Health Issue
Cell phones are important gadgets in today’s communication industry. From business environments to office communication, cell phones have made life easier and more comfortable. With the wide application of cell phones, the world has now become a global village.
Nevertheless, there are disadvantages associated with the use of mobile phones. For example, it is obvious cell phones emit radiofrequency energy- radio waves, dangerous to human bodies. Nonetheless, research carried out by scientists does indicate that, the amount of radiofrequency energy radiated by cell phones is very insignificant to cause tissue heating or augment body temperature.
On the other hand, there has been concern as to whether, radiofrequency energy from cell phones pose a cancer risk to cell phone users. Currently, scientists all over the world are busy carrying out research to identify the effect of cell phones in brain tumors, the central nervous system and other sites of the head and neck. This is because; these areas might be vulnerable to attack from radio waves as cell phone users hold cell phones, just below the head when communicating.
Interestingly a research study carried out by various bodies indicates that; although there are diverse cell phone radio wave effects in human bodies, radiation from cell or mobile phones have no new effects excluding the most common brain, glimoa and meningioma. It therefore poses serious concerns regarding the friendliness of to human bodies. (Cardias, et.al. 2007, pp. 642-656).
Analysis
Mobile phone use started in Europe in 1980s and spread to United States. At present, the number of people in possession of cell phones around the globe is by far very high. Nevertheless, with so many people now owning and using mobile phones, there has been varied concerns on the dangers of cell and mobile phones to human bodies.
It went down into historical books to note that, the number of mobile phone subscribers in United States of America rose tremendously to reach 285 million people, in what the Cellular Telecommunication and Internet Association termed, tremendous growth. However, the high number of mobile subscribers need protection from radiofrequency energy radiated by cell phones although no research indicates whether, it is harmful or not.
There is concern as to whether cell and mobile telephones cause certain types of cancer or other health related problems. Indeed, cell phones emit radio waves (radiofrequency energy), which are dangerous to human bodies. This form of radiation has been under study for years, and some research indicates that, radiofrequency radiation has possible effects to exposed human bodies. (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2008, pp. 1-4).
Radio waves or radiofrequency energy is a type of electromagnetic emission characterized by substantive amount of penetrative power. Electromagnetic radiations or emissions fall into two groups.
The first category of ionizing radiations comprise of radiofrequency energies that penetrate into bodies with ease because of their high frequency. On the other hand, there are low-frequency radiations where radio waves fall and have low penetration power due to non-ionizing upshot. Owing to low spectrum frequency, radio waves fall under non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations.
Without question, radiations that cause ionization for example, x-rays can sometimes be a source of cancer if there is direct exposure to such sources. However, this can take a different dimension in the case of radiofrequency. It is not yet clear as to whether radiofrequency radiations from mobile or cell cause health problems or cancer simply because, the penetrative power of this radiation is too low to cause such a big health effect.
Unfortunately, research indicates that, radiofrequency radiations from mobile phones do not cause tissue heating nor do they increase body temperature. This is the reason as to why; researchers must carry out thorough research to identify the real effect of cell phone radiofrequency energy to human bodies. (Cardis, et.al., 2007, pp. 658-664).
The antenna of the cell or mobile phone is the one responsible for radiofrequency emissions. What makes mobile or cell phone users more vulnerable to radio wave attack from cell phones is when using it. Normally, a user holds the cell or mobile telephone just against one side of the head just right at the ear. Although with low frequency, if the device is placed very close to the human body, for example the head, there is high probability of the body interacting with emitted radiations.
This means, although radio waves are low-ionizing radiations, they are powerful when the source of interaction is close. Placing a hand-held mobile or cell phone antenna close to the head exposes the head near to radiations hence; interactions leading to health problems or cancer.
On the other hand, if a person places the cell or mobile phone antenna far away from the body or head, the degree of radiofrequency energy absorption decreases. In essence, it is the strength of the signal that determines the concentration of the cell or mobile telephone’s radio frequency energy. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2009, Para. 1-12).
Many people wonder how a cell phone emits radiofrequency, which then make them vulnerable to radio wave attack. What happens is that, when a mobile or cell phone user decides to call another user, the mobile phone sends a signal to the available mobile base station via the antenna. At the transceiver base station, routing takes place. The receiver takes the air signal and converts it into a digital form before sending it the switching center.
At this stage, it is now the role of the switch to connect another subscriber through the available system. It is advantageous to cell phone users who find themselves far away from the transceiver base station because; it is the distance that determines the radiofrequency energy exposure hence, the resultant effect on the user. (Ahlbom A, Green A, Kheifets L, Savitz D, Swerdlow A, 2004, pp.1741-1754 ).
Other factors which determine cell phone user’s level of exposure include, the intervals of picking or making calls, how far or near the user is from the base station, the strength of the signal transmitted, the bulkiness of the mobile handset and in this case its antenna, and the availability of hand-held devices.
Different firms for example, Interphone under the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) consortium, carried out research to identify the extent of damage caused on malignant and benign brain tumors exposed to radiofrequency energy. The results from Interphone did indicate that, there is no increased malignant or benign brain tumor risk apart from the existing glioma and meningiosa brain tumor effects.
Furthermore, the research did not find substantive evidence linking lengthy calling time, very many calls or many years with cell phones as risks to cell phone users. However, cell phone users who had spent a lot of time making phone calls through their cell phones, risked glioma. This led many people to question the whole report. (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2008, pp. 1-7).
In 2004, there were divergent views from countries that participated in the Interphone case study. For example, the Danish report cited acoustic neuroma as an effect resulting from exposure to radiofrequency energies for a period exceeding ten years as compared to short-term cell phone users.
Additionally, the report indicates that, there is no increased risk on places where users held their cell phones. On the other hand, the Swedish report, which examined short and long-term mobile users, cited that, there was increased risk of acoustic neuroma only to long-term mobile phone users.
On the other hand, a data report complied by Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom Denmark and Finland went contrary to previous reports linking long time exposure to radiofrequency energy with acoustic neuroma. Instead, the report cited that, there is high risk to the tumor exposed to the cell phone for over ten years.
Interestingly, later studies and even the current one, cite similar findings as of these countries. Nevertheless, even with contradicting reports, cell phone users are greatly concerned whether the tumor of their head exposed to mobile phones will eventually have health problems. Some time later, Interphone Danish and Swedish researchers carried further research on the relationship between meningioma or glioma risk and mobile or cell phone use.
However, in research carried on disease-free individuals, these researchers found that, there is no link whatsoever, between cell phone use and meningioma or glioma. United Kingdom and Nordic Countries released the same results that concurred with that of Swedish and Danish researchers although for them, glioma can occur on the side of head exposed to mobile handsets for a period of at least ten years. (Hepworth, et.al. 2001, pp. 837-887).
It is evident that, research carried by different counties gave varied results. In a calculate move aimed at curtailing biases resulting from case-control studies, a consortium of researchers identified 420,095 cell and mobile phone users in Denmark and then made a comparison with Danish Cancer Registry in order to categorize the number of people suffering from brain tumors as a result of using cell phones.
Their research indicated that, radiofrequency energy from cell phones has nothing to do with meningioma, acoustic neuroma or glioma irrespective whether the subscriber had used the cell phone for ten or more years. In other words, exposure to radiofrequency energy whether for long or short time or high frequency, do not necessarily lead to cancer or healthy problems.
With great concern among mobile phone users, more companies and consortium bodies continued to carry out related research. For example, between 1987 and 2002, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the umbrella of Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) and the Surveillance Consortium, carried out cell phone risk research to identify the effects of radiofrequency energy emitted by cell phones to brain tumors and the nervous system.
The results however indicated that, there had been no damage to these areas notwithstanding, the increase in cell phone use. These two bodies continue to carry out periodic research to identify whether, cell or mobile telephones participate in nervous system or brain tumor damage especially now, when mobile use is on the rise in United States.( Inskip, Tarone, & Hatch, 2001, pp. 79-86).
Solution
Given the above scenario, where different researches have different results, and sometimes contradict each other, it is not apparent whether radiofrequency energy radiated from the antenna of cell phones has risks to human bodies especially the brain and nervous system. Nevertheless, mobile phone users should take necessary steps aimed at minimizing their exposure to radiofrequency energies coming from cell phones.
Perhaps, the first step cell phone subscribers should aim is to cut the lengthy time they engage with their cell phones. The second prevention method is to use a headset, or a cell phone speaker mode aimed at maximizing the distance between the user’s head and the cell phone. The distance ensures minimal exposure area to radiofrequency radiation emanating from cell phones. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2009, pp. 1-3).
On the other hand, cell phone firms can decide to introduce Bluetooth headsets or audio gadgets, which are free from radio wave emission. Cell phone users can wear some accessories like thick clothes, head scups, holsters aimed at absorbing any radiation emitted from the cell phone’s antenna.
Most importantly, if cell phone users can use headsets as a way of minimizing exposure to radiofrequency energy now that they hold cell phones around the head when communicating. Cell phone manufactures and cell phones sold in United States, should comply with the laid measures of controlling exposure to radio waves. (U.S. Federal Communications Commission, 2010, pp. 1-4).
So far, no research links radiofrequency energy from cell phones with cancer or any other health complication. It is therefore unnecessary to apply hands-free kits in order to reduce chances of radio wave attack.
Nevertheless, cell phone users can wear hands-free kits to induce conformability or expediency but not reduce chances of radiofrequency attack. Different countries have different laws on cell phone use. Nonetheless, these laws do not aim at reducing exposure to radiofrequency emissions to human bodies as there is no evidence that, these radiations cause harms to the exposed body.
Reference List
Ahlbom, A., Green, A., Kheifets, L., Savitz, D., & Swerdlow, A. (2004). Epidemiology of health effects on radiofrequency exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(17), 1741-1754.
Cardis, E., Richardson, L. & Deltour, I. (2007). Cell Phones and Cancer Risk. European Journal of Epidemiology, 22(9), 647–664.
Hepworth, S., Schoemaker, M.J, Muir K. (2006). Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: Case-control study. British Medical Journal, 332(7546), 883-887.
Inskip, P., Tarone, R. & Hatch, E. (2001). Cellular-telephone use and brain tumors. New England Journal of Medicine, 344(2), 79-86.
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2008). INTERPHONE Study: Latest results update—8 October 2008. Lyon, France. Web.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission. (2009). Wireless. Washington, D.C. Web.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission. (2009). 5 ways To Reduce Cell Phone Radiation. Web.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2009). Silver Spring, MD. Web.