.

How Do Smart TVs Emit Radiation?

There are a number of ways you receive EMF radiation from your smart television. One way is Bluetooth radiation. Now Bluetooth is going to be less radiation than with Wi-Fi, but it does send out signals looking for wireless devices to connect.

Wi-Fi is another concern. The Wi-Fi itself produces a high amount of electromagnetic radiation. This is because your smart television is continually sending out signals to the Wi-Fi router. This emits RF, or radio frequency signals.

Another way this EMF radiation is increased is with near-field communication apps. These run constantly on the television, maximizing radiation emissions.

The laundry list includes the following:

  • Radiation from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • The circuitry or motherboard
  • Dirty electricity from converters

How to Minimize EMF Exposure from Smart TVs

So, without not enjoying your smart TV, how do you minimize EMF exposure? First, limit your time watching television. While that is not the most feasible, at least ensure you are not sitting close to the television. The further you are away, the better.

  • Turn down the exposure. This lowering of the brightness does limit some EMF radiation.
  • Use a UV-blocking film shield.
  • Unplug the television when not in use.
  • Use your cable’s internet instead of Wi-Fi
  • Keep in mind that even when turned off, the TV still emits some radiation.

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.

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