There\u2019s much talk about cellphones and a rare form of cancer, a brain tumor named glioma.\u00a0 This cellphone and cancer concern has been recently prompted by the World Health Organization putting cellphones on a \u201cpossibly carcinogenic\u201d list.\u00a0 Is there cause for concern?\u00a0 Let\u2019s think about this rationally.<\/p>\n
A panel of highly respected scientists and physicians headed by Dr. Jonathan Samet of USC (also on President Obama’s cancer research team), analyzed many recent studies of links between brain cancer and cellphone use.\u00a0 They looked for correlations between the devices that emit magnetic fields and development of brain cancer, usually due to breaking of DNA chains or affect to chemical balances in humans and animals.\u00a0 But cellphones don\u2019t break DNA or change brain chemicals, because they are \u201cnon-ionizing\u201d radiation.\u00a0 Similar to microwave ovens.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t a new study, it\u2019s just another cumulative look at a lot of existing studies.\u00a0 A large one, called Interphone conducted in 13 countries didn\u2019t find a direct connection between regular cellphone use and brain tumors.\u00a0 This is also true of other studies.\u00a0 What got the World Health Organization concerned was that this study indicated a suspicion of heavy cellphone users having a 40% level of risk.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean that heavy users actually get brain cancer.\u00a0 It just means there\u2019s a risk.<\/p>\n
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have issued reports that dismiss concerns about cellphones possibly causing cancer.\u00a0 Many scientists have said publicly that there\u2019s no evidence to prove non-ionizing radiation causes tumors or cancers.\u00a0 But what about other affects from cellphones, other than DNA, chemistry, and radiation?\u00a0 There\u2019s still a lot we don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Cellphones haven’t been in use all that long, and we just don\u2019t know enough, long term.<\/p>\n
I think that some wisdom and prudence is required here.\u00a0 Yes, we should take the World Health Organization\u2019s panel seriously.\u00a0 Yes, let\u2019s err on the side of caution.\u00a0 You certainly don\u2019t put your head or body next to your microwave oven (or stove) do you?\u00a0 You don\u2019t sit with a TV or electric motor buzzing on top of your head, do you?\u00a0 You shouldn\u2019t with your cellphone either.<\/p>\n
Think about it \u2013 there is enough radio frequency radiation to reach from your little cellphone miles away to giant cellphone towers to complete calls.\u00a0 Why expose your bodily tissue to any excess radiation? \u00a0It\u2019s common sense, friend.<\/p>\n
Use a headset or the speaker in the phone, particularly if you use your cellphone a lot.\u00a0 Text more; press the phone to your skull less.\u00a0 Why take a chance?\u00a0 I certainly would not let my kids use cellphones on their ears much if they were still little, and still growing.\u00a0 Happily, talking on cellphones isn\u2019t so cool \u2013 kids text far more.\u00a0 So should adults.<\/p>\n
Same goes for your laptop and tablet computers.\u00a0 Have a buffer between the buzzing electrons and your body.\u00a0 But that\u2019s another subject for another day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s much talk about cellphones and a rare form of cancer, a brain tumor named glioma.\u00a0 This cellphone and cancer concern has been recently prompted by the World Health Organization putting cellphones on a \u201cpossibly carcinogenic\u201d list.\u00a0 Is there cause for concern?\u00a0 Let\u2019s think about this rationally. A panel of highly respected scientists and physicians…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[98,111,110,26],"class_list":["post-1232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-lifestyles","tag-cancer","tag-cell-phones","tag-cellphones","tag-health-2"],"yoast_head":"\n