- What to look for when searching for a property with low electromagnetic field exposure
- What are the disadvantages of low and high floors
- Which radiation sources you should avoid proximity with and what are the safe distances
- Which radiation sources affect the resale value of the property the most
This guide helps you make an initial assessment of the electromagnetic radiation levels of the property in question.
Before choosing any property we suggest that you use a electromagnetic fields meter to measure the actual radiation levels, since:
- The theoretically most burdened properties might actually have low electromagnetic fields.
- High radiation values are caused by a variety of other cases which are not mentioned in this article.
The European Parliament has published a resolution on the impact of electromagnetic fields, stating that:
"In recent decades, environmental exposure to man-made sources of EMFs has risen constantly, (…) every individual is now being exposed to a complex mixture of electric and magnetic fields of different frequencies, both at home and at work, (…) wireless technology (mobile phones, Wi-Fi/WiMAX, Bluetooth, DECT landline telephones) emits EMFs that may have adverse effects on human health (…) the EU has laid down exposure limits to protect workers from the effects of EMFs; whereas on the basis of the precautionary principle such measures should also be taken for the sections of population concerned, such as residents and consumers, (..) calls on the Member States to make available to the public, jointly with the operators in the sector, maps showing exposure to high-voltage power lines, radio frequencies and microwaves, and especially those generated by telecommunications masts, radio repeaters and telephone antennas.” European Parliament resolution on the health problems associated with electromagnetic fields (2008/2211) [1]
1
Avoid properties with high levels of high frequency electromagnetic fields
These fields are generated by mobile phone antennas, broadcasting antennas, wireless internet modems, wireless phones etc.
What you need to know:
- Wireless radiation in densely populated areas is increased both in intensity and in signal variety due to the presence of more antennas.
- In apartment buildings high frequency radiation values are often recorded due to the multitude of cordless phones and Wi-Fi internet modems.
- The lower floors are usually less exposed to wireless radiation from external sources (radio antennas, mobile phone antennas, radars, etc.) while the higher floors and houses with an open view are more exposed to wireless radiation.
- Avoid homes that have visual contact with a cell phone mast in the range of 500 meters or less (common mast sites: next to busy roads, buildings of telecommunications companies, in corporate buildings, factories, in areas with many offices, shops etc.).
- Cell phone masts are often camouflaged as heaters, signs, chimneys etc. to avoid confrontations with the neighbors.
- Avoid proximity to radio and television broadcasting sites, military premises, airports and ports.
- Try to visit the balcony of the property to visually check for the possible existence of any type of antenna.
"Too often do we observe a marked concentration of particular illnesses in correspondingly high -frequency microwave radiation (HFMR) polluted areas or apartments. Too often does a long-term disease or affliction improve or disappear in a relatively short time after reduction or elimination of HFMR pollution in the patient's environment. Too often are our observations confirmed by on-site measurements of HFMR of unusual intensity. " The Freiburger Appeal - Union Resolution of Environmental Medicine, Germany ( IGUMED) [2]
How can you measure high frequency electromagnetic fields in a property?
You can buy high frequency electromagnetic field meters here.
2
Avoid properties with high levels of low-frequency magnetic fields
These fields are mainly emitted by power cables due to power consumption.
What you need to know:
- Usually, the more populated and densely built the areas, the higher the magnetic fields emitted by the power cables.
Low voltage power lines prefer properties within 10 meters from low and medium voltage power cables (the most common cause of high magnetic fields).- It is better to favour properties that are further than 150 meters from high voltage power lines.
- Avoid basements and ground floor apartments where the power distribution cables are not visible, meaning they are underground.
- Avoid properties adjacent to power transformers or substations.
- Avoid houses with floor heating system (with the exception of water pipes or shielded dual-core conductors).
- In homes with metal water pipes and / or radiators high magnetic field values are often recorded due to the existence of current leakage (net currents).
“As safety guidelines for future planning, the committee recommends that: 1) New day care centers, schools and playgrounds should not be built where ambient 60 Hz magnetic fields exceed 0.2 μT; 2) New housing should not be built under existing high voltage transmission lines, or in such close proximity to these lines that measured ambient field levels would exceed 0.2 μT for periods longer than two hours daily; 3) New transmission and distribution lines should not be built in locations where they would produce fields exceeding 0.2 μT in existing housing; 4) In new office and industrial environments, design considerations should encompass problems of personnel exposure to high magnetic field levels, with the aim of reducing intermittent and ambient exposures to a 0.2 μT level, over the spectrum from near-zero to 3.0 kHz. ” National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Scientific Committee 89-3 on Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields [3]
How to measure the low frequency magnetic fields in a property
You can buy low frequency magnetic field meters here.
Magnetic field measurements are considered the most important factor for assessing the electromagnetic burden of a property, because these fields are not easy to remove and too expensive to reduce afterwards.
3
Avoid properties with high levels of low-frequency electric fields
These fields are emitted from power cables, electrical panels, electrical appliances etc. due to electrical voltage.
What you need to know:
- Electric fields inside homes are especially dependent on the presence of nearby electrical devices and cables in the walls and there are many easy ways to reduce them.
- Older homes may have higher values of electric fields due to deteriorated insulation of cables, earthing etc.
- Electric fields from external sources such as high voltage power lines do not enter houses because they are grounded from most building materials (except wood).
- High levels of electric fields may be recorded outdoors at a distance of up to 200 meters from high voltage cables.
- Elevated electric fields around high voltage power lines are also a noise source (especially in wet weather).
- Electric fields also attract microparticles from the atmosphere and charge them, which makes them attach more easily to the skin and lungs [4]. The problems surrounding ionization of microparticles can be significant in regions with high atmospheric pollution (e.g. adjacent to busy roads, in factories). The charged particles can travel through the air for up to 5 km. To a lesser extent this phenomenon is also observed near medium voltage lines.
How to measure the low frequency electric fields in a property
You can buy low frequency magnetic field meters here.
Which radiation sources affect property value the most?
As more people become aware of the health effects related to high electromagnetic field levels, there is a trend to avoid buying properties adjacent to obvious and well known sources of radiation and this greatly affects the properties value
- Research from the University Oxford Brooks [5], showed that high voltage power lines reduce the number of prospective buyers by up to 80%, depending on their distance from the property. Any property located less than 75 meters from them will suffer a discount on the selling price. Up to 46% of shoppers had problems getting a loan for such properties, depending on the distance from the pillars and wires.
- Anecdotal evidence indicates that mobile phone masts also have a great impact on the sale of a house. The reason not more people are concerned with these issues during the sale is because usually buyers do not recognize cell phone masts (also sometimes the masts are camouflaged).
- In Great Britain a growing number of people report that their home can not be sold due to the proximity to cell phone masts. On its website, Powerwatch [6] published a letter of a real estate agency sent to owners trying to sell their property: "Please be advised that due to the mobile antenna construction to the point near your home, you should reduce the sale price down 60.000 £. Our experience shows that mobile phone masts have a negative impact on potential buyers'
- The British organization Mast Sanity, which conducted a survey on the value of properties before and after installing a cell phone mast, found that their value declined between 20 to 25% [7].