Wireless Is the Next "Big Short"

A recent study found that the average human attention span has fallen from an average of twelve seconds to eight seconds, which is now lower than a goldfish’s nine second attention span. If you can make it to the end of this short article, I will explain why.

The occupational safety hazards of microwave exposure from radar have been accepted and well documented in the military and in the aviation industry for decades, yet the general population in the US is now exposed to high levels wireless (in the microwave band) with almost no protection or disclosures about public health effects. The United States is also currently experiencing an epidemic of chronic health issues, including developmental disorders like autism and ADHD, and mental health conditions, which have increased dramatically over the last twenty years.

I live in Silicon Valley and it took me about ten years to link my own health decline to exposure from microwaves, wireless, and dirty electricity. Many people across the country are now experiencing wireless levels similar to what I was exposed to over ten years ago with similar symptoms (insomnia, ear ringing, headaches, inflammation, attention, and memory issues). It is also important to know that Silicon Valley is experiencing a decline in mental health, most notably a teen suicide cluster in Palo Alto, the heart of Silicon Valley. Palo Alto has stronger cell towers and allows them to be placed closer to schools and residential areas than most of the surrounding cities in Silicon Valley.

Current levels of wireless exposure are unsafe and unsustainable. It is inevitable that people will experience a decline in their health and functioning due to this exposure to wireless.  There are thousands of peer reviewed and published studies that discuss the symptoms of wireless exposure and even explain the underlying biological mechanisms of harm with new studies being published every week. Like me, you may be surprised to discover how much research is out there and how much impact it is currently having on your health.

This short 5-minute video outlines this issue in slightly more depth and detail:

http://bit.ly/WirelessMsg

A Letter to Schools about Wireless

My wife and I love to empower children and are proud to help fund education here in Silicon Valley. Our first large grant to education 12 years ago was used to buy new computers and upgrade the wireless network at our local public school.

So, it may come as a surprise that I now believe that was a mistake. Obviously, we are still big supporters of education, but I believe the role of wireless networks (as opposed to wired Ethernet networks) needs to be carefully re-evaluated.  

With the same goal of empowering children in mind, I am also an environmental health funder.  I look at factors like toxic lead exposures that can undermine intelligence and the ability to learn.  After researching wireless for the last 5 years and connecting with researchers who have spent over 30 years on the topic, I now have some grave concerns.  I was surprised by how much evidence of harm has been published, not just recently, but for more than three decades.

This brings up some basic questions for educators:

• Does wireless exposure impact attention and learning?
• Do current wireless safety standards protect children?
• What are the safety limits of other countries compared to the US?
• Why is school funding for wireless discussed in an ethics paper from Harvard? [1]

Finally, there is the issue of liability. Will your Wi-Fi vendor or cell tower carrier be liable, or have they already exempted themselves from liability for health in their contact? If you find there are health concerns, can you get out of a cell tower contract with a wireless carrier? If you don’t look at the research after being informed about it, does the state of willful ignore exempt you from liability?

Like most people, I assumed this had been fully tested and failed to do adequate due diligence on this topic. Please don’t repeat my mistake.

A short video version of this letter can be watched here: http://bit.ly/wirelessEd

Sincerely,

Peter Sullivan
Founder and CEO
Clear Light Ventures

For a downloadable PDF of this letter, click here.

[1 ] “Captured Agency: How the Federal Communications Commission Is Dominated by the Industries It Presumably Regulates”, Norm Alster (2015)

Life, Animated: There's More to Say About Autism

Life, Animated just premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary tells the story of a nonverbal autistic boy who begins to speak when his family connects to him through his passion for Disney movies and characters. Life, Animated left audiences moved and inspired and won the directing award for U.S. documentaries. The film is a great success, but Owen, who is now 23, is still greatly impaired.

Owen was developing normally--speaking, playing, and socially engaged up until about the age of 3. And then, for some reason, he stopped talking and engaging socially. This is not typical of most nonverbal autistics. This is a form of the disorder called regressive autism, and is much less common--only about 25%-30% of cases. This was not discussed in the movie. It is not clear that the parents or even the doctors and therapists were aware of it. No one raised the simple question: why did this boy, who was developing normally, regress and stop talking? What is he now missing that is required for healthy development? Or, what is present that is interfering with healthy and normal development?   

I don’t hear Owen’s parents and therapist asking these questions, and if they are, this was not included in the film. Has anyone measured Owen’s blood looking for toxins? Have they tried to avoid chemical exposures that have already been linked to an increased risk of autism?  It appears not.

It also appears that there have not been any attempts made to improve Owen’s diet. Owen uses a cell phone and keeps it on his bedside table at night. Have the parents, doctors, or therapists read any of the peer reviewed and published research on the health effects of wireless radiation and how they match the symptoms of autism?

There is no mention of other autistic children who have improved and recovered using other behavioral therapies, or a wide range of treatments that address diet, environmental factors, inflammation, immune function, and infection. There is is no mention of doctors who have autism prevention programs and have lower rates of autism in their practices. No mention of other countries with lower autism rates, and why that might be.

Many parents feel that if they just had more money and time and access to good doctors, their child could improve. But if you are familiar with autism and other cases of improvement and recovery, by contrast, this story demonstrates that even well intentioned and well-off families can lack awareness and miss opportunities. If anything, they are surrounded and entrapped by professionals they trust too much, but who are not current in their understanding of autism.

In 2011, a Stanford twins study showed that the majority of factors that contributed to autism were environmental and not genetic, as people had previously assumed. And yet, many doctors and therapists are not even aware of this landmark study.  

Our health and performance are impacted by our diet and our environment. The good news is that we can change these things, and we can reevaluate our past choices and assumptions which may have, at one time, appeared correct, and align them with what is known to be true today.

Stories, especially Disney stories, are not just for our entertainment. They are written to model paths to overcoming setbacks and creating change in our lives. They can provide insights to help us break free from behaviors and beliefs that are not serving us. Owen’s story does provide some hope and inspiration that autistic children can improve, but it misses the opportunity to enlighten us about the full range of factors that are driving the autism epidemic.  

I hope that Owen and all other autistic children can recover and realize their true potential. But in order to make this happen, we cannot hide in a world of fantasy and distraction, or in the comforting routine of doing the same things over and over. When we make enough changes to see our children improve and recover and the autism rate goes down, then and only then can we finally rest and know that we have been heroes and heroines for our children in the real world.

References
 

[1] Life, Animated (Sundance 2016 - Directing Award: U.S. Documentary)

[2] Regressive Autism

[3] Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link–Part I."Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 191-209.

[4] Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link Part II."Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 211-234.

[5] The Kids Who Beat Autism - New York Times (July 31, 2014)

[6] Non-verbal autistic boys speaks 3 days after removing constant wireless exposures

[7] Hallmayer, Joachim, et al. "Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism." Archives of general psychiatry 68.11 (2011): 1095-1102.

[8] Top 5 Autism Suspects and How to Avoid Them

[9] The Emerging Link Between Wireless and Autism

A Letter to Moms

Is this an easy time to be a mom?

One in six children now has some form of developmental delay. ADHD and autism are now common, and rates are rising every year. Moms are trying harder than ever to raise healthy and empowered children, but for some invisible reason, it keeps getting harder and harder for them to develop naturally and thrive. Many of the best and brightest parents are feeling challenged. The things our parents took for granted are now a struggle for our generation and many of us even blame ourselves. However, I don’t believe this is our fault.

I’m a dad in Silicon Valley, and the objective on my resumé used to be “to empower people with personal technology.”  Technology has clearly made many things easier, but I learned the hard way that some technology is actually disempowering us and interfering with the most fundamental parts of our brains and nervous systems.  Like many people, I had assumed that wireless was safe and well tested. Then my children had developmental delays and symptoms of autism and my own health began to rapidly decline.  I was not able to sleep and had a hard time maintaining a healthy weight. In this weakened state, I became very sensitive to chemicals, certain ingredients in foods, and, finally, to wireless and electromagnetic fields (EMF).  I could feel a cell phone when it was used near my head and it didn’t feel good.  As a matter of fact, it made my thinking “fuzzy” for a period of time, usually around 40 minutes.  

My love of technology and its promise to empower people was now in stark contrast to our family’s real world experience.  I began to realize that I felt better away from technology and buzzing fluorescent lights, and recharged my body by hiking out in nature.  I started to reduce our exposure to wireless at home, too.  For years, this was a very personal journey as I watched my children recover and start to thrive again, and my own health returned.  I have found many other people who have had similar experiences and we have connected with the network of scientists who are now discovering exactly how this impacts us and our children. The rise of wireless radiation has fueled a growing movement of people who have been severely impacted and are advocating for safer wireless technology. Unfortunately, the harmful effects of wireless have been known for decades and have been ignored or covered up in the “land-grab” for wireless revenues.  

From one parent to another, as a warning, I would like to pass on this lesson that was learned through a great deal of pain and suffering. The microwave emissions from wireless devices are harmful, and there is now enough scientific evidence to justify reducing exposure. This is not the time to be overly trusting of government regulatory agencies and companies with a financial conflict of interest. This is not the time to be overly trusting at all.  As a matter of fact, it would be best if you tested this out for yourself, did the research, and came to your own conclusions. Start limiting exposures to wireless radiation, especially at night, and see what happens. How did you sleep? How sharp did you feel? How did your children behave? I have found that some of the effects are immediate, and some take several days or months as inflammation goes down and the body catches up.

You may discover, as I did, that this was the invisible factor that is making parenting in this era so hard. Please share this letter with your network of moms and friends and family members who you feel could benefit from it.

References

Clear Light Ventures: www.clearlightventures.com

Overpowered (2014) by Columbia Professor Martin Blank

Consumer Reports (2015): Does Cell-Phone Radiation Cause Cancer?

Parents Magazine (2015): How Wireless Devices Can Be Dangerous for Your Family

Clear Light Ventures: The Emerging Link between Wireless and Autism

Top 5 Autism Suspects and How to Avoid Them

This article is written for parents who would like to reduce their chances of having an autistic child or who would like to improve or recover a child who is already on the autism spectrum.

I had two children who were on the mild end of the autism spectrum. When my wife and I had our children, we followed our doctor’s orders and did everything we were told to do. We did our best, but our best was not good enough. With the help of some brilliant people and over fifteen years of effort, both of our boys are fully recovered. Had I known then what I know now, I believe this all could have been prevented. There is a lot more to learn about autism, but I believe at this point we have enough information to prevent new cases and recover many of the children who are already on the spectrum. This can start today, one household at a time, with parents taking action to protect or recover their children.

The first priority is to reduce or eliminate top environmental suspects. Many scientists and parents have come to the common sense conclusion that rolling back environmental factors to pre-1990 levels would reduce autism rates. A full rollback of environmental factors to the levels of the 1980s is almost impossible, but targeting a short list of top environmental suspects is something most people can do. As a funder of environmental health and autism research for over ten years, I have access to some of the brightest minds in the field. Listening to them, I have compiled a list of five top environmental suspects in the autism epidemic:

1) Wireless and electromagnetic fields (EMF)
2) Mercury
3) Glyphosate
4) Chemical toxins in general
5) Tylenol

For each of the five suspects, here are tips for avoiding or reducing exposure:

1) Wireless and Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

Prior to conception, the father should avoid keeping a cell phone in a front pocket, since wireless exposure is known to damage sperm, including DNA damage. He should also avoid using a laptop on his lap with the Wi-Fi turned on. Both should be avoided for at least the lifecycle of sperm (about 74 days). This should reduce the risk of de novo mutations (non-inherited mutations), which are associated with  autism. Pregnant women should also keep cell phones and laptops away from their uterus. The parents’ and child’s bedroom should be free of wireless baby monitors, cordless phone base stations, and Wi-Fi routers. Use antennasearch.com to locate cell towers and antennas near your home and work and try not to spend large amounts of time within a quarter mile of a cell tower or antenna. Wireless signal levels drop off significantly the further you are from them, so use distance to protect yourself and your child. Minimize or eliminate your child’s contact with devices that emit wireless signals, like tablets, laptops, and cell phones.

2) Mercury

Mercury is a known neurotoxin and has been a suspect in the autism epidemic for over a decade. Large fish like swordfish and tuna usually contain higher levels of mercury than smaller fish. Use SeafoodWatch.org to find fish with the lowest possible mercury levels. Silver dental amalgam fillings are approximately 50% mercury. Avoid getting amalgam fillings, especially during pregnancy. It’s also important to avoid unsafe removal of mercury amalgams, so if you opt to have yours removed, make sure your dentist uses the proper safety protocols. Multi-dose flu shots still use the preservative Thimerosal, which contains mercury. To avoid mercury exposure, ask for a single-dose flu shot or get the nasal spray, which doesn’t contain Thimerosal.

3) Glyphosate

Glyphosate is the primary ingredient in the herbicide RoundUp. It is also registered as an antibiotic, so being exposed to it can reduce healthy gut flora. Glyphosate exposure has been rising rapidly since it is now being used more heavily in “RoundUp Ready” GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. Minimize or eliminate consumption of GMO foods and switch to certified organic foods to reduce exposure to glyphosate.

4) Chemical toxins in general

Air pollution, flame retardants, BPA, and vinyl flooring have all been linked to a higher risk of autism. It is important to understand that most toxins are positively charged molecules that can act as “electron stealers” (free radicals/oxidation) in the body.  So the total exposure to all toxins should be considered, and not just avoidance of a small set of toxins. Try to avoid living within one mile of a freeway to reduce exposure to air pollution. Try to find furniture, especially mattresses, without flame retardants. Reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by avoiding fabric softener sheets, air fresheners, most paints (unless designated low or no VOC), new cars (that “new car smell” is caused by off-gassing toxins), and off-gassing from plastics and vinyls.

5) Tylenol

The pain reliever Tylenol (acetaminophen) depletes glutathione, an antioxidant that the body uses for removing toxins. Avoid Tylenol during pregnancy, prior to vaccination, in the days after vaccination, and before and after circumcision. Sufficient levels of glutathione are required to protect the body from toxins, and to remove them, for both the mother and the child.

I hope that by taking action to reduce these exposures, you and your children will be safe and thrive.

References

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link–Part I." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 191-209.

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link Part II." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 211-234.

Pall, M.L., Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy (2015).

Pall, M.L., The Autism Epidemic Is Caused by EMFs, Acting via Calcium Channels and Chemicals Acting via NMDA-Rs: Downstream Effects Cause Autism (Conference Presentation). 2015.

Pall, Martin L. "Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage‐gated calcium channels to produce beneficial or adverse effects." Journal of cellular and molecular medicine 17.8 (2013): 958-965.

Moskowitz, Joel M. "Research on the Effects of Cell Phone Radiation on Human Sperm." University of California, Berkeley (2011).

Iossifov, Ivan “Low load for disruptive mutations in autism genes and their biased transmission”, PNAS (2015).

Samsel A, Seneff S. Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese, neurological diseases, and associated pathologies. Surg Neurol Int 24-Mar-2015;6:45

Bauer, Ann Z., and David Kriebel. "Prenatal and perinatal analgesic exposure and autism: an ecological link." Environ Health 12.1 (2013): 41.

Campus Safety: How to Survive and Thrive in the Wireless Era

When my oldest son went to college last year, we gave him and some of his friends a copy of the book “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College.”  The book covers a wide range of topics from how to do laundry to how to deal with a nightmare roommate.  The only problem is that it was missing information on the newest campus safety issue that concerned me the most: wireless radiation. This paper will present simple tips for surviving and thriving in wireless environments in college. Most of these tips also apply to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, home, and work environments.

Cell towers

Find the cell tower(s) on or near your campus and minimize your time near them to reduce exposure to microwaves . If you have the ability to choose your dorm, consider the distance to cell towers as one of the most important deciding factors. Ideally, you would not want to be in a dorm that was within a quarter mile of a cell tower, and the further away the better (go to  antennasearch.com to find the cell tower(s) in your area).

Wi-Fi

Many classrooms and lecture halls have Wi-Fi routers installed inside them. Sit as far away from Wi-Fi routers as you can.  

If you can choose your location in your dorm, ask for one that is as far from the Wi-Fi router as possible. The ends of buildings may often have lower Wi-Fi levels than the middle. To measure the signal strength and the number of signals you are exposed to in each location, you can walk around the building with your phone or laptop and watch the Wi-Fi signal level(s) rise and fall.

Cell phone

Part of your wireless (microwave frequency) exposure comes from your cell phone, even when you are not using it. Buy a phone that has a low SAR (specific absorption rate) rating. Radiation levels drop off quickly--every time you double the distance, the radiation level goes down by 75%. Conversely, moving twice as close (for example, from two inches to one inch away) will quadruple the radiation level. This is why the FCC and the cell phone manufacturers warn you to always keep your phone at least 5 mm (about two-tenths of an inch) from your body. (See the “show the fine print” website to look up the exact distance for your phone).

Carrying the phone on your body will likely increase your exposure to a level above the FCC’s guidelines. Try to develop a habit of not carrying your phone in your hand, pocket, bra, or any other place that is in contact with your body. A good solution is to keep your phone in a backpack or purse as much as possible. If you must carry your phone in your hand, pocket, or bra, turn the phone to airplane mode and make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are off.  If the phone really must be on and against your body, use a shielding product like a Blocsoc.

When you use your phone, either text, use speakerphone, or use an airtube headset to avoid exposure near your head. You can also turn off the stronger LTE connection to reduce exposure (on the iPhone->Settings->Cellular-“Enable LTE”->Off). Another option is to  use Apple’s iMessage or Google Voice texting to keep up with text messages on your computer, ideally from a wired connection.

Computer

Spending hours working with a laptop can dramatically increase your stress and EMF exposure. Also, after sunset, it can increase your exposure to blue light, which can disrupt your circadian rhythms and sleep cycle. To prevent this, you can install a free app called f.lux to reduce blue light exposure at night.

Working on your laptop while it is plugged in and charging will increase your exposure to harmful electric fields, so use it unplugged as much as possible. If you have a wired Ethernet connection available, use that and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If you only have a Wi-Fi Internet connection, turn it off when you don’t need to connect to the Internet. This is also a great tactic for removing distraction and interruptions when you need to focus. Place your laptop on a desk, instead of your lap. If this is not an option, consider a shield like a HaraPad to put under your computer, especially if you are using Wi-Fi. The HaraPad can also be kept right against your back in a backpack to protect your body from cell phone exposure if your cell phone is on and in your backpack.

Electromagnetic Fields and Electrical Noise

Keep LED electric clocks (a major source of magnetic fields) and light and power cords as far from your bed as possible, especially away from your head. An Alan Maher Designs Tech Ground Mini is a great device to plug into a dorm room outlet to reduce electrical noise and field effects in the room.  Another Alan Maher Designs product that would be useful on campus is a shoe insert that can filter electrical noise around the body and in the nervous system. This is a discrete and very effective way to stay calm and keep your brain and nervous system sharp and focused.

I hope these tips help you survive and thrive in your college years and beyond.

Assembling the Pieces of the Autism Puzzle

Genetics

Most researchers initially believed that autism was an entirely genetic condition.  Decades of research have proven that to be false.  A Stanford study of twins showed that at most, only 38% of the condition was attributable to genetics, and of those genetic mutations, the majority of them were not inherited (de novo mutations). This points to the environment in the search for factors that can mutate genes and overload the body’s physiology.    

Toxins

Several toxins have been linked to an increased risk of autism (air pollution, flame retardants, toxic metals, BPA, glyphosate).  It is important to know that most toxins are positively charged and act as “electron stealers.”  In that sense, most toxins have a similar collective impact on the body.  However, some parents and researchers have noted that most pollution and toxins levels have not been rising and therefore they don’t believe that this can be the full explanation for the rising autism epidemic.  A noted exception is the toxic chemical compound glyphosate, an ingredient in the herbicide RoundUp which is used extensively with GMO and non-organic crops.

Wireless and EMF

Toxins are not the only environmental factor.  Levels of wireless radiation and EMF (electromagnetic fields) are also rising rapidly and appear to be a key piece of the autism puzzle.  Wireless radiation can damage DNA and the majority of studies show damage to sperm.  The practice of men carrying their cell phones in their front pockets should be avoided to reduce the risk of sperm DNA damage and the de novo (non-inherited) mutations associated with autism.

Also, the known symptoms of wireless (microwave radiation) and EMF exposure match the known symptoms of autism.  The mechanism of action (voltage regulated gateways of the calcium channel) is also now known.  Although the biological effects are extensive, both wireless and toxins disrupt calcium and increase inflammation.  

Biological Capacity

Because some healthy children have regressed into autism and some autistic children have recovered, cutting edge researchers are rejecting the concept that autism is a lifelong condition.  Newer models consider autism as a state of overload (formally called “allostatic load”) from multiple factors: genetic, environmental and physiological (biological capacity).  This state does not have to be permanent; a child can improve and recover as his or her system is unloaded to a level their bodies can manage.  

We have already looked at environmental factors that can be reduced, but what are the biological pathways and processes that are being overloaded?

Inflammation may be the key biological measure of overload in autism.  Note that many of the currently effective biological treatments for autism already focus on reducing inflammation (gluten free, casein free diet, detox).

It is also important to understand that fight or flight mode (sympathetic nervous system or cell danger mode) is pro-inflammatory and de-prioritizes detoxification.  It is not intended to be a long term mode of operation.  As the body feels safe and shifts out of danger mode, normal levels of detox, inflammation and growth can be restored.  Constant exposure to wireless radiation has been shown to move the body more toward the “fight or flight” response.

When you look at all the major pieces of the autism puzzle, wireless radiation plays a role in all of them.  It can increase mutations, especially in sperm.  It can induce fight or flight mode and reduce the body’s ability to detox toxins.  Finally, it has a direct and constant effect on the fundamental physiology of the body, disrupting the calcium channels, increasing inflammation and causing a wide array of other symptoms.  Therefore, decreasing wireless radiation and EMF exposure is key and may prove to be the most effective way to treat autism and end the epidemic.

Simple steps you can take to reduce exposure are listed in this article: Wireless and EMF Reduction for Autism

References

Links to commentary on research are given in the article above, in context.  Links to the primary research sources are given below:

Hallmayer, Joachim, et al. "Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism." Archives of general psychiatry 68.11 (2011): 1095-1102.

Iossifov, Ivan, et al. "The contribution of de novo coding mutations to autism spectrum disorder." Nature 515.7526 (2014): 216-221.

De Rubeis, Silvia, et al. "Synaptic, transcriptional and chromatin genes disrupted in autism." Nature 515.7526 (2014): 209-215.

Raz, Raanan, et al. "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Particulate Matter Air Pollution before, during, and after Pregnancy: A Nested Case–Control Analysis within the Nurses’ Health Study II Cohort." Environ Health Perspect (2014).

Woods, Rima, et al. "Long-lived epigenetic interactions between perinatal PBDE exposure and Mecp2308 mutation." Human molecular genetics 21.11 (2012): 2399-2411.

Rossignol, D. A., S. J. Genuis, and R. E. Frye. "Environmental toxicants and autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review." Translational psychiatry 4.2 (2014): e360.

Stein, T. Peter, et al. "Bisphenol A Exposure in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders." Autism Research (2015).

Samsel, Anthony, and Stephanie Seneff. "Glyphosate’s suppression of cytochrome P450 enzymes and amino acid biosynthesis by the gut microbiome: pathways to modern diseases." Entropy 15.4 (2013): 1416-1463.

Naviaux, Robert K. "Metabolic features of the cell danger response."Mitochondrion 16 (2014): 7-17.

Nevison, Cynthia D. "A comparison of temporal trends in United States autism prevalence to trends in suspected environmental factors." Environmental Health 13.1 (2014): 73.

Moskowitz, Joel M. "Research on the Effects of Cell Phone Radiation on Human Sperm." University of California, Berkeley (2011).

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link–Part I." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 191-209.

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link Part II." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 211-234.

Gupta, Simone, et al. "Transcriptome analysis reveals dysregulation of innate immune response genes and neuronal activity-dependent genes in autism."Nature communications 5 (2014).

Havas, Magda. "Radiation from wireless technology affects the blood, the heart, and the autonomic nervous system." Reviews on environmental health 28.2-3 (2013): 75-84.

Wireless: A key piece of the autism puzzle and what you can do about it

Wireless: A key piece of the autism puzzle and what you can do about it

Click on the slide image to view the slides in an external window.

I spoke at the Autism One Conference in Chicago May 22, 2015.   The video and slides are now available here and on the AutismOne website. 

Description

This presentation includes key concepts for understanding autism as a state of overload from multiple factors (total load theory) and how wireless radiation and EMF fit into that context.  Additionally, I explain what you can do to immediately reduce your child’s exposure to wireless radiation and EMF (electromagnetic fields) and how to be more resilient to its effects. Finally, I discuss the role of fight or flight mode in the context of EMF and detox, as well as other emerging solutions to reduce wireless and EMF exposure.

Autism and EMF: Published Research

Yesterday I was surprised to see a reference to a paper on autism and EMF that I had never seen before, from way back in 2006. I thought it would be useful to publicly list all the key papers on autism and EMF.   After doing a more formal search today, I found a few more papers on the topic that I had not seen before,  including a hypothesis paper published back in 2004.  

Kane, Robert C. "A possible association between fetal/neonatal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation and the increased incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)." Medical hypotheses 62.2 (2004): 195-197.

Thornton, Ian M. "Out of time: a possible link between mirror neurons, autism and electromagnetic radiation." Medical hypotheses 67.2 (2006): 378-382.

Carlo, G. L., and T. J. Mariea. "Wireless radiation in the aetiology and treatment of autism: clinical observations and mechanisms." Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine 26.2 (2007): 3.

Lathe, Richard. "Microwave Electromagnetic Radiation and Autism." Sensoria: A Journal of Mind, Brain & Culture 5.1 (2009): 11-30.

Sparks, R. A. "RF Energy Exposure and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders." (2012)

Ahuja, Yog Raj, Sanjeev Sharma, and Bir Bahadur. "Autism: An epigenomic side-effect of excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields." International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 5.4 (2013): 171-177. 

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link–Part I." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 191-209.

Herbert, Martha R., and Cindy Sage. "Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link part II." Pathophysiology 20.3 (2013): 211-234.

Alsaeed, Ibrahim, et al. "Autism-relevant social abnormalities in mice exposed perinatally to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields." International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience 37 (2014): 58-64.

Pall, M.L., Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy (2015)

Mortazavi, Gh, et al. "Increased release of mercury from dental amalgam fillings due to maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields as a possible mechanism for the high rates of autism in the offspring: introducing a hypothesis." Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering (2015).

Simonson, Stewart D. "Evidence for increased autism due to electromagnetic pollution from high power high gain microwave antennas." (2015)

Bellieni, Carlo V., and Giuseppe Buonocore. "Are electromagnetic fields in incubators a risk factor for autism?." Acta Paediatrica (2017).

Stewart D. Simons. “Evidence for increased autism due to electromagnetic pollution from high power high gain microwave antennas” (2018)

Martin Pall has not yet published his paper specifically on autism.  But, his talk from the Autism One Conference in 2017 outlines his theory, which is supported by published research, and it is one of the most comprehensive models of autism I have heard: 

Martin Pall “EMFs and Chemicals as the Two Main Drivers of the Autism Epidemic: Mechanisms of Action” (Presentation Video)

If you find other papers on the topic, please post them in the comments section below and I will add them to this list of references.

EMF and Autism Update

This paper is a summary of recent research and treatment protocols that support the theory that electromagnetic fields and radiation play a role in autism.

Initial Paper Summary

One year ago, Harvard researcher Dr. Martha Herbert, and EMF expert Cindy Sage, had their lengthy paper Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link published in Journal of Pathophysiology in two parts: Part I, Part II

The paper basically stated that the known symptoms of EMF exposure match the known symptoms of autism, these being primarily oxidative stress, inflammation, lower melatonin and glutathione and elevated calcium.  Their conclusion was that the theory of EMF (electromagnetic fields and radiation) as an environmental factor in autism is plausible and deserves further attention.

Genetic Study

The most recent genetic study in autism found that the majority of the genetic mutations found were not inherited from the parents: Dozens of Genes Associated with Autism in New Research.  The next logical step is to find environmental or physiological factors that would increase mutations.  It has been theorized that the increase in men carrying their cell phones in their front pockets (closer to their bodies than the FCC and cell phone manufacturers recommend) may play a role.  The overwhelming majority of research studies of cell phone wireless radiation and sperm have found an increase in damage to sperm, including damage to DNA.

A study by the University Texas found that children of fathers with technical jobs had a higher risk for autism.

The carrying of a cell phone in the pocket should be reviewed as a possible source of genetic mutation to sperm and a factor in the rising autism epidemic.

Emerging Awareness

Doctors and public health agencies are now starting to include EMF when they discuss the full range of possible environmental contributors to autism:

Pandemic Rates of Autism Cannot Be Explained by Genetics or Diagnosis Alone

Part 2 of Pandemic Rates of Autism Cannot Be Explained by Genetics or Diagnosis Alone

Dr. Martin Pall has gone one step further. He states that the exact mechanism of how EMF impacts the voltage regulated cell membrane channels is now known.   But, that is just one part of the puzzle.   He believes we now understand the whole thing.   We have cell phone and wireless causing sperm damage and contributing to increased genetic mutations and genetic load.   Toxins and total toxic load activate NMDA receptors, which contribute to increased inflammation.  He is very concerned about the toxic contribution of rising levels of glyphosate.  Finally, wireless and EMF are overloading voltage regulated gateways on the cell membranes, allowing positively charge calcium ions into the cell and disrupting the natural modulation of inflammation fighting nitric oxide (NO).

Screening

The lack of an objective biomarker for autism has made diagnosis and research more challenging. Two new non-invasive screens for autism may help us to quickly find children who are at risk and help researchers find more links between environmental exposure and changes in physiological biomarkers.

The first screen is a measurement of the brain’s electrical response (EEG) to light and sound.  The autistic brain takes more time to recover from the stimulus. 

Autism diagnosis could become clearer with sound/sight response screening

Since wireless radiation is basically light at a wavelength below our visual spectrum, it is hypothesized that autistics may be more sensitive to wireless pulses (invisible flicker or flashes) than neuro-typical children are, just as they are more sensitive to visible light than neuro-typical children are.  A study is underway to validate this hypothesis.

The second test is a non-invasive scan of the retina which measures the thickness of the membrane.  The retinal membrane thickness is an extension of the brain and nervous system and is seen as a good approximation for brain health.  Autistics have been found to have thinner retinal membranes:

Reduction in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in young adults with autism spectrum disorders.  

This is a key measure, because the thickness of the membrane is also a variable in the membrane channel’s ability to resist efflux and influx (outflow and inflow) of calcium.  Having a thin membrane equates to being “thin skinned” or sensitive.  We should now be able to quickly measure the effects of lowering EMF exposure and/or adding beneficial factors like healthy fats, which are used to build cell membranes.

Treatment Protocols

Doctors who are asking parents of autistic children to reduce constant sources of EMF and EMR (electromagnetic radiation) at night are seeing improvements in over 80% of the children.  This is a simple and free protocol that parents can try at home on their own, right now.  

Summary

Researchers are now closing in on the factors contributing to autism and EMF is emerging as a very plausible and likely suspect.   Doctors and parents who are measuring and reducing exposure to constant sources of wireless radiation are seeing results.

Understanding EMF and Wireless Safety

Like most people, I used to assume electronics and wireless devices were all safe.  I even worked in the tech industry in Silicon Valley and on one occasion delivered a new computer to a lab for FCC certification.  I have spent the last 10 years researching and funding environmental health efforts to reduce toxins and increase awareness.  After looking at the new emerging science on EMF (electromagnetic fields) effects for the last 4 years, I’m now directing all of my funding and time to EMF awareness, because I believe I can get a larger positive social impact even faster than my previous focus on toxins reduction.

Many people who assume EMF and wireless radiation are safe have heard the theory that non-ionizing radiation is not powerful enough to break apart atomic bonds, and therefore could not damage DNA.  In theory, this is true, but it is not a complete proof of safety and makes a glaring omission of the role of electrons play in biological life. In reality, most studies, not funded by the industry, have found biological effects, including DNA damage. In 2011, the World Health Organization listed radio frequency radiation as a class 2B carcinogen, in the same category as lead and DDT.

If you are interesting in learning more about emerging evidence of EMF health risks, here is a list of resources I have found to be the most credible, useful and up to date: 

Books

Overpowered (2014) by Columbia Professor Martin Blank

An Electronic Silent Spring (2014) by Katie Singer

Movies

Mobilize (2014)

Full Signal (2011) 

Short Videos

International Scientist Appeal on Electromagnetic Fields

Generation Zapped Trailer

Searching for a Golden Cage - Time Magazine (2014)

People 

Martin Blank, Ph.D

Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D

Katie Singer

 

Websites

Internation EMF Alliance

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment

Environmental Working Group

 

Research

A search in Pubmed for EMF finds over 2100 published research papers.  Recently, studies funded directly by industry have come under question and the FCC is used as an example of a captured regulatory agency in business ethics classes at Harvard.  Reviewing research in this field requires a healthy dose of skepticism.  Many neutral scientists have moved from the camp of safety to non-safety.  I have not found any scientists who have moved from the belief that EMF and wireless are unsafe to the conclusion that EMF and wireless are safe.  

Wireless and EMF Reduction for Autism

The question to ask is not can children recover, but what are the most simple and effective protocols for recovery?  Families with autistic children are already overburdened and overloaded on all levels. They need something simple and effective that they can try for free.

That protocol now exists and most children who try it improve.  After everything I've done over the the last 15 years, this has been the most effective, and in retrospect, if I had known about it at the beginning, I would have started with this protocol.  It is fairly simple and can be taught to children.  The hard part is believing that it will work and changing a long held assumption that electromagnetic fields and wireless radiation are completely safe.  This is something that I truly believed as an engineer and designer in Silicon Valley.  It took me several years to release this tightly held belief.

For a period early in my career I was a troubleshooter in customer support for a company that made high-end workstations and supercomputers.  When something was broken, we'd replace the most likely suspect parts.  If the first couple board replacements didn't work, we'd systematically replace every part until the system worked perfectly.   If a larger problem happened in manufacturing and the defect rate of a new product increased, again, we would systematically look at everything that changed, not only with every part, but also with the manufacturing environment.  The first clean rooms were built in Silicon Valley to reduce chemical contamination and electrostatic discharge.  Along the way, as chips became smaller and smaller, special rooms had to be created to minimize vibration, electrical noise and micro-surges that interfered with the machines that traced the microscopic circuits and wires that make up the chips and boards inside the computers.

Many things in our environment have changed and made it harder for our children to develop normally and to their full potential.  Our children are now born with, on average, almost 300 man-made chemicals in their bodies. My experience is that efforts to reduce toxins are effective, but also take a great deal of time, effort, diligence and cost.

Dr. Toril Jelter in California has pioneered a simple protocol to reduce exposure to constant sources of wireless radiation and electrical noise. Over 80% of her patients show measurable improvement in 2 weeks.  This protocol is simple enough that you can do it on your own:

Turn these four common sources of constant wireless radiation and electrical noise off at night for at least 12 hrs:

1) Baby monitors: Unplug for the duration of the trial.

2) Cordless phone base stations: Unplug the cordless phone base station (the largest unit that usually has the answering machine and physical phone line going into it.) Some people put this on an electrical timer.

3) Wi-Fi: Use a timer for the plug or software configuration to turn off at night.

4) Bedroom electrical circuit breaker: Find the circuit breaker that controls the electrical outlets in the child's bedroom.  Turning that off at night will reduce the majority of exposure to field effects and electrical noise (commonly called "dirty electricity").

Before you do these things, you may want to get some baseline data on your child. Take a few photos and some videos to document how your child moves.  Dr. Jelter asks her parents to fill out this survey before the trial and again after two weeks.

What to Expect

The majority of children will slowly and steadily improve as they sleep better.  We know that wireless exposure can drive down melatonin, glutathione and increase oxidation and inflammation.  For most children, removing this constant interference allows their bodies to heal and become more coherent.  A small number of children will show a dramatic improvement after just a few nights of sleeping well.  One non-verbal autistic boy actually spoke a complete sentence for the first time after 3 days on this protocol.

83% of the children in Dr. Jelter's trials have shown measurable improvement after just 2 weeks, and the improvement continued on for months after the trial.  The 2 week trial was designed to convince skeptical parents, many of them who are engineers in high tech, that this would work.  Once they see that it does, they often go on to reduce other sources of wireless and EMF.  

In 17% of the cases, the children showed no measurable improvement.  This does not rule out EMF exposure as a factor.  It may mean that EMF levels are from other less common sources, or from external sources in the neighborhood, such as a neighbor’s wi-fi signal, or a cell tower. In these cases, a building biologist or other professional trained in EMF measurement and mitigation might be required to evaluate the home.  If EMFs are fully eliminated, then one should continue to evaluate other functional medicine factors such as toxins, diet, gut health, infections and inflammation.

If this protocol works for you, please share this document with your network.

This short 3 minute video also quickly walks you through the action steps: Reducing Wireless Radiation and EMF 

References

Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a Pathophysiological Link, Part 1 and Part 2 by Dr. Martha Herbert (pediatric neurologist at Harvard Medical School) and Cindy Sage (co-editor of the BioInitiative Reports) in Pathophysiology 2013

Autism and EMF: Published Papers (2004-2014)

Calming Behavior in Children with Autism and ADHD by Katie Singer (2014)

Additional Resources

The Emerging Link between Wireless and Autism by Peter Sullivan (2015)

EMF and Autism Update by Peter Sullivan (2014)

Understanding EMF and Wireless Safety by Peter Sullivan (2014)

The Real Reason Electronics Are Effecting Our Sleep by Peter Sullivan (2014)

Find a local Building Biologist to test for EMF's in your home

Videos

The Emerging Link between Wireless and Autism - Peter Sullivan (2016)

Reducing Wirelesss Radiation and EMF - Peter Sullivan (2016)

Conferences

Wireless: A key piece of the autism puzzle and what you can do about it - Peter Sullivan (05/22/2015)

The Autism Epidemic Is Caused by EMFs, Acting via Calcium Channels and Chemicals Acting via NMDA-Rs: Downstream Effects Cause Autism - Martin L Pall, PhD (05/23/2015)

The Real Reason Electronics Are Affecting Our Sleep - Part II

Some people may still sleep poorly even after following the basic tips from "The Real Reasons Electronics Are Affecting Our Sleep." In 2005, I was sleeping so poorly that I had to be hospitalized.  I tried everything I could find: doctors, medicines, supplements, neurofeedback.  I saw some minor improvement, but nothing really restored that deep rejuvenating sleep I had known for years.

One day, on vacation, I realized that I could actually sleep well in some places. What was different?  My bedroom at home was pretty quiet, except for a subtle high pitched noise.  I became convinced that the noise was the cause of my sleep disturbance.  It took me three years to find the source of the noise.  The most helpful person was a building biologist who helped measure EMF (electromagnetic fields), wireless radiation and electrical noise (dirty electricity) on our household wiring.

We put in a few dirty electrical noise filter plugs and I noticed the pitch of the noise I heard at night changed and I finally started to sleep better again. Eventually, I turned off the wi-fi permanently and switched to wired Ethernet for all our computers.  We also replaced our cordless phone with a corded phone.  Additionally, we reduced levels of magnetic fields and electric fields (EMFs) in our bedrooms.  The fields "carry" the noise, just like a speaker transmits sound. When the fields are lower, it's like lowering the volume of a stereo speaker.

The hardest part of the experience for me was recognizing that technology could be a problem.  I worked in Silicon Valley and had always viewed technology as good and completely safe.  This belief proved to be not entirely correct.  I now fund work to raise awareness about wireless safety and the safety of EMF (electromagnetic fields), including their potential role in the rising autism epidemic (Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link - Part I).  

Sadly, like me, most people have assumed that this is all completely safe and well tested.  Some sleep labs at very elite universities even advertise that they have Wi-Fi in their labs.  I have yet to find a study that demonstrates Wi-Fi does not affect sleep.  The emerging data on wireless and EMF shows that our biological processes are impacted at very fundamental levels.  

Here are some more advanced tips for sleeping well without interference from wireless radiation and EMF:

• Measure the level of electrical noise in your home's wiring with a Stetzerizer or Greenwave meter.  Use the meter to locate high sources of electrical noise and find devices that might be generating it.
• Don't sleep with your head near a power panel or circuit breaker box.  These are sources of high magnetic fields.
• Consider moving your head away from the A/C plugs around the wall or try sleeping with your head toward the middle of the room.
• If you have a smart meter, consider opting out.  They emit a wireless pulse every 6 seconds and the switching power supply in the units can increase the electrical noise in your home.
• Look for other sources of constant wireless radiation: alarm systems, wireless weather stations and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices.
• Hire a building biologist or environmental consultant to come to your house to measure EMF levels and look for other sources of wireless radiation and EMF. Some sources of exposure may be outside your home and they can help you shield your home from those exposures.

Almost everyone is now affected by this rising threat to healthy sleep. Most people know something is wrong, but have failed to find the invisible factor affecting sleep.  I hope that after reading these articles this factor is now clear to you, and that you will take action to mitigate it to improve your sleep and your family's sleep.

Peter Sullivan is an environmental health advocate, autism funder and writer.  He lives in Los Altos, California with his wife and two boys.

The Real Reason Electronics Are Affecting Our Sleep

Many people are now noticing that they do not sleep well after using electronic devices late at night. Some have attributed the sleep disturbance to exposure to blue light, since it is stimulating and is known to reduce melatonin levels at night. But that is only one part of the problem. 

It is important to understand that wireless radiation and EMF (electromagnetic fields) emitted by these devices are basically light with a frequency that is below that which our eyes can perceive.  We know that exposure to EMF can also draw down our melatonin levels, just like exposure to visible light at night.  So, it may be helpful to think of wireless and EMF as invisible lights that should be turned off at night before bed, just like we naturally turn off visible lights.

Here are some basic tips for reducing exposure at night:

• As a general rule, keep electronics out of the bedroom: TVs, cordless phones, cell phones and chargers.  Corded phones that don't need to be plugged into power outlets are OK.
• Move digital LED (light emitting diode) alarm clocks away from your head.  They generate very large magnetic fields.   Ideally, move the clock to the other side of the bedroom or replace it with a battery powered analog or LCD clock.
• Unplug reading lights close to your head.  Even lights that are not on will generate electric fields and bring electrical noise closer to your head.
• Turn off cordless phone base stations at night.  The cordless phone base is the one that has the physical phone line going into it.  Unplug the unit or put it on a light timer.  The wireless signal from these base stations is constantly on and has a large reach, so turn it off even if it's far from your bedroom.
• Turn off your Wi-Fi at night.  You could put the Wi-Fi router's plug on a light timer, or some routers have a software configuration that will allow you to turn it on and off at specific times.  You could also use a remote switch to turn the plug and Wi-Fi on only when you need it for a limited duration of time.

These simple steps will help you avoid the most common electronic and EMF (electromagnetic fields) problems that can interfere with your sleep.  When you are ready, there are even more steps you can take to reduce your exposure: 

The Real Reason Electronics Are Effecting Our Sleep - Part II