A French court has awarded a disability grant to a woman claiming to suffer from a debilitating allergy to electromagnetic radiation from everyday gadgets such as mobile phones, reports The Guardian.
The applicant, Marine Richard, 39, hailed the ruling as a “breakthrough” for people afflicted by electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS).
The condition is not recognised as a medical disorder in most countries, including France, but sufferers say exposure to mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, televisions and other gadgets cause them anything from mild discomfort to life-ruining disability.
Scientific studies have found no evidence to link electromagnetic exposure to the symptoms: tingling, headaches, fatigue, nausea or palpitations.
Richard, a former radio documentary producer, has opted for a reclusive life in the mountains of south-west France, in a renovated barn without electricity, and drinks water from the well.
In a ruling last month, a court in the southern city of Toulouse decided she could claim a disability allowance – about 800 euros ($912) a month for an adult – for three years.