In recent
months, there has been much public debate and media attention focused
on a possible link between cell phone use and negative health consequences.
Specifically, some have made the argument that cell phones can cause
brain cancer. In Britain, the government even recommended that children
not use cell phones because of the possible health risks. The attention
on cell phones and health prompts an important question - is there
cause for concern?
Cell
phones use electromagnetic waves, a form of radio-frequency energy,
to transmit users' voices. This energy is concentrated in the antenna
portion of the phone. When a user places the phone and antenna close
to his or her head, there is a small amount of this radio-frequency
energy that is transmitted through the skull and into the brain. This
energy is a very weak form of radiation.
The government regulates the amount of radiation a cell phone is allowed
to transmit into a user's brain. Cell phones sold in the U.S. are
required to comply with these regulations. However, there is little
question that the longer people use a cell phone and the closer they
hold the antenna to their head, the more radiation they are exposed
to.
The true public controversy began almost ten years ago when a woman
who developed brain cancer filed a lawsuit against a cell phone company.
In the suit, the woman claimed that cell phone use caused her cancer.
Several suits have been filed since this time. None of the suits have
been successful, due to a lack of evidence, but they have caused an
increased amount of media attention on the subject.
Trying to prove that a substance causes (or doesn't cause) cancer
is a long, difficult, expensive task. One need only look at tobacco
as an example of this fact. Thousands of people must be studied over
several years in order to try to determine that a substance or agent
causes cancer. One of the problems is that medical scientists are
still not sure what causes most cases of brain cancer. However, brain
cancer was around long before the first cell phone came about.
Having said these things, the studies that have been done so far have
not proved that cell phones cause any harmful effects on the brain.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes claims
there is no good evidence that cell phones have any effect on health.
Even Britain admitted that it had no good evidence for asking that
children refrain from using cell phones.
The controversy over the effect of cell phones on the brain is far
from over, however. A few studies have suggested a possible link between
radio-frequency energy and cell damage in animals. The evidence for
any health risks in humans, however, is weak and not widely accepted
by those in the scientific community. Larger studies with thousands
of people are ongoing throughout the world to try to determine once
and for all whether or not cell phones pose any type of health risk.
| For
those who are concerned and prefer the cautious route, there are
safety measures that can be taken: |
- First
and most obvious is to limit cell phone use;
- Second
is to consider using an external earpiece that keeps the phone
away from the head;
- Last,
people may want to consider not using cell phones in areas
where there is a weak signal. This is because cell phones
must increase their output of radio-frequency energy to maintain
a connection in areas of weaker signal. Children are not thought
to have any reason for increased health risks from cell phones.
However, since they will be using cell phones for many more
years than adults will, some make the argument that they will
have increased lifetime exposure if they start using cell
phones at a younger age.
|
The
link between cell phones and health is weak to nonexistent at this
point. The only certainty is that those who use a cell phone while
driving have an increased risk of car accidents because of not paying
attention to the road. However, the question of whether or not cell
phones have any other effects on health is still waiting for a final
answer.
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