Airpods And Headache/Ear Pain

[famchrmichael]

I just sold my AirPods Pro because of feeling headache a short while after using them.

I also tried the first gen. AirPods - same problem.

I had hoped that I could have used the Pro’s Because they are really nice but I can’t justify using a product that is making me feel bad :/

 

[ike185]

I just sold my AirPods Pro because of feeling headache a short while after using them.

I also tried the first gen. AirPods - same problem.

I had hoped that I could have used the Pro’s Because they are really nice but I can’t justify using a product that is making me feel bad :/

You don't say? I was actually considering trying them after the first gen AirPods gave me headaches and also feeling as if I have pressure in my head. I sold them almost a year ago and have been using my regular EarPods. Heard the AirPods Pro had space for air not to be trapped in the ear so I thought maybe this was the problem. Then no need for me to waist money to get the Pro. I'll just stick to the EarPods. I think it affects a small percentage of people because I see a lot of people using them with no apparent problem. Like you, my health comes first. I don't actually miss it anymore. Missed it first 3-4 months when I sold mine but not anymore.

 

[Xprmntr]

generation zapped documentary

 

[hollyberry]

Radiation from Airpods can significantly alter skin protein levels if used regularly. according to https://emfportal.com/do-airpods-emit-radiation/

A study done in 2018 found that when subjects were exposed to cell phone radiation for one hour each day for a duration of 30 days, their skins tested positive for abnormal shifts in protein levels. Out of the 580 different protein strains analyzed, the scientists found that two were severely affected.

A study done by MIT in 2018 found that one in five Americans use (or have used) wireless earphones. Assuming an average music playback of two hours each day, we can only imagine the level of damage people have been doing to their skin.

 

[Macalway]

Radiation from Airpods can significantly alter skin protein levels if used regularly. according to https://emfportal.com/do-airpods-emit-radiation/

A study done in 2018 found that when subjects were exposed to cell phone radiation for one hour each day for a duration of 30 days, their skins tested positive for abnormal shifts in protein levels. Out of the 580 different protein strains analyzed, the scientists found that two were severely affected.

A study done by MIT in 2018 found that one in five Americans use (or have used) wireless earphones. Assuming an average music playback of two hours each day, we can only imagine the level of damage people have been doing to their skin.

BS

And election the was stolen.

Not to say these things don't kill you. Maybe they do? Doesn't make this not-BS Really though, If you could see the waves around you. But it's ironic, as you can obviously 'see' them. But that's just an eye thing, and this whole thing is just crazy.

But if I go outside today even in the winter, the sun will fry my **** in no time. Real damage. Life changing (eventually) damage.

 

[cavenewt]

I'm not entirely sure what's going on. I can't tell if it's because they are slightly bigger, or because I apparently started to get a head cold the same day they came in (fingers crossed that's all it is).

The hypochondriac in me worries that it might be the radiation, but after seeing a lot of the research that's been done saying that cellphones are safe (compared to the few studies that say it MIGHT not be safe), I figure Bluetooth is even safer.

I'm going to hold onto them for a while longer and continue to test them and see how things go. Hopefully things start to normalize because I think they are freakin awesome!

I got some AirPods last month after years of hesitancy, finally being seduced by their convenience. Something that spews radiation inside your head seems like a bad idea, so I try to minimize their use. Nevertheless, I started getting a headache yesterday, still have it. I don't get headaches unless I drink too much which happens almost never. I've used EarPods for years so I know it's not the physical presence of something in the ear canal.

I figure the most likely candidates are the AirPods, or a low-level Covid infection despite vaccination.

As for those studies, if you go to the settings in your iPhone and read some of the fine print, it warns you to hold the phone something like 10 mm away from your head when using the phone. Remember radiation falls off as the square of the distance, so any separation is helpful. Many countries around the world acknowledge the health risk of cellular and other radiating technology. In the US it's likely that Industry influence via lobbying has been suppressing this.

 

[cavenewt]

BS

And election the was stolen.

Not to say these things don't kill you. Maybe they do? Doesn't make this not-BS Really though, If you could see the waves around you. But it's ironic, as you can obviously 'see' them. But that's just an eye thing, and this whole thing is just crazy.

But if I go outside today even in the winter, the sun will fry my **** in no time. Real damage. Life changing (eventually) damage.

Not a helpful reply.

 

[cavenewt]

Since I wasn't able to actually sell the Airpods (not as popular as they seemed here in Switzerland), I decided to open and test them with the EM meter I purchased some time ago when I set up our Unifi APs. There's one problem I've encountered: due to the W1 sensor's capability to detect when the AirPods are inside the ear, it's relatively hard to get them to play when they're not (which is necessary to measure the EM field) worn. I had to trick them a bit.

Now these numbers are hardly scientific - first of all, the EM meter I have isn't a professional one - its purpose was to identify WiFi dead spots in the house so I could properly place the APs - for that it doesn't need to be very accurate. Plus I lack the skills to test anything like this professionally, so this is merely anecdotal.

The bad news first: the EM field directed at the skull is indeed higher than with my Jabra sports headphones that I've been using for a while now. The good news, however, is that the part that actually goes into the ear (and thus bypasses the skull bone) is very well shielded. When measuring in direct contact with the actual bud, field levels were about the same as the Jabra's. The AirPods clock in at around 250-850 microV/m2 (depending on the angle of measurement - the part perpendicular to the head is around 850, the top part is lower) when measured at the buds and on the side facing the brain, while the Jabra also emits around 850. However, both AirPods emit the same EM field strength (which is a bit surprising, i thought only one of them is connected to the iPhone via bluetooth). With the Jabra, only the one with the transmitter in the right bud emits a significant EM field, while the left one is connected via wire and emits around 50 microV/m2. The Jabra is also very well shielded - on the outside-facing part of the bud, the EM field maxes out at around 1900.

The part where I guess the antenna sits in the Airpods (the small downward facing stick) emits beyond the 2000 mcroV/m2 my EM meter is capable of measuring - and it does so in all directions, including towards the neck / jaw.

So in review, it's more complicated to measure these things than I'd thought - but it's clear that in combination, they emit more than double as much EM radiation towards the head than the reference model I used. That's because both AirPods have a measured EM field of around 850 microV/m2 inside the ear and between 1900 and (over) 2000 microV/m2 on the outside part of the device at the back of the buds and the antenna respectively.

They do not transmit at 20 dBm (100 mW) as is the max for Bluetooth Class 1, however. According to the FCC filing, they max out at 12.5 dBM (17.8 mW), which is still almost double that of a normal Bluetooth Class 2 headset. Due to their excellent shielding, the exposure on the parts that are inserted into the skull is comparable to that of regular headsets, except that with regular bluetooth headsets, only one of the buds contains a transceiver, while with the AirPods both of them do.

And coming back to the FCC filing: the SAR value of 0.466 is reached when the measuring equipment touches the rear of the device (the one facing away from the skull). The front touch SAR is 0.028 (measured over 1g of tissue) or 0.010 (measured over 10g) - both of which are very low compared to what a regular mobile phone emits. And this confirms my observations that the device is excellently shielded towards the head.

Now what any of this means in terms of health beats me. Although I might come across as such, I'm actually not in the alarmists' camp - I've been using wireless devices for years for a variety of purposes, from headsets over phones all the way to home automation. I became interested in the topic because I have small children and I'd like to be able to make informed decisions when it comes to pretty much anything. If I can have the same functionality at lower RF exposure with certain products, I choose those, that's all.

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I developed a headache after a couple weeks' use of AirPods. I'm going to give it some time to go away, and then use them again and see what happens. Using wireless devices outside your head could be quite different from sticking one inside your head. Radiation falls off as the square of the distance and all that.

 

[cavenewt]

The bottom line is y'all are carrying a phone with a radio capable of sending microwaves several miles and are worrying about a low power BT device capable of transmitting microwaves tens of feet. The concern doesn't seem appropriately placed.

But it's *inside your head*. Distance makes a huge difference in radiation exposure. Look in your iPhone settings About/General/Legal & Regulatory/RF Exposure. There are governmental guidelines about RF exposure which, as we all know, are probably influenced by industry lobbyists. Other countries acknowledge the risk of RF exposure more openly.

"To reduce exposure to RF energy, use a hands-free option such as the built-in speakerphone, headphones, or other similar accessories..."

 

[cavenewt]

I don't think it's "radiation" related (otherwise my phone would give me the same issue)

Not necessarily. Your phone has three radios in it – cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, all at different frequencies. They could have different effects.

 

[bigshot]

There's no radiation from AirPods. Bluetooth is nothing like cell phone service. And any headache you get comes from simply having your ears plugged too long. Take the AirPods out every once in a while and air out your ears and you won't get a headache. Listening to restful music at lower volumes will help with the psychosomatic aspect of listening fatigue too.