Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Green Bank a safe haven for those sensitive to electromagnetic radiation


Monday May 6, 2013
Green Bank a safe haven for those sensitive to electromagnetic radiation
Diane Schou and others suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity have found a haven in Green Bank's "National Radio Quiet Zone." This designation forbids electromagnetic transmissions from cellphones, Wi-Fi networks and even microwave ovens from interfering with the array of radio telescopes used by astronomers to search the heavens.

Courtesy photo
Diane Schou moved to Green Bank from Iowa after suffering adverse health effects from a newly built cellphone tower.

Schou explained that people have different sensitivities. One type of cell tower may affect them, but another may not because it is on a different wavelength.

The medical community does not recognize electromagnetic hypersensitivity as a diagnosable condition.
The World Health Organization acknowledges the symptoms are real but says "EHS has no clear diagnostic criteria and there is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to EMF exposure. Further, EHS is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it clear that it represents a single medical problem."

But some people consider it a very real, debilitating condition.
Those who are exposed to a trigger for an extended period can develop other triggers, Schou said.

She has a cabin on her property that she offers to those who suspect they suffer from the condition.

"There aren't many places to rent. I try to help people. I visit with people who come here, and I try to help them find a place to be," she said.

Schou, who is also a member of Wave Verification Analysis Research, said the organization recently purchased two acres for folks to "land" in Green Bank after it received a donation.

"On the two acres, there is a cottage and places for other people to put tents or trailers. It gives them a place to go," Schou said.

"I'd like to have a mission group that builds hospitals and schools for third-world countries come and look at the land and determine where to put buildings that are lower maintenance. Not high-tech places, more primitive, but humane."

The observatory's Holstine, who has no affiliation with Schou's group, said, "People who feel like they have this EHS have become drawn to the area in the last 10 to 12 years. It seems they think it helps with their sickness, and that's great."

He said while there are many devices they prefer not be in the area, as long as a signal does not interfere with the observatory's equipment, it's less of a problem.

"On site here, we have a policy that people don't have microwave ovens. But we do have a couple - we build a shielded box for it to operate within. Or fluorescent light fixtures - we have to place a filter in every fixture to filter out spurious electromagnetic waves," he said.

He said a large part of his job is education. Anyone interested in the Green Bank Science Center can call 304-456-2150.

Contact writer Candace Nelson at Candace.Nel...@dailymail.com or 304-348-5148. Follow her atwww.twitter.com/Candace07.

http://www.dailymail.com/News/201305050131?page=1&build=cache

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