What is a headset? You almost never see a question like this anymore, but “Are Bluetooth headphones harmful?” - remains without a clear answer. Data transmission technology using Bluetooth is developing very quickly, and in a short time it has been able to force manufacturers to significantly reduce the production of devices with wires.
Some have completely changed their product line completely. A clear example is Apple, which has completely removed 3.5 mm connectors in its new smartphones. The methods are radical, but significantly increase the popularity of the modern product and bring profit to manufacturers. However, is a bluetooth headset harmful? Information on the issue is not so popular.
Bluetooth technology and sound
We learned how to transmit audio stream using Bluetooth a long time ago. Wireless headsets have become commonplace and most people no longer look at a person talking through a “gill” as a crazy person. However, for such purposes it is not at all necessary to achieve high-quality sound. It’s possible to make out the words - and that’s fine. But when it comes to music, such a philosophy is unacceptable. You need to convey the scene correctly, practice all the instruments and show depth. Even wired headphones are not always capable of this. And there’s nothing to say about wireless ones. If the headphones themselves do not support the AptX HD data transfer protocol, then there is nothing to think about high-quality sound. Moreover, the device with music itself must support this protocol. But there are still very few such devices. For example, the vaunted Apple AirPods are not able to provide the right sound. And why, one might ask, should one give that kind of money?
Another thing is expensive models that cost from 20,000 rubles and above. They have at least something to please lovers of high-quality sound. But you still shouldn’t expect the same results from them as from their wired counterparts. If the gadget that plays music has AptX HD technology on board, then the situation can still be corrected. However, only a few are capable of this. And such devices are very expensive. The average user has to be content with average sound quality. Without any options. So the question arises about the practical value of purchasing wireless headphones. Experts unanimously say that there is no point in purchasing such gadgets yet. And they have to be believed. However, they are being bought en masse. Apple simply left no choice for users, and others buy them because of the comfort.
Prevention
First, you need to know how to choose the right Bluetooth headphones. It is recommended to give preference only to trusted manufacturers who confirm the safety of their products through research.
Many people advise choosing noise-cancelling headphones - they create a barrier between the outer ear and sound. This technology helps prevent the effects of radiation on the body.
How to use the headset correctly?
By following preventive measures, you will reduce your health risks. What is it about:
- Do not wear the headset all the time; limit the time you wear it. Choose your preferred activity to wear the headset: running, training, commuting to work/school.
- Don't listen to music at maximum volume.
How headphones work without wires
So is it worth buying wireless headphones at all? We will now analyze the principle of operation (description of the main characteristics of the signal). The fact is that when using the usual Bluetooth 4.2 data transfer protocol, the data stream arriving at the transmitter is compressed in the most merciless way. This is done so that the transfer speed can be increased. But when compressed, the quality of the data deteriorates greatly. So, if you try to listen to FLAC with 24 bits of depth and 196,000 Hertz frequency on your smartphone, then in your headphones you will still hear some kind of incomprehensible MP3 with a bitrate of 128 kilobits per second. Therefore, it is still too early for mass use of wireless technology in sound transmission. There will still be no quality.
Apple AirPods
These are wireless headphones from Apple. They are almost the only opportunity to listen to music from the iPhone. However, Apple wireless headphones, the technical characteristics of which are publicly available, are unlikely to provide high-quality sound. They use the AptX protocol to transfer data. But without the HD set-top box. This means that the quality level will be somewhere around MP3 192 kilobits per second. Whatever sound source is played on the smartphone. Thus, we can say with certainty that “wireless AirPods” cannot provide a high-quality audio path. This means that there is no point in paying that kind of money for these “plugs”. However, Apple marketers will say otherwise and present their evidence. Whether to listen to them or not is up to the individual user.
Research data
One of the most active opponents of wireless “ears” is a professor at the Berkeley Institute (California) - Joel Moskovets. His research focuses on the effect of Bluetooth on the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harm from toxins, harmful organisms, and negative factors of the immune system.
So, according to him, by daily inserting a source of microwave radiation a couple of centimeters from the brain, we deliberately expose our health to extreme risk.
The harm of Bluetooth headphones is manifested in the following symptoms:
- Increased irritability and insomnia;
- Deterioration of the condition of the skin, hair, nail plates;
- Loss of appetite (or vice versa, a tendency to overeat) leads to gastrointestinal diseases;
- Sexual dysfunction in men, problems with childbearing in women;
- Deterioration of mental abilities, absent-mindedness, restlessness.
And here are the most terrible consequences that may arise for those who abuse the use of this gadget:
- Pregnant women who use wireless devices risk giving their baby autism;
- If you do not limit the time spent in wireless technology, you can get brain cancer;
- Children whose parents allow them to use wireless “ears” do worse in school, find it more difficult to concentrate, and become extremely hot-tempered.
In turn, gadget manufacturers, of course, refute Moskowitz’s conclusions, calling his research “hysterical attacks.” They conducted their own analysis of the harm from radiation and proved that the latter is several times lower than critical. For example, Apple completely stopped producing regular wired headphones, leaving its customers no choice.
However, American professor Jerry Phillips (a specialist in the field of biochemistry) doubted the objectivity of the results of these analyzes. The measurements were taken at the moment the equipment was turned on, without taking into account the fact that after a while the device heats up and the radiation level increases several times.
Now try to answer the question for yourself about why wireless headphones are harmful: to do this, you just need to remember how much time you spend in them! If you use them several times a week, then you don’t have to worry about any harm, but if you use them more often, then this is a good reason to think about it. It’s not for nothing that they say that everything is good in moderation.
HBQ TWS i7S
The i7s wireless headphones, described on the company's official website, from HBQ are a pathetic parody of Apple products. They look exactly the same as the popular AirPods and even have almost the same features. But the speakers there are an order of magnitude worse. In addition, i7s are not even adapted to use AptX. The standard Bluetooth protocol is used, which cannot transmit high-quality sound. However, people buy them. This can be explained by the fact that they are much cheaper than the original product. And such headphones tend to get lost often. They are miniature and devoid of wires. Therefore, it is easy to lose them. Because of this, all kinds of replicas are in quite high and steady demand.
Possible consequences for the body
In conclusion, let's turn to proven medicine and consider the harm that headphones cause if you use them thoughtlessly and too often:
- If you constantly listen to music at high volumes, your hearing will inevitably deteriorate due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the auditory nerves.
- Systematic irritating effects on the ear membrane leads to fatigue, headaches, irritability, and therefore a decrease in mental abilities;
- If you are negligent about hygiene and do not clean your headphones and ears, there is a risk of developing bacterial diseases;
- Headphones distract attention, which is dangerous when you are outside.
Reviews from owners of wireless headphones
Are wireless headphones harmful? Let's ask those who actively use them. There are actually a lot of Bluetooth lovers. And they have been using such gadgets for more than one year. Many owners of such devices note that they do not experience any discomfort after prolonged use of the gadget. Moreover, they find such headphones much more convenient than the usual wired options. Others note that after purchasing wireless headphones they started having headaches. There is also general fatigue. However, this is most likely a feature of the body, and not at all a consequence of using a wireless gadget. To get these results, you need to leave the device in your ears day and night. But there are no such inadequate people. In general, reviews of wireless devices are positive. The vast majority of users did not notice any harmful effects of radiation even after several years of using the gadget. They are all happy with their devices. But no one mentioned the sound quality. Either they simply haven’t heard real sound, or they use such headphones exclusively for conversations. Then of course. No difference.
How to choose a safe Bluetooth headset
In order to minimize the negative impact on health, it is necessary to choose the right headset.
For example, AirPods are distinguished by their safety and quality, which is why many people prefer them.
You can also buy a noise-canceling one, which works thanks to inverse waves, they drown out the incoming sound. They are well suited for filtering sound, while maintaining the same quality of conversation, and do not cause harm.
Soundproofing devices are also in demand, as they create a seal near the ear, which creates a physical barrier between the ear and external sound, thereby preventing the negative effects of bluetooth on health.
It is quite difficult for a person to imagine life without bluetooth, but it must be used wisely so as not to harm your health.
The effect of wireless headphones on the brain
Are wireless headphones harmful to the brain? There is no specific answer to this question. Now there is a struggle in the world between manufacturers and representatives of medicine. The first claim that radiation from Bluetooth is negligible and cannot in any way affect this organ. Academicians are trying with crazy persistence to prove that wireless technologies cause brain cancer and other bad diseases. They even measured the radiation from a Bluetooth transmitter and declared that this amount of harmful rays is quite enough to have a detrimental effect on the brain. It is not yet clear who is right. But one thing is certain: radiation from wireless headphones and smartphones is of the same nature as radiation from microwave ovens (microwaves). And it’s definitely harmful.
Video: electromagnetic radiation
Read further:
How salmonellosis is transmitted from person to person - routes of transmission
Are electronic cigarettes harmful to health - what to choose: regular or vapes?
How harmful are headphones to a person's hearing and brain?
Donormil overdose
