Gaussmeters measure the magnetic field component of electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Magnetic fields are the most commonly measured biologically-active component of
EMFs, though they are not the only component that should be measured. Every
household should have a gaussmeter. up
By screening your environment with a gaussmeter, you know what needs to be avoided or corrected.
If you own a gaussmeter, you can take it with you to screen prospective purchases.
You can use a gaussmeter to screen prospective homes and offices. The EnviroHealth
self help manual, Before You Buy or Rent: Screening for EMFs, shows you how to do the
screening - see Products section.
While magnetic fields may or may not be the most important facet of EMFs to measure, they are still biologically active and should be measured.
EMFs are invisible energy fields of various sorts. Many of these different fields - and their varying components - are known to be biologically active. This means they affect the body in various ways,
including
increase in permeability of the blood brain barrier
changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration
effects on heart beat rate and rhythm
decreases in the amount of melatonin in the body
increases in neurological symptoms
changes in sleep patterns
The controversy over EMFs is not whether or not they are biologically active, but whether that activity is harmful or not. return
Zero is the safe number. Above that, what is safe for me might not be safe for you, and vice versa. Or, maybe none of it is safe, but stronger people can withstand the exposure better.
The weaker members of our society - the elderly, the young and persons whose immune systems are compromised- will likely be more susceptible to electrostress than a robust young man.
Dr. David Carpenter, dean of the School of Public Health at the State University of New York in Albany, was asked about safe levels in 1995 at a meeting of the New York City Bar Association. He responded that from his review of the scientific literature, it seemed that 1 mG was a guideline not to be exceeded for prolonged exposure. Less conservative scientists might say 2 - 2.5 mG. return
It's simple. You look at the number on the meter, and that tells you the strength of the magnetic field at the spot where you are holding the meter. If you move it closer to the source (for example, an electric can opener), the fields go up. Farther away, they go down.
The only hitch is when fields come at you from several directions. If your meter is pointed towards a lesser field, you could miss the bigger ones. So, you rotate the meter around until you find the highest reading at a particular location.
Some meters do the rotating for you, but those meters cost more. These are the triaxial meters. The single axis meters are the ones that have to be rotated. Both types are available for sale at this site.
AC magnetic fields are present whenever current is flowing through a conductor such as a wire or a metallic pipe. They can be present at an appliance or emanate from a power line or household wiring. Some of the largest magnetic fields are present around motors, heat coils, and transformers. return
This meter must be rotated, because it is a single-axis meter. It is also an analog meter, which means it has a needle and a scale, rather than just giving you a number.
There are two scales, 0-5 mG and 0-50 mG.
In the presence of elevated magnetic fields, the red top flashes and beeps. It is a "bells and whistle" dramatic type of gaussmeter.
While not hard to use, the Cell Sensor isn't quite as user-friendly as the meters noted below.
The Cell Sensor has an extra component of limited value. The pamphlet says it measures radiation from cellular phones. It enables you to measure analog (old technology) cellular phones. It does not measure the newer digital
phones, nor does it measure signals from cellular towers. return
This is a triaxial, analog meter, so it does the turning and twisting for
you. With an analog meter, you can see if the magnetic fields are varying, because the needle fluctuates.
It measures up to 100 mG.
An additional component enables you to measure microwave radiation from a microwave oven.
Another Tri-Field component which has limited use is for measuring AC electric fields, though the sensitivity is not adequate for our needs. For inspection purposes, I use a volt meter (sensitive to 1 mV) to measure electric fields. I also have a costly professional level electric field meter which is far more sensitive than the Tri-Field.
There is a second type of Tri-Field meter which is weighted for power line
frequency (60 Hz). This flat response model would give a closer reading to
the typical magnetic field measurements that most people expect from a
gaussmeter.
If you had both kinds of Tri-Fields, you could put them side-by-side and see
which magnetic fields are coming from other than power company frequency and
which from higher frequencies.
For example, if you put them side-by-side next to a dimmer switch, you would note that dimmer switches have a high frequency component in addition to the power company frequency. You might decide that you want to replace the dimmer switch next to your reading chair.
Note that the Tri-Field has received some criticism for accuracy, i.e.,
that readings can be too high. This is not true according to the Tri-Field
manufacturer. According to Alpha Labs, their standard meter is calibrated to
measure whatever types of electromagnetic fields may be impacting on your
body (except for ionizing radiation, radar and other extremely high
frequency radiation, and cell phones).
In other words, if your living room has elevated radio frequency fields in
addition to elevated magnetic fields, the reading would higher than a meter
that just measures magnetic fields - but the Tri-Field wouldn't distinguish
which was which. If you want a meter that just measures magnetic fields,
choose one of the others or get the flat response Tri-Field.
This is the easiest gaussmeter to use. It is triaxial and digital. All you have to do is point it and read the number.
It's the one I use most often at an inspection.
It reads from 0.1 mG up to 500 mG and is small enough to carry in a pocket. return
On my EMF inspections, I measure many of the different parameters of EMFs and advise how to reduce them. These parameters include AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) magnetic and electric fields, RF/MW (radio frequency/microwave radiation), and ionizing (nuclear) radiation.
Very few companies offer a full EMF evaluation, which addresses the known biologically active parameters. Many companies are just doing AC magnetic field evaluations, because these evaluations require only a gaussmeter. However, use of a gaussmeter is only part of the full inspection. I have much additional professional equipment, including some
custom made from Europe.
Enviro Health is one of a small network of environmental firms across the U.S. that
is inspecting for the known biologically active parameters.
Enviro Health offers you two options for evaluating the EMFs in your home:
Call us to schedule a complete EMF evaluation at your home. (I may be able to refer you to a company closer to your area or put your name on a list for one of my extended trips.)
Make use of Enviro Health's manual, How to Evaluate and Reduce Electromagnetic Fields in Your
Home. This book is interesting to work through, and you will learn a lot from doing so.
See Products/Self Help Manuals. return
