Cell Phone Radiation

Cell Phone Radiation
The real price of wireless phones might be higher than expected. International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of World Health Organization) recently classified cell phone radiation as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'.

Research has identified an association between cell phone use and glioma (a malignant type of brain cancer), salivary gland tumors and, also acoustic neuroma, a tumor of the nerve that links the ear to the brain.

Around the same time Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly recognizes the fact that children are especially sensitive to emissions of electromagnetic fields and, therefore, recommended that all measures should be taken to protect children from potentially harmful effects of cell phones and wireless technologies.

The following suggestions were put forward by the Assembly:

1. Develop within different ministries (of education, environment and health) targeted information campaigns aimed at teachers, parents and children to alert them to the specific risks of early, ill-considered and prolonged use of mobiles and other devices emitting microwaves;
2. Ban mobile phones, DECT phones or WiFi or WLAN systems from classrooms and schools.

You can follow simple steps to reduce your exposure to cell phone radiation:

1. Buy a phone with a low SAR (Specific Absorption Rate is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic field). I must note that all employees of mobile networks I have ever spoken to had no idea what SAR is. That should give you an indication of the level of awareness regarding safety of mobile phones.

2. Reduce your cell phone use: turn your cell phone off more often. Reserve it for emergencies or important matters. As long as your cell phone is on, it emits radiation intermittently, even when you are not actually making a call;

3. Use a headset or a speaker;

4. Listen more, talk less. I know, sounds funny, but your phone emits radiation when you talk or text, but not when you're receiving messages;

5. Hold your phone away from your body when you are talking;

6. Choose texting over talking (less radiation used when texting);

7. Stay off the phone when there is poor signal. Poor signal means that your phone emits more radiation to get the signal to the tower;

8. DO NOT let your children use mobile phones unless in emergency situation;

9. Avoid keypad covers as they reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit at a higher power with higher radiation;

10. Use landline phone when possible.

11. Reduce or eliminate your use of other wireless devices (cordless phones).