"Can You Hear Me Now?"

It's time to Break It Down!

The phrase “Talking your ear off” just took on a whole new meaning.  Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) amended its long-held position that no adverse effects to using cell phones have been established.  The WHO announced that radiation from cell phones may possibly cause cancer.  More alarmingly, the agency assigned mobile phones to the same carcinogenic hazard category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.

A team of scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, conducted peer-reviewed studies and found sufficient evidence to categorize personal exposure as possibly carcinogenic to humans.  The studies yielded evidence of an increase in two specific types of brain cancers, glioma, and acoustic neuroma.

Concern over a potential link between cell phones and cancer are not new.  The WHO’s previous position of no evidence was consistent with the state of research.  However, as Dr. Keith Black, chairman of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, most environmental factors take decades of exposure before consequences are evident.  The explosion in the use of cell phones is a relatively recent development.  Scientists are just now beginning to compile the level and volume of information necessary to assert the kind of connection that the WHO now supports.

Non-ionizingradiation emitted by cell phones is akin to a very low-level microwave oven.  In that regard, studies suggest that what cell phones do is cook the brain.  In the face of this steady stream of radiation, it is anticipated that in addition to cancers and tumors, a host of other effects lurk, including debilitating aftereffects to cognitive memory functions.

With the development of Smartphones, to the advent of 4G Technology, to the rising use of cellular technology around the globe, the use of mobile devices has risen dramatically.  The global population is estimated to be nearly 7 billion; there are 5 billion cell phones.  In the United States, we have an estimated 311 million people, and 302 million cell phones.  In other words, that equates to a cell phone for 96% of the people in the country.  That is different than a 1:1 ratio of course, since many people have multiple cell phones, while many others have none.  Yet, the use of the devices is pervasive.

For its part, the wireless industry delivered a spin control response to the claims.  The CellularTelecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), commonly referred to as The Wireless Association, responded by saying “it does not mean cell phones cause cancer.”  In the group’s prepared statement, the Wireless Association further noted that “WHO researchers did not conduct any new research, but rather reviewed published studies.”

The European Environmental Agency (EEA) has pushed for more studies.  It suggested cell phones could pose as big a health risk as smoking, asbestos, and leaded gasoline.  Dr. Henry Lai, research professor in bio-engineering at the University of Washington, has studied radiation for more than 30 years.  He posits that it would be a good idea to warn the public that long-term exposure to radiation from cell phones could cause cancer.

Despite The Wireless Association’s push back, manufacturers of many popular cell phones, including Apple’s iPhone 4 and BlackBerry Bold already advise users to keep the devices away from their body.  This minimizes the amount of radiation absorbed by the body.  On a similar note, cell phone users may use the speakerphone feature, a wired earpiece, texting or e-mail to lessen the head-to-phone contact.  Not while driving, of course, since Distracted Driving is even more dangerous, and more immediately dangerous than talking on the cell phone with ear-to-phone contact.  The widely held recognition of this tenet has resulted in an increasing number of Distracted Driving Laws, some of which prohibit even using cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.  

An additional piece of critical information is cell phones emit the most radiation when they are trying to connect to cell towers.  Hence a phone on-the-move, or in a space with a weak signal will have to work harder, and emit more radiation.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO cancer experts, ended an eight-day meeting in Lyon, France, Tuesday with the pivotal declaration that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields generated by cell phones may cause cancer.  As noted earlier, epidemiological studies resulted in this conclusion.  What may still be contested is whether enough studies have been conducted to deem these findings conclusive.  Alternately, due to the IARC cited studies, what is no longer the subject of any intellectually honest debate is the contention that there is no connection between long-term extensive cell phone use and cancer.

So I say to you, if you want be able to answer affirmatively the question, “Can You Hear Me Now,” dial back on the direct cell phone-to-ear use.  Study results suggest long-term extended use in this fashion may be hazardous to your health. 

Don’t believe it?  Are you willing to bet your life?  Didn’t think so! 

That's my Public Service Announcement for the day.  I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.  A new post is published each Wednesday.  For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.androidguys.com/2011/05/31/world-health-organization-cell-phones-cancer/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_mobile_phones_in_use

http://irmresonance.over-blog.com/article-997292.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/cell-phones-cause-cancer-2011-5

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/05/31/the-world-health-org.html

http://mashable.com/2011/05/31/cellphones-cancer/

http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/cell-phones-cause-cancer-says-world-health-organization/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/

http://www.naturalnews.com/027448_cell_phone_health_phones.html

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/31/who_report_elevates_mobile_phone_cancer_risk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-31/who-group-finds-cell-phone-radiation-possibly-carcinogenic.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110531/tc_afp/healthcancercellphonestelecom