To the Editor: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

This excellent editorial should inspire other people to contribute letters and opinions on electromagnetic radiation and electrohypersensitivity to newspapers.  We have done so here in Suisse Romande.

To the Editor: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity
by Barbara J. Cruickshank, RN, MSN, Crozet Gazette (Virginia), 5 October 2018

I developed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) about 4 years ago. This means that when I am near electromagnetic radiation sources such as WIFI, cell phones, smart meters, and cell towers, I begin to feel ill. (www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27454111; www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/)

My symptoms include headache, pressure in my skull, eye pain, visual distortions, insomnia, anxiety, extreme fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and immune system dysfunction.

I begin to feel symptoms within 10 to 60 minutes, depending on the strength of the signals. The only thing I can do is to move away from the source and manage the symptoms to minimize the impacts on my health. I am grateful to have found medical professionals who have helped me throughout this process.

EHS is an emerging illness. The number of people with this condition is increasing world wide—adults and children.

Researchers in 2015 estimated the incidence of EHS in Sweden to be about 1.5% of the population and in Taiwan 13.3%. Numbers are on the rise worldwide. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26372109)

This condition has forced me to make major lifestyle changes in order to avoid exposures. Most people who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity do not understand why they have symptoms.

Children are extremely sensitive to the increasing amounts of electromagnetic waves around them. Some may already be experiencing signs of EHS. Students are reporting increased problems with anxiety, depression, headaches, and insomnia. (wiredchild.org/schools.html; wiredchild.org/component/content/article/46-hidden/77-phone-mast-studies.html)

Is the cell tower at our school worth it if just one student becomes ill with the symptoms of EHS? Worse yet, is it worth it if just one student develops cancer or a neuropsychiatric illness shown in the literature to be related to residing near a tower?

The first step we must take is to stop placing cell towers on school property.

We all bear the responsibility of protecting children from unnecessary exposures to electromagnetic radiation.

Barbara J. Cruickshank, RN, MSN
Earlysville

https://www.crozetgazette.com/2018/10/05/to-the-editor-electromagnetic-hypersensitivity/