The FDA supported many studies in response to public concerns that radiation from cell phones may pose health risks. The contract between the FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) allows the FDA to select scientists and oversee the projects, while the CTIA provides funding. Both entities were adamant that the cellular industry should not influence the research.
Solutions
Because cellular communication is a relatively new innovation, health experts are divided on the reliability of the most recent conclusions drawn by researchers. Still, while most current studies are inconclusive, many recommend precautions. The FDA suggests separating the body and antenna as possible (Yi, 2001). Shin recommends using phones with less radiation. "Of the test results I have come across, the Ericsson T20 line has had poor results in terms of emitting low amounts of radiation. Any phone with an antenna that extends away from the head is recommended."
Kim also advised that children should not use cell phones because "growing children probably have a higher risk of cancer due to their rapid growth and increased cell division rate." He also recommended using cell phones for less time since he believes very long exposure may be damaging.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of the Total Health Program, reports that he has known for many years that cell phones are dangerous yet has had a cell phone for well over a decade. However, he uses his phone about five minutes every year. According to Mercola (1999): "It is for emergency purposes only. Most individuals have no clue of the harm that they are exposing themselves to by putting that microwave transmitter next to their head."
Mercola observes that there is no need to abandon this technology, as it very useful. The simple solution is for consumers to buy a new cell phone that would allow you plug in a hands free headset. Older phones do not have the pin adapters, but many of the newer models do. This moves the phone away from the most important area of the body, the brain.
According to Mercola: "Ideally, it would be best to keep the phone as far away from your body as possible; but attaching the phone to your belt or pocket that is far better than putting it next to your brain. This is also true for the portable phone in your home. Throw away your current model and get one of the newer ones that allow you put a headset on and talk without holding the transmitter next to your head. Portable phones have far less radiation than a cell phone, but they still transmit radiation."
Conclusion
Because cell phone are a relatively new technology, there is a lack of long-term research on their possible health effects. It is difficult to prove that any product or exposure is completely safe, especially when there is no long-term research available. The following summary from the Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health (1999) offers the following recommendations to people concerned about risks:
If there is a risk from these products -- and at this point we do not know that there is -- it is probably very small. But if people are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, there are simple steps they can take to do so. People who must conduct extended conversations...
Cell Phone and the Brain Cell phone usage has become part of daily life for many Americans. As with any new technology, health risks associated with cell phones are not always apparent and take time to surface. As popularity of this technology increases, so does the research surrounding this topic. One concern leading to an increase in research surrounding this topic is the amount of radiation emitted by a mobile device.
As Gale (1986) notes: "There is a silent enemy lurking there." References http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5005377616 Alarm Grows over Mobile Phone Cancer Connection." The Daily Mail (London, England) 3 June 1996: 23. A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001104247 Booker, Susan M. "NTP May Test Cell Phones." Environmental Health Perspectives 108.8 (2000). A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001169992 Brown, Carolyn M. "Bad for Your Health." Black Enterprise Mar. 2000: 59. Cooley, Mason. (1988). City Aphorisms, Fifth Selection, New York. The Columbia World of Quotations. New York: Columbia University
, 2006). The authors used "meta-analytic" techniques in this research; twenty-three studies were fed into the meta-analysis strategies and the outcome indicates that there are "clear costs" associated with driving and speaking on a cell phone simultaneously. The biggest "cost" (to driver safety) found through these analyses was "reaction time"; to a lesser degree, lane-keeping performance also carries with it a "cost" when using a cell phone and driving simultaneously. What
A significant portion of the information provided supports that there is cause for concern but there is no significant relationship between cell phones and brain cancers. Other hypothesis that could have been tested could concern effects on skin by the heat emitted from the radiation given off by antennas on cell phones. The article appears to be rather inclusive, and therefore leave little room for misinterpretation. There were so many
Further, other researchers are coming up with more disturbing reports that indicate possible health implications of cell phone use. There are a number of illnesses and ailments that are associated with cell phone radiation; these include cancer, brain tumors, alzheimer's, parkinson's, fatigue, headaches, sleep disruptions, altered memory function, poor concentration and spatial awareness, and pacemaker disruptions (Mercola, n.d.). Despite the low intensity of cell phone radiation, the similarity between
Are Cell Phones Safe? The topic of this paper is cell phone radiation and whether or not it is harmful to a person’s health. My position on the topic is that cell phone radiation is harmful to people’s health, as has been shown in numerous studies (Nylund & Leszczynski, 2006; Gandhi, Morgan, de Salles et al., 2012). Two opposing viewpoints on the topic are that 1) cell phone radiation is not
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