The Sentinels: Electrosensitivity in Italy

Electrosensitivity (ES) is a a non recognized disease characterized by hypersensitivity to electromagnetic radiations. “Every Man is an Island" is a documentary investigation about electrosensitive people in Italy.

With the spreading of wireless technology, the world’s population is increasingly exposed to high- frequency electromagnetic fields. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3% of the world's population suffer from Electrosensitivity (ES), a non-recognized disease characterized by hypersensitivity to high and low electromagnetic radiations. ES is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that may involve the nerves and cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal and neurologic systems. In Italy the statistics are alarming and the percentage of sick people is estimates around 4% of the population. ES is strictly connected to another disease called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a toxic-immune syndrome caused by exposition to chemical agents: around 35% of people affected by MCS develops hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields as well. Even though EHS is non-recognized by the WHO, more and more people suffer from this disease and are forced to radically change their lives and to a partial or complete isolation from society. Others develop symptoms of depression and abulia due to the resignation to an invisible and silent illness. The strict relation between men and environment is the main issue if we speak about improvement of the health of ES people who are not able to leave the place that makes him/her sick and tries to find relief trough self-made expedients. These people are called sentinels because they are considered the ones who feel today what will potentially become a widespread phenomenon in the next years.

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