Conclusion: POSSIBLE.
Truth: A growing number of studies say mobile phones are linked to increases in brain cancer, salivary gland cancer, and additional health problems. Other studies say there’s no health risk for the four billion-plus cell phone users in the world. The conflicting evidence, unfortunately, leaves consumers without the clear guidance (or potential protections) they deserve.
However, the scientific research showing harm from cell phones is increasing. Consider:
–On Sept. 25, 2008, David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment in Albany, New York, testified in Washington about the dangers of cell phone use and urged Congress to follow Europe's lead. “We call on the U.S. Congress to give similar attention to this issue,” Carpenter told a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee. “It is essential that the communications industry work to develop technology that will allow the public to enjoy the benefits of the wireless age without associated serious health risks.”
On the other side of this debate are studies and statements from the American Cancer Society, the Food and Drug Administration, and other institutions, which say there is no definitive evidence linking cell phones to health problems. In an interview in Redbook magazine, one of the world’s top researchers on the issue said electromagnetic radiation from cell phones does not cause cancer. "The radio waves emitted by cell phones are more akin to the electromagnetic waves that your television emits than to ionizing radiations such as X-rays. They are not known to cause cancer in animals or transform cells in culture," said John D. Boice Jr., scientific director of the International Epidemiology Institute. One IEI study tracked more than 420,000 Danish citizens who had cell phone subscriptions between 1982 through 2002, and found no link between phone use and cancer. (Critics say the study didn’t look at enough people who’d used cell phones for more than 8 years, when cancers might start to appear; they also noted that the study was funded by cell phone companies.)
Where does that leave consumers?
The recommendation from many experts is this:
- Avoid excessive cell phone use.
- Don’t let young children have a cell phone.
- Make sure you and your teens always use a headset to keep the body of the phone—the radiation culprit—away from the head.
- Buy cell phones with the lowest specific absorption rate, or SAR: a measurement of the radio frequency energy absorbed by the body. The Federal Communications Commission requires mobile phones to have an SAR level below 1.6 watts per kilogram. To check your phone’s SAR, get its model number (it’s usually underneath the battery). Then, either Google the model number and the word SAR, or check out the CNET rankings, which list the ten cell phones with highest and lowest SAR levels.
As the French so wisely put it, precaution is, indeed, justified.
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James E. says:
I did see a study, not backed by industry, out a few years ago that showed that the distance that you hold the phone to your head is inversely proportional to the amount of radiation exposure you are impacted by...I usually try and keep my phone on speaker if I can, so it is far away from my head. The same study also claimed that children, who have thinner skulls than adults, are more susceptible to the radiation, which has been captured on imaging machines to show that the brain cells nearest your ear with the phone get heated up/excited with extended cell phone use. Doesn't seem like that would be very healthy for us. Still, I haven't seen anything definitive on the long term uses, and when you consider the economic impact they have had (can you say iPhone!), and the direction of computing heading to handhelds, it'd be nice to see more non-industry funded studies on this...and yes, for some reason, Europe seems always ahead of us on using the "precautionary principle." In America...it's buyer beware.
By the way, here's the full SARs chart: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-6258775-11.html
Cris Bisch says:
For someone willing to take the time to listen to the comments and testimonies, here is the link to the series of Congressional Hearing on Cell Phone Safety held on Sept. 25th 2008 @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=nbj1wWDpoTM. Synopsis - "Bringing a growing health concern to Congress, scientists squared off Thursday over whether cell phones contribute to brain cancer. Studies have indicated that long-term cell phone use may be associated with brain cancer, according to Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Dr. David Carpenter, director of Institute for Health and the Environment at University of Albany. They both testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy."
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On another note - What do you think about the pitch for the SAR Shield @ http://www.sarshield.com/? Here's their claim: "SAR Shield is the only cellular radiation shield to be tested using FCC SAR testing protocols. Safety is accomplished by dissipating deadly cancer causing electromagnetic radiation by up to 89%. Eliminate the dangers today! Available for phones with and without antennas." Product info @ http://www.sarshield.com/english/product.htm.