If you are looking into wireless audio options, you may wonder is it safe to wear Bluetooth headphones. Some of the best headphones, after all, use Bluetooth technology and there are a lot of rumors online as to the safety level of this tech. So is Bluetooth safe and how can you maximize this safety during use? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Bluetooth wireless devices do emit low levels of a type of radiation, but scientists currently believe that they pose no increased cancer risk.
- Bluetooth headphones do slightly increase the risk of vehicle accidents, especially if you talk on cell phones a lot while driving.
- While the science is still being conducted, rely on Bluetooth devices only when necessary, going for wired headphones in other cases.
Is it Safe to Wear Wireless Headphones?
Short answer? It’s safe to wear wireless headphones, including Bluetooth headphones, from the standpoint of risk to health. If you feel not, do you know how to unpair your Bluetooth headphones? Keep in mind that Bluetooth technology does emit trace amounts of nonionizing radiation. This phenomenon has been studied by many scientists and they concluded that Bluetooth devices are safe to use. They could pose a risk, however, if they emitted much larger amounts of radiation during use, but they do not.
Insider Tip
Bluetooth technology has been around for decades, so there has been plenty of time for it to be studied.
Of course, just because they are safe to use doesn’t mean they don’t come with problems if you are wondering why only one side of your headphones works.
What About Safety During Driving?
Even though Bluetooth headphones do not pose a serious risk of radiation poisoning or, in a worst-case scenario, cancer, doesn’t mean they are absolutely safe to use. Many consumers quickly wonder about safety during driving, even if they are focused on learning how to wrap headphones in embroidery floss.
Here’s the scoop. Using Bluetooth headphones actually decreases the risk of vehicular accidents when compared to simply using your phone. Going wireless frees up your hands for driving and minimizes the amount of time you stare at the phone. However, there is some risk, as part of your attention will be diverted from the road, even while just talking on the phone.
The solution? Only make calls while driving when absolutely necessary, even while using a wireless Bluetooth headset.
Bluetooth Headset Precautionary Measures
Though scientists generally believe you are not at risk of disease by using Bluetooth, the data is not all in yet, so there are some common-sense precautionary measures worth considering.
- Use the speakerphone whenever possible.
- Plug the headphones into the jack instead of using Bluetooth when possible.
- Only use the phone when the signal is strong, as a poor signal encourages radiation.
- Keep the phone about 10 inches from your face.
- Don’t overuse Bluetooth. Only use it when necessary.
F.A.Q.S
What conditions do they worry Bluetooth can cause?
People wonder if Bluetooth increases health risks such as neurological disorders, cancer, and other health effects related to radiofrequency radiation throughout our entire bodies.
Will being surrounded by Bluetooth cook my brain?
No, it will not cook your brain, no matter if you are using ear headphones, wireless headsets, or earbuds that go directly inside of the ear canal.
What if I am obsessed with Bluetooth radiation danger?
Switch to wired headphones to make yourself feel better or avoid cell phones entirely to minimize health risks, such as the risk of cancer.
STAT: The development of the “short-link” radio technology, later named Bluetooth, was initiated in 1989 by Nils Rydbeck, CTO at Ericsson Mobile in Lund, Sweden. (source)
