Is it Safe to Keep Your Laptop on Your Lap?
Like cell phones, laptops have become a common item for practically anyone these days. From kids in schools to professionals at work, the majority of the world spends a good amount of their time in front of a laptop. They’re easy to use, convenient, and help make travel easier. While the convenience of bringing your work on the go is nice, the WaveBlock® team wants you to be aware of the health risks associated with laptops — especially using them on your laps.
It sounds counterintuitive, right? If the name of the device is LAPtop, why shouldn’t I put it on my lap?
Here at WaveBlock®, we are all about educating tech consumers about the dangers of EMF radiation. Our team has done countless hours of research and testing at FCC-accredited labs in order to both educate ourselves (and you!) about the dangers of EMF exposure and to create a variety of WaveBlock® products that help keep you safe while enjoying the tech you love.
So, here’s what you need to know.
Just like cellphones, wireless earbuds, tablets, and other Bluetooth/Wi-Fi devices, laptops emit EMF radiation. Additionally, because of their size and complex internal mechanisms, laptops often give off more radiation than other smaller electronics. Although these EMFs are invisible, they can have serious health consequences, including:
- Memory Issues
- Headaches
- Sleep Disruption
- Hormone Issues
- Cancer
- Fertility Issues (for men and women)
Laptops can be particularly dangerous because they are often put in close proximity to the body. The body parts that are put near laptop antennas (think legs, chest, face, and reproductive organs) will absorb their radiation. The closer you are to the antennas, the higher your rate of EMF absorption. These wireless computers also emit a large amount of heat, especially when charging. If we put EMF exposure aside, that heat itself can cause skin issues or discoloration.
The most common concern about using laptops on your lap is related to both male and female fertility issues. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, the heat that comes off of laptops can warm men's scrotums, which can greatly decrease sperm motility. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to laptop radiation can actually kill sperm cells. Another study showed that, for women, prolonged heat exposure can affect fetal growth.
In terms of radiation concerns, the closer any of your electronic devices are to your body, the more EMF exposure there is. For laptops specifically, these devices produce radiation both in their internal electronic circuits and in their Bluetooth/Wi-Fi communication.
Among the most common electronic devices, laptops are considered one of the highest sources of EMF radiation. Most of that exposure comes from the bottom of the device, because that is where all of the internal systems are based. However, tech companies do an excellent job at keeping those facts in the very fine print that they hope consumers never read.
Did you know that even the FCC suggests keeping laptops at a distance? In a recent bulletin the FCC stated:
“Mobile devices are transmitters designed to be used in such a way that a separation distance of at least 20 centimeters is normally maintained between the transmitter's radiating structure(s) and the body of the user or nearby persons.”
The team at WaveBlock® initially started creating products for cell phones and wireless earbuds because of their often close proximity to the brain and skull. However, laptops and tablets are also typically used, both very close to the face and sometimes touching the body.
The Environmental Health Trust is well aware of the dangers of laptops. The organization warns that the radiation testing done on laptops is often done from the FCC’s suggested 20cm from the body. That means that if you use your laptop on your lap, you are actually getting more EMF exposure than what the manufacturers are suggesting. They also caution that laptops, such as MacBooks, have at least five transmitting antennas that all emit radiation for things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and more. These antennas send out bursts of EMFs even when you aren’t using Wi-Fi.
Plus, the harder the laptop is working, the more power it needs. More power means more radiation. So, if you are FaceTiming, Zooming, exporting large files, or anything like that, you are being exposed to more EMFs.
So, what can you do?
To be clear, the team at WaveBlock® isn’t telling you to chuck your laptop out of the window. We know that these devices are an integral part of life, school, and work. However, we are here to help you use this technology safely.
So here are some options:
- Get yourself one of our SAR-tested and lab-proven stickers for your MacBook. Our patented stickers are easy to use and reduce your radiation exposure by over 50%. They also help to redirect the heat away from your body.
- Just don’t use your laptop on your lap! Use a laptop stand or a standing desk to increase your distance from the heat and radiation coming off of your laptop.
- Turn off your Wi-Fi when you aren’t using it to reduce the radiation needed for connectivity. Pre-download a video or work offline.
- Connect your laptop to an Ethernet cable, if possible, to have a wired internet connection.
The reality of living in a digital world is that tech companies are here to constantly create faster and stronger, high-powered devices. They are quick to brag about all of the new features and capabilities but very quiet when it comes to the potential health risks of using their products.
You don’t have to go back to the days of fax machines and snail mail. The WaveBlock® team just wants to make sure you stay educated and as safe as you can while existing in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
We hope that our research and products help you do so. Please contact us and let us know if you have any questions.
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