I just discovered this site and this is my first post. I have a 2002 honda civic hybrid. My main problem with it that the mechanics create an unhealthy level of electromagnetic energy, much higher and more pervasive than standard cars. My trifield meter registers 100 milligauss around the ankles which disperses to 15 mguass over my head, and even into the back seat. anything above 3 mgauss is deemed to be harmful to living things. emf is produced by appliances, computers, tv's, microwave ovens, flourescent ballasts, reostats, digital displays, etc and in my testing around the home, my car consistently is higher than most of those things, but I can shield myself or get out of the field usually (sit 6 ft away from the TV for instance), but in the hybrid one cannot escape it. My wife can feel it and I do not do well health wise on prolonged trips.

I have not gotten any satisfaction from honda. I do not believe it would be hard to shield and protect passengers from this field, but retrofitting may not be cheap. I suspect they know about this and hope it goes away. Anyone have any experience, ideas, or thoughts on this topic. i couldnt find it listed in the discussions

There was a brief period of time when some were worried about the field. However, Toyota assured us that there was a protective barrier and that levels were completely safe. I really don't think there's anything to worry about.

I do find it strange, however, that you say the EMF in your Civic is higher than normal. Unless I'm mistaken, the Civic electrical system is not much different than a traditional car. It allows the engine to shut down and the air remain on, but it isn't that powerful of a system like the Prius.

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Here are some test results for magnetic fields in some popular cars in Sweden from 2002 (including the Prius I):

Magnetic fields

The numbers are in microtesla which is used to measure magnetic fields. The left values are at standstill with engine idling, the right when riding in 90 km/h (about 60 miles per hour?). As you can see the Prius has low values. I am not sure how this translates to EMF and milligauss. Maybe someone can explain?

Some translation for the numbers:

Vänster fot - Left foot
Höger fot - Right foot
Golv - Floor
Tröskel - Threshold?
Säte - Seat
Brösthöjd - Chest height
Huvudhöjd - Head height

Johan Erlandsson

See mileage data for my 00 Prius.
See my environmental performance (still in swedish only, feel free to ask).

Thanks jhj,
I have never heard of this problem before in any kind of car.
I've heard the theory envolving cell phones next to the brain but haven't heard of any proven real heath cases come from that.
Glow in the dark items like watch faces are said to be radioactive.
DiHydrogen Oxide is said to be in our drinking supply.
May I ask what does it feel like?
Perhaps it is a kind of adverse reaction to any fumes that may be present in the car. Some people who are reactive to carpet, dust etc don't feel well when around those things.
I don't mean to make light of your concern but I know of studies of other things that are proven to kill a person.
I've heard that heated water releases highly toxic consentrated clouds of Radon gas that we typically breathe in the shower.
On the other hand we've heard the story of the sick woman that visits her doctor every week for her medication, as she feels sick without it.
Every week the doctor gives her a plain sugar cube and she's cured until next week.
I am more inclined to think it is a reaction to dust, pollen, cleaning materials etc.
If you are truly sensitive to this EMF then may I suggest that it is the extreme minority. I'm not sure why Honda/Toyota should be required to place the extra shielding. Personally I wouldn't want to pay any extra amount for it.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT

I found some information about EMF in the Insight:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...a_insight.html

Hot_Georgia_2004,

I think it isn't more than fair to take peoples fears seriously until it is 100 % proven that whatever it is, is not harmful to human beings. I suggest you use your energy to try to get the facts instead of ironising.

jhj,

Take a look at the test results. The Volvo S80 Original had significantly higher magnetic fields. When this was noticed by media, Volvo offered a free retrofitting (one extra cable is all that was needed in this case). See the new values in the "Volvo S80 ombyggd" column. I found out that mikrotesla translates directly to milligauss, which means that compared even to the original Volvo S80, the values in your car are very high with 100 milligauss around the ankles.

Johan

Johan Erlandsson

See mileage data for my 00 Prius.
See my environmental performance (still in swedish only, feel free to ask).

Thanks.
I really did not mean to make light of it as I see jhj is serious:
But if they are feeling sick perhaps it is caused by something else.....

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT

This is interesting to me (due to my two sons sometimes in the back seat), from this thread I googled emf in hybirds. There is not to much avaliable about it, and it all dates back to the 2001-2002 models. I wonder if this has been addressed in the new models

I spend a LOT of time in my car, I would hate to be harming myself at the same time...fortunatly my sons spend very little time in it...the wife has the midget mobile

So you all know, this issue was like the "hybrids endanger rescue workers" issue that was published by the AP and then quickly corrected. The damage was done, though, and media outlets all over (and still!) are reporting the story.

This one has subsided, as well.

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Jason,

Can you point me to a source that will for sure tell me that 100 milligauss in the car (five times the value that made Volvo change their cars) is safe?

No offense Jason, I think this site is great.

Johan

Johan Erlandsson

See mileage data for my 00 Prius.
See my environmental performance (still in swedish only, feel free to ask).

driving is dangerous to your health, at least in atlanta.

I mean really, it sounds like a tort in the making. Just like the Chevy truck side impact lawsuits a long time ago regarding gas tank placement.

I hate to sound like i'm making fun of this, but if you ask me, it's just plain silly.

Why don't we shield carpet to keep from getting static electricity.


Will it double if i use my cell phone while driving?

My Hybrid

2004 Civic w/ CVT
Magnesium Metallic
my commute 53 miles each way