Do computers emit radiation?
The answer to that question is yes, and no. So, which is it?
Modern computer towers and laptops are mainly comprised of microelectronics and consume very low amounts of power compared with their predecessors. The laptop upon which I am writing at the moment has a mid-grade processor and runs about 15-60 Watts of power use.
Less power means less electromagnetic emissions. When we discuss radiation in relation to microelectronics, we are talking about electromagnetic frequencies (EMF).
The word “radiation” typically freaks people out, conjuring up images of hair, teeth, and nails falling out, skin sloughing away. That is ionizing radiation and not the same type of radiation we are talking about here, which is non-ionizing radiation.
For example, if you turn on a flashlight, it is emitting electromagnetic radiation. Before a discussion of EMF and modern electronics, let’s talk about EMF radiation, what it is, and what it is not.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
Radiative EMF energy is a product of emissions from the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum of frequencies ranges from gamma radiation and x-rays on one end to radio signals on the other end with visible light somewhere in the middle.
The operative word here is “light”, which is made of photons. Electromagnetic spectra (radio waves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, microwaves, x-rays, and gamma radiation) consists of photons of light, whether the light can be observed or not.
The differences between portions of the spectrum have to do with wavelength, which is the distance between pulses of energy and also describes how frequently (a.k.a., what frequency in Hertz or cycles/second) those pulses of energy are emitted.
What is not described by these features is energy intensity. For some portions of the spectrum, any emission at those wavelengths is potentially harmful (for example, x-rays and gamma rays). In the other portions of the spectrum, it is a matter of intensity and not necessarily wavelength.
We know you can get a really nasty burn from visible light, take high-intensity lasers for example. Radio waves pass through structures, send us information to our stereo radio receivers, laptops, cell phones, and other devices but do not pose an immediate health risk.
However, climb up a radio tower and stand next to the transmitter and it is an entirely different story. You will basically be cooked alive up there, which is one of the reasons, apart from the better over-the-horizon transmission, that radio towers are so tall.
Distance is a great mitigator of radiation intensity, since energy density diminishes over the inverse square of the distance traveled, following the inverse square law.
Inverse Square Law
Despite the math, the inverse square law is not all that hard to understand. Let us use a simple example.
If you shine a flashlight on the wall, you see a bright spot where the beam falls. Back up a little way and the spot gets larger, but it also gets dimmer.
If you continue to move away from the wall a sufficient distance, you will at some point not see a spot at all or any useful illumination of the surface. That is because the density of the projected energy is diluted over a larger and larger surface area, diminishing in that density by the inverse square of the distance.
So, a beam of emitted energy of 10 on a surface at a distance of 10 meters becomes 2.5 at a distance of 20 meters, 1.1 at a distance of 30 meters, and so on. For any radiating source of electromagnetic energy, distance from that source is the simplest means of reducing your exposure.
What Radiation do Laptop Computers Emit?
Laptops and tower computers do emit some forms of non-ionizing radiation, which are listed below:
Visible light. Yes, that bright screen you spend so much time staring at emits electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light.
That constitutes EMF spectra in the 400-800 THz (tera-Hertz) band. One THz comes to 1012 cycles per second.
Infrared light. Infrared light, also known as radiant heat, is given off by energy-consuming sources in the laptop and emitted as a radiative byproduct. This is a normal process of thermal emission.
Infrared light runs in the 10-100 THz band.
Radio waves. The WiFi and Bluetooth antennas in your laptop, wireless device, or tower both receive and transmit radio wave emissions in either the 2.4 GHz (giga-Hertz) and/or 5.0 GHz portions of the spectrum. Wireless devices send and receive data to foster communication, the transmission of information, and for a checks-and-balances system of regulating reliable information transfer.
One GHz is defined as 109 cycles per second, so a bit longer wavelength than visible light.
Low-frequency EMF. Normal operation of the circuitry components of your tower or laptop produces low-frequency signals as a normal matter of course.
Nuclear radiation. Yep, there are some nuclear radiative emissions, which include gamma rays, put out by your computer. However, these are at the level of natural background radioactive decay found in the materials that are used for components in the machine and its housing.
The amount of radioactive emissions is very low and generally not distinguishable from levels of exposure in the natural environment.
How to Reduce Exposure & Dangers of Computer Radiation
In today’s technology-driven world, there’s little you can do to avoid the radiation from electronic devices. Although these radiations aren’t always life-threatening, it’s always better to be on the safe side.
Here are a few tips that will help you reduce your exposure to harmful radiation from your computer and laptop.
1. Don’t Keep Laptops on Your Lap
Keeping the laptop on your lap while you’re on your bed or couch might seem like a comfortable option when working from home. However, keeping the EMF radiations in direct contact with your skin might not be a great idea.
As strange as it may sound, placing your laptop on your lap leads to a catastrophic effect on your sperm count. The radiation and heat decrease your sperm motility. The heat can also cause a skin disease called Toasted Skin syndrome.
If you don’t feel like sitting at a desk, you should definitely slip in a pillow or a thick blanket under your laptop before placing it on your lap. You can also get foldable laptop tables or shields for your laptop that prevents 100% of the radiation from reaching your skin.
2. Use EMF-Protection Stickers
EMF protection stickers are also referred to as electromagnetic blocking stickers. These stickers can be adhered to electromagnetic devices to absorb some of the radio waves these devices emit and can shield you from some of the hazardous currents.
You can buy EMF stickers and place four stickers on your laptop (one in each corner on the back of the screen) and reduce EMF emissions in these areas. The stickers can also be used on other electronic devices such as your desktop computer, computer monitor, or smartphone.
3. Use a Laptop Radiation Shield
If you use your laptop daily and are worried about radiation exposure then you can also consider a laptop radiation shield. This shield is a type of laptop pad that blocks radiation so you can sit with your laptop on your lap.
These radiation pads also offer additional benefits since they can enhance your general comfort, and keep your laptop from overheating when you use it for prolonged periods of time.
4. Wear EMF Clothing
Anti-EMF clothing can also protect you from your laptop or desktop computer and are a sure must for men who love to keep their phones in their pants pockets. This type of clothing is made from special materials that contain metal so it can block EMF rays.
EMF clothing can look just like any other type of garment and are just as comfortable and durable. The only difference is that these garments will protect your body – or certain delicate body parts – from harmful rays.
5. Wear a Negative Ion Bracelet
Negative ion bracelets are made of materials that naturally produce negative ions that offer many health benefits. These bracelets can also block out some of the EMF waves that could have harmful effects on the human body.
6. Get Houseplants
There are a few houseplants that are known to absorb EMF radiation from your computer and indoor pollution. Some of these houseplants include:
- Sansevieria: The leaves of this plant are highly efficient in absorbing radiation. In fact, a lot of companies place these plants in their cubicles for their employees.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera has thick, gel-filled leaves that are known to absorb EMF radiation. Since it’s a desert plant, it’s relatively easy to care for, making it the perfect houseplant.
- Cactus: Cactus is excellent in absorbing harmful EMF radiations, as well as toxins. Although most things absorb radiation (just how your body does), a cactus is far better at reducing the radiation level in your room.
7. Always Opt For Wired Devices
Although wireless devices like a wireless phone add to your comfort and convenience, they emit a radiofrequency (RF), which is much more severe. That said, opting for wireless devices like a wired keyboard and mouse is a safer option.
It’s evident that this might not be a convenient option all the time, especially when you’re traveling. However, using it at home or work will save you from a lot of radiation. After all, the impact of radiation depends not just on the level of exposure but also on the span of exposure.
8. Get an EMF Meter
Taking all the precautions to reduce your exposure to EMF radiation will be of no use unless you have a way to check if these methods are actually working. It will also help you check the overall radiation in your room. The safe limit of radiation for humans is 5,000 millirems. A quality EMF meter will help you check if the radiation level in your room is under control or not.
You can use this meter not just for your computer but all other electronic devices like your TV, the WiFi, as well as your phone and will enable you to find ways to eliminate the electromagnetic field produced by these devices.
Should I Worry About EMF Exposure?
No, not at all. Here are some take-home points to remember when thinking about radiation and your level of exposure.
Thermal radiation (heat) is emitted by all objects. I would like to repeat that, all objects.
This is a basic principle of thermodynamics and involves all the laws of thermodynamics. It is simply how energy, in the form of heat, is transferred between objects in a system.
Most materials obtained from the environment have some concentration of radioactive substances within them. Whether that radiation is ionizing radiation relates to the intensity of the emitted energy.
In most cases, it is not. Any naturally occurring source of an element, for example, carbon, is actually a mixture of various isotopes of carbon, some of which are radioactive.
What’s an isotope? Think of an element as a family and the isotopes as different members of the family.
They all have the same last name, but they are different people.
Electronic circuitry produces magnetic fields which emit electromagnetic energies as a result of current flowing through the circuit. It’s how circuits work and you cannot get away from it.
Of all the EMF spectra in a modern laptop, the above emissions are inconsequential sources. However, WiFi and Bluetooth radio transmissions are of sufficient energy to produce EMF pollution in a contained environment if there are too many sources in a small area.
Final Thoughts
So do computers emit radiation? From this guide, it becomes quite clear that they do in fact emit radiation. But it is also true that modern computers don’t emit nearly as much radiation as older models because of their lower power usage.
It is also true that not all types of radiation or radio waves these devices emit are dangerous. Only the EMF waves can be harmful to human health and computers and laptops do have a relatively low EMF range.
It is, however, important to realize that the connections your laptop or computer uses have a strong EMF level. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi waves can be harmful to human health and it is best to take precautions with your laptop or computer when using the internet.
Luckily, there are plenty of good ways to secure yourself from those damaging rays. If you want to learn more about EMF protection gear then you should have a look at some of the other guides we have on EMF Risks.
With our guides, you can safely enjoy your computer and have fun with online gaming without putting your health at risk.
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