A reader emailed me worried that perhaps a specific wireless technology called DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology) in a baby monitor might be dangerous to his baby. It seemed to me that this was probably bogus, but that the question was more TechSkeptic’s area, so I emailed him the question. He replied with a detailed post - DECT scares. His conclusion:
If you arent worried about your TV, or sleeping near your cell phone, or having heated sheets or leaving your computer on, then you really shouldn't worry about the effects of a DECT phone. There is simply no mechanism by which it can bother you, and better than that, there is really no evidence that the actual tiny emmissions from any radio device actually affects anyone, mechanism or not.
But you should read the full article. It includes easy to follow explanations of, for example, microwave radiation, and why microwaves from a DECT device will not cook you although a microwave oven does cook food. (Hint: the cooking is not due to the effects of ionizing radiation.)
When anyone starts talking about radiation and radio wave scares, electro-sensitivity or anything similar, the DECT scares post would be a good place to refer them.
It looked interesting, but the white-on-black screws up my eyes so much I had to give it up. I'll have to see if I can figure some way of changing that or getting the information another way (maybe print it out).
Posted by: Badger3k | December 13, 2008 at 02:04 PM
It's an excellent article.
Badger, you can easily copy and paste it to wordpad or which ever word processing program you use (left click, hold & drag down till the whole text is highlighted; right click & copy; open word processing program and paste.)
His article on http://techskeptic.blogspot.com/2008/12/fmri-doesnt-do-what-you-think-it-does.html>MRI is also first class.
Posted by: yakaru | December 13, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Badger,
I've had a number of complaints form people who can not read the text on my blog. I've used that tempalte for 3 years now, its time to change. Change is good.
Is this one better for you?
Posted by: TechSkeptic | December 14, 2008 at 10:54 PM