Electromagnetic Fields and Their Relevance to Paranormal Investigations
Almost anyone who is interested in the paranormal is familiar with the Electromagnetic Field, or EMF, detector. What exactly is it and how does it help the paranormal investigator? First we will examine what EMF is, then we will go into how the investigator can use this knowledge to further paranormal investigations and provide an important service to clients.
We are surrounded by natural electromagnetic forces, not only by naturally occuring EMF fields produced by the Earth, but also from man-made sources. There is some debate on the effect of high-level EMF on humans, specifically health-related problems. At present there are no studies definitively linking EMF levels to significant health problems in adults, though there are some studies linking high EMF to certain cancers in children.
The definition of EMF from the online source “Wikipedia” states “The electromagnetic field is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects. It affects the behaviour of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. The field can be viewed as the combination of an electric field and a magnetic field. The electric field is produced by stationary charges, and the magnetic field by moving charges (currents); these two are often described as the sources of the field.”
The electromagnetic field that the paranormal investigator is concerned about is produced from running electric current which produces a magnetic field. This is important to the paranormal investigator because most buildings are full of electric wires and devices, some of which emit quite high levels of EMF. Any of these have the potential to cause high readings, also known as “spikes”, on our EMF detectors, which in turn could cause the unwary investigator to attribute such high readings to paranormal activity. Further, it is worth noting that high level EMF can contribute to feelings of being watched, headaches, nausea, and even hallucinations in people who are hypersensative to EMF fields.
There are even some theories that haunted places are simply places that have certain configurations of magnetic fields that tend to promote hallucinations in people who are sensitive, even to the point that different people at different times will describe similar experiences. This doesn’t explain every evidence of paranormal experience of course, but it is worth exploring further in the field.
The EMF detector most often used in paranormal investigations measures in Gauss, which is a measurement for magnetic force. The magnetic force found around electric wiring and appliances is best thought of in 3-D; the magnetic force surrounds the electric current on all sides. A normal reading should be between 0 and .4–anything higher may be caused by electrical wiring, appliances, underground mineral deposits, solar flares, ionic conditions in the atmosphere, or something unknown. At the beginning of any investigation, a baseline reading is taken throughout the building where the investigation is taking place. This is to rule out any spikes due to man-made or natural EMF. An interesting trait of EMF is that close to the wiring or appliances, the readings will be very strong but the further you get from the source, the readings go down exponentially. This is useful because during the investigation the person doing the readings will know when a spike is normal or not.
This chart comes from the “Consumer Law Page” put out by the EPA illustrating the various readings and differences of EMF output by distance of certain common appliances:
| Distance from Source | 6 Inches | 1 Foot | 2 Foot | 4 Foot |
| FLUORESCENT LIGHTS | ||||
| Lowest | 20 | - | - | - |
| Median | 40 | 6 | 2 | - |
| Highest | 100 | 30 | 8 | 4 |
| CEILING FANS | ||||
| Lowest | - | - | - | - |
| Median | 3 | - | - | - |
| Highest | 50 | 6 | 1 | - |
| MICROWAVE OVENS | ||||
| Lowest | 100 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Median | 200 | 40 | 10 | 2 |
| Highest | 300 | 200 | 30 | 20 |
As you can see, the strength of the EMFs and the distances that the EMFs fade vary widely. Usually within three or four feet the baseline reading will be reached. It should also be noted that EMFs are not blocked by walls or floors, but can commonly be detected on the other side, so it is important to get readings from all rooms and note where there may be wiring in the floors, ceilings, and walls.
The general belief that the EMF detector finds entities that are trying to manifest is not proven, though it is widely accepted by many paranormal investigators. The theory is that paranormal entities need energy to manifest, and the EMF detector detects the changes in the magnetic fields as this is occurring. Even if this turns out to be false, at the very least, the EMF detector is an essential piece of equipment due to the fact that abnormally high EMF ratings can be detected and reported to the owners of the property. Since high EMF ratings have been linked (however tenuously) to certain reactions by the sensitive, and even some health risks, the paranormal investigator provides an important service to the client by using the EMF detector and reporting any abnormal findings.
As paranormal investigators, it is our job to rule out every possible cause of unusual readings, as, more often than not, there is a simple, mundane reason for the reading. It is only when we have exhausted all other possibilities that we can consider possible paranormal causes. The EMF detector is an important tool to help us in our quest for the truth.
1. www.Wikipedia.com, online encyclopedia
2. www.ASSAP.org, “Magnetic Hallucinations” Maurice Townsend.
3. www.ASSAP.org, EMF meters in vigils;what causes readings.
4. The Consumer Law Page, “Electric Magnetic Fields in Your Environment” EPA office of Radiation and Indoor Air, December 1992 published by Alexander Hawes, LLP Copyright 1994–2005