Does Airplane Mode Stop Radiation?


If you’ve read around my site, then you probably understand that EMFs have been linked to some nasty health conditions including cancer, reproductive issues, migraines, and even depression.

Given the myriad of health conditions which have been linked to exposure to EMF radiation, you may be wondering how you can cut down on your exposure. If you cannot ditch your phone altogether, then you may be thinking of cutting down on the radiation your phone emits by placing it in airplane mode.

But, does airplane mode really stop radiation? Or, put differently, will your phone stop emitting radiation if you turn on airplane mode?

Put simply, activating airplane mode will stop most, though not all, of the radiation emitted by your phone.

This is because the main way your phone produces radiation is through the antennae it uses to connect to cell towers, WiFi, and Bluetooth devices. When you activate airplane mode, these antennae shutdown and stop emitting radiation.

Now that I’ve given you the simple answer, let’s dive into the details. First off, it’s important to establish the different ways your smartphone produces radiation.

ELF vs RF Radiation—What’s the Difference?

As it turns out, your phone produces radiation in a few different ways. The two primary types of radiation produced by your phone are ELF (extremely low frequency) and RF (radiofrequency) radiation. Let’s talk about these terms and why you should know the difference between them.

RF Radiation

The first way your phone produces radiation is by emitting radiofrequency waves. These waves are what enable your phone to communicate with cell towers, GPS satellites, Bluetooth devices, and wireless routers.

RF waves originate in your phone’s antennae. Antennae are small units inside of your smartphone which allow your device to convert electrical energy from the battery into electromagnetic radiation.

RF radiation is different from ELF radiation because it is more powerful and transmits higher energy levels.

ELF Radiation

ELF radiation, or extremely low frequency radiation, is the type of radiation produced by the small currents inside of your smartphone.

In 1820, a Danish scientist discovered that an electric current moving through a wire creates an electromagnetic field all around it. The strength of this electromagnetic field (EMF) increases together with the strength of the current moving through the wire.

As an electrical device, your smartphone is full of small conductors, transistors, wires, chips, and circuit boards. As electricity travels through these components, it creates an electromagnetic field all around it, potentially exposing you to low levels of EMF radiation.

Does Airplane Mode Block All Radiation?

Now that we have a general understanding of the two types of radiation produced by your smartphone, you may be wondering if airplane mode stops both types of radiation.

Unfortunately, airplane mode only stops RF radiation; it does not stop your phone from producing ELF EMFs. You see, when you enable airplane mode, your phone stops sending signals to the antennae, the devices for emitting RF signals.

Even with airplane mode enabled, however, electrical currents continue to flow between the different components of your phone. These small electrical currents produce EMF radiation of their own, so your phone continues to emit low levels of radiation.

How Much Radiation is Produced by a Phone in Airplane Mode?

Assessing how much radiation is produced by a phone in airplane mode is difficult since there are so many factors involved. Different phones emit different levels of radiation and have varying amounts of insulation, making a general statement on the matter nearly impossible.

In order to get an accurate reading of the EMF radiation produced by your smartphone, I recommend that you invest in an EMF meter like the Trifield EMF Meter which you can view here on Amazon. This is the EMF meter that I use and it is consistently ranked as one of the best EMF meters out there.

The most sensitive EMF meters will give you the best reading and allow you to gauge how much EMF radiation your phone produces in airplane mode.

What is certain is that placing your phone in airplane mode cuts down on the most powerful radiation emitted by your phone, RF radiation. For this reason, I recommend that you switch your phone to airplane mode at night.

By placing your phone in airplane mode, you can still use it as an alarm clock, but you won’t be subjecting yourself to unnecessary levels of radiation.

How to Stop All Radiation from a Smartphone

So, if airplane mode won’t stop your phone from producing radiation, what will?

While you may not like the answer, the only way to completely stop your phone from producing radiation is by turning it off altogether. When you turn your phone off, electricity stops flowing to its components and so radiation cannot be produced.

If you cannot turn off your smartphone, you can reduce your exposure to its EMF radiation by increasing the distance between you and your device. For instance, try carrying your phone in a purse or in the back pocket of your backpack instead of carrying it in your pant pocket.

Here are some other ways to cut down on the radiation coming from your phone:

  • Use speaker phone instead of holding the phone to your ear. Your phone emits powerful RF radiation whenever you make a phone call, so you’ll want to be especially cautious to keep your distance while making a call.
  • Do not Charge your Phone Where you Sleep. The current of electricity flowing into your phone’s battery produces EMF radiation. Be sure to charge your phone at a minimum distance of 3 ft. from where you sleep.
  • Don’t Use your Phone While Lying Down. When you use your phone while lying down, you are more likely to rest your device on your stomach. This increases your exposure.
  • Ditch the Bluetooth Headphones. Bluetooth headphones require your phone to emit powerful RF radiation in order to function. By using corded headphones, you can cut down on this unnecessary source of radiation.
  • Set a Timer. By using a screen timer app, you will not only cut down on radiation exposure, but you’ll also avoid wasting time on social media and other time-wasting apps.

And the list goes on, but by now you should notice a trend—using your device less and placing it farther from your body is the best way to cut down on your exposure to radiation.

Recommended Products and Conclusion

If you are concerned about your exposure to EMF radiation, then you have to check out these products below:

Switching your phone to airplane mode is a great starting point for eliminating unnecessary radiation in your life. If possible, also consider powering your phone down when you don’t need it or when you don’t have cell service.

By implementing some of the techniques we’ve gone over in this article, you’ll be sure to cut down your exposure to nasty EMF radiation.

I wish you resolve, health, and wisdom.

Cheers, friend.

Recent Posts