CELL PHONES AND CANCER??

The possible connection between cellphones and cancer is controversial. The growing number of adults and children using cell phones continues to rise, leaving many of us asking what’s the risk?

Let’s look at what we do know:

Cell phones work by sending signals using RADIOFREQUENCY WAVES. Like FM radio waves and microwaves, RF waves are a form of non-ionizing radiation.

They DO NOT have enough energy to cause cancer by directly damaging the DNA inside cells. This is in contrast to ionizing radiation, like UV sunlight and Xrays, which CAN damage DNA directly.

Most of the studies so far have focused on brain, head and neck tumors. And the results are confusing. One large study suggested an increased risk of malignant glioma in heavy cell phone users. Another large study looked at 20 years of cell phone use in a group of people and found no increased risk of any tumors.

These mixed results have our heads reeling! Why do we not have an answer yet? Cell phones came into widespread usage in the 1990’s. That’s just not long enough for credible research to prove a cause and effect relationship. Many large studies are ongoing currently, so in time we will have answers.

So while the bottom line is we don’t have enough studies to prove anything concrete about cell phone use and cancer either way. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned and use the information we do know!
While we wait for the verdict on the RF waves, we can limit what we absorb during a cell phone call:

– Use your hands-free device or speaker mode while on the phone. This keeps distance between your head and neck region and the cell phone giving off RF waves

– Check which model you are using, difference phones give off different amounts of energy!

– Using your cell phone farther away from the nearest cell phone tower actually requires more energy from the phone

– Using the phone in a high cell phone traffic area requires more energy (I.E. busy city people should really be using a hands free device!