misc thoughts
Eventually, someone’s going to figure out that all the electromagnetic radiation flooding the space around us is having a negative effect on the human species. (of course, we’re having a negative effect on almost all other species ourselves). If you think about it, EMR fills our world now. These cell phones, which are soo useful? Radios on a giga-hertz range – who knows the long term effects of such exposure? That bluetooth setup? It works on a short range radio frequency – EMR. The computer in front of me and it’s monitor? EMR.
Wi-Fi? EMR. Digital TV (analogue too)? EMR. That microwave oven? EMR.
Most of it’s probably benign – no effect on biological systems.
The real story of our movement forward in how we live is electric: How we’ve used the electromagnetic spectrum to improve the human condition.
Unfortunately, EMR interacts with biological matter on celluar levels, affecting DNA, cell replication, even cell life – EMR treatments are a form of cancer therapy now.
I’m reading an article on Slate Double X (http://www.doublex.com/section/health-science/younger-girls-bigger-breasts-are-chemicals-blame?page=0,1) about how young girls are devloping breasts at a younger than ever age. This is something I’ve noticed as a school bus driver the last few years – I don’t remember girls developing so early 35 years ago, and I was paying lots of attention. There were several prominently developing sixth grade girls on my Elementary School bus this last year. (no, I’m not the dirty old man driving a school bus to eye the young stuff, but I am not blind either) That article is talking about the influence of chemicals that mimic hormones in the bodies of girls, inducing breast development at an earlier age. (the sexualization of young women, especially pubescent girls is another matter again, a societal thing that builds on existing conditions, and if girls are developing earlier, show that off!)
Modern life is good and bad. We are uanarguably better off now in 2009 than we were in most any other age of history. We also live, I think, in the most complex world we ever have. Some people (I used to too) yearn for a return to simpler times. I changed my mind after modern trauma medicine not only saved my life, but gave it back to me nearly undamaged and, I think, better than it was. And what the hell – those cell phones ARE useful.
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This is one of the reasons I’m glad my niece is lactose intolerant. Weird thing to say, I know, but she’s not going to have an early onset of puberty that can be attributed to the bovine growth hormone that is in the milk supply. KGW did a good story on this a couple years ago. Normally, I ignore them because they tease a scare-tactic story every night, but that one was interesting from a critical thinking perspective.
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i could go without my cell phone, though i would be bored. just don’t take away my laptop! i wouldn’t mind simple times though. as a kid i was happy playing outdoors and reading books. i also would have loved NOT to have gotten breasts when i was 10, i hated it when i developed and could have gone a few more years flat chested.
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interesting point. I haven’t thought much re: EMR but will have to.
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I read an article a few months ago saying that 60% of women have had breast augmentation. Maybe they should just drink lots and lots of milk instead of paying several thousand $! I read in a few articles about the artificial hormones in both milk and meat. I never ate or drank much of either, so maybe that is why I never had an early puberty.
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