Bluetooth Headsets Linked to Increased Thyroid Nodules

NEW STUDY: BLUETOOTH HEADSETS LINKED TO INCREASED THYROID NODULES
Environmental Health Trust, July 4, 2024

A new study by published in the journal Scientific Reports by Zhou et. al (2024) found that prolonged daily use of Bluetooth headsets was “strongly linked” to an increased risk of developing thyroid nodules.

The authors conclude that their research is relevant to developing public health policies to reduce thyroid nodule risk:

…our research provides a scientific basis for the formulation of public health policies and personal health habit choices, suggesting that attention should be paid to the duration of Bluetooth headset use in daily life to reduce the potential risk of thyroid nodules.

Meta, Apple and Google cheer FCC ruling that could pave the way for new AR and VR applications

Meta, Apple and Google cheer FCC ruling that could pave the way for new AR and VR applications
by Lauren Feiner, cnbc.com, 19 October 2023, update 20 October 2023

Meta Quest 3. Todd Haselton/ CNBC

KEY POINTS

• The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday agreed to open a band of spectrum for some forms of wearable devices.
• Apple, Broadcom, Meta and Google have advocated for the FCC to take this step, believing it would help pave the way for a new generation and application of augmented and virtual reality wearables.
• The FCC expects it will “spur an eco-system of cutting-edge applications.”

Parents are using AirTags to track kids and give them freedom

AirTags are Always ON and Always Sending Out EMF Radiation And Always Tracking. Once you turn on Air Tags and pair them with your phone or your phone or Mac device via Bluetooth the Airtag is always on... When Apple released AirTags in 2021, the company clearly stated that they were not to be used for children or pets, only inanimate objects.

Parents are using AirTags to track kids and give them freedom
By Heather Kelly, washingtonpost.com, 26 July 2023

A $29 device meant for keys is being used by caregivers to keep tabs on children too young for a smartphone

(Photo): Companies are selling kid- and pet-friendly accessories for Apple AirTags and similar tracking devices. (RC Rivera)

Stephanie Chin can always find her daughter.

Between school, activities and friends, her 8-year-old’s busy schedule takes her to various locations away from the family’s Maryland home. At any time, Chin and her husband can open their smartphones to see their child’s recent location on a map. They’re getting it from two Apple AirTags tucked deep in her backpack.

“To some it might be overbearing because I worry so much, because she’s my only [child],” says Chin, who works in human resources. “It really comes down to what makes you more comfortable, and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Wireless technologies, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and children: Identifying and reducing health risks

Wireless technologies, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and children: Identifying and reducing health risks

Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care
Volume 53, Issue 2, February 2023, 101374
by Devra Davis PhD, MPH, Linda Birnbaum PhD, Paul Ben-Ishai PhD, Hugh Taylor MD, Meg Sears PhD, Tom Butler PhD, MSc, Theodora Scarato MSW

Full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538544223000238

Children today are conceived and live in a sea of wireless radiation that did not exist when their parents were born. The launch of the digital age continues to transform the capacity to respond to emergencies and extend global communications. At the same time that this increasingly ubiquitous technology continues to alter the nature of commerce, medicine, transport and modern life overall, its varied and changing forms have not been evaluated for their biological or environmental impacts. Standards for evaluating radiation from numerous wireless devices were first set in 1996 to avoid heating tissue and remain unchanged since then in the U.S. and many other nations. A wide range of evidence indicates that there are numerous non-thermal effects from wireless radiation on reproduction, development, and chronic illness. Many widely used devices such as phones and tablets function as two-way microwave radios, sending and receiving various frequencies of information-carrying microwave radiation on multiple simultaneously operating antennas. Expert groups advising governments on this matter do not agree on the best approaches to be taken. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limited screen time for children under the age of two, but more than half of all toddlers regularly have contact with screens, often without parental engagement. Young children of parents who frequently use devices as a form of childcare can experience delays in speech acquisition and bonding, while older children report feelings of disappointment due to ‘technoference’—parental distraction due to technology. Children who begin using devices early in life can become socially, psychologically and physically addicted to the technology and experience withdrawal upon cessation. We review relevant experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidence on biological and other impacts of currently used wireless technology, including advice to include key questions at pediatric wellness checkups from infancy to young adulthood. We conclude that consistent with advice in pediatric radiology, an approach that recommends that microwave radiation exposures be As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) seems sensible and prudent, and that an independently-funded training, research and monitoring program should be carried out on the long term physical and psychological impacts of rapidly changing technological milieu, including ways to mitigate impacts through modifications in hardware and software. Current knowledge of electrohypersensitivity indicates the importance of reducing wireless exposures especially in schools and health care settings.

Continue reading:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538544223000238

Safety Evaluation of Smart Scales, Smart Watches, and Smart Rings Shows Evidence of Potential Interference in Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

Shock to the system

University of Utah study shows certain wearable gadgets could interfere with implantable cardiac electronic devices
News release, eurekalert.org, 22 Feb. 2023

Peered review publication, University of Utah:
Full text of study: https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(22)02696-0/fulltext

Feb. 22, 2022 — In this high-tech era, wearable devices such as smartwatches have proven to be invaluable companions for the health conscious. But a new study from the University of Utah shows that for a small group of people, some of these electronic fitness gadgets could possibly be risky to their health — even potentially deadly.

University of Utah electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Benjamin Sanchez Terrones and U associate professor of medicine Benjamin Steinberg have published a new study that shows wearable devices such as the Samsung Galaxy watch 4, Fitbit smart scales, or Moodmetric smart rings, among others, have sensing technology that could interfere with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.

Huawei Finds 5G Heaven in Switzerland With ‘Fitbits’ for Cows

Huawei Finds 5G Heaven in Switzerland With ‘Fitbits’ for Cows

swissinfo.ch / Bloomberg, 4 March 2020

(Bloomberg) -- A quiet Huawei Technologies Co.-led 5G revolution is unfolding at the heart of Europe -- in the bucolic Swiss hamlet of Taenikon.

Far from President Donald Trump’s campaign to stop the world from using the Chinese company’s technology, cows in this northern Swiss village -- with its white-washed cottages and manicured fields -- wear Huawei’s 5G-connected neck-straps instead of traditional flat bells. And in the village’s Cistercian abbey, converted into a test farm, Switzerland’s second-biggest telecommunications operator, Sunrise Communications Group AG, and Huawei test the next-generation 5G wireless network.

Fitbit Was Recalled Due to Mysterious EMF Wi-Fi Symptoms, Complaints Mounting

Fitbit was recalled due to mysterious EMF wifi symptoms, complaints mounting
Posted by Erin Elizabeth, healthnutnews.com, 28 May 2018

Heather Callaghan, Natural Blaze


Judging by the ubiquity of Fitbits – those faceless watches nearly every woman wears today, with or without their active wear – this activity tracker has got to be the most popular fitness item. It uses WiFi (radiation) to track people’s every step and movement, how many calories burned, miles walked, and even tells time. This information also beams out to a personal account where the user can log-in and add more health stats in order to watch goal progression.



A COMPELLING ARTICLE LINKS MYSTERIOUS EMF-RELATED SYMPTOMS LIKE RASHES, ERRATIC PULSE, NAUSEA, PAIN, HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS TO FITBIT.

New Fitbit-Style Device Monitors Baby Biometrics While Bathing Infants in Electromagnetic Radiation

"The thought of hooking up a tiny baby to electronic devices wirelessly to track and then transmit their vital statistics is setting a very dangerous precedent and that is something that should give people pause. The amount of personal data that is already available about people is extremely concerning, and to start collecting that data and normalize recording this information from the cradle is a very slippery slope... When you also throw the dangers of wireless exposure into the mix, parents might want to think very carefully before hooking these devices onto their babies."

Parents now urged to connect their BABIES to smartphones: New Fitbit-style device monitors baby biometrics while bathing infants in EMFs
by Isabelle Z., newstarget.com, 11 January 2018

One big fear for many new parents is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a mysterious illness that causes babies less than a year old to die suddenly and for unexplained reasons, usually during their sleep. To help allay those fears, scientists are developing a new gadget that can transmit vital stats to parents’ smartphones. It sounds like a great technological advancement, but are there reasons to be concerned about the idea of connecting babies to electronic devices that track them and broadcast their vital stats?

New Apple Watch Reignites Concerns Over Radiation

Apple's new Watch has reignited debate over the risks of
exposure to radio frequency radiation.

New Apple Watch reignites concerns over radiation
by Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle,
25 September 2017

The newly released Apple Watch — with its added feature of cellular connectivity — is reigniting concerns among some public health researchers and medical experts over the potential health risks of longterm exposure to radiation from cell phones.

There is no definitive data from federal health regulators showing a direct link between cell phone radiation — also known as radio frequency radiation — and health problems in humans. But recent research indicates that exposure to cell phone radiation is the likely cause of malignant growths in the brains and hearts of male rats, and can cause neurological damage in rats born to mothers that were exposed to the radiation during pregnancy.

Smartphone-Integrated Baby Monitors May Do More Harm than Good

A new report suggests that baby monitors have little
proven benefit for healthy infants and can potentially
cause more harm than good.

(UPDATE 31 March 2017:  The message that these products may cause more harm than good is not getting across to mothers.  Baby tech is now a billion-dollar industry.)

Smartphone-integrated baby monitors may do more harm than good
by Ana Sandoiu, medicalnewstoday.com,

24 January 2017

In our increasingly technological world, more and more of us choose to monitor our heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep patterns. We may even be more vigilant of our babies' well-being, as smartphone-integrated physiological baby monitors take over the market and promise to offer parents some much-needed peace of mind. But could it be that baby monitors actually do more harm than good? A new report investigates.

A new article, published in the journal JAMA, investigates the pros and cons of using a smartphone-integrated physiological baby monitor.

Wearable Tech Radiation Exposure – A Complete Guide

What You Don’t Know About Wearable Tech Radiation Exposure
vesttech.com, posted March 2017

Wearable Tech Radiation Exposure – A Complete Guide

We live in an era of immense convenience driven by technological advancements. We have smartphones to ensure seamless communication, laptops and tablets to enable productivity, and now, wearables are taking connectivity to a whole new level.

While we enjoy the advantages of technology, the subject of how these gadgets affect our health has become a topic worth considering. Smartphones are often at the forefront of these concerns because of their ubiquity; but as electronics continue to evolve to accommodate our needs, it’s time we take a look at how newer technologies come into play–like wearables.

"Smart" Watches for Children Dumb and Dangerous?

Parents program reminders on their smartphones that
will pop up on the watch at certain times.

Our comment:  Here is another "smart" watch being commercialized for children ages 3 to 8.  Since campaigning for funding is still on-going, we could find no instruction manual on its site, but we suspect such a manual would list precautions similar to those for Re-Vibe anti-distraction wrist wear.  Such devices encourage greater use of cell phones.  We are not at all happy about such developments.  Everyone wants to get on the bandwagon and profit from the sale of "smart" devices, while giving little or no thought to increasing exposure of young children to microwave radiofrequency radiation.

Octopus, icon-based watch that kids can read & understand!
by Joy

The first icon-based watch that teaches kids good habits and the concept of time. It's a watch, it's a scheduler, it's an assistant.

Why I’m Not a Fitbit Fan

Fitbit = unnecessary exposure to electromagnetic radiation. 

Why I’m Not a Fitbit Fan

by Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist

A Fitbit is a type of electronic device used for personal activity tracking. These wireless-enabled, wearable devices measure data such as the number of steps walked, quality of sleep, and other personal metrics.

The Fitbit was developed by the company of the same name founded and managed by James Park and Eric Friedman.

Since then, a proliferation of various styles and models have taken the workout world by storm with Fitbits and similar knock off devices crafted for every personality and need.

The very simple Fitbit Zip, which is about the size of a quarter, tracks only steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. The sophisticated Fitbit Flex, which is worn 24 hours a day even while showering and swimming, tracks all its wearer’s movement including sleep patterns.

There are Fitbit apps for the iPhone and Android too which allow fans to log their food, activities, water intake, and weight, as well as track their fitness goals throughout the day even while offline.
While the Fitbit and devices like them may seem like a very helpful tool to keep people motivated and moving toward exercise goals, I don’t personally use one nor do I recommend them to folks that ask me about them. Here are my reasons.

Beware the Perils of 'Oculus Face': VR Headset Leaves Embarrassing Red Marks and Can Cause Wearers to Feel 'Seasick'

Oculus and Sony both posted health and safety warnings
outside their booths on the GDC show floor, cautioning
attendees trying the Rift and PlayStation VR that they may
feel motion sickness, nausea, disorientation and blurred
vision.  Sony's headset is shown above.

Beware the perils of 'Oculus face': VR headset leaves embarrassing red marks and can cause wearers to feel 'seasick'

by Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline

31 March 2016

- Journslists testing the Oculus Rift have reported red marks on their faces
- Temporary marks have been dubbed 'Oculus face' and 'Rift rash'
- $599 (£417) gadget started shipping to buyers and requires high-end PC
- Some users have also reported feeling nauseous and woozy

The first gamers to get their hands on the full Oculus Rift have noticed embarrassing side-effects to wearing Facebook's virtual reality headset.

While the $599 (£417) gadget may immerse them in realistic fantasy scenes, it has left some users with red-faced - literally.

The awkward marks have been dubbed 'Oculus face' or 'Rift rash' and are part of the perils of the innovative technology.

Woman Complains of 'Unbearable Pain' Caused by Her Fitbit As Other Users Claim They Have Been Left with Burns

'According to our consulting dermatologists, [the rashes] are
likely from wearing the band too tight', Fitbit said in a
statement to Dailymail.com.  Pictured is a rash from its
Force wristband, which has also caused problems.

View this 2-minute videoclip demonstrating the emission of harmful pulsed microwave radiation from the Fitbit device.  

Woman complains of 'unbearable pain' caused by her Fitbit as other users claim they have been left with BURNS

by Martha Azzi and Ellie Zolfagharifard for Mailonline, 18 March 2016 

- Fitbit is swamped by complaints that the device is leaving red marks
- The Fitbit Charge HR valued at around $200 measures a person's fitness
- One Sydney customer said the company refused to refund the product
- Fitbit reportedly sent her a written letter asking her to first destroy it
- A customer from Adelaide also requested the company recall the product

Fitness company Fitbit has received an onslaught of customer complaints from users who found themselves with 'uncomfortable deep tissue pain' after wearing the device on their wrists.

A customer from Adelaide, Emma Schouten, said she was receiving unbearable pain from wearing the wristband.

ieWei Wristband, the Alert System that Measures Exposure to Harmful Electromagnetic Radiation

ieWei Wristband, the Alert System that Measures Exposure to Harmful Radiation, Monitors Heartbeats & Body Temperatures for an Up-to-the-minute Health Check in Real Time
(PRWEB) 13 February 2014

Electromagnetic radiation is the emerging health problem of the 21st century, causing genetic damage, brain dysfunction, brain tumors, and other conditions such as sleep disorders and headaches. The solution: iewei wristband, the health tracker.

The iewei's wristband alerts wearers when the environment exceeds the radiation level harmful for their health to help them avoid getting body damaging radiations.

This spring 2014, a new wristband is scheduled to be offered for wear to customers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The iewei wristband detects measures and analyzes electromagnetic wave exposure and alerts wearers threatened by harmful radiation levels. iewei wristbands are being offered by a French new start-up company developed by an integrated network of multimedia and IT consultants. iewei was created to focus on technology that serves the purpose of well-being. The company’s aim is to use science and technology for better health.

Some Owners of the Wrist-Worn Fitbit Activity Tracker Complain of Severe Skin Irritation

A photograph showing the wrist of Steven Adams, 31, of
Charleston, W. Va., which he said he took after wearing
his Fitbit Force for about a month.

Wearers of the Fitbit Force, a wrist-worn activity tracker that measures steps, stairs climbed, calories burned and sleep, are reporting severe skin irritation, including rashes, blisters and peeling skin.  Wearable devices, or so called wearables, with sensors that connect to a network or an app and collect data that can include sleep and heart rate, were hot items at last week's International CES, the annual technology trade show, in Las Vegas.

Some Fitbit Force Owners Complain Of Severe Skin Irritation
by Timothy Stenovec, timothy.stenovec@huffingtonpost.com, The Huffington Post, 13 January 2014

Some owners of the Fitbit Force, the company's latest wrist-worn activity tracker that measures steps, stairs climbed, calories burned and sleep, are reporting severe skin irritation, including rashes, blisters and peeling skin.

Some of these people, who have taken to Fitbit and Engadget online forums as well as to Twitter with complaints, have reported seeking medical care for injuries they say were caused by the band. Fitbit Force came out last fall and retails for $130.