Almost all Tucson homes have a router bringing the internet to computers, TVs and “smart” devices, amazingly connecting us to a wealth of information, entertainment and services. The convenience and benefits are undeniable. But this technology comes with an invisible risk: routers use an electromagnetic field (EMF) known as radio-frequency radiation to wirelessly transmit data through the air to our devices. This radiation is a known health hazard, particularly with cumulative exposures over time.

More than 10,000 peer-reviewed studies have documented the serious health effects of RF radiation exposure, including four U.S. government studies. Common symptoms include poor sleep, headaches, skin rashes, anxiety or depression, tinnitus, dizziness and heart palpitations. 

Long-term exposure increases risks of dementia, infertility and cardiovascular harm. Adding to the evidence of breast, thyroid and colon cancer, a new WHO-funded study has confirmed that RF radiation causes brain cancer. Children are more vulnerable due to their developing brains, thinner skulls and longer lifetime exposures. Some people develop Electromagnetic Radiation Syndrome, having particularly acute and immediate reactions.

What can you do to take control of your router to start off a healthy 2026? Here are some easy steps you can take on your own:

• Only turn the router on when needed; turn it off when you’re sleeping. Think of your router like a lamp. You turn off lights when they’re not needed—do the same for your router to protect your health (and save electricity!). It is especially important to eliminate RF exposure during sleep, when the body heals and repairs. You can use a remote outlet shutoff, such as the SaferTech Wi-Fi Kill Switch, to turn the router off with the click of a button or set a timer to do it automatically.

• Shield with a radiation-blocking router guard. Cover your router with a metal-mesh cloth guard that blocks some radiation while still allowing connectivity, such as the Signal Tamer router guard. This can reduce radiation by up to 95 percent.

• Create space: distance is your friend. Wireless radiation drops off significantly with distance. Keep the router as far away as possible from places where people spend a lot of time: bedrooms, offices, living rooms and kitchens. Especially keep it away from children’s sleep, study and play areas.

Install a low-radiation router. Install a router that keeps radiation levels to a minimum, such as the JRS Eco.

• Reduce radiation in router settings. Reduce the emitted radiation to as low as possible while still maintaining connectivity (turn off the 2.45 GHz radio, reduce transmission power or number of SSIDs, or adjust the beacon signal).

While implementing these solutions, it’s helpful to measure the radiation so you can make sure you have lowered or eliminated it. The Safe and Sound Pro II meter from Safe Living Technologies is accurate and easy to understand.

Last but not least, routers providing home internet through cell towers or wireless rooftop antennas (together known as Fixed Wireless Internet) have negative side effects for entire neighborhoods. In Tucson, Verizon and AT&T are installing 5G “small cell” towers very close to homes and schools to provide this type of internet —without people’s consent. In addition to spreading RF radiation for blocks, the towers have negative effects on neighborhood character, privacy and property values. For the sake of your own health and your neighbors’ well-being, it’s best not to sign up for these services.