Bedroom EMFs. When it’s a Problem and When it’s Not

Examination of whether electromagnetic radiation is an issue in the bedroom, and specifically whether metal coils in a mattress enhance the negative effects according to the scientific research.

Conventional authorities laugh at the notion that some individuals experience electromagnetic hypersensitivity or EHS.

Fortunately, some countries have already recognized this condition as problematic.

This number will grow in the coming years, particularly with the advent of 5G, which will bring the intensity of EMFs into our homes at a level never seen before.

The World Health Organization says that EHS can present in the following ways:

The [EHS] symptoms most commonly experienced include dermatological symptoms (redness, tingling, and burning sensations) as well as neurasthenic and vegetative symptoms (fatigue, tiredness, concentration difficulties, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitation, and digestive disturbances). The collection of symptoms is not part of any recognized syndrome.

EHS resembles multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), another disorder associated with low-level environmental exposures to chemicals. (1)

In Sweden, sensitivity to dirty electricity is a recognized disability. Estimates are that it affects approximately 3% of the population.

A survey of Swiss doctors concluded that 5% of symptoms in patients trace back to dirty electricity exposure. (2)

Geographical Variability

According to the WHO, there is significant geographical variability in the prevalence of EHS.

For example, cases of EHS in Sweden, Germany, and Denmark are higher than in the United Kingdom, Austria, and France.

Why this occurs is not yet clearly understood.

The International EMF Project, under the direction of the WHO, is coordinating further study of EMFs to better understand and identify risks. (3)

In the meantime, it is up to the individual to identify problematic scenarios and take steps to protect themselves.

This is where mattress coils come in … are they a risk factor for EHS sensitive individuals or not?

Bedroom EMFs

Oram Miller BBEC, EMRS is a Certified Building Biology® Environmental Consultant and Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist.

He is the Director of Learning and Development for the International Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (IBE).

In short, he is one of the world’s foremost experts on EMFs. (4)

Here is what he responded when asked about the EMF risks from sleeping on a mattress that contains metal coils.

We advocate reducing electric field levels in bedrooms at night regardless of the type of mattress they sleep on. This often involves clients shutting certain breakers off when they sleep, which we identify through our testing.

We then have an electrician install remote shut off switches to allow clients to shut off circuits conveniently from their bedroom. Read the Comments from Clients page to see accounts of clients of mine over the years who noticed significant improvement in their sleep by having us do an assessment and then shutting off their breakers at night.

In summary, most healthy people are not bothered by the metal in their mattress and box springs.

It is the voltage in plastic circuits in the walls and floor of their bedroom, and bedside lamp cords, that are the culprit, not the metal in the bed. [emphasis mine]

Thus, according to one of the world’s foremost EMF experts, the metal coils in your mattress are not problematic or risky to health.

Yet another internet rumor bites the dust!

Is a Futon with a Wood Frame Better than Box Springs?

Mr. Miller goes on to say this about a futon mattress on a wood frame versus a traditional mattress.

This means, as far as we are concerned, replacing a bed with metal springs and frame with a futon on a wooden platform while keeping the circuits on at night within six to eight feet of your body on the bed will not provide as deep, recuperative and healthy a night’s sleep as shutting off the proper breakers while sleeping in a bed with a traditional mattress and box springs. That is the experience of our clients.

When you drop the large electric fields out of the picture by shutting circuits off at night and fix any wiring errors or other sources of magnetic fields (and remove routers and cordless phone base units from the bedroom), then there are no EMFs to amplify when you sleep. Then the metal in the springs and frame are not an issue.

I know this flies in the face of what you hear from the general EMF community, which is to get rid of metal in your bed, but that is our understanding and experience.

Bed Coils Are Not an Issue (but Motorized Beds ARE)

What Oram Miller does warn against are beds with electrical wires or other motorized components that allow the bed to change position.

These types of beds can have very high electric and magnetic field EMFs, particularly if the wiring is ungrounded.

Some models even have radiofrequency EMFs in them from WiFi and Bluetooth. Stay away!

The very people who need a healing environment, namely, those who are bed-bound at home, in a convalescent or nursing home, or in a hospital are in “hospital beds” that have ungrounded plugs with massively high AC electric field exposure levels. Such [motorized] beds need to be plugged into a power strip with a switch on it, and that switch needs to be off when the person sleeps. We have retailers who sell shielded power strips. AC electric cords on such beds should be shielded cords with grounded three-pronged plugs.

Some of these beds even have a transformer mounted right under the mattress at the location of the sleeping person’s pelvis, generating unhealthy levels of magnetic field exposure, according to my profession, into that area of the body. This could be a cancer risk.

Test it for Yourself

The best way to convince yourself that the metal springs in a traditional mattress are not an EMF risk is to test it with a device that can detect both electrical and magnetic EMFs.

This device tests both types of EMFs and is affordably priced if you are unsure what model to look for.

The recommendation from EMF Center is to keep bedroom EMFs to 0.1 volts or less. (5)

While motorized beds are NOT below this threshold, a regular mattress with metal coils passes easily.

Conclusions

In sum, if your bed is not motorized but has metal springs, it is not an EMF health concern.

Your efforts are well placed with these simple steps for creating a healthy sleeping environment:

• Sleep on a safe, non-offgassing mattress.
• Turn off Wifi at night.
• Keep your cell phone OUT of the bedroom! Consider a landline phone for emergencies if you are concerned about missing important calls while you are sleeping.
• Unplug all electrical cords within 6 feet of the bed.
• Optional: If you are especially EMF sensitive, turn off the breakers to the bedroom area at night.

References

(1) Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health
(2) Swiss EMF Study
(3) The EMF Project
(4) Create Healthy Homes
(5) EMF Center