Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
Considerable concern has been expressed about potential harm from cell phone radiation. This concern and legitimate questions have been raised by both consumers and scientists. The position of the telecommunications industry is that cell phone radiation is harmless and the government generally backs them up, although everyone admits that more research needs to be done. Given the trillions of dollars involved, it is not surprising that the industry takes a biased position. So, what are the facts?
We know that microwave radiation with enough power can cause tissue heating and burns. The amount of power radiated by a cell phone is too low to cause thermal damage.
We know that shorter wavelengths (x-rays) of electromagnetic radiation can cause tissue ionization and cancer. The wavelength of radiation emitted by cell phones is not capable of causing tissue ionization.
Still, some scientists suspect that cell phone radiation may be harmful. Yet, there is no conclusive unchallenged absolute proof either way. Recent research has established that not everyone responds to microwave radiation the same way. This leaves open the possibility that some individuals may be harmed while others are not. To clarify this, it is necessary to understand the mechanism by which injury could occur. This is an area of active research.
Other recent research has identified at least some of the mechanisms by which microwave radiation at the frequencies used by cell phones affect biological tissue. So, it is being demonstrated that cell phone radiation does affect human tissue at the cellular level. Exactly what the consequences to health will be have not yet been definitively determined. Clarifying the outstanding questions will take research, which takes time and funding.
Some day we will know the answers. By then, billions of people will have accumulated high levels of microwave radiation exposure. Do you imagine that the multi-billion dollar cellular communications industry will be very receptive if the evidence indicates that cell phone radiation causes harm? Today, approximately 12% of households have cell phones only and 20% of young people have cell phones only.
What will happen if a society that has become dependent on wireless telephone and internet connections discovers that the radiation exposure causes brain cancer or other harmful effects?
If you run searches on this subject, you will find some articles that claim that cell phone radiation has been "proven" to be harmless. When you see words like "proof" or "proven" or "absolutely safe," etc., you can be certain that it is all spin and no substance. Cell phone radiation has never been "proven" safe and no real scientist would ever make such a statement.
You will also find a lot of literature claiming that Cell Phone Radiation is harmful. There is evidence that suggests that it is. "Proof" is a different matter. There are a lot of variables, limitations and sometimes design flaws in research studies. It takes time to design and run research projects that answer all intelligent questions and eliminate all doubt about the results.
Do you need a clue as to how this is likely to turn out? Did you know that the big three cell phone manufacturers, Nokia, Ericsson, and Motorola, have recently filed patent applications for devices to "reduce the risk of brain cancer?" If you would like to read a solid scientific review of the subject, this article in the British medical journal "The Lancet" is very good, though slightly dated. (53)
The bottom line is: "We are Lab Rats." Good luck! (53) - (61)
This is an excerpt from: A Primer on How to Protect Your Identity, Your Privacy, Your Money and Your Health from Your Cell Phone
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