8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / General

Tomitsch J, Dechant E et al, (January 2015) Exposure to electromagnetic fields in households--trends from 2006 to 2012, Bioelectromagnetics. 2015 Jan;36(1):77-85. doi: 10.1002/bem.21887

Bioeffects Seen

Authors not listed · 2015

Share:

Bedroom wireless radiation nearly doubled from 2006-2012 while power line fields decreased, fundamentally changing our sleep environment.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Austrian researchers measured EMF levels in 219 bedrooms from 2006 to 2012, tracking changes in power line fields and wireless radiation. They found power line electric fields decreased by 40% while total wireless radiation nearly doubled, with urban areas showing 3.4 times higher wireless exposure than rural locations. The study reveals how our bedroom EMF environment has shifted dramatically toward wireless sources.

Why This Matters

This Austrian longitudinal study captures a pivotal moment in our electromagnetic environment - the transition from primarily power line exposure to wireless radiation dominance in our most intimate spaces. The near-doubling of RF-EMF levels in bedrooms over just six years reflects the explosive growth of WiFi networks, cell towers, and smart devices that now surround us 24/7. What makes this particularly concerning is that these measurements were taken in bedrooms, where we spend roughly one-third of our lives in our most vulnerable state. The science demonstrates that sleep is when our bodies repair cellular damage, yet we're increasingly bathing ourselves in wireless radiation during these critical hours. The 3.4-fold difference between urban and rural wireless exposure levels also highlights how city dwellers face a compounding EMF burden that rural populations largely avoid.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz, 2600 MHz, DECT, WLAN exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 Hz, 2600 MHz, DECT, WLANCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2015). Tomitsch J, Dechant E et al, (January 2015) Exposure to electromagnetic fields in households--trends from 2006 to 2012, Bioelectromagnetics. 2015 Jan;36(1):77-85. doi: 10.1002/bem.21887.
Show BibTeX
@article{tomitsch_j_dechant_e_et_al_january_2015_exposure_to_electromagnetic_fields_in_households_trends_from_2006_to_2012_bioelectromagnetics_2015_jan36177_85_doi_101002bem21887_ce1130,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Tomitsch J, Dechant E et al, (January 2015) Exposure to electromagnetic fields in households--trends from 2006 to 2012, Bioelectromagnetics. 2015 Jan;36(1):77-85. doi: 10.1002/bem.21887},
  year = {2015},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.21887},
  
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.21887PubMed: 25421708

Quick Questions About This Study

Total RF-EMF levels in Austrian bedrooms increased from 28.13 to 52.16 µW/m² - an 85% increase over six years. The largest contributors were UMTS cell signals and WiFi networks, reflecting the rapid expansion of wireless infrastructure during this period.
Urban bedrooms showed 3.4 times higher wireless radiation than rural areas - 117.73 µW/m² versus 34.52 µW/m² median levels. This dramatic difference reflects the higher density of cell towers, WiFi networks, and wireless devices in cities compared to countryside locations.
Yes, bedroom electric fields from power lines decreased significantly, dropping 40% from 23.20 V/m in 2006 to 13.90 V/m in 2012. This likely reflects improved electrical wiring practices and energy efficiency measures implemented during this period in Austria.
LTE signals in the 2600 MHz range were detected at 17 bedroom locations with a maximum level of 38.20 µW/m². This represents the early deployment of 4G networks, which would continue expanding rapidly in subsequent years across Europe.
UMTS (3G cell signals) and WLAN (WiFi) showed the highest increases from 2006-2012. Interestingly, DECT cordless phone radiation actually decreased, likely as households switched from dedicated cordless phones to mobile devices and WiFi calling.