EMR or EMF?
The terms Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) and Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are often used interchangeably. For ease of understanding we use the term EMF.
What is EMF?
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) can be emitted from many forms of technology, such as power lines, home wiring, airport and military radar, substations, transformers, and many appliances. If received in significant doses, EMF have been found to be carcinogenic. In March of 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency recommended that EMF be considered a Class B carcinogen — among the ranks of formaldehyde, DDT, dioxins, and PCBs.
EMF and Health
Experiments have shown that higher levels of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) can damage cells in a way that is potentially cancer causing, and causes health problems such as brain tumors, birth defects, miscarriages, chronic fatigue, headaches, cataracts, heart problems, nausea, and chest pain. Electricity is part of our daily lives but it’s smart to use caution when exposing ourselves to higher levels of EMF.
How can we measure EMF?
EMF levels are measured with an instrument called a Gaussmeter. Since they drop off with distance, it is important to measure them correctly. For example, when a device emits EMF, such as a microwave, it might measure 30 milligauss up close, but if you step two feet away from the microwave and measure the EMF levels again, they will be significantly lower.
Do infrared saunas emit EMF?
In an infrared sauna the user sits within a couple of inches of the heaters, so if the levels of EMF are high, one doesn’t have the luxury of sitting a couple of feet away. Swedish Standards dictate that safe EMF levels are 2 milligauss or less at point of body contact.
In today’s market, other infrared sauna companies claim to be low in EMF or to have special EMF shielding, but when measured with a Gaussmeter many of these infrared saunas have EMF levels that often measure in the range of 30 to 100 milligauss at point of body contact.
Radiant Health Saunas® have been used by a variety of medical doctors, naturopaths, massage therapists, homeopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other specialists since 1997. As awareness of the potential effects of EMF has grown, we have responded by bringing our EMF levels to a very low level (exceeding Swedish Standards) – averaging 0.3 milligauss at point of body contact. We have also brought the Extemely Low Frequency (ELF) Electrical Field (EF) levels below Swedish standards as well, so that one can enjoy a healthy infrared experience.
Non Toxic
It is crucial to our company, to make sure that our saunas are completely non toxic. The heaters and all the materials used inside our saunas have been independently tested showing they are completely non toxic. (measuring zero VOC’S – volatile organic compounds).
VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)
One of the reasons a person may be using an infrared sauna would be to detoxify, lowering one’s toxic load of chemicals and heavy metals. It is very important to make sure that the environment in the infrared sauna is completely nontoxic.
A number of infrared sauna companies use plywood, particle board or an engineered wood composite as a less expensive option for framing materials in their saunas. This typically can not be seen after construction has been completed. These materials can off-gas formaldehyde and other VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can be detrimental to your health. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers formaldehyde a Group B1 probable human carcinogen13. Inferior heaters and other components inside the sauna can also off-gas chemicals, so it is very important that the whole sauna is being tested in a lab and not just the heaters.
An infrared sauna company should be able to provide you with independent lab testing where the inside of a brand new sauna was tested for VOC’s so that one knows that when they are using the sauna they are sitting in a pristine, nontoxic environment.
Radiant Health Saunas ® are independently tested by a government certified lab and the entire sauna is shown to have zero VOC’s.
13https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/formaldehyde.pdf