If you work an office job or are just on your home computer a few hours a day, you need to think about the amount of EMF radiation you’re being exposed to. Although the more dangerous sources will be the computer itself, and the monitor, finding a low EMF keyboard is extremely important as well.
The proximity of your hands and wrists to the keyboard amplifies the amount of EMF radiation you’re exposed to from the device.
In this article, I want to outline the best Low EMF keyboards on the market, talk about how to measure the radiation from your keyboard, and talk about steps to reduce radiation.
Yes, keyboards will emit some electric field and magnetic field radiation. First of all the circuitry in the keyboard itself will emit a small amount of EMF radiation. This radiation is caused when short pulses of electricity are sent from the device to the computer whenever you depress and release a computer key. Non-mechanical keyboards also emit EMF radiation even when you are not using them as they are constantly monitoring for the key presses.
The EMF of a keyboard is caused by the short pulses of currents that go through its printed circuits whenever a key is pressed. Actually, there are some EMF emissions even without pressing any key because the keyboard’s circuit checks the status of the keys.
The reason that keyboards can be harmful is due to the distance between the radiation and your hands and wrists. proximity to the source of radiation is the single greatest indicator of your exposure. If you read my articles on radiation from washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, or anything else in the knowledge section, you’ll see examples of this exponential radiation increase. This is due to something called the inverse-square law of physics, which essentially states that as we are able to double our distance from a source of radiation, we quarter our exposure to it.
Obviously, the issue with keyboards is that we are not able to use them without having our hands and wrists directly against them. This is why selecting a low EMF keyboard can be such an important decision.
Next, if your keyboard is wireless, it will also emit a small amount of radio frequency or Bluetooth radiation. Depending on the additional features, there may also be other small amounts of EMF from other sources.
What To Look For In A Low EMF Keyboard
When you’re selecting the best low EMF keyboard, there are a few really important characteristics you need to look for.
Make sure the keyboard is wired – wireless keyboards will also emit some radio frequency or Bluetooth radiation as they send and receive data.
Mechanical Switches – Mechanical switches are exactly what they sound like, instead of a rubber dome and digital sensor, they have an actual physical switch that gets triggered when the key is pressed. These keyboards are not only higher quality and more enjoyable to use but emit less radiation.
No Other Features – If you’re really trying to find a keyboard that emits low amounts of EMR, it is important to find one that does not have added frills and features like backlighting, added music controls, etc.
The 3 Best Low EMF Keyboards
1. IKBC CD108 Mechanical Keyboard
No question, this is the best low-emf keyboard on the market. I’ve personally used this keyboard and absolutely love it. It’s durable, stylish, simple, and they keys feel great.
Most importantly, it’s a simple, wired, mechanical keyboard, that puts off very little EMF radiation. There are no silly lights or special keys that noone uses, just a simple keyboard that works well.
You can use it with Windows or Mac.
2. TOMOKO Water-Resistant Mechanical Keyboard with Blue Switch
Check current price here
If you’re looking for an inexpensive low EMF keyboard, the Tomoko would certainly be my top choice. It also covers all our criteria: mechanical, wired, and no extra features.
It also has some added features like drainage holes in case you spill your drink, as well as ergonomic design.
3. Cooler Master MasterKeys Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Blue Switches
Check current price here.
The Cooler Master mechanical keyboard would be my choice for a medium priced low-EMR keyboard. Like the other keyboards, it meets all of the standards we laid out, as well as simply being a high-quality keyboard worth considering.
Measuring EMF Radiation From A Computer Keyboard
I think it’s important to note here that all of these keyboards are likely to still emit very small amounts of EMF radiation. Which is why being able to measure that radiation is so important!
The most important part here is getting the right EMF meter. I have, and highly recommend, the TriField TF2 (read my review), which is the new version of their Trifield 100XE. It is an extremely high-quality EMF meter, but more importantly, it measures all three types of EMR: radio frequency, electric field, and magnetic field.
Once you have the EMF meter, start by measuring AC electric field radiation. Take a measurement with the keyboard unplugged to get a baseline measurement. Then, plug the keyboard into the computer and take another measurement. Then, press keys and test to see if there are spikes of radiation on keypress. This is easy with the TriField TF2, as it consistently measures and displays the peak radiation measured in the last 3 seconds.
Final Thoughts On Low EMF Keyboards
When it comes to the dangers of EMF radiation, it is important to take every precaution. Because of the close proximity to your hands and wrists, the wrong keyboard can expose you to unnecessary risk.
I hope you enjoyed my article on Low EMR Keyboards, if you did, please consider sharing!
I created and currently manage EMF Academy, one of the premier sources for EMF safety knowledge. I am so passionate about spreading this crucial information. If you need anything, just shoot me an email at [email protected] and I'll do everything I can to help.
