When we use Bluetooth and wireless headphones — in addition to our computers and cell phones and even microwave ovens ,it has been discovered that they emit a specific type of nonionizing (or low-level) EMF called radio frequency radiation (RFR).
While Bluetooth and wireless headphones do emit lower levels of radiation compared to a cell phone, their placement is a big concern to some health experts.
The scientists warned that potential health risks of chronic EMF exposure include cancer, genetic damages, neurological disorders, learning and memory deficits, and reproductive issues, among others.
The appeal called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations to adopt stricter guidelines for EMF exposure from our wireless devices to better protect people against potentially harmful health effects.
Although there’s been substantial research on the health risks associated with EMFs, there’s been very little on the safety of long-term radiation exposure from Bluetooth or wireless headphones.
While we currently don’t know the exact health risks associated with chronic use of in-ear wireless earbuds, scientists are beginning to understand the potential harm they may cause.
In general, the amount of radiation Bluetooth headphones emit is significantly less than what’s generated from a typical cell phone, according to Moskowitz.
However, emissions aren’t the only factor that’s at stake when it comes to breaking down the impact of this sort of radiation. The specific absorption rate (SAR) — or the amount of radiofrequency the human body absorbs from a device — also helps us determine how much radiation actually seeps into our bodies.
While Bluetooth and wireless headphones do emit lower levels of radiation compared to a cell phone, their placement is a big concern to some health experts.
“Because of the proximity of the Bluetooth devices — particularly the wireless headsets or earpieces to the body or the head — the actual exposure to the head is only maybe half as much or a third as much as you might get from your cell phone,” Moskowitz explained.
Other general precautions include keeping your cell phone about 10 inches from your face when you can and only use your cell when the signal is strong, as poor reception emits more radiation, says Moskowitz.
It may be near impossible to completely avoid radiation these days, but we can all take a few steps to reduce the amount we’re exposed to on a regular basis.
Although some suspect chronic use of Bluetooth and wireless headphones could cause cancer, it’s still too soon to tell, and more research is needed.
The Australian Hearing Hub recommends using headphones for no more than 90 minutes a day, and the volume should never go beyond 80 per cent. A good rule of thumb is that if others can hear the sounds coming out of headphones while you are wearing them, they are too loud