Some research on the effects of this kind of nonionizing radiation has raised a red flag on excessive exposure. High levels of nonionizing radiation in humans has been associated with (but not scientifically proven) to cause genetic damage, spontaneous abortion, and birth defects. But the tested levels have been extremely high, far above what we are exposed to normally. You can sit two inches in front of your TV everyday all day long during your pregnancy and not worry about radiation damage to your fetus (you should be more worried about your sanity). But to err on the side of caution, you can keep your fetus out of harm’s way if you…
Sit at least five feet away from the TV set when it’s on. Stand at least three feet away and to the side when your microwave is running. Test for leaks in your microwave by putting a paper towel in the door and shutting it. You should not be able to pull the towel out of the door. If you can, the seals are worn and should be replaced. Avoid sitting too near the back of a computer screen. Most radiation is emitted from the rear; so if your workstation puts you behind your colleague’s screen, you might want to move. But keep in mind that extensive studies cannot find a definite link between working on a computer all day and birth defects. Although there is no evidence that copy machines are harmful to a fetus, be cautious and limit the amount of time you spend around these machines.
