if everyone is so concerned about the cancer effects of electricity and cell phones

[sao123]

why is everyone sleeping with electric blankets?

 

[Rage187]

I don't think I have ever slept with one.

 

[Jeff7]

Hell, you're picking up the 60Hz EM fields from the wiring in your house right now.

 

[FoBoT]

 

[Dman8777]

There's a large difference between 50/60 Hz AC and the high frequency (microwave) used for communications. I don't know what frqeuncies are primarily used for cell phones but microwave frequencies at high enough power heat water. Since we are 80% water, it's something to be aware of.

 

[IronWing]

There's a large difference between 50/60 Hz AC and the high frequency (microwave) used for communications. I don't know what frqeuncies are primarily used for cell phones but microwave frequencies at high enough power heat water. Since we are 80% water, it's something to be aware of.

But electric blankets also also heat water. :hmm:

 

[Pardus]

If you place the electric heater in between legs and set it to high, you get this:

 

[Cogman]

There's a large difference between 50/60 Hz AC and the high frequency (microwave) used for communications. I don't know what frqeuncies are primarily used for cell phones but microwave frequencies at high enough power heat water. Since we are 80% water, it's something to be aware of.

It isn't the frequency that does the heating (microwaves operate at anywhere from 900 MHz to 2.4Ghz) but rather the alternating nature of the radiation.

That being said, cellphones are EXTREMELY low powered. as in, 500mW output, max. Hardly enough energy to heat anything.

 

[Dman8777]

The problem with microwave energy and humans is mostly limited to areas of the body without significant blood flow. Blood flow works like water-cooling for our bodies but our eyes and for men, our testicales don't have good blood flow. When a human body absrobs microwave energy, that energy is spread throughout our entire body by blood flow. In these 2 specific areas though, the heat has no where to go.

I have no idea whether this can lead to cancer but I do know it can cause headaches.

 

[Dman8777]

It isn't the frequency that does the heating (microwaves operate at anywhere from 900 MHz to 2.4Ghz) but rather the alternating nature of the radiation.

That being said, cellphones are EXTREMELY low powered. as in, 500mW output, max. Hardly enough energy to heat anything.

It's the alternating nature and the wavelength that are the deciding factors. Different wavelengths penetrate materials to differing degrees.

You are probably correct that the power levels from a cell effect us little if at all. But as usual with cancer, it's difficult without long term studies to say anything conclusively.

 

[BoomerD]

Doncha know...the wires in the 'lectrik blanket act like an electromagnet? Helps to rid the body of toxic metals...


We haven't had an electric blanket since a nearly-new one burst into flame in the middle of the night. (I was having a dream about my feet burning...I woke up to see flames at the foot of the bed)

 

[lxskllr]

I thought electric blankets fell out of favor with people. I haven't seen one since the early 80s. As Boomer noted, they're dangerous, and the concept is stupid anyway. Wool is the superior blanket, and I can produce my own heat virtually free.

 

[Rubycon]

Doncha know...the wires in the 'lectrik blanket act like an electromagnet? Helps to rid the body of toxic metals...


We haven't had an electric blanket since a nearly-new one burst into flame in the middle of the night. (I was having a dream about my feet burning...I woke up to see flames at the foot of the bed)

You sure that wasn't from the beans the night before? :biggrin:

I've been around high power transmitters that can make anything metal in/on your body hum and shock you. Radars can make you feel warm like lukewarm water spilling over your body. That's probably not good for you.

A 1/2 watt cell phone? Haha comparing that to a 500kW radar is like comparing the little sparker in a cigarette lighter to a gigawatt tesla coil.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

electric:
1) the fear is disproven.
2) it has to do with high voltage transmission lines

 

[Farmer]

It isn't the frequency that does the heating (microwaves operate at anywhere from 900 MHz to 2.4Ghz) but rather the alternating nature of the radiation.

That being said, cellphones are EXTREMELY low powered. as in, 500mW output, max. Hardly enough energy to heat anything.

No, it depends on both. You can shine 100 gigawatts of radio waves at a hydrogen atom, you still won't ionize it. If you are at a wavelength that couples strongly, then the intensity will determine the number of "scattering" events per time, i.e., the rate at which some process (like heating) will occur.

It depends on what process you would consider to cause cancer: If the radiation couples to some transition in the electronic or atomic state in, say, DNA, then the radiation could possible have an effect. I don't know what the typical energies/frequencies associated with a shape change in DNA, but a 2.4GHz is around 0.1 m wavelength. Ionization wavelength of hydrogen is optical (i..e, 1e-7 meters), so you're nowhere close.

 

[Number1]

There's a large difference between 50/60 Hz AC and the high frequency (microwave) used for communications. I don't know what frqeuncies are primarily used for cell phones but microwave frequencies at high enough power heat water. Since we are 80% water, it's something to be aware of.

Just keep body parts out of the micro wave and you'll be safe. NUMEROUS studies have found NO LINK between cancer and cell phone use.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's getting cold in my house. I am going to fan myself with a sheet of paper to warm up (the exertion from my arm movement is supposed to do the trick).

 

[gothamhunter]

if everyone is so concerned about the cancer effects of electricity and cell phones
why is everyone sleeping with electric blankets?

What is this 1999? Who's afraid of this anymore?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've never used an electric blanket before. The bed is cold for the first 2 minutes of getting in, then it's more than warm enough, then my cat comes and sleeps on me. Last thing I need is a blanket that generates it's own heat.

Those have also been known to cause house fires and kill people in their sleep. I can't seem to find any references on google though, but I do recall watching a TV show about that. I'm sure it must have been rare case scenarios.

 

[Jeff7]

But electric blankets also also heat water. :hmm:

Sunlight does too - and sunlight's been proven to cause cancer.
(Yes kids, your parents are trying to kill you. Why else do you think that they're always telling you to go outside and play on sunny days? )

 

[Doppel]

I have an electric blanket. I don't use it that often but damn sometimes it is awesome.

 

[Rubycon]

I wonder what would happen if an electric blanket was connected to a powerful audio amp (capable of 120V + on its output terminals) and music was played through it! Obviously rap would probably work best with lots of energy near 60Hz but if it's a purely resistive load (bypass any controls)...

I don't have an electric blanket but I have a heating pad I could try. This could be fun. :biggrin:

 

[DayLaPaul]

You sure have a strange definition of "everyone."

 

[Number1]

I wonder what would happen if an electric blanket was connected to a powerful audio amp (capable of 120V + on its output terminals) and music was played through it! Obviously rap would probably work best with lots of energy near 60Hz but if it's a purely resistive load (bypass any controls)...

I don't have an electric blanket but I have a heating pad I could try. This could be fun. :biggrin:

The amount of heat would be dependent on the impedance seen by the amp.
Your average electric blanket consumes 200 W. Ya sounds like fun, send a 60 Hz tone into your heating pad and let us know the result.

 

[Rubycon]

The amount of heat would be dependent on the impedance seen by the amp.
Your average electric blanket consumes 200 W. Ya sounds like fun, send a 60 Hz tone into your heating pad and let us know the result.

60Hz would be boring since that would be the same as plugging it into the wall. :biggrin:

Lower/higher frequencies is where the fun begins.


I've done this in the past with power tools and vacuum cleaners. They do run off frequency but tend to make strange noises and their motors exhibit MUCH more sparking around the commutators. Some amps also don't like it and become unstable, shut down or blow power supply fuses.