The benefits of spending time in a sauna have long been established: stress relief, relief from muscle pain, and overall invigoration. With all of these benefits in mind, there are also concerns about EMFs’ levels (electromagnetic field/s) that radiate from the heating sources inside a sauna. Due to the smaller structure of a dynamic sauna, could EMFs be lower?
A dynamic sauna is a smaller and more compact version of a regular-sized sauna, thus reducing EMF emissions. The EMF rating in a dynamic sauna is about the same as can be expected from a cell phone or microwave, but the amount of time spent in a dynamic sauna should not exceed two hours.
This article will explore the different variations of EMF waves and how a dynamic sauna can produce lower EMF waves compared to a traditional sauna.
What Are EMFs?
An electromagnetic field is another term for radiation emitted from both the sun and artificial light sources and appliances.
Saunas use a heating source known as infrared heating, which uses radiant heat energy through lighting sources to heat the body during a sauna session. Since there are two types of EMFs based on energy intensity, it is important to know the differences between the types:
- Low-level radiation. Also known as non-ionizing radiation, this type of EMF is generally lower in intensity and is not considered harmful to humans as long as exposure does not continuously exceed two to three hours.
- High-level radiation. This type of EMF is known as ionizing radiation and is commonly emitted from the ultraviolet rays of the sun as well as x-rays in medical settings. Even a short amount of exposure to high-intensity radiation can potentially be harmful to humans.
The Relationship Between Saunas and EMFs
When it comes to dynamic saunas, the emission of EMFs concerns many users, yet there are various circumstances to keep in mind with the intensity of the EMF wavelengths. EMFs are measured in units called milligauss (mG), which measures electric charges.
To be clear, there is no true difference with EMF waves when it comes to the style of a sauna.Â
Saunas are composed of heaters that emit infrared heat. This is the same for both traditional saunas that are either small buildings or a room within a structure or home and dynamic saunas that are smaller and portable. The EMFs penetrate your body instead of the surrounding air, which is a consequence of a dynamic sauna due to the smaller size.
There are three main issues regarding EMFs and saunas: electrical fields, magnetic fields, and radiofrequency radiation.
Each of these likely sounds concerning to you, so let’s take a look at each in detail:
- Electrical fields. We all fear electricity when it is near any form of moisture, which in this case, would be the possibility of steam or enormous amounts of perspiration that you give off in a sauna. As long as your dynamic sauna is installed correctly and grounded properly, you won’t have to worry about this aspect.
- Magnetic fields. EMFs and magnetic fields are closely related; however, magnetic fields are present in virtually every type of appliance that uses electricity, which means that people are exposed to them every day. The same concern for using a cell phone or a computer for long amounts of time also applies–but as long as you limit daily use of your sauna to roughly 2 hours or less, magnetic field exposure isn’t much of a concern.
- Radiofrequency radiation. Radiofrequency radiation is only produced at small levels from the heaters used in a dynamic sauna. The biggest concern with this type of radiation can be found in wireless devices.
With these three concerns in mind, you are likely wondering if there are any health concerns that come with repeated exposure to EMFs in a sauna.
Do Dynamic Saunas Have Low or High EMFs?
Unlike traditional saunas that can also use coals, rocks, and steam to provide the heat that is experienced in a sauna, a dynamic sauna completely relies upon infrared heating elements to produce the heat that targets the body.
The heat in a dynamic sauna can be increased or decreased based on the user’s desired setting. No matter what desired temperature a user wants, EMFs’ emission is essentially the same due to the infrared heating.
For a dynamic sauna to be considered low EMF, the EMF rating should be within the vicinity of between 0-10 mG. This is exactly the kind of EMF rating you can expect to find if you do not exceed more than 2 hours inside. The longer you stay in the sauna, the higher level of EMF frequencies you will take in.Â
So, while a dynamic sauna can be considered to be low EMF, this is null and void if you stay inside for hours on end.
The more EMF emitting appliances that you have near you during a sauna session, the higher amount of EMF that you are receiving. Cell phones and other electronic and wireless devices should be kept outside, for any other reason, the amount of heat inside can damage the device.
There will also be EMF waves emitting from the voltage of the electrical outlet that the dynamic sauna plugs into. Since you will be inside of the sauna during use, these frequencies should be of no concern.
While a dynamic sauna is low EMF, based upon the length of the session, you are likely wondering how the variations in EMF frequencies may be different in a larger, more traditional sauna.
How Do the EMFs in Dynamic Saunas Differ From Traditional Saunas?
The larger the sauna, the more EMF amounts that are distributed based upon the length of the session. Traditional saunas do not always utilize carbon-based heating elements–but this has changed in recent years due to the overall efficiency of a user having the option to control the heat level in a sauna.
The EMF frequency output in a traditional sauna can typically fall between 120-150 mG, which is a huge difference compared to a dynamic sauna. Keep in mind that these types of readings are only observed in traditional saunas that use carbon-based heaters, which means there is more output since traditional saunas are a much larger space.Â
You would need to drastically limit your time in a traditional sauna with carbon-based heaters to limit exposure to EMF frequencies of this magnitude. The important detail to keep in mind is that there is no immediate harm that comes with EMF exposure.
The harm is the amount of time in either a traditional sauna or a dynamic sauna; there really is no distinct difference when it comes to the EMF emission of either model; if you stay in for longer than 2 hours–both can be harmful.
Take a look at this video to understand how a dynamic sauna works in relation to EMF waves:
Conclusion
Dynamic saunas have a much lower EMF emission level than what you would find in a traditional sauna. A dynamic sauna can be considered low EMF, depending only on the amount of time you spend inside. EMF readings of between 0-10 mG can be expected if you limit a sauna session to 2 hours and under.
If you keep these key facts in mind, you will receive about the same amount of EMF waves as what you get when speaking on your cell phone.