How Safe is Your Cell Phone ?
Cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation, exposure to
which may cause brain cancer, especially children and pregnant women should
keep the device away from the head and body. But it is worth noting that both
the National Cancer Institute and the World Health Organisation say there is no
evidence to support the assertion that cell phones are a public health threat.
But a number of scientists are worried that there has been a dangerous rush to
declare cell phones safe using studies they feel are inadequate and too often
weighed towards the wireless industry’s interests. An analysis published by
University of Washington neurologist Henry Lai determined that far more
inadequate studies than industry funded studies have found at least some type
of biological effect from the cell phone exposure.
Several countries- including Finland,
Israel and France- have issued guidelines for cell-phone use with 270 million
Americans and 4 billion people around the world using cell phones and more
signing up every day – a strong link between mobiles and cancer could have
major public-health implications. As cell phones make and take calls, they emit
low-level radio-frequency (RF) radiation. Stronger than F.M. radio signals,
these RF waves are still a billionth the intensity of known carcinogenic
radiation like X-ray.
The wireless industry contends that RF radiation lacks
the strength to alter molecules in the human body; the Federal Communication
Commission (FCC) is intended to prevent RF radiation from heating tissue to the
point that cells are damaged. Cell phone RF radiation’s “effect on the body,
appears to be insufficient to produce genetic damage typically associated with
developing cancer.”
But the body of research is far from
conclusive. In 1995, Lai co-wrote a study showing that a single two-hour
exposure of RF radiation- at levels considered safe by U.S. standards- produced
the sort of genetic damage in rat’s brain cells that can lead to cancer. Though
subsequent researchers-often funded in part by the wireless industry- failed to
replicate Lai’s results, a 2004 European Union–funded study reported similar
findings.
The
scientific consensus is that cell phones have not yet been shown to pose a risk
to human health, but that further research is necessary. Government have
imposed safety guide-lines on manufacturers, based on the amount of radiation
absorbed by the brain in normal cell phone use, but a level of uncertainty about
the risks remains. The long term effects of cell phone use will not be known
for certain for a number of years. In the short term, therefore, it seems wise
to take steps to minimize one’s exposure to cell phone radiation, but without
falling into hysteria.
The main cause of concern to do with
the safety of cell phone use is the level of radiation emitted by the cell
phones. Cell phones are the sources of radiation and in ordinary use are held
in close proximity to the head. A proportion of this radiation- between 10% and
50%, depending on the cell phone in question, the position in which it held,
and several other factors- is absorbed by the brain. Those who wish to minimize
the risks that they run in using their cell phones therefore need to do two
things: minimize
the radiation emitted by their cell phones and minimize the proportion of that
radiation that they absorb.
The U.S. Food and Drug administration
raised concerns about a heightened risk of brain cancer. The Swedish
researchers continue to monitor the possible health problems stemming from
exposure to radio frequency energy. Those who heavily used wireless phones had
a 240 percent increased risk of cell phone cancer or a cancerous tumor on the
side of the head where they used their phone. Study
finds High cell phone cancer risk from cell radiation. According to a
Swedish study released recently, the use of mobile phones over a long period of
time can raise the risk brain tumors-contradicting the conclusions of other
researchers.
50 cities to get mobile kit to trace
radiation
Fifty cities across the country will soon have Mobile
Radiation Detection Systems (MRDS) as part of the preparedness to handle
radiological emergencies. Confirming the government’s moves, M. Sashidhara
Reddy, Vice Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said
radiation cannot be seen, heard or smelt which makes it difficult for the
regular law enforcement agency to detect it. It is proposed to equip Police
Vehicles in the selected Police Stations in Major cities with simple radiation
monitoring Go/No-Go type survey instruments. It will help the staff in locating
the presence of radioactive material in the surrounding area. There is very strict
compliance with prescribed safety standards at all nuclear installations, the
main concern today should be the use of large number of radiological material,
in the fields of medicine, agriculture, industry, research and even in many
commonly used appliances.
The End