Cell Phone Waves and Cancer

1997 Words4 Pages

Many people, around the world, use cellular or mobile phones in their everyday life. With the amount of time spent on a cellular phone increasing, so is the concern that these mobile devices, in which we so heavily depend, are now giving us cancer. There is no consistent evidence that connects the use of these wireless devices to any specific type of cancer. Additionally, more research is needed to examine the technology of cellular phones and how people use them. Technology and use habits are constantly changing. According to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, there were more than 320 million cell phone subscriptions in the United States, as of June 2011. Cell phones emit energy known as radiofrequency (RF) waves, so people are concerned that these RF waves will increase the risk of brain cancer, or other tumors. This RF energy comes from the antenna of the cell phone, where these RF waves are strongest. The closer the antenna is to one’s head, the greater the exposure to RF energy. Since cell phones are usually held against one’s head, one could conclude that exposure to these RF waves are affecting our brain or any area near the antenna of our cell phone. The RF waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation, which can be categorized into two types: ionizing (high level frequencies) and non-ionizing (low-level frequencies). These RF waves, otherwise known radiofrequency energy, are a form of non-ionizing radiation, which means the energy levels are not great enough to cause the ionization of atoms and molecules, according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2012). Also, in research of the American Cancer Society (2012), there are a variety of factors that affect how much RF energy... ... middle of paper ... ...s Retrieved at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm212273.htm Food and Drug Administration. (2012) Radiation-Emitting Products Retrieved at: http://www.fda.gov/RadiationEmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/ucm116282.htm Hardell.L. Carlberg, M. Mild, K. (2012). Use of mobile phones and cordless phones is associated with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. Pathophysiology Vol. 2 Issue 2 p.85-110 National Cancer Institute, (2013). Cell Phones and Cancer Risk Retrieved at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones Redmayne,M. (2013). New Zealand adolescents’ cellphone and cordless phone user-habits: are they at increased risk of brain tumours already? A cross-sectional study. Environmental Health Retrieved at http://www.ehjournal.net/content/12/1/5

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