Introduction
Cellular phones have been introduced to the mass market for more than three decades. Since then, the debates about the negative influence of cell phones on human health, especially associated with the risk of cancer, are ongoing (Inskip, Hoover, and Devesa par. 7). Moreover, the active usage of cell phones is connected with other safety issues such growing level of stress and anxiety, teenager exposure to sexting, bullying, and harassment via electronic devices, along with safety on the road (Klauer et al. par. 3).
However, all these concerns have significant importance for understanding the outcomes of cell phones application; this paper examines the study “Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism” by Volkow, Tomasi, Wang, et al. Although the results of the study demonstrate particular changes in the human brain connected to the working mobile devices, the investigators cannot claim the existence of negative outcomes associated with this changes.
Before the analysis of the article, the recent research sets the context of the problem through the short overview of the Danish Study, Dr. George Carlo’s response to the Danish Study, and Devra Davis findings reflected in her book “Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family.”
The Danish Study
The research conducted by the group of scientists had been held during the seventeen years in Denmark. The study measures the risk of developing tumors of the central neural system, analyzing and comparing the group of people who had a contract with the cell phone service company from 1982 to 1995 with the adults who represent the population of the country up to 2002.
The ratio of the development of the tumor among the members of the group who use mobile devices for more than thirteen years and those who use cell phones for more than a decade is insignificant. Also, the researchers have not detected “dose-response relation either by years since the first subscription for a mobile phone or be the anatomical location of the tumor” (Frei et al. par. 6). Therefore, the authors of the study come to the conclusion that there is no connection between the risk of the development of tumors and the exploitation of cell phones.
Dr. Carlo’s response
First of all, Dr. Carlo states that the researchers who conducted the Danish Study are biased because the mobile phone industry financially supported their work. Thus, the authors of the study did not contemplate the ethical issues behind the manipulations with the process of the research and its results. Then, Dr. Carlo looks over the motives that both the investigators and the industry have. The industry’s interest is associated with safety reasons, which are the basis for worries and anxiety from the customers and regulatory institutions. Therefore the mobile phone sector is ready to finance any research that scientifically justifies the absence of danger for health from cell phones.
The researchers and experts, involved in the study, were striving for the recognition and, connected with it, fundraising for their future research (Carlo par. 2-5).
Cell Phone Radiation
Devra Davis conducted her research about cell phones and evidence of their negative impact on the human brain. She grounds her argumentation in the notion that cell phones are small microwaves radios, which can have an adverse impact on the human brain, especially on the brain of children (Gandhi et al. 48). Davis contemplates the danger of mobile devices since the long-term epidemiological studies of cell phone impacts have not been implemented for more than ten years.
Moreover, she emphasizes the importance of the research that considers the usage of mobile phones in a long-term time-spin with a sample of the population that explores the devices on a daily basis for more than two hours (Disconnect). Kesari et al. raise the question of effects that radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields impose on the human population, “increasing exposure to mobile phone and base station radiations, together with exposure to other sources of non-ionizing radiation is growing concern of possible adverse health effects” (Kesari et al. 187).
Cellular Phones and Glucose Metabolism in Brain
The objective of Volkow et al. research lies in the area of correlation between acute mobile phone exposure and the rate of brain glucose metabolism (BGM), which measures brain activity. Absolute metabolism (AM) (μmol/100 g per minute) and normalized metabolism (NM), which assessed in a particular region or whole brain, constitute BGM (Volkow et al. par 4).
The participants were exposed to the working mode of the cell phones for fifty minutes two times. The first time, only one device was activated. The second attempt involved two phones in a working model. Also, the participants received the fluorodeoxyglucose shots that helped to assess the glucose metabolism in the brain during the tomography procedure when one or two phones were activated.
The findings of the experiment demonstrate that there are no changes in the whole-brain metabolism either when the cell phones were “on” or “off.” However, the regional modifications located near the ears are higher when the mobile devices were activated (Volkow et al. par. 22). Although the findings indicate the differences in brain activity, the authors conclude that the clinical importance of the results is unknown.
Conclusion
There are more things in the surrounding environment which may cause serious problems, yet people are not concerned about them. In any case, cell phones nowadays are an important part of our everyday experience, and it does not seem possible to reject this technology in the nearest future.
Works Cited
Carlo, George. Dr. George Carlo’s Response to the Danish Study. Web.
Disconnect. Devra Devis. 2010. Web.
Frei, Patrizia, et al. “Use of Mobile Phones and Risk of Brain Tumours: Update of Danish Cohort Study.” British Medical Journal 343 (2011). Web.
Gandhi, Om P., et al. “Exposure Limits: The Underestimation of Absorbed Cell Phone Radiation, Especially in Children.” Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine 31.1 (2012): 34-51. Print.
Inskip, Peter D., Robert N. Hoover, and Susan S. Devesa. “Brain Cancer Incidence Trends in Relation to Cellular Telephone Use in the United States.” Neuro-oncology 12.11 (2010). Web.
Kesari, Kavindra Kumar, et al. “Cell Phone Radiation Exposure on Brain and Associated Biological Systems.” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 51 (2013). Web.
Klauer, Sheila G., et al. “Distracted Driving and Risk of Road Crashes among Novice and Experienced Drivers.” New England journal of medicine 370.1 (2014). Web.
Volkow, Nora D., et al. “Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism.” Jama 305.8 (2011). Web.