# Electrical pollution IS KILLING YOU ALL! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111 "2013-03-27T17:20:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/1 "2013-03-27T17:20:57Z")
There really is a tin-hat-brigade (of ignorant morons, natch). I really can’t be bothered to read any more of their crap but I wonder if some of them wear _healing magnets_ while protecting themselves from power lines by putting copper pots on their window sill? That is actual straight-faced advice, from an actual book. These idiots are clearly unaware that pretty much all of the EM radiation they are immersed in comes from: A MASSIVE TOTALLY UNSHIELDED NUCLEAR FUSION REACTOR!!! I say “tin-hat” but I’m fairly sure that these fuckwits don’t know what a Faraday Cage is. Let alone what it does. Apparently it’s not just people either EMR is apparently killing whales too. I’m not sure what the mechanism is for that. Must be something like in the Star Trek movies, but instead of an alien space probe it’s the GPS signals. Or the signal coming back from [Voyager 1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=661091) :eek: Fucking idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/2 "2013-03-27T17:31:02Z")
Was there supposed to be a link in that OP? Anyway, yeah people are stoopid. Natural, un-modulated EMI that we’ve been exposed to forever as a species is fine, but when you modulate it, LOOK OUT! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/3 "2013-03-27T17:33:54Z")
I’m not certain that it’s strictly accurate to characterize it as TOTALLY UNSHIELDEDbecause [The vast majority of electromagnetic radiation does not pass through Earth’s atmosphere.](http://www.wisegeek.org/which-electromagnetic-wavelengths-can-pass-through-the-atmosphere.htm) That counts as a SHIELD at least imho. P.S. Why are we whispering? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/4 "2013-03-27T17:35:07Z")
What **Leaffan** said. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/5 "2013-03-27T17:45:03Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Was there supposed to be a link in that OP? [/QUOTE] Well Ok then. [Here’s one moron](http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/misc/electrical_pollution.htm). I initially came across the term in a physical book. Difficult to link to that. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’m not certain that it’s strictly accurate to characterize it as… > > TOTALLY UNSHIELDED I did think of qualifying that, y’know ozone ‘n’ that… But still, enough UV gets through to give people _CANCER!_, and it is completely unregulated! For heaven’s sake you can’t even look at it without protection! But it seems it’s your phone that’s going to kill you (and the whales). ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/6 "2013-03-27T17:52:15Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > I did think of qualifying that, y’know ozone ‘n’ that… But still, enough UV gets through to give people _CANCER!_, and it is completely unregulated! For heaven’s sake you can’t even look at it without protection! > > But it seems it’s your phone that’s going to kill you (and the whales). We have micro-evolved over the last 6,000 years to be able to (mostly) withstand exactly the amount of radiation the sun gives off. The additional amounts we are exposed to via powerlines, cell phones, and unprotected Wifi transmitters has pushed us over the limit, and everyone reading this going to die, almost certainly within the next 60 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/7 "2013-03-27T17:53:10Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > But it seems it’s your phone that’s going to kill you (and the whales). Wait…my phone and the whales are going to kill me, or my phone is going to kill the whales? It makes a big difference on whether I care or not. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/8 "2013-03-27T17:57:30Z")
It is a proven fact that if you leave a light switch on and there is no bulb in the socket, the electricity leaks out all over the house. There was a Thurber story about this as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/9 "2013-03-27T18:02:57Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > Well Ok then. [Here’s one moron](http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/misc/electrical_pollution.htm). > [@](#): > > I had previously read a bit about EMF, and it occurred to me to try some experiments, such as sleeping in different places in the house. (Our bedroom later proved to be an extremely toxic electrical environment.) I noticed immediate symptoms if I went near a TV, a telephone, a car fan, or the water pipes in our house. (Later I would discover I had become electrically sensitive, a sort of walking EMF meter, affected by dimmer switches, electric heating systems, computers in banks and post offices, the chair at the dentist’s office, you name it.) > [@](#): > > We put in shielded phone lines, moved water pipes, made the first few feet of incoming water pipe nonconductive (Some RF still jumps onto the pipes from house wiring.). We gutted old electric baseboards that though disconnected were broadcasting RF over large areas including our bedroom, and got all metal out of and away from the bed. We installed RF filters, removed dimmer switches and fluorescent lights, sold the aquarium, got me a speaker phone and a laptop computer I use on battery only. > [@](#): > > With each of these steps results were immediate and dramatic. The cardiac symptoms ceased altogether, I was able to sleep, and my anxiety level dropped. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. OK, I’ll laugh. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/10 "2013-03-28T07:02:02Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > There really is a tin-hat-brigade (of ignorant morons, natch). The things you say- your purple prose just gives you away. You’re unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/11 "2013-03-28T09:48:51Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. OK, I’ll laugh. Good choice. After all, your tears are salty and hence generate small currents as they flow. And God knows what the effects of currents so close to your brain could do! You did leave out one key point, though, i.e. > [@electromoron](#): > > “Your electricity is already extremely polluted when it enters your home”. Now _that_ was news to me. It now makes sense why I feel stupid after watching TV. It’s the electricity!! The damn polluted electricity!! ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/12 "2013-03-28T09:49:40Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Wait…my phone and the whales are going to kill me, or my phone is going to kill the whales? It makes a big difference on whether I care or not. [/QUOTE] Your phone is killing you _and_ the whales! So you should care either way. > [@Leaffan](#): > > I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. OK, I’ll laugh. Oh dear Flying Spaghetti Monster how about this… > [@Internet Moron](#): > > …and a laptop computer I use on battery only. Because then it’s not really using electricty? I guess it’s a homeopathic battery that doesn’t need charging, 'cause shirly that would let the polluted electricty in? > [@Folacin](#): > > We have micro-evolved over the last 6,000 years… Or maybe God just made us that way? > [@Folacin](#): > > … everyone reading this going to die, almost certainly within the next 60 years or so. Bloody hell! You could at least have put _that_ in a spoiler. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/13 "2013-03-28T10:54:21Z")
I wonder if that guy knows my cubicle neighbor who has declared that our teeth are full of toxins that can only be purged with activated charcoal… 😕 Not only are there a lot of 'em out there - some of 'em reproduce. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/14 "2013-03-28T11:41:44Z")
Jez! Is it freakin conspiracy nutjob week or what? 😕 First we have a [Fake Moon Landing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing_conspiracy_theories) Thread. :smack: Then a customer comes in and claims the [Mossad brought down the two towers on 9/11.](http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/15/278193/cia-mossad-staged-911-to-save-israel/) :smack: And this economic crisis is brought on by these [evil Zionists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories#Antisemitic_conspiracy_theories). :smack: Now, I’m being told that I will die! Not just simply die - it’s electric smog that will kill me, if not cancer, car accident, a virus, bacteria, hiv, stoke, the common flu, murder, Alien abduction , Meteorite, Aheart attack, etc… or even organ failure due to old age gets me first. FUCK! I wasn’t aware of that –\*\* FUCK, I am going to die!!!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/15 "2013-03-28T11:43:14Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I wonder if that guy knows my cubicle neighbor who has declared that our teeth are full of toxins that can only be purged with activated charcoal… 😕 > > Not only are there a lot of 'em out there - some of 'em reproduce. :eek: Maybe, [\*\*THIS \*\*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization)would be not such a bad idea after all… ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/16 "2013-03-28T11:58:56Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > There really is a tin-hat-brigade (of ignorant morons, natch). I really can’t be bothered to read any more of their crap but I wonder if some of them wear _healing magnets_ while protecting themselves from power lines by putting copper pots on their window sill? That is actual straight-faced advice, from an actual book. > > These idiots are clearly unaware that pretty much all of the EM radiation they are immersed in comes from: > > A MASSIVE TOTALLY UNSHIELDED NUCLEAR FUSION REACTOR!!! Eh, not all E&M radiation is created equal. My dentist scurries behind a shield when I get x-rays, even though most of the radiation he’s exposed to everyday is from the sun. Apparently he’s not convinced by your argument. And the sun is actually kinda dangerous. It causes cancer, sunburns and occasionally, blindness. So pointing to is as an example of how we shouldn’t worry about E&M radiation is stupid. Paranoia regarding celphone radiation is stupid, but not for the reasons you state in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/17 "2013-03-28T12:46:03Z")
[QUOTE=Simplicio] And the sun is actually kinda dangerous. It causes cancer, sunburns and occasionally, blindness. So pointing to is as an example of how we shouldn’t worry about E&M radiation is stupid. [/QUOTE] Can I refer you to post #5? These idiots think they (and the whales) are being damaged by phones, fridges, lap tops (but only when plugged into the mains) overhead cables, underground cables, TVs, light switches… ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/18 "2013-03-28T12:54:42Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > Can I refer you to post #5? That seems a better argument for worrying about E&M radiation then against worrying about it. The sun emits radiation, the sun is dangerous, celphones emit radiation…so we shouldn’t worry about celphones? The reasons not to worry about celphone radiation is that 1) its non-ionizing and 2) there have been numerous studies that haven’t found any convincing link between celphone radiation and any sort of health problems. The existence of the sun doesn’t enter into it. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/19 "2013-03-28T14:01:37Z")
I think he’s suggesting that the whack-jobs totally ignore the relatively enormous amounts of E&M they are exposed to from the giant ball of burning hydrogen in the sky (maybe because it’s “natural”) and become hysterical about the relatively infinitesimal amounts emitted by common household objects. Or maybe I misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111/20 "2013-03-28T14:10:55Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > I think he’s suggesting that the whack-jobs totally ignore the relatively enormous amounts of E&M they are exposed to from the giant ball of burning hydrogen in the sky (maybe because it’s “natural”) and become hysterical about the relatively infinitesimal amounts emitted by common household objects. > > Or maybe I misunderstood. I guess, what he means is the TV Signal and FM/AM Radio waves etc… … I wouldn’t want to be Micro waved or X-Rayed on a regular basis, but since I don’t – I am not really worried about the light bulb or the TV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-pollution-is-killing-you-all/654111.md?page=2)