Scientists testified yesterday to the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform regarding the dangers of cell phone electromagnetic radiation. The warning is that we must not ignore the potential dangers of cell phones in causing cancer. They cited studies showing an increased risk of acoustic (hearing) nerve and salivary gland tumors on the side of the head to which a cell phone is most often set against. Very importantly, a new British study has found that children less than 20 years old were 5 times more likely to develop brain cancer at the age of 29 than those who didn’t use a cell phone. This is because electromagnetic radiation is able to penetrate deeper into the brains of a child, compared to an adult. Funding for cell phone studies in the US have been scant, and much larger trials are needed. Despite this, leading scientists say there is enough potential danger that we cannot afford to delay warnings, comparing the public health risks to smoking and lung cancer. Read more. Share your opinion.
Tags: acoustic, brain, Cancer, cellphone, congress, neuroma
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Thank Q for the valuable information published please specify the mechanism
September 29th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Is this caution for constant use of cell phones. Know some
people that are always on the phone. I do not use my phone
except absolutely necessary and mostly turned off when
carrying it.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Dr. Satyamurthy – as yet there are only associated relationships demonstrated between cell phone usage and cancer. There is no causal relationship. The mechanism is unknown. But there is a great deal of controversy. Here’s an excerpt from a New York Times article: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E1D61438F930A35755C0A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
“Cellphones emit non-ionizing radiation, waves of energy that are too weak to break chemical bonds or to set off the DNA damage known to cause cancer. There is no known biological mechanism to explain how non-ionizing radiation might lead to cancer.
But researchers who have raised concerns say that just because science can’t explain the mechanism doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. Concerns have focused on the heat generated by cellphones and the fact that the radio frequencies are absorbed mostly by the head and neck. In recent studies that suggest a risk, the tumors tend to occur on the same side of the head where the patient typically holds the phone.”
September 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Norio – I think that is the case with most people. I hear that using head sets can cut down on the amount of radiation that gets to your head. This may be an alternative for those who spend a great deal of time on their phones and are concerned about potential side effects.