Belly Armor Belly Tee by RadiaShield, Protect your child against harmful everyday Radiation.

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Q: What is Radiation?
A: Radiation is simply energy traveling through space.  There are two basic types of radiation:

• Non-ionizing radiation: Lower energy radiation that we are exposed to in our everyday lives.  Non-ionizing radiation includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and ultraviolet.  It surrounds us in everyday life from various sources including cell phones, PDAs, laptops / computers, mp3 players / portable media devices, televisions, and power lines to name a few.
• Ionizing radiation: High-energy radiation includes x-rays and gamma rays.  This type of radiation can be very dangerous even in small doses; but, luckily, is less prevalent in everyday life.  Belly Armor products do not shield against this type of radiation.

Q: What are the health risks of radiation?
A:

• Pregnancy Radiation Health Risks: What is the impact of everyday radiation during pregnancy?  Today, the evidence remains mixed.  Radiation has long been cited as a health risk to young children and developing fetuses; but scientific experts still debate the nature and extent of that risk.  Because the dangers caused by radiation can take years to show their effects in young children, the risks during pregnancy from radiation are difficult to pinpoint. They represent increased probabilities of health impacts developing over time – therefore studies must take place with large populations over extended periods of time.  Funding for such studies has been limited.
• Risk Assessment: Despite the limited funding for research into the health effects during pregnancy from radiation exposure, many credible assessments—including those conducted by the World Health Organization, the European Commission, FCC, and the Environmental Working Group— have found strong enough evidence of potential risks from radiation exposure to recommend precautionary measures.  The recommended pre-cautions broadly include measures for avoiding and shielding exposure and have been addressed to  the general population; but are especially relevant for young children and during pregnancy when radiation can effect development.
• Potential Health Hazards: The past 25 years of research has evidenced several potential health hazards during pregnancy from radiation, including birth defects and genetic disruptions, miscarriages, autism, childhood leukemia, and cancer.  Because scientists have shown that cell growth and DNA replication are disrupted by radiation, pregnancy and early childhood represent the highest risk for exposure.
• A Growing Risk and Uncertainty: According to the World Health Organization, “Electromagnetic fields of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading.”
  
  In today’s rapidly changing world, exposure to radiation is growing at accelerating rates. As the World Health Organization states, “All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of EMF (Electromagnetic Fields), and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances.”  Given the increasing prevalence of these technologies – even small health risk could have a big impact.  Especially during pregnancy, radiation poses a risk that we do not yet fully understand.
  
  Because we cannot predict the future health effects of today’s unprecedented levels of radiation, it is impossible to assess the long-term impact on pregnancy of radiation exposure. Therefore, many women choose to take precautions during pregnancy against radiation to protect their children from these potentially serious health consequences.

Q: How do I protect myself and my child from radiation?
A: Having an awareness of the sources of everyday radiation and the health risks associated with exposure is the first step to protecting you and your child’s health. There are several simple things you can do that will significantly reduce your health risks.

1. Shield against everyday radiation exposure:
   Let’s face it, we get enormous convenience and value from our computers, cell phones, and televisions. However, during periods of heightened risk such as during pregnancy and for young children (phases of rapid cell growth and DNA replication), taking the precaution of shielding against the radiation exposure can significantly lower the health risks. Belly Armor by RadiaShield® offers a range of products that can safely, conveniently, and effectively shield against everyday radiation.
2. Use devices that emit less radiation:
   As awareness is increasing about the dangers of everyday radiation, new guidelines and disclosures are being required of radiation emitting devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires specific tests be conducted to measure the amount of radiation absorbed by the body, or specific absorption rate (SAR), from every device on the market. You can find updated published lists from consumer groups such as CNET or from the Environmental Working Group.
3. Limit the duration and proximity of exposure to radiation-emitting devices:
   Generally, the health risks associated with radiation are driven by duration and intensity of exposure. Limiting the amount of time you spend with radiation-emitting devices and maximizing the distance between the devices and you and your child will help limit health risks. See the sources page for tips on how to do this.

Q: What are sources of Radiation?
A: All electronic devices emit electromagnetic radiation. Your personal radiation exposure depends on three things:

• Strength: The strength of the radiation sources around you
• Distance: Your distance from those sources
• Duration: The time you spend exposed to those sources

Below are the most common everyday radiation sources with an estimated assessment of the radiation risk. The risk assessments are estimates based on average devices and typical usage and on a scale of 1 – 10, “1″ being the lowest risk and “10″ being the highest. Your personal exposure depends on the specific sources in your environment and your personal habits.

Cell Phones (risk assessment 8)
Because cell phones have been prevalent only for the past decade, there is much uncertainty around their long term health risks. Cell phones are one of the primary sources of everyday radiation because of the extended periods of time that they are kept in close proximity to our bodies.

Usage tips:

• Use cell phones that emit lower radiation (read more here)
• Limit the duration and proximity of exposure to cell phone
• Use a headset, Bluetooth earpiece, or speakerphone
• Find alternatives to cell phone use, such as text messaging or using a landline
• Limit use of cell phone while it is searching for signal (cell phones emit higher levels of radiation at these times)
• Carry your cell phone at least an inch away from your body or regularly rotate it around the body
• Do not sleep next to your cell phone while it is on
• Avoid work areas that use wireless networks and wireless phones if possible
• Limit use of cell phone by young children
• Shield children in the womb and infants from cell phone radiation by using Belly Armor products

Laptops & Computers (risk assessment7)
Laptops and computers are major sources of everyday radiation exposure due to high frequency and long duration of use. Adapters and power sockets can also be significant sources of radiation. Our exposure to laptops and computers has grown significantly over the past 10 years.

Computer screens (especially CRT monitors), power cords, and charging batteries cause most of the radiation from computers. Laptops are of particular concern because of the proximity to your body.

Usage tips:

• Maintain distance from the rear and sides of someone else’s monitor/laptop
• Clean up the electrical wiring and adapters around your computer and desk; reroute them away from your feet and seating area
• Do not place laptops directly on your lap while working
• It is best to use your laptop on a desk with an attached mouse and attached keyboard
• Buy a laptop with a 3-pin plug. If it is not possible to get a 3-pin plug, ground the chassis of the laptop. This will eliminate the large electric field caused by the ungrounded laptop
• If you have the option, use an LCD monitor instead of a CRT
• Shield children in the womb and infants from laptop and computer radiation by using Belly Armor products

PDAs (risk assessment 8)
Similar to cell phones, PDAs are primary sources of everyday radiation because of the proximity and duration of exposure.

Usage tips:

• Limit the duration and proximity of exposure
• Carry your PDA at least an inch away from your body or regularly rotate it around the body
• Do not sleep next to your PDA while it is on
• Shield children in the womb and infants from PDA radiation by using Belly Armor products

MP3 players / Portable media devices (risk assessment 6)
MP3 players and other portable media devices can account for a significant amount of radiation exposure when used for extended periods of time.

Usage tips:

• Do not sleep with your portable music players on
• Carry your portable music players at least an inch away from your body
• Shield children in the womb and infants from portable music player radiation by using Belly products

Power lines/ Cell phone towers (risk assessment 5)
Radiation from power lines and cell phone towers is very high at the source; but drops off dramatically with distance. These sources are of particular concern when in close proximity to work or home where there will be extended periods of exposure.

Usage tips:

• Avoid living, driving, or walking near high voltage power lines, cell phone transmission towers or any other radio/TV transmitter when possible
• Shield children in the womb and infants from power lines’ radiation by using Belly Armor products

Televisions (risk assessment 4)
Televisions produce the same electromagnetic radiation as that of computer screens. Though usually placed far enough from the body, it is a cause for concern because of the long hours we tend to spend in front of them every day.

Usage tips:

• Buy a TV with low radiation emission level, such as an LCD type
• Do not sit too close to the TV or watch it for an extended duration of time
• When not watching TV, turn it off
• Shield children in the womb and infants from TV radiation by using Belly Armor products

Microwave ovens (risk assessment 5)
Microwave ovens produce both 60-Hz fields of several hundred milligauss and microwave energy inside the oven that is at a much higher frequency (about 2.45 billion Hz). We are shielded from the higher frequency fields inside the oven by its casing, but not from the 60-Hz fields.

Usage tips:

• Avoid standing or sitting near the microwave oven when it is on as EMF from microwave ovens can cover quite a large area
• Shield children in the womb and infants from microwave oven radiation by using Belly Armor products

DVD players / Gaming systems (risk assessment 3)
These appliances produce little radiation but pose some amount of risk if they are on for long periods of time.

Usage tips:

• Clean up the electrical wiring and adapters around your audio equipment/gaming systems, rerouting them away from your feet and seating area
• Turn the equipment off if it is not in use
• Shield children in the womb and infants from audio/visual/gaming equipment radiation by using Belly Armor products

Vacuums/ Hair dryers/ Blenders/ Mixers (risk assessment 3)
Certain household appliances that require fast rotating parts or air flow can cause very high levels of radiation. The good news is the duration of exposure to these types of appliances is generally very short.

Usage tips:

• Minimize usage and duration when possible
• Maximize distance from your body when in use
• Shield children in the womb and infants from radiation by using Belly Armor products