Headphones have become an indispensable part of our daily life, whether they are wired or wireless. However, we hear from many places that wireless headphones emit cancer-causing radiation, so no one can be blamed for being concerned about their safety.
Whenever you try to figure out what’s going on, you’ll come across websites that say your wired headphones are going to kill you slowly! Is it time to bid your favorite listening gadgets farewell?
Well, don’t throw away these headphones just yet. While we know that headphones emit some radiation, we can logically assess the risks they pose. We will walk you through the facts and myths about headphones radiation, going into detail to discuss Bluetooth vs wired headset radiation.
What Are Electromagnetic Radiations?
When we hear the word radiation, our mind automatically goes to the thing behind bombs and nuclear meltdowns. But are there electromagnetic radiations really that dangerous? When we think about wireless devices, our mind already pictures harmful radiations coming out of them. You are left wondering that are Bluetooth headsets bad for your health? Are wireless headphones safe for brain?
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is a sort of energy, like all other types of radiation. Radiation is energy in the form of particles and waves that travels over space. Electromagnetic radiation in nature comes in a variety of forms. A good example is visible light.
So if visible light is a type of electromagnetic radiation, does that mean we are always surrounded by a form of radiation? Well, the answer is yes.
We mostly talk about EMR when it comes to electrical gadgets like headphones. This is produced when the system’s atoms absorb energy.
Similarly, Electric and Magnetic Fields are referred to as EMF. Radiation fields around EMR emitters are called these fields.
What Are The Types Of EMR?
Non-ionizing and ionizing radiation are the two types of radiation. Non-ionizing radiation has lesser energy and a longer wavelength/lower frequency. Ionizing radiation has a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency. Hence, it has more energy.
Ionizing Radiation has enough energy to generate ions at the molecular level in matter. If the matter is a person, substantial harm can occur, including DNA destruction and protein denaturation.
This isn’t to suggest that non-ionizing radiation can’t harm humans; rather, the damage is usually restricted to thermal damage, such as burns.
Should We Still Worry About Non-Ionizing EMR And Do Headsets Emit Radiation?
Despite the fact that most scientists believe non-ionizing EMR is safe, many people are concerned since it is still categorized as “radiation.”
Non-ionizing EMR has been categorized as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This implies there isn’t enough information to absolutely rule it out as a carcinogen, but there’s also no reason to believe it is.
As a result, no one has definitively shown or disproved whether non-ionizing EMR causes cancer. However, it has been determined that it is safe to take for long periods of time, and the hazards may exceed the advantages.
How many times have you asked yourself these questions?
Do headsets emit radiation?
Do headsets emit radiation that is harmful?
Do earbuds emit radiation?
Do earbuds emit radiation that is harmful?
Are wireless headphones safe for brain?
The direct comparison of Bluetooth vs wired headset radiation quantities is another major topic of worry. According to this argument, because wired headphones do not transmit a signal, they do not emit radiation. Unfortunately, this is untrue since connected headphones only emit extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation, which is even safer than conventional non-ionizing EMR.
Is There Anything To Worry About When It Comes To Your Headphones And Radiation?
It is true that radiation does cause cancer. However, not all forms of radiation, particularly those emitted by headphones, are capable of doing so.
Heat, which may be harmful at high levels, is a far more widely accepted source of damage from non-ionizing EMR in headphones.
The good news is that lower-level emitters, such as mobile phones and headphones, do not release enough heat to cause injury, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). There are no studies that suggest that short-term exposure to low-heat radiofrequency waves causes substantial harm to humans.
Bluetooth vs Wired Headset Radiation – The Safer Choice.
Wireless headphones generate RF radiation that might be detrimental to your health if used for an extended period of time. This is because RF radiation absorbs in your brain and has been linked to cancer in laboratory studies. So are Bluetooth headsets bad for your health?
Scientists have attempted to determine whether there are any possibly cancer-causing chemicals, but no definitive answer has yet been provided. However, because the long-term consequences of wireless headphones are yet unknown, it’s best to play it safe and stick to corded headphones wherever feasible, or at the very least, use them rarely. So when we ask ourselves which one is worse for us, Bluetooth vs wired headset radiation, the answer would be the former.
Tips For Safer Use
Here are a few things you can take to lower your risk when wearing headphones:
- Avoid wearing wireless headphones for extended periods of time.
- To limit EMF radiation exposure, reduce your cell phone usage and put it away/plane mode or on speaker mode while not in use.
- If you require a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones, check to see if they fall inside the FCC’s guidelines.
- Try using ferrite beads, which are tiny, cylindrical objects made of several materials that block electromagnetic radiation. To absorb the magnetic waves conveying RF and EMF frequencies from your wireless device, they’re commonly constructed of metal alloys or oxides.
If you have bought some new wireless headphones and are having trouble pairing them, read our article on:
How to Pair Plantronics Bluetooth Headphones and Earbuds.
If you have become a pro at connecting these devices, but your earbuds keep falling out, read our article on:
How To Keep Earbuds From Falling Out.
Conclusion
We don’t have any conclusive evidence to comprehend the possible concerns, but science has gone a long way, and we’re always discovering new things. It’s vital to be aware of this while using technology since a few measures may go a long way in decreasing your radiation exposure from different gadgets.
