In nearly every community where wireless smart meters have been installed, a percentage of residents complain of health effects that started after installation. The residents often did not know that smart meters had been installed. The most common symptoms are:
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Tinnitus
- Heart arrhythmia/palpitations
- Decreased immune function
- Irritability
- Decreased cognitive function
The research certainly backs up the link between these symptoms and EMF pollution. However, there seems to be something in particular about a wireless smart grid and smart meter that is causing a significant decrease in human health. It is most likely the erratic, high intensity pulses that wireless smart meters create. Some meters pulse up to 190,000 times per day (essentially constant pulsing). These pulses travel nearly 2 miles and can conduct along all copper electrical wiring within a home and community. The pulses are then re-radiated into the living environment, which causes the above symptoms.
Research on Smart Meter Health Effects:
The following are peer-reviewed, published studies and thousands of anecdotal accounts of smart meters causing physical harm to humans. You will also find possible solutions at the bottom of the article.
1.) Recently published study from Victoria, Australia outlining smart meter health effects experienced by 92 residents:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25478801
2.) Study by Richard Conrad, PhD on smart meter health effects reported by 210 participants. The study was presented to the Maine PUC in their proceedings to determine the safety of smart meters:
3.) Report on Wireless Smart Meters by Ed Halteman, PhD showing the health effects: emf survey on smart meters
4.) Personal stories from hundreds of people who have been injured by smart meters. Critics may say that anecdotal claims hold no weight. However, a true scientist looks at patterns to see if there is indeed something here. So far, governments and corporations are afraid to look here.
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/smart-meters/smart-meter-health-complaints/
5.) Nearly 500 citizens shared their personal stories of being injured by smart meters in the California Public Utilities Commission opt-out proceedings:
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/cpuc-smart-meter-judge-gets-an-earful-in-santa-rosa/
How Powerful are Smart Meter RF Pulses?
The above video shows how powerful smart meter emissions are compared to other RF sources such as cell phones.
The above video shows how powerful and nearly constant the 3 millisecond pulses are from wireless smart meters. The time-averaged measurements that utility companies talk about are not applicable for smart meters. The peak power of the pulses is what the body registers. This is a type of pulsed RF exposure the human body has never experienced before.
6.) With wireless smart meters now having such a bad name, some utilities are now trying to implement wired smart meters. These use Power Line Carrier (PLC) technology that send the two-way communication signals over the copper electrical wiring/grid. This sounds like a good idea – except it is likely worse than a wireless smart grid. Every electrical wire is now an antenna that is radiating EMF. A growing number of people who live in communities with this technology are being affected:
http://www.eiwellspring.org/plc/PLC_smartmeter_health.htm
http://www.eiwellspring.org/smartmeter/TWACS.htm
https://www.emfanalysis.com/austria-smart-meters/
Media Coverage of Smart Meter Health Effects:
7.) There have been dozens (possibly hundreds) of local news reports like the following that have aired around the world interviewing people who have been injured by wireless smart meters. For some reason, national news organizations do not report on this (willful blindness?). A pattern of injury from a toxic technology is quite obvious at this point.
You can watch this award-winning documentary about wireless smart meters here:
What can you do about this?
I encourage you to do everything possible to opt-out of your smart meter. If your area does not already have an opt-out program, this can take some effort and time. However, many people have successfully done this in their communities. If you cannot opt-out, I would move your meter base and electrical hookup off of the home, which can be quite expensive. Alternatively, use a Smart Meter Guard and put AL60 Wall Shield or a 4′ x 4′ sheet of thick aluminum siding on the inside of the wall behind the smart meter. The community of Truckee, CA was able to create an opt-out program for their area. I hope you can do the same in your community.
The article was updated August 2021.