HEALTH

How Safe Are Cell Phones?

More Americans are giving up their landlines for cell phones, but new research indicates that there may be health risks associated with long-term wireless use. What's a mobile addict to do?

By Jeneen Interlandi | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Dec 19, 2007 | Updated: 4:07 p.m. ET Dec 19, 2007

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Discuss

Posted By: jkerr @ 01/03/2008 1:23:52 PM

Comment: Does anyone know if there is any research on more modest negative effects such as damage to brain function in the affected region (that is heated by the radiowave exposure)? If cancer is a longterm risk, it would seem that there might also be less significant shorter term problems. If a specific measurable brain function (such as language or motor skills) is most likely to be affected by cell phone use on a given side of the brain, and if these effects are significantly more common that tumors, regression studies might be able to find statistically significant patterns of this sort with more ease - especially with children who undergo routine standardized tests. A couple questions could just be added to standardized tests asking students if they were willing to be anonymous subjects in a panel scientific study, and asking them about frequency of cell phone use, how long they have been using cell phones, and on which side of the head they usually use them.
Posted By: jkerr @ 01/03/2008 1:20:51 PM

Comment: Does anyone know if there is any research on more modest negative effects such as damage to brain function in the affected region (that is heated by the radiowave exposure)? If cancer is a longterm risk, it would seem that there might also be less significant shorter term problems. If a specific measurable brain function (such as language or motor skills) is most likely to be affected by cell phone use on a given side of the brain, and if these effects are significantly more common that tumors, regression studies might be able to find statistically significant patterns of this sort with more ease - especially with children who undergo routine standardized tests. A couple questions could just be added to standardized tests asking students if they were willing to be anonymous subjects in a panel scientific study, and asking them about frequency of cell phone use, how long they have been using cell phones, and on which side of the head they usually use them.
Posted By: daplane @ 01/02/2008 1:23:56 PM

Comment: Any scientist working on the issue knows the signals penetrate the skull and cause some heating. The questions are how much heating is too much, how accurate are the heating estimates, and are there other effects beyond heating. BioInitiative convinces me there's a huge problem. It is an emergency, but the FCC is sitting on their hands.
Posted By: sparsons.13 @ 01/02/2008 12:00:16 PM

Comment: It isn't just the cell phones that emit radiation. The signals the towers are emitting are extremely dangerous too and cause all kinds of biological symptoms, not just cancer. I have seizures, transient blindness, head pain, MS type symptoms, the list goes on. I have had to make my home wireless free just be relatively pain and symptom free. Not an easy task when there are cell towers all around and my neighbours' wireless internet signals come into my house. Going out in public is hell because of all the cell phone use. I can walk out of range of a person's cigarette smoke but I can never get out of range of the cell and wireless signals that permeate our environment. Wireless technologies are not even regulated and are being implemented around the world at an alarming rate. Just how much do governments make from the licensing of these companies? How much do these companies earn from use of their systems? The picture is a lot bigger than just health affects. It is the fact that we are a part of an unchecked, unregulated, biological experiment and it all comes down to dollars and cents these companies and governments are making on it. A large amount of radiation is being emitted into our environment and we do not know the overall affect it is having on our environment, wildlife and human health. By the time we do know it will be too late. We need to take a precautionary approach as we would with any other new technology. I suggest anyone reading this should also take a look at the Bioinitiative Report at http://www.bioinitiative.org/index.htm. to get the full picture.
Posted By: sparsons.13 @ 01/02/2008 11:59:52 AM

Comment: It isn't just the cell phones that emit radiation. The signals the towers are emitting are extremely dangerous too and cause all kinds of biological symptoms, not just cancer. I have seizures, transient blindness, head pain, MS type symptoms, the list goes on. I have had to make my home wireless free just be relatively pain and symptom free. Not an easy task when there are cell towers all around and my neighbours' wireless internet signals come into my house. Going out in public is hell because of all the cell phone use. I can walk out of range of a person's cigarette smoke but I can never get out of range of the cell and wireless signals that permeate our environment. Wireless technologies are not even regulated and are being implemented around the world at an alarming rate. Just how much do governments make from the licensing of these companies? How much do these companies earn from use of their systems? The picture is a lot bigger than just health affects. It is the fact that we are a part of an unchecked, unregulated, biological experiment and it all comes down to dollars and cents these companies and governments are making on it. A large amount of radiation is being emitted into our environment and we do not know the overall affect it is having on our environment, wildlife and human health. By the time we do know it will be too late. We need to take a precautionary approach as we would with any other new technology. I suggest anyone reading this should also take a look at the Bioinitiative Report at http://www.bioinitiative.org/index.htm. to get the full picture.
Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/02/2008 9:18:47 AM

Comment: who cares!!!IF YOU OWN A CELL YOU WORK ON THE WAY TO, ON THE WAY HOME, AND AT HOME! WELCOME TO WORKING 24/7, FOR AN 8HR DAY PAYCHECK! BETTER YET DO IT IN TRAFFIC!! SMOKING IN YOUR OWN CAR WITH WINDOWS UP CAN KILL THE NEXT DRIVER??? SO DOES YOUR MOUTH WHILE TALKING AND DRIVING!!!
Posted By: Kbrn93 @ 12/29/2007 1:22:21 AM

Comment: Doesn't anyone realize that the real danger of using a cell phone is distraction? They interupt us during work, but worse while we are driving! Forget the long term risks, they are killing us already since we can't stop talking on them long enough to pay attention to the road while driving!
Posted By: SJBKP @ 12/23/2007 1:41:23 PM

Comment: You see people talking on their cell phones everywhere. I'm sure it has some adverse effect. 30 years from now, they will link some cancer to cell phone use and everyone will want to sue. Use a land line once in awhile!!
Posted By: Abetterplace @ 12/20/2007 7:42:07 AM

Comment: Ho Hum, First it was second hand smoke. Now it will be second hand cell waves. Overbearing citizens
wanting government protection from everything will eventually lead to total government control of all our rights.
- Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/02/2008 09:23:08
  
  Comment: WE THE PEOPLE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN, WITH THERE BLESSING, [SMOKING] NOW IT REFERS TO CELL PHONES, WATCH THEM CRY AND COMPLAIN!!! THEN JUSTIFY, SMOKING IN A CAR ALONE WITH WINDOWS UP IS KILLING ANYONE BUT ME, BUT YOU ALL ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN! NOW YOU GET TO JOIN THE CLUB!!! DEAL WITH IT, AS YOU TOLD ME!
Posted By: interacmom @ 12/19/2007 10:01:42 PM

Comment: Even if cell phone emissions are proven not to penetrate the skull, what about skin cancer? Those same emissions impinge on the scalp, surrounding skin and underlying tissue. Also, bluetooth hands-free sets operate at the same frequency as a microwave oven (2.4 gigahertz) so they're no more safe in my opinion. I only use a wired earphone/mic and always keep the cell phone a foot or two away from my body.
Posted By: farneyblakeley @ 12/19/2007 6:32:34 PM

Comment: their brain matter is significantly worse than on adults. For people who never use the things the negative effects of their usage can be VERY obvious. I don't have a microwave and use radiation filters on my tvs/monitors plus draping cotton towels over the computer (cotton helps dissipate emf radiation). I hate being around someone when they use their cell. Cells are the new cigarettes, only they might be worse!
Posted By: farneyblakeley @ 12/19/2007 6:28:06 PM

Comment: Finally, :"normal" people are kept in the dark on this and so many other health issues in this country. Of course there is a always a correlation between keeping people uninformed and the pockets of big business full. Especially important or at least especially noteworthy who are too stubborn to give a damn about themselves is the threat to children. Indeed our skulls are thinner and the warming effect of the radiation on brain mater
Posted By: raftguide @ 12/19/2007 6:04:18 PM

Comment: During my military years of working with low power radio frequency radiation hazards I was required to have yearly health checks due to government data suggesting cancer risks from this tyoe of exposure. When cell phones became a big business these checks suddenly disappeared. Of course we all know that the government wouldn't allow a product to be sold that long term exposure to could cause health risks like cancer. Look at the fine example the feds have shown their leadership in like the tobacco industry.