Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome*
(Also known as ‘Electro-sensitivity’)

The numbers of people highly sensitive to electromagnetic fields have increased dramatically. Dr William Rae, a former Texas surgeon, was one of the first medical professionals to go public about his own sensitivity to the fields produced by the electrical devices in the modern operating room. He subsequently started the Environmental Health Center in Dallas Texas, where he discovered that people challenged by this syndrome have a number of characteristics and symptoms in common.

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Severe fatigue
• Visionary disturbances
• Inability to concentrate
• Skin rashes
• Apparent ‘allergies’ to sunlight and certain smells (e.g. laundry detergents and perfume) that induce nausea and dizziness.
• High blood pressure
• Hypertension
• Epilepsy
• Cardiac Arrest

• Confusion
• Depression
• Decreased memory
• Sleep disturbances
• Convulsions
• Grossly abnormal behaviour.

In Dr Becker’s experience, almost all of the patients who have consulted him experienced an abrupt onset of symptoms. Exposure to a novel electromagnetic field of some kind was always the inciting cause. These people became sensitive to many common electrical devices that had never before produced any symptoms in them, e.g. TVs, computers, stereos, fluorescent lights, telephones, electric heaters, high-voltage power lines and electronic security systems. Within the past year, says Becker, vehicles have joined the list of devices that can produce the novel electromagnetic field.

The actual mechanisms causing electro-sensitivity to novel electromagnetic fields are presently unknown. According to Becker, it would appear that there is direct effect upon the nervous system and it’s very likely the immune system is also involved.

It is quite clear to Becker that electro-sensitivity is increasing rapidly. This increase may very well be due to the:
   (1) Rising number of new devices emitting novel electromagnetic fields;
   (2) Increase in electromagnetic field intensity from all sources;
   (3) Changes in human sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation.

*This is a summary of Chapter 11 of the book, Cross Currents, written by Dr Robert O. Becker (1990. Jeremy P. Archer/Penquin, New York).

Also consult: The Swedish Association for the Electrosensitive (FEB). This is a very comprehensive site for information on the condition of electro-sensitivity and also provides links to other sites.