Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) is a Humanitarian Crisis that Requires an Urgent Response

ELECTROMAGNETIC HYPERSENSITIVITY (EHS) IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT REQUIRES AN URGENT RESPONSE.

International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, July 2024

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ICBE-EMF is dedicated to the protection of humans and other species from the harmful effects of non-ionizing radiation. Of highest concern are children, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions including those who are Electromagnetically Hypersensitive (EHS). We attribute the growth of EHS to the rapid expansion in anthropogenic (human-caused) electromagnetic fields. EHS symptoms may occur through use of devices or exposure to infrastructure, such as mobile phones, DECT cordless landlines, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth enabled computers, Wi-Fi routers, smart meters, base station antennas, electric vehicles, power lines, household electrical appliances and other low intensity exposures.

All biology uses electromagnetic fields as well as chemical signalling. Widely used EMF (electrical and magnetic fields) are new and very different from those found in nature, making them disruptive to normal biological functioning, even at what are labelled as low levels.

EHS is a multisystemic physical response, with symptoms that can vary among individuals due to anatomical and physiological differences. Symptoms can include sleep problems, fatigue, headache, dizziness, heart palpitation, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), skin rash, chemical sensitivity, visual, sensory, and mood disturbances. The US National Council on Disability’s 2022 Health Equity Framework, recognizes that “electrical hypersensitivity is associated with the use of wireless communications and electrical technologies and other sources of non-ionizing radiation, which may trigger disabling and life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and other adverse physical reactions.”

The distress and disability associated with EHS is recognised by numerous social, scientific and medical organisations (WHO, 2004[1]). According to the European Commission’s EESC 2019 Report on Digitalization: Challenge for Europe, “Each day the number of ES sufferers increases: according to new estimates, between 3% and 5% of the population are electro-sensitive, meaning that some 13 million Europeans may suffer from this syndrome, which has various names: electro-sensitivity, Wi-Fi syndrome, microwave syndrome, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, etc.”[2] As these technologies continue to expand, the incidence of EHS will grow.

Many of these exposures are involuntary and now inescapable. Common outcomes of this are job, school and home loss, separation from family and friends, inability to access medical care and general lack of access to all areas of the public domain. The unmitigated, neglected widespread disruption of lives [3],[4] is inhumane and deeply troubling.

Our serious concern: EHS is an escalating humanitarian crisis

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https://icbe-emf.org/activities/electrohypersensitivity/