Quotes a review concerning laptop and incubator fields, fetal exposure and newborn heart-rate variability…

https://bioinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/sec19_2012_Fetal_neonatal_effects_EMF.pdf

Pregnant women with laptops close to their belly receive more EMF for the child than safety limits allow. But less so if the laptop is on a table.

"Induced electric currents were estimated for both the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Statistical values of the averaged current density were evaluated for body tissues including the body

of the fetus, and the grey and white matter of the brain of the mother; the mother’s cerebellum, the

mother’s cerebrospinal fluid and mother’s muscle tissue. In each case, the larger exposure was

generated by the power supply rather than the laptop operation. Levels of induced current

substantially exceeded ICNIRP public safety limits, assuming close proximity of the laptop to the

belly of the pregnant woman (for the fetus, between 182% and 263.7% of the ICNIRP standard);

and for the woman (between 346.7% and 483.5% of the ICNIRP standard).

Simple measures to distance the laptop during use (placing it on a table or desk and not on

the body of the user) will result in significant reduction of ELF-EMF exposure and induced electric

current in both mother and fetus..."

On how to reduce extremely low frequency EMF exposure in incubators.

"To allow what is an

essential medical intervention for the growing premature baby, or the sick infant who needs

exceptional care following birth, at least two possible solutions to reduce ELF-EMF levels are:

 Designing incubators with the motor far from the baby (some incubators already have

adopted this measure) and

 Using ELF-EMF absorbing panels to shield the baby’s body from emissions (like Mu

metal)."

...

Nurses get EMF near incubators. High EMF influences baby heart rate variability.

"Another paper showed that

nurses are also exposed to high EMF while working near incubators [ Bellieni, 2002].

Bellieni et al [2008] reported that the exposure to high electromagnetic fields can interfere with

the sympathetic nervous system in altering babies’ heart rate variability. Heart rate variability

(HRV) of 43 newborns in incubators was studied. HRV is an index of Autonomous Nervous

System activity. The study group comprised 27 newborns whose HRV was studied throughout three

5-minute periods: 1) with incubator motor on, 2) with incubator off, and 3) with incubator on again,

respectively. Mean HRV values obtained during each period were compared. The control group

comprised 16 newborns but exposed to no source of ELF-EMF; they were exposed to changes in

background noise similar to those provoked by the incubator motor (to reproduce the conditions of

the first cohort). Mean total power and the high-frequency (HF) component of HRV increased

significantly and the mean low-frequency (LF)/HF ratio decreased significantly when the incubator

motor was turned off. Basal values were restored when incubators were turned on again. Changes in

background noise did not provoke any significant change in HRV. We therefore concluded that

ELF-EMFs produced by incubators influence newborns' HRV, showing an influence on their 8

autonomous nervous system. More research is needed to assess possible long-term consequences,

since premature newborns may be exposed to these high ELF-EMFs for months."

...

"Existing FCC and ICNIRP public safety limits seem to be not sufficiently protective of public

health, in particular for the young (embryo, fetus, neonate, very young child).

The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified both

ELF-EMF and RF EMF (wireless radiofrequency) as Possible Human Carcinogens (Group 2B).

New, biologically-based public exposure standards are critically needed.

Common sense measures to limit both ELF-EMF and RF EMF in these populations is needed,

especially with respect to avoidable exposures like incubators that can be modified; and where

education of the pregnant mother with respect to laptop computers, mobile phones and other

sources of ELF-EMF and RF EMF are easily instituted.

It is not in the public interest to wait: A precautionary approach may provide the frame for decision

making where remediation actions have to be realized to prevent high exposures of children and

pregnant woman."