CELL PHONES, PORTABLE PHONES AND YOUR HEALTH
“…With medical science indicating increased risks of tumors,
cancer, genetic damage and other health problems from the use of cell phones, the government and the cell phone industry have
abandoned the public."
This is a statement
by Dr. George Carlo, a leading scientist, who was hired by the Mobile Phone Industry in the US to assess the safety of the
mobile phones. After a few years of denying the hazards, for the satisfaction of his sponsors, he changed his opinion
in the face of accumulating evidence about the dangers and wrote a book about it.
This article explores the hazards
of these devices and what you can do about them.
MICROWAVES AND YOUR HEALTH
The main difficulty with the cell phones and portables is the frequency range in which they operate. Microwave radiation
is quite penetrating, even at low power. This is why your cell phone will work inside buildings and garages, and even
in tunnels and other underground structures at times. While it is an advantage for phone communication, it also means
that the waves easily penetrate your cranium and can affect the brain and other organs and structures.
MICROWAVES COOK TISSUE
Microwaves are actually quite destructive. A friend
of mine was involved in the development of microwave ovens after World War II. The idea for microwave ovens arose when
sailors found that if they stood in front of a large radar antenna on a freezing deck of a large ship, they soon became warm.
Sailors also discovered that if they tossed an egg straight up in the air in front of a large radar antenna, say twenty-five
feet high or more, the egg would be cooked when it came down. This is well and good. However, one must realize
this means that microwaves can cook your brain as well.
In a newspaper article I read years ago, the US Embassy in Moscow
was intentionally bombarded with microwaves to sicken the American workers there.
Microwaves literally vibrate the molecules
of whatever they strike. This causes friction, which results in heating the object. Some people notice warming
of their hand after a long cell phone conversation.
This also occurs in your brain. However, more than this occurs.
Our brains are electro-mechanical devices that operate at frequencies, some of which mimic microwaves. These frequencies
are disrupted by the phones, which can lead to health problems.
MEDICAL STUDIES
Here is summary of studies that have shown increased risk of brain tumors and other problems due to cell phone and mobile
phone use. For the details of these studies, go to the website of the Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application
of Science and Technology (PSRAST) at http://www.psrast.org/mobileng/mobilstarteng.htm - summary.
* Finnish research confirms increased brain cancer risk from cell phones.
*
Threefold increased cancer risk found among people in the vicinity of a GSM-base station.
* New Austrian
research confirms health effects of base station radiation. Significant effects on wellbeing and psychological test performance
found at levels far below recommended radiation intensity.
* Mobile Phone Tower causing brain tumors?
The top floors of a Melbourne office building were closed down and 100 people evacuated after a seventh worker in as many
years was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
* DNA is damaged by mobile phone radiation.
*
Large study reports 100% increase of malignant brain tumor risk.
* Three European studies indicate increased
brain tumor risk.
THE LARGER PICTURE
The information above applies primarily to cell phones, and to a lesser degree to portable phones, as these are held right
near the head as well. if possible, use corded phones at home and minimize cell phone use and use a speaker phone or
headset, as these are a little better.
Wireless hookups and networks are also gaining in popularity
and are in millions of homes. However, these are not as bad, as they are very low power and the transmitter is not held
against the head. They are probably not a problem for most people. Ideally, turn these off when one goes to bed,
however, for the cleanest sleeping environment.
Other stray electromagnetic fields. This is
an important source of pollution today that affects everyone’s health. If possible, minimize this exposure by:
·Sitting
back away from all computers, televisions, especially LCD, and other electronic devices. Even sitting in the back seat
of a car is better than the front seat for this reason, since the engine is in front and gives off fairly strong electromagnetic
fields.
·Turn off computers, televisions, stereos and all electronic equipment when not absolutely needed and
definitely at bedtime.
·Attempt to live and spend most of your time in a rural or suburban area, away from heavy
concentrations of cell phone towers, electrical power stations and other powerful electrical installations.
·Air
travel today expose one to tremendous electromagnetic stress due to radar, radios, engine effects, personal computers onboard
and much more. Reduce air travel if at all possible. Auto travel is much better. Aircraft will become better
shielded in the future, we hope.
·Limit medical x-rays and even other types of medical scans that can expose
the body to high-powered x-ray machines and other powerful magnetic fields such as MRIs.
DEVICES
TO REDUCE EXPOSURE
Many devices are available to reduce cell phone radiation
hazards. The best are those that separate the phone user from the phone. These include bases that allow for hands-free
talking such as speaker phones. Headsets are also good, especially those that have an air connection rather than a conventional
wired connection between the phone and the earpiece.
The other type of devices are small ceramic,
metallic or other materials that are placed on the phone itself to help neutralize some of the microwave and other frequencies
emitted by the phone. These vary widely in their effects. I have not evaluated all these devices, but I would
surmise that all of them can help a little, but we doubt that any can block most of the microwave radiation from reaching
the user’s head. If it did, the cell phone would not work.
CONCLUSION
Cell phones and portable phones are best used as little as feasible, preferably for emergencies only. They all emit
microwave radiation and affect some people more than others. If one has elevated iron levels, and most people do, they
may have greater effects in most cases.
Wireless transmitters are better, as they
are lower powered. If wireless devices are further away, they should not be a problem.
The microwave radiation from mobile phones have harmful effects at intensity levels far below the official safety threshold
values . This is confirmed by a considerable body of evidence.
Your mobile phone
radiation is strong enough to exert harmful influences on your brain and other tissues even at normal usage.
Accumulating evidence indicate that microwave radiation from mobile phones may cause serious diseases and disturbances in
the physiology. This includes an increased cancer risk and genetic damage, disturbed brain function and other effects.
Under such conditions the precautionary principle should be applied. It says that people and the environment should not be
exposed to influences whose harmful effects are incompletely known. There are especially strong reasons to apply this principle
when, as is in the case of mobile phones, there are multiple studies indicating that seriously harmful health effects may
occur.
References:
George Louis Carlo, Ph.D., Martin Schram
"Cell phones: Invisible hazards in the wireless age: An Insider's Alarming Discoveries about Cancer and Genetic Damage."
Source