Did You Know…despite the name, installing a “Smart Meter” is a very unwise and dangerous choice… if you value your health.
At first the question of whether or not to swap an analog meter used to measure electric, gas, and water for a new “smart meter” seems easy. Utility companies proudly proclaim the “smart” devices, which wirelessly transmit electricity, will create a more efficient and greener power grid. But the decision becomes far more complex when you consider that the meters may have a dramatic negative impact on your health and safety.
Fortunately, you may have a choice in whether or not to agree to a smart meter on your property.
EMFs: The Reason Smart Meters Aren’t So Smart
Dr. David O. Carpenter, M.D., a Harvard Medical School graduate and former founding dean of the University of Albany’s School of Public health, has researched the health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for over 18 years.
According to an open letter written by Dr. Carpenter and a group of scientists and health professionals in and published in Quebec-based magazine La Maison du 21e siècle, “Since the turn of the millennium, people are increasingly affected by ambient microwaves due to the growing popularity of wireless devices such as cell phone and Wi-Fi Internet.” Carpenter says there is no evidence whatsoever that smart meters—which emit radiofrequency (RF) and microwave EMFs—are safe.
Carpenter cites ample findings indicating “convincingly and consistently” that exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) can harm your health in numerous ways, including its ability to…
- Injure your nervous system
- Damage your reproductive organs
- Increase your risk of cancer
The Easy Way Out… With Serious Health Consequences
Smart meters lighten the workload and ramp up productivity for power companies, but that comes at the cost of consumers’ health. Utilities companies downplay the risk of these devices, reminding consumers that the meters emit the same type of radiation that cell phones, wireless routers, and other everyday devices do. As wellness-savvy customers known, this is hardly convincing of the safety of smart meters, since all of those other devices can also cause health problems!
As Deadly as DDT
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies wireless radiation as a 2B carcinogen, a ruling based in part on studies connecting cell phone radiation to brain tumors. The 2B classification is shared by other notorious toxins including DDT and lead. Military studies also indicate pulsed radiation can cause health problems such as tinnitus… memory loss… and seizures.
Choose a True “Smart” Meter
Experts advise that opting out is the truly “smart” way to deal with these meters. In 2012, California customers won a legal battle to keep analog meters. To exercise this option, customers must contact their utility company and pay an annual and monthly charge for what the companies have deemed to be an extra service.
Though imperfect, this precedent should buttress similar efforts by those in other areas of the United States who also want to keep, or revert to, analog meters. Contact your own utility company to see if you, too, can opt out.
