Cell Phone Radiation and Health Risks

Cell phone radiation affects over 3 billion people. That is how many cell phones are operating in 2009. It took less than a year to add the last billion. (World population is now about 6.5 billion).

 A wonderful modern convenience, cell phones us keep in touch with our friends and family, and are a great aid to business too. Some people say they hate them, still they cannot do without them.

But they come at a cost. Cell phone radiation, together with radiation from cell towers causes significant damage to our health and wellbeing.

Cell phone brain cancer, leukemia, other cancers...

Evidence is mounting. Frequent cell phone users are much more likely to get sick than other people.

Almost every month, new research studies are published on cell phone radiation dangers. Recently published reports indicate that cell phone radiation is responsible in some degree for health challenges such as

• leukemia
• brain cancer
• skin damage
• brain damage
• increased blood pressure
• DNA damage
• sperm abnormalities
• reduced fertility
• salivary gland cancer
• psychological problems
• sleep interference

and many other health effects.

Knowledgeable researchers, scientists and doctors who see these patients frequently, are becoming convinced that cell phone radiation is implicated in these health challenges.

See our page ElectroMagnetic Radiation Health Effects for evidence and sources.

Whose health is affected by cell phone radiation?

Cell phone radiation has the greatest effect on people who make frequent or extended use of cell phones. Less frequent use may also be dangerous to susceptible persons, especially children and people suffering from degenerative disease. See Who is at Risk?

No-one knows how many people are going to get sick or how many will die because of cell phone radiation. Conservative researchers have estimated that hundreds of thousands may die. (Less restrained estimates suggest millions.)

Cell phone radiation - let's take precautions

Responsible scientists, academics, doctors and researchers are urging that we should act on the precautionary principle.

This means that we should reduce unnecessary cell phone radiation exposure right now, without waiting for absolute proof of cell phone radiation health dangers.

For various reasons, mainly commercial interests, this proof may be very slow to arrive.

What we have to do is not too difficult or burdensome. It's really just a matter of acquiring new habits and keeping our exposure to cell phone radiation down to levels which don't affect our health.

Reducing cell phone radiation health risks

As we have seen, there is already strong evidence about the health dangers of frequent or prolonged exposure to cell phone radiation during cell phone conversations.

Less certain at present is the health danger of carrying a cell phone on your person, or leaving it close to your body at night.

Although the EMF strength is much higher while talking on a cell phone, the duration of exposure is much greater when carrying the phone.

Some of the health risks relating to cell phone radiation, such as sperm damage and infertility, suggest that just carrying a cell phone may have consequences for your health.

We recommend that you reduce both types of exposure. Here are the specifics:

Basic habits to avoid cell phone radiation

• Keep cell phone conversations short.
   
• When you have a choice, use a regular corded phone (landline).
   
•  When phoning others from a landline to their cell phone,  keep your conversation short
   
• Send a text message in preference to making a cell phone call.
   
• If you can contact someone on a landline, avoid calling them on their cell phone.

Protection from cell phone radiation

• For the best cell phone radiation protection, get yourself an air tube headset. (An air tube headset has only acoustic connections to the earpiece, not electronic ones). The cell phone still emits radiation but you can hold it quite far away from your body while you use it.
   
• Earbuds, bluetooth headsets and other electronic headsets are not ideal, but are probably better than placing the phone directly next to your head.
   
• If no headset is available, use the speakerphone facility, if you have one, then you can hold the phone several inches away from your ear. This can reduce the cell phone radiation strength at your ear by 20 to 60 times!
   
• If you can't avoid having a long conversation with the phone next to your ear, switch ears every two or three minutes.

Cell phone radiation and children's health

• Children under 10 should never use a cell phone except in an emergency, if there is no alternative. Their smaller heads, thinner skulls and undeveloped brains make children much more vulnerable than adults.
   
• For the same reason, discourage small children from placing their ear next to your cell phone while you are using it.
   
• Older children or teenagers should avoid chatting on cell phones. Teach them about cell phone radiation. Suggest they use cell phones for urgent communication only. Messaging, in reasonable amounts (minutes, not hours), is preferable to conversing.
  
  If children cannot restrict their use of cell phones, buy them an air tube headset and insist that they use it. (Or get them to read this page. Yeah right!) 

Position affects cell phone radiation

• When you are carrying a cell phone, keep it as far away from you as possible. Handbags and briefcases are better than pockets, but don't rest them on your lap.
   
• When you arrive at your desk or any place where you will spend a lot of time, take your phone out of your pocket (or off your belt) and place it on the desk (not too close).
   
• It is not yet known whether the abnormal sperm and lower sperm counts observed in cell phone users relate to carrying the phone in a trouser pocket. This practice is not recommended for either sex.
   
• Don't sleep with your cell phone! Keep it away from the bed, or switched off.

Minimise cell phone radiation while driving

• When you drive a car, remove your cell phone from your pocket or belt. Keep it in a secure place, out of sight.
   
• Don't talk on your cell phone while driving. The risks are a lot more immediate than from cell phone radiation!
   
• Using a cell phone in an enclosed space such as a car (or deep within a building) causes the cell phone to beef up its signal strength to maintain contact with the tower. That extra EMF strength goes into you too.
   
• Cell phone radiation bounces around inside a vehicle, increasing your exposure and that of any other passengers.  The same applies to busses and trains.
   
• If your circumstances permit,  switch off your cell phone whenever you enter a vehicle..

Cell phone radiation depends on signal strength

• When you are a long way from a cell phone mast (your signal strength is low) your cell phone has to work harder. Cell phone radiation levels will be high.
   
• If possible, avoid making calls when the signal strength (as shown on your phone) is low.

The easiest way to reduce cell phone radiation?

• When buying a cell phone, consider the amount of radiation it will emit. Find out the SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) of your intended phone. They vary widely. There is a legal limit (1.6 watts per kg in the USA and 2.0 watts per kg in Europe).
  
  This is the maximum radiation level you can be subjected to when using your phone. Many cell phones are rated quite close to this limit, but some are rated below 1.0 W/kg. So buy one!
   
• Beware of vendors who offer weird discs, jewellery or gadgets to reduce your absorption of cell phone radiation. If they can't demonstrate an effect - it's probably because there isn't one!

Remember that cell phone radiation is just part of our total (and growing) exposure to electromagnetic radiation from many different sources. See our home page Electromagnetic Radiation and Health.

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Disclaimer: This material has been provided for information only. It is not sufficient to enable you to self treat any medical condition. If you have a medical condition, please consult your healthcare professional.  

 Copyright 2008, 2009 © EMwatch.com                Last updated: Jan-2010

Cell Phone Radiation and Health Risks