Wireless, EMF and health concerns

I spend so much time in front of my laptop that I am a bit concerned about the health risks of being constantly in close contact with the EMF (electro-magnetic fields) emited by the laptop, especially with the wi-fi turned on. Of course, the verdict is not in yet whether there are actually health risks, but I figure better safe than sorry. While I am at home I keep the wi-fi turned off and use networking through the electrical outlets. I only turn on the wi-fi while out and about.

I have scoped out some EMF detectors and have thought about buying one to get some idea about how much EMF is actually being emitted from the laptop with and without the wi-fi enabled. Also, there are some companies that sell metal sheeting that supposedly blocks EMF. I was thinking about getting some of this and putting it under my laptop, especially when I am working with it directly over my lap.

Does anyone have experience with EMF readers and EMF blocking products?

 

i suspect that all these products are only a way how to earn some nice money for the sellers.

i totally understand your "better safe than sorry" point, but actually, in today's world, you're always in some EMF influence, it's sources are all around. computers, TVs, microwaves, cellphones, everything. nobody knows for sure if it does or does not have health impacts, and how severe...

 

There was a great article about this very subject in CPU magazine. In a nutshell it's pretty bad, especially for kids.

 

I don't know too much about it, but it seems to me that laptop wireless must be a lot less powerful than cellphone transmission, since a cellphone has to reach the cell tower and laptop wifi only needs to work within a building.

EDIT: Looks like I was right, at least according to this article: http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/05/nothing_to_fear.html

btw, heat emitted by the laptop can be a health issue when using it on your lap.

 

yes, especially if you're a guy. keep (long-lasting) heat sources away from your lap, and your sperm will thank you. (no kidding, really.)

 

I was curious about using it on my lap as well. I actually found a product on Google called a HARApad. They have a video on You-tube where the test a laptops EMF emission with a gauss meter then put a HARApad in between gauss meter and the Laptop it dropped the emission by 80%. I bought one at harapad.com because I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

Ehm... BBC panorama once found that Wi-Fi was as powerful or more powerful than the signal emmited from a cell phone mast...

In theory metal - especially wire mesh will block some electromagnetic radiation.

This won't mean your next wire mesh fence will work though.

I suppose you could read up on the physics if you are concerned.

I'm not.