Electrohypersensitivity in Switzerland
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| Everyday life for electrohypersensitive persons is a real ordeal in our hyperconnected society. Cédric Sandoz |
by Gregory Balmat, lacote.ch, 30 September 2015 (translation from French by the Editor of "Towards Better Health")
Inquiry: Electrohypersensitivity can make life nearly impossible. The phenomenon is given far too little recognition in Switzerland.
Migraine headaches, skin burns, joint pains, sharp stinging sensations, this is just a small sample of the physical suffering experienced daily by electrohypersensitive persons when they are exposed to electromagnetic fields or electrosmog.
Ills that are sufficiently painful to completely upset living. The status of this disorder remains unclear in many countries, including Switzerland.
In August, in France, the disability of a woman was recognized by the Incapacity Dispute Court of Toulouse because of her electrohypersensitivity (EHS). In evaluating her functional disability at 85%, the French court allowed her to receive an allowance as a handicapped adult, a first in the Hexagone which could set a judicial precedent and also radically transform the status of French electrohypersensitive persons.
From cause to symptom
From cause to symptom
In Switzerland, for the time being the recommendations of WHO are being followed, which recognize the symtpoms of affected persons but do not confirm the causal link between their ills and non-ionizing radiation. "These persons are suffering, it's undeniable. But at present, there is no scientific evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and the symptoms of persons suffering from electrohypersensitivity", explains Dr. Isabelle Rossi, deputy cantonal physician for canton Vaud.
A lack of causality which risks to cause a problem if an electrohypersensitive person knocks on the door of the Disability Insurance (Assurance invalidité - AI) in Switzerland. "In order for us to be able to consider this, we need to have a medical certificate which links the professional environment of the applicant and the suffering he is experiencing. Since in Switzerland, this link is not recognized by the medical profession, there is little chance that the case would be solid and thus accepted," explains Dominique Dorthe, spokesperson for the Disability Insurance Office for canton Vaud. He adds that although his office has never handled cases of electrohypersensitivity, it does not mean that affected persons have not requested its services for related disorders like depression.
Physicians' lack of awareness
Physicians' lack of awareness
This lack of recognition directly affects the detection of electrohypersensitivity. "Diagnosis is basically complicated," explains Anton Fernhout of the Association romande alerte (ARA), which fights for more restrictive norms concerning electrosmog. "The symptoms are non-specific and can be related to many illnesses. In Switzerland, the medical profession is little aware of environmental medicine. Practitioners who make the link are rare." Some countries are nevertheless ahead regarding consideration of electrohypersensitivity. In particular, Sweden treats the issue very seriously especially when it is linked to the professional activity of the affected person. "Austrian physicians have developed a protocol for the diagnosis of electrohypersensitivity but few Swiss practitioners are aware of its existence and even fewer use it. It is particularly true in the case of French-speaking Switzerland," regrets the vice-president of ARA, an environmental engineer by training.
Ways exist, however, to alleviate the suffering of electrohypersensitive persons. An intoxication by heavy metals [see text below] could be the cause in certain cases. But according to Anton Fernhout, it is necessary to try to provide places that are less exposed to non-ionizing radiation, such as the apartment building in Zurich which is exclusively for environmentally intoxicated persons. It must be noted that there exists practically no white zone in Switzerland.
Right now, it is not a question of revising the norms in place for emission levels of relay antennas or mobile phones. The cantonal department of the environment which is dealing with the issue explains that technological surveillance is in place and they are looking at studies on the subject. There is a plethora of studies but their conclusions cast doubt. "Most of the works deal with acute, short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields. There are, by contrast, less studies on the long-term effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields on health. These studies do not imply the existence of a causal link which, however, does not mean that there is the absence of an effect," comments the deputy cantonal physician.
Moreover, the fact that many researchers are financed by the telecommucations giants leaves one unsure of their impartiality.
A culprit called heavy metals
A culprit called heavy metals
Aluminum, lead, mercury, silver, tin. These "heavy" metals are present in the human body. Aluminum is for example used as an adjuvant in certain vaccines, while mercury is present in old dental fillings (still current in France due to cost considerations). These substances, however, are potentially toxic to the body. They represent a credible indicator for electrohypersensitive persons. "In some persons, an excessive presence of heavy metals can damage the immune system and favor the proliferation of opportunistic conditions such as the fungal infection Candida albicans which is particularly electrosensitive", explains Dr. Daniel Chervet at Swiss Medical Detox in Nyon. More generally, these heavy metals can affect the nervous system: "Electromagnetic fields make the protective layer of the brain, the blood-brain-barrier, more permeable and this can favor the intoxication of the brain by heavy metals. The practitioner has already treated patients suffering from EHS with chelation therapy, noting a decrease in symptoms. For Anton Fernhout of ARA, if an intoxication by heavy metals can be the main factor causing electrohypersensitivity, then it can also occur after prolonged exposure to non-ionizing waves. "This occurs with any intoxication; the body is capable of stocking a certain dose of a toxic substance. Once attaining a certain threshold, it is too much and the floodgates open."
Original article in French:
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