Radiation and Our Health

For the past 2 years, I have spent countless hours trying to connect the dots, and find the reason for my mother's sudden illness. She was living an incredibly healthy lifestyle, eating mostly a plant-based, all-organic diet, dancing salsa 3 nights a week, hiking, traveling, singing, lecturing, and enjoying her work as a CEO of a world-famous brand. 

Why do some people get cancer, and what contributes to cancer cells firing? Simply put, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. In a healthy body, natural processes control the rate at which cells grow and replace themselves, as well as the body's processes for repairing or replacing damaged tissue. Changes occurring at the cellular level disrupt the control processes, permitting the growth of cancer cells.  A big factor in breaking chemical bonds in atoms and molecules is radiation, that's what makes it such a powerful carcinogen. Radiation causes mutations in the DNA blueprint, and contributes to cancer cells spreading uncontrollably. This became apparent in the early 1900s, when people working around radioactive matter and x-ray equipment began to develop skin cancer. 

We all know about Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but did you realize that we are receiving large amounts of radiation on a daily basis? Everything, from using your microwave to using your cell phone, to airplane travel, and all sorts of medical procedures. All of this adds up in our system, potentially causing us health problems down the road. 

I want to start by giving you some numbers, so that you may adequately compare the amount of radiation received at every exposure. The effects I will talk about are stochastic effects - meaning low-level long-term effects of radiation that pile up and lead to damage. There are also non-stochastic effects that are instantly apparent after a heavy dose of radiation, such as burns and nausea, and usually death within the next 2 months. 

The scientific unit of measurement for radiation dose, commonly referred to as effective dose, is a millisievert (mSv). Because different organs have varying sensitivity to radiation exposure, the actual radiation risk to different parts of the body from an x-ray procedure varies. The term effective dose is used when referring to the radiation risk averaged over the entire body. Here is a chart which reflects

Plainly said, 5 CAT scans in your lifetime, and the chance of cancer is almost certain. This is the reason why x-rays and CAT scans are very important decisions, that shouldn't be taken lightly. Pregnancy is a contraindication for CAT scans and x-rays, because of high risk of mutation and birth defects.

Lastly, I want to talk about mundane radiation we receive from using our phones, laptops, and iPads, and how to reduce it.

Cell phones and other mobile devices emit radiofrequency (RF) waves, a type of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (commonly called “cell phone radiation”). When you hold or carry a mobile device close to your head and body, you can absorb over half of the transmitted RF energy.

Cell phone radiation level varies from device to device and is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A mobile device’s SAR rating is used to estimate the maximum rate of RF energy absorption by a user’s head and body when using the device. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets the exposure limit for the general public to be an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). A mobile device’s SAR rating must not exceed 1.6 W/kg in order to receive FCC certification and be sold in the United States. SAR is measured for placement of the phone next to the head and on the body. For example, the iPhone 6 has a Body SAR of 1.14 W/kg and Head SAR of 1.08 W/kg. 

Furthermore, you may not be aware that the current FCC guidelines allow a device to be tested up to 25 mm away from the user’s body. Distance is a key factor in determining the amount of exposure from a device – the intensity of radiation increases rapidly as you get closer to the device. As a result, when you carry your device directly against your body, you may be exposed to radiation levels that exceed the device’s SAR rating and even the FCC exposure limit. For instance, if you place an iPhone 5 in contact with your body, your body exposure may exceed the FCC’s limit by more than 4 times. That’s why all cell phone manufactures include warnings in their user’s manuals to keep the cell phone a certain distance away from your body for safety concern. For example, you can find RF exposure information for Apple devices here. Apple even includes a proximity sensor in its iPhone 5S, 6, 6Plus and iPads to detect the presence of a user’s body and subsequently reduce the device’s transmitted signal in order to comply with the FCC’s RF exposure limit. - Rong Wang, Ph.D.

This is why you need to protect yourself and your loved ones with a case that directs the radiation away from the head and body, and the case I trust is PONG - you can research it here: http://www.pongcase.com. As you know, I am not affiliated with them, but I believe in sharing valuable information with my friends, and I believe in this brand wholeheartedly. Another important piece of advice I'd like to share with you, is to sleep without your electronic devices nearby. Many people choose to sleep with their phone under their pillow, or next to them on a nightstand, and the same for their laptop. Please disconnect yourself from this habit, and not only will you reduce your radiation exposure, but you will get a peaceful night's sleep with no distractions, rings, or notifications. Take good care of your health and your body, and give it some rest!