Bluetooth Technology: Are AirPods Safe?
On December 13, 2016, Apple released its first ever pair of AirPods, wireless Bluetooth earbuds. An upgraded, newer version was soon released, with the AirPods Pro coming out on October 30, 2017. But what exactly is Bluetooth? Bluetooth refers to the short-range communication technology that allows information to be transferred wirelessly through radio waves. For example, it can be used to transfer files between computers or between a computer and a mobile device, or to receive phone calls wirelessly. Despite this astonishing and groundbreaking technology, the prolonged hours that people spend everyday with earbuds on raises the question of whether AirPods are safe.
Jerry Phillips, a biochemist at the University of Colorado who studies DNA damage resulting from electromagnetic fields (EMFs), has conducted research on this. His data suggests that it is possible (although not certain) that DNA can be affected by electromagnetic field (EMF) activity, which is what Bluetooth emits. He warns against using AirPods for long periods of time, especially because the earbuds, placed in the ear canal, are within a close distance to tissues in the head and brain.
This concern about EMF is neither new nor did it stem from the release of AirPods; it stems back to 2015, prior to the release of AirPods. A petition was then signed by 250 researchers from 40 countries across the world to the United Nations and the World Health Organization. It expressed concern about the non-ionizing electromagnetic field that is emitted by WiFi devices, smartphones, broadcast antennas and so on. Although non-ionizing radiation is considered to be relatively low energy, overexposure is still considered a risk to one’s health. In particular, cancer, DNA damage and neurological disorders are some of the health consequences.
However, other researchers disagree with this concern. They believe that when the data is pooled together and analyzed, there is not enough evidence to prove that EMF is a health hazard. The American Cancer Society states that there is not enough energy to damage DNA or cause cancer. Along the same lines, California’s Department of Public Health has stated that holding a smartphone up to one’s face will emit more radio-frequency radiation than using AirPods.
Turning to scientific research, rats were exposed in an experiment to extensive daily cellphone radiation. Conducted by the US National Toxicology Program, they found that the exposure to radiation was linked to heart tumors and somewhat to brain tumors. However, this was only found in male rats. Furthermore, rats are historically a commonly used model in scientific research, but the results may not always transition to humans. There are still many differences between the rat and the human, and the results regarding radiation exposure were not found in female rats.
In conclusion, there is still no consensus on whether the utilization of Bluetooth by AirPods are harmful to one’s health, and if so, to what extent. While it is important to know whether AirPods and other sources of wireless technology are pose as risks to one’s health, it is undeniable that the rise of technology in today’s world will continue to bring up this concern again and again over time. If one is truly concerned, there are always wired headphones to use. Moreover, perhaps we should start by paying attention to how long we spend with earbuds in, wired or wireless, and what volume we have turned on.
References:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-bluetooth/
https://www.explainthatstuff.com/howbluetoothworks.html
https://www.howtogeek.com/165845/more-than-headsets-5-things-you-can-do-with-bluetooth/
https://elemental.medium.com/are-airpods-and-other-bluetooth-headphones-safe-214a0449e13a
https://www.businessinsider.com/do-airpods-cause-cancer-2019-3
https://www.govtech.com/health/Scientists-Warn-Wireless-Devices-Could-Pose-Health-Risks.html
