Wireless headsets, fitness bracelets, watches: Today we are surrounded by Bluetooth gadgets from every corner.
Smartphones, headphones and Bluetooth headsets do not have a good reputation, as many users believe that radiation can provoke the development of serious diseases, including brain tumors…
But is their radiation so harmful to us?
Let’s try to figure out whether it is true that wireless headphones are harmful to health, whether it is possible to protect ourselves from negative effects and what effects they actually have on our body.
Table of Contents
What is Bluetooth: Classes and Ranges
Bluetooth is high-frequency radiation, which, according to official data, does not pose a direct threat to human health.
The Bluetooth standard is approved worldwide, and its emissivity is within the acceptable range.
This type of communication is mainly used for data and voice transmission.
In particular, the technology is being used in computer mice, headsets or musical instruments to replace annoying cables.
Bluetooth performance is divided into three classes.
Classes 3 and 2 have a range of 5 to 30 meters. They are the most common and are considered safe.
Class 1 can reach a range of up to 100 meters in open space, and its radiation level is comparable to that of a mobile phone.
With such devices, there are already more doubts about their safety, but, as a rule, they are not used in the home.
Is Bluetooth Radiation Dangerous?
Since only Bluetooth class 2 and 3 are most often used, in most situations its radiation can hardly be called harmful.
When using a headset or speakerphone, the level of Bluetooth radiation is significantly lower than when the phone is placed directly to the ear.
Radiation dose from electronic devices is measured in SAR units.
For example, the iPhone 11 has a SAR value of 0.95, which puts it in the middle of the ranking of modern smartphones. When using the speakerphone, the SAR value is only 0.003.
Therefore, Bluetooth technology is significantly less harmful than mobile phone radiation and therefore can be considered as not a health risk.
At the international level, studies of smartphone radiation are constantly being conducted.
Although the SAR values in this case are significantly higher than those of Bluetooth, long-term harmful effects of “smartphone radiation” have not yet been proven.
Headphones, regardless of their mechanism of action, with prolonged and continuous use, can cause not so complicated, but no less unpleasant diseases.
In particular, people who use headphones, Bluetooth headsets, and Air Pods may experience hearing loss and frequent headaches.
To avoid negative consequences, it is better to keep the phone at least 30 centimeters away from your face, turn on the speakerphone more often, do not save on the manufacturer of Bluetooth headsets, and also do not sleep with headphones and try to move them further away from the body when they are not needed.
How Do You Protect Against Bluetooth Radiation?
Since Bluetooth radiation is usually much weaker than that of cell phones and Wi-Fi routers, protection against it is generally not required.
To minimize it, you can simply disable this feature on most devices, such as a smartphone.
On the Internet you will find many devices and tools that should help protect against radiation.
However, the effect of such funds has not been proven.
With the help of so-called “shielding paint” you can, for example, paint the walls of the house inside and out to shield outside radiation so you will protect yourself from “harmful waves”.
Now so-called radiation detectors are also popular. They allow you to measure the current dose of radiation at any time in any place.
They will also help you find out how strong the radiation of your Bluetooth devices really is.
How To Use Bluetooth Headsets Safely?
Most of us use our headphones every day for several hours.
Some people experience a slight fatigue or headache after this, some do not.
Experts remind you to follow the several steps for avoiding dangerous consequences:
- Take breaks in use so as not to harm your hearing. Let your ears rest a little.
- Do not set the maximum volume: it is better to listen to music in the background at a low level so that there are no hearing problems.
- Try not to sleep in headphones: even if your head doesn’t hurt in the morning, your ears will feel discomfort when you turn to the side in a dream due to the pressure of the headset on the ears.
- Also pay attention to the fact that constant listening to music in headphones reduces not only auditory activity, but also attention.
- Switch the Bluetooth off when not needed because anyway headphones emit radiation, less than phones or x-ray equipment. They have a non-ionizing radiation (Bluetooth is non-ionizing radiation that causes neither disease nor health problems, and the radiation itself is almost 400 times lower than the permissible norm).
Final Words
If you’re unsure about the dangers of Bluetooth devices, then start by checking for FCC compliance.
In most cases, an FCC-certified device is considered safe to use.
In any case, when it comes to security, it’s always better to be careful.
This does not mean that you need to give up the benefits of Bluetooth technology, but you need to know the measure and comply with the requirements.
Before making a purchase, take the time to research the manufacturer, FCC compliance, and recommendations for use.
FAQ
Is Bluetooth Safe For Your Brain?
Yes, Bluetooth is safe for your brain. Electromagnetic radiation from a wireless headset turned out to be at such a low level that the risk of developing any oncological ailments is basically excluded.
Does Turning off Bluetooth reduce Radiation?
Yes, when you turn off Bluetooth you reduce radiation. Bluetooth devices emit a small amount of ionized electromagnetic radiation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that low doses of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation cause no or very little adverse effects in humans.
How Can I Make Sure my Bluetooth Device is Secure?
If you want to check the safety of a device, you need to know the SAR value.
Choose devices with the lowest SAR values whenever possible.
Buy devices only from trusted manufacturers with a long history of FCC compliance. Such companies more often than others offer quality products with rigorous testing.