dirty electricity

World Health Organization Workshop on Electrical Hypersensitivity, 25-26 October, 2004, Prague, Czech Republic.

Dirty Electricity and Electrical Hypersensitivity: Five Case Studies

By Magda Havas(1) and David Stetzer(2)

(1)Environmental & Resource Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada; mhavas@trentu.ca

(2)Stetzer Electric Inc., 520 West Broadway St., Blair, WI 54616, USA; dave@stetzerelectric.com

We would like to thank all the people who participated in the studies. We would also like to thank Art Hughes for providing technical information and Martin Graham for designing the Graham/Stetzer filter and the Stetzerizer^TM microsurge meter.

Since the introduction of electricity and the rapid growth in our use of electronic devices the quality of electrical power flowing along conductors (wires) within the home and workplace has been deteriorating. The public became aware of poor power quality, also known as dirty electricity, when home computers became popular. These computers would periodically "malfunction" and these malfunctions were associated with power surges on the electrical wiring. Surge suppressors are now commonly used as a consequence of poor power qualityto protect sensitive

A 42-year old male experienced ringing in his ears (tinnitus), painful teeth and gums, and headaches behind his eyes for which he took over-the-counter medication weekly. He slept poorly and was tired and irritable during the day. These symptoms are consistent with electrical hypersensitivity (Levallois 2002), although he did not use this term. His symptoms began 4 years ago and in May 2004 he installed G/S filters in his home. Readings in his home dropped from an average of approximately 900 to 20 GS units (Table 1). His sleep improved immediately (similar

Graham/Stetzer filters were installed in the home of an 80-year old female with diabetes on June 12, 2004. Her home had very high values for dirty electricity (800 GS units on average with values above 2000 in some rooms) and these dropped significantly to no greater than 15

In this study we demonstrate that Graham/Stetzer filters can improve power quality by reducing the amplitude of harmonics and transients on electrical wiring in buildings; that dirty electricity flows along the ground and interacts with conducting objects (including people) in contact with the ground; and that when this form of energy is removed some

We are living in an increasingly complex electrical environment and are inundated daily with electromagnetic frequencies ranging from less than 20 Hz (electric trains) to greater than 1 billion Hz (wireless telecommunication). Most of these frequencies are man-made and were

not present until the invention and subsequent commercialization of electricity (early 1900s), radio (1920s), radar (1940s), television (1950s), computers (1970s), and cell phones (1980s). Whether, and at what intensities, these frequencies have biological effects has been a subject

American Diabetes Association. 2004. [www.diabetes.org] American Tinnitus Association. 2004 [www.ata.org]

Arnetz B.B, Berg M, and J. Arnetz. 1997. Mental strain and physical symptoms among employees in modern offices. Arch Environ Health 52: 63-67.

Elder, J.A. and C.K. Chou. 2003. Auditory Response to Pulsed Radiofrequency Energy

Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 6:S162-S173

A healthy 51-year old female installed the G/S filters in her home and in her office at work. She completed a wellness questionnaire daily for 1 week prior to installation of the filters and

for 4 weeks after filters were installed (Sept 6 to Oct 10, 2004). The rectifier, in light dimmer switches, chops the sine wave and generates microsurges that travel along electrical wiring.

Graham/Stetzer filters were installed in the home of a 43-year old woman, who has had MS for 8 years. She walked with a cane and did "wall-walking" in her home. "Wall-walking" refers to a person using the wall or furniture to help maintain balance. Readings in her home decreased from an average of 170 to 30 GS units after 13 filters were placed into receptacles

in various rooms of her house (Table 1).