Quote:
Originally Posted by jabook
The electromagnetic fields influence production of some hormones such as melatonin (which normally reacts to light and plays a role in our resting while sleeping) and the body cannot take the rest and refresh as good as it should.
The note about clock radio (plugged into the eletricity net) next to your bed is actually a good point - it too has its negative (albeit small) effects. There are large epidemiological studies done years ago in UK and elsewhere just on this topics (effect of electric appliances close to your bed).
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The issue with the conclusion you're drawing is that studies on electromagnetic fields and the production of melatonin don't draw any definitive conclusions on what harmful effects this can have on humans. Certainly when exposing lab rats to incredibly high fields this has an adverse effect, but this doesn't mean the effect is enough to cause us harm in our daily life due to fields given off by the wiring in our walls (which are absolutely TINY by the way).
Melatonin is also influenced by visible light FAR more than by electromagnetic radiation, so leaving your computer monitor on, a nightlight on, or any sort of light source will effect your melatonin levels much more significantly than the minute magnetic fields given off by your home's wiring. Even before we lived in modern homes, the cycle of the full moon to new moon would effect this more than any electromagnetic field we are exposed to on a daily basis. (which, by the way, electromagnetic fields are NOT radiation, but you can create radiation through electromagnetic fields... confusing right?)
Common electromagnetic fields and radiation simply have so small of an effect on our production of melatonin that scientist cannot definitely account for positive or negative effects on our daily lived due to the results being below the threshold of the "noise" in the data produced due to minor fluctuations in sleeping schedule, light levels, and so many other factors.
When searching and finding information about these sorts of topics, an academic search engine such as Google Scholar will give you good, verified sources of information. Much of the misinformation about radiation comes from these studies though, so keep in mind the levels of radiation being used compared to the levels you are being exposed to.
Also remember that while IR radiation can burn you at high enough levels (one type of radiation that's easy to give a concrete example for), at low levels you will simply NEVER get burned if the level of IR radiation doesn't pass a certain threshold. Exactly like putting your finger in water around your body temperature versus putting your finger in boiling water.