Over 200 million Americans rely on cell phones for personal and business use. Growing numbers of households are dropping wire-line communications altogether, opting for 100 percent wireless lifestyles. Economical and convenience benefits are well understood, but what about the cell phone-brain cancer link debate we’ve been hearing about for 10 years?
By Mary E. Shacklett
Published: February, 2006
Over 200 million Americans rely on cell phones for personal and business use. Growing numbers of households are dropping wire-line communications altogether, opting for 100 percent wireless lifestyles. Economical and convenience benefits are well understood, but what about the cell phone-brain cancer link debate we’ve been hearing about for 10 years?
Lawsuits against cell phone manufacturers and telecommunications companies that allege links between cell phone use and brain cancer have been filed. One of the most notable is an $800 million lawsuit filed by an east coast neurologist who is convinced that nine years of continuous cell phone use led to his brain cancer, which developed in the exact area of his brain that received the RF radiation emitted from his cell phone. This lawsuit follows several others that were dismissed, due to lack of evidence.
Meanwhile, studies exploring the possible link between cell phone use and the development of brain cancer continue to yield mixed findings. The result: agencies like the FDA are unable to unequivocally state that there is a cell phone-brain cancer link — but they also advocate further studies, since they are equally unprepared to state that there is no risk.
The facts are: widespread cell phone use in the US and other countries is a fairly recent phenomenon, with a history of less than 20 years; and, it can take years for many types of brain cancers to develop, which can make it too early to assess for links.
With inconclusive findings, cell phone users are left to weigh the pros and cons for themselves. One step everyone can take is gaining an understanding of how cell phones operate, and how these phones emit radiation.
Cell Phone Radiation Mechanics
US mobile phones operate in a frequency of 850 to 1900 megahertz (MHz). This radio frequency (RF) radiation range differs from the RF range of medical x-rays, which can pose health risks. However, if the RF emissions from cellular phones are powerful enough, they are capable of heating living tissue and of potentially causing biological damage.
The cell phone’s RF emissions are generated by the phone’s antenna, which is why a cell phone user’s exposure to cell phone radiation is amplified the closer that the cell phone antenna is to the user’s head. The cell phone’s RF energy emissions rapidly fall off as distance between the user’s head and the cell phone’s antenna increases. This builds a strong case for headsets and/or other use strategies that eliminate the need to hold a cell phone next to the head.
Many experts point to the fact that cell phones only emit six-tenths of a watt of power. While calling for additional studies, these experts also question whether wattage so low can affect human health in any way, no matter how close a user’s head is to the phone’s antenna. Meanwhile, cell phone makers are required to report the specific absorption rate (SAR) of their products to the FCC. The SAR is the amount of RF energy absorbed from the phone into the user’s local tissues.
Strategies for Safer Cell Phone Use
No one wants to wait another 20 years for empirical evidence on cell phone use to be published, so if you rely on a cell phone for communications, here are several steps that you can take to enhance cell phone safety:
Avoid placing cell phones next to your head
By using headset, a handless car phone — or by carrying your cell phone away from your body, or connecting to an external remote antenna, you can dramatically reduce your exposure to the RF radiation that the cell phone’s antenna emits.
Check the SAR level of your cell phone
Use a cell phone with a low SAR value. To find the SAR for your cell phone, locate the FCC identification model that is usually printed on the phone or the phone case. Enter this number on the FCC’s Website (www.fcc.gov) to get the phone’s SAR. Digital phones emit less RF radiation than analog phones.
Take stock of your telephone habits and combine cell phone use with land line use
Consider using your cell phone for shorter conversations. At home, use a cordless phone for mobility. Since cordless phones have base units that are plugged into telephone jacks and wired to a local telephone service, radiation emissions are drastically reduced. The average cordless phone operates at 1/600 the power of cellular phones.
Gain an understanding of your cell phone environment
Cell phone users in urban areas tend to experience lower levels of radiation exposure than users in more rural environments. This is because there are more cell phone users in urban areas, and also greater numbers of cell phone cells in the communications network. Each of these network cells contains its own base station and antenna. If a network cell has a large geographical area to cover it must boost its transmissions.
Mary E. Shacklett is President of Transworld Data, a marketing and technology practice specializing in marketing, public relations and product management for technology companies and organizations. Mary is listed in Who’s Who Worldwide and Who’s Who in the Computer Industry. She may be reached at TWD_Transworld@msn.com, or (360) 956-9536.
