"Death Rays From Below"? Book Suggests Motorcycles May Cause Cancer
Wednesday November 21, 2007
Without much scientific background or hard evidence, author Randall Dale Chipkar questions the possibility that electromagnetic forces produced by motorcycles (which he calls "'Death Rays' from below") are responsible for a "Black Plague" among riders.
“I have met countless avid motorcycle riders diagnosed with similar forms of cancers and disorders," the author writes, "All of these riders had a type of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation shooting up from their motorcycle seats."
Using the "C" word is certainly an easy way to get attention, and those alarmed by the book's subject matter should be relieved that even the author qualifies his concerns: "This does not establish proof by any means and further investigation is warranted.” More on this incendiary book can be found at motorcyclecancer.com.
I don't know about you, but I think bikers have bigger threats than "death rays from below."
Comments
Beam me up Scotty…there’s no inteligent life down here!!
Is this the best you can offer this website? Time for me to move on…
bing,
This is a daily blog that draws upon eclectic motorcycle-related news, information, and reviews. As in life, some ideas are more profound than others; I’m sorry this post didn’t meet your satisfaction. We’ll miss ya.
Basem
I bet money this guy lives in California.
A car you say? No problem! Bring a dump truck full of money!
That last comment should be on the post about the electric drag bike.
I’ll be OK when the fog lifts….
I have not and will not read this book. I’ve seen “books” like these…they are terribly redundant and poorly crafted. That being said, anyone today can write a book. It sounds like the author has read some of those get rich quick schemes and has put together his own little piece by being controversial in hopes that others will buy his book. There’s little escape in today’s world from electromagnetic fields. Even if one abandoned his/her bike, other areas of contemporary life that emit EM are unavoidable! Until he has some valid research to talk specifically about motorcycles and EM, he’s just blowing hot air. One doesn’t need an entire book to raise the question.
SHARON– Well said!
Unfortunately he appears to be from here in Canada.
Oddly enough he’s also selling a shield to protect us all… Go to http://www.motorcyclecancer.com/ enter the ‘password’ to “To read page 2 about…motorcycle seat shield protection”. Apparently he holds the first patents pending in various countries around the world.
Surprised?
I believe this is partly right. However, the EM waves are NOT directed at the rider, but all around the motorcycle to the cars being too close. It is a threat to cars, not motorcycles. Let’s go with this theory so the cages will stay away from us.
So when can we expect lead shielded riding shorts on the http://www.aerostitch.com site?
Between motorcylces, cell phones, bluetooth headsets, wifi, cosmic radiation… I think we are all screwed.
Life is short, play hard!
It looks like I’m a goner… I have worked in the RF field (pun intended) for all of my life and am now comfortably healthy and retired. I have been exposed to, and have not been harmed by, so far as I know, almost every level and radio frequency used by the industry. Although there is some merit to exercising caution in strong energy fields the general consensus is that most RF energy is unable to penetrate the surface of conductors, like your skin, and is dissipated as heat. The magnetic component, however, does penetrate the body, and every time you move on planet earth you are cutting through the magnetic field. I should hope that evolution has made us resistant to those forces. In any case I will not take any chances with those buried traffic sensor loops at intersections and I most certainly will avoid any store that employs electronic anti theft sensors at the doorways.
I hope the author of that book makes enough money to buy an education so that he may be better able to communicate intelligently with a ‘5th grader’. In the mean time I am adding more electronic devices to my Goldwing to counteract the ELF fields generated by other emitters that surround me when I ride…
This has to come from some Al Gore fruit loop nut from Calif.—crazy
Writer needs a catscan to look for the same in his head!!!!!!!!!!!
We should not miss the point here. If your motorcycle is pushing up to 500 mG of ELF EMF radiation into your groin then there is reason for health concern. Page 2 of the motorcyclecancer site presents facts that cannot be ignored. Riding is dangerous enough and we should not have to gamble with our health on this technical level also. Cancers are becoming an epidemic and ELF EMF radiation is emerging as a recognized carcinogen. To quote the site:
Individual responsibility leads to content accountability. Science proves electromagnetic danger. Now that a type of motorcycle ELF EMF has been exposed, I hope denial is not going to be considered as a solution.
Ultimately the choice is our own to become more educated about these EMF issues.
As for governments and industry keeping people in the dark about emerging EMF health issues, I would like to quote the site again:
Many experts believe existing government regulations are extremely inadequate concerning various EM close exposures and public safety. Unfortunately this can create a false sense of well being for different industries that claim compliance to government standards. Where does that leave the consumer?
I feel that this Chipkar guy is bang on target and time will prove him correct.
Electromagnetic rays? From what? The alternator? Assuming at all this is true, they can’t be any worse than yakking on a cell phone or being near the myriad of other power carrying or communications devices that are located everywhere already.
Thank you Basem for your article post.
Initially, both my book and website provided limited information, however, the present versions now prove electromagnetic danger for riders worldwide.
Complacency is synonymous with skepticism. Courage is synonymous with making a difference. People are becoming more educated about various EMF detrimental exposures and they are choosing reasonable precaution regardless of cynical opinions.
Major organizations with leading experts urge governments to bring forward more practical public health policy regarding various out-dated and obsolete close exposure regulations. Consumer safety is priority.
To those who understand the issues a major step would be brand published EMF emission readings at the point of sale so that, before purchasing bikes, avid riders can make personal decisions concerning excessive, focused groin exposures.