Are Cell Phones Dangerous?

A recent AOL-Pew Research Center Mobile Lifestyle Survey revealed that 52 percent of American adults surveyed keep their cell phone turned on all the time while 40 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 29 are saying that they are increasingly likely to drop their landline once and for all.

With an estimated 3 billion cell phone users worldwide and most adults and teenagers owning a cell phone or smart phone, it seems a bit late to be asking the question: are cellular phones safe?

Nevertheless, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has reported that many research groups around the world are working hard to find out if cell phones are actually safe to use.  Some (not all) studies of frequent cell-phone users suggest this radiation may increase risks for cancer or children's behavior problems.

Why Cell Phones Can Be Dangerous

All cell phones and mobile devices emit radiation in order to send all those voice calls and text messages which so many people depend on each day.

Cell phone radiation exposure is long-term, and its effects on the body, particularly the electrical organ, the brain, are compounded by numerous other simultaneous long-term exposures including continuous waves from radio and TV transmitter towers, cordless phone base stations, power lines, and wireless computing devices.

Can Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer?

World renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Vini Khurana has deemed cell phone use "worse than smoking" for cancer risk. Dr. Khurana has published a study in which he links cell phone usage to an increased risk of brain cancer. He also suggests that mobile phones could one day be responsible for more cancer deaths than either cigarette smoking or asbestos exposure.

A malignant brain tumor represents a life-ending diagnosis in the vast majority of those diagnosed. Since many cancers take more than a decade to develop and be detected, often well after it is too late, Dr. Khurana fears the potential lethal prognosis which may be waiting for those who constantly have a mobile phone held (or strapped) to their heads.

The "incubation time" or "latency" (i.e., the time from commencement of regular mobile phone usage to the diagnosis of a malignant solid brain tumor in a susceptible individual) may be in the order of 10-20 years, he writes.

Despite the dismissal of the physicians concerns by industry groups and millions of cell phone users, Dr. Khurana insists it's only logical to conclude that radiation emanating from the phones isn't good for the brain; he's worried that we may soon start seeing a virtual cancer epidemic as the exposure takes its toll.

Can Cell Phones Cause Infertility?

If brain cancer wasn't bad enough, it seems that cell phone use may also contribute to an increase in male infertility, which could a huge problem if you're trying to get pregnant and your guy is a cell phone addict. According to a 2008 observational study by the Reproductive Research Center, use of cell phones has been shown to decrease the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology. The decrease in sperm parameters was dependent on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones and independent of the initial semen quality.

Cell Phone Exposure Poses Great Risk to Children

Already pregnant? You should seriously consider tossing your cell phone's handset. A massive study by the universities of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Aarhus, Denmark of over 13,000 children from birth up to age seven, has shown that pregnant women using cell phone handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with behavior, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age. The research also indicates that the risk is even greater if the children themselves used the cell phones before the age of seven.

According to the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, children cell phone users are likely to face health hazards such as disruption of memory, decline of attention, diminishing learning and cognitive abilities, increased irritability, sleep problems, increased sensitivity to stress, and increased epileptic readiness in the near future.

Expected (possible) long term health risks of cell phone use by children include brain tumors, tumors of acoustical and vestibular nerves by the age of 25-30 years, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depressive syndrome, and other types of degeneration of the nervous structures of the brain by the age of 50 to 60.

The Committee emphasizes the ultimate urgency to defend children’s health from the influence of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) of mobile communication devices in order to prevent negative consequences to the future generation’s health.

Is Your Cell Phone Safe?

The EWG has created a guide to help consumers choose safer, low-radiation cell phones and smart phones. Their listing shows that the top three best phones (low radiation) currently available are the Samsung Impression, Motorola RAZR V8, and the Samsung SGH-t229. The worst three phones (high radiation) were the Motorola MOTO VU204, T-Mobile myTouch 3G, and the Kyocera Jax S1300.

Among the sub-category of PDAs/Smartphones, the top three best PDAs/Smartphones were the Nokia 9300i, Nokia 7710, and the T-Mobile MDA. The worst three PDAs/Smartphones were the Kyocera Jax S1300, T-Mobile myTouch 3G, and the Blackberry Curve 8330.

Check out the relative radiation level and safety of your phone.

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