Cell Phone Use: Err on the Side of Caution?
Director of University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Warns Staff, Faculty
Dr. Herberman is said to have based his recommendation on what is yet unpublished data. The doctor, director of a prestigious cancer institute, expressed concern that science sometimes takes too long to arrive at definitive answers, and that people should err on the side of caution.
This news flies in the face of numerous studies done both in the U.S. and many European countries, including the largest published study of cell phone use found in a 2006 Journal of the National Cancer Institute. That study, which was conducted with more than 420,000 Danish cell phone users found no increased risk of cancer among cell phone users.
Dr. Herberman's warning is also contrary to information the United States Food and Drug Administration provides-but then the U.S. FDA has also told us that they know that cloned meat is safe for human consumption.
The warning issued by the concerned director includes advice to severely limit cell phone use by children because their brains are still developing. The concern about cell phone usage relates to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the phones, electromagnetic radiation that is also emitted by cordless telephones.
In imaging provided that shows the depth of transmission of the electromagnetic waves into the brains of a 5 year old, a 10 year old, and an adult, it is easy to see that affects, if any, could be more severe the younger the person is. The imaging of a five-year-old brain shows the waves penetrate nearly halfway into the brain; a ten-year-old brain is about half of that; an adult, even less.
The point being made is that once science has definitively determined whether cell phone use is in fact safe-or not-irreparable damage could have already occurred. Adults making the decision to use cell phones or not is one issue; exposing children to what could be a possible source of cancer is an entirely different matter.
Among Dr. Herberman's ten warnings to his faculty and staff are: Do not allow children to use cell phones except in the case of an emergency; whenever possible, use the hands-free speaker phone or a wireless Blue tooth ear piece-a hands-free ear piece may decrease exposure to the electromagnetic waves as well; avoid carrying your cell phone on your body-if you must, carry it with the keypad toward your body so that the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the phone are moving away from your body rather than through it. To read the precautionary warning in total: http://www.environmentaloncology.org/node/201.
I enjoy speaking to my grandchildren on the phone. They live 1,000 miles from me, so contact is precious-but not more precious than their health, even if the risk is minuscule. They'll need to talk by speaker phone from now on, standing away from the phone as far as possible.
Published by L.L. Woodard
Freelance writer/editor and freelance observer of life. Three decades of nursing experience in long-term care, from development of team care planning to hands-on patient care. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentGlad I only use my cell phone occasionally.
This is very scary stuff. We could have a real problems on our hands in the years to come. Thanks for this important message.
Given the questions legitimately raised, I do think it's better to err on the side of caution, especially with younger children. They rarely "need" to be on a cellphone anyway.
Technology proceeds faster than research can keep up with...it will be interesting to see how this progresses.
you know, you have to wonder if the cell phone companies will become the tobacco companies of the future. it seems like they dispute findings on the dangers of cell phone emissions in much the same way big tobacco used to dispute the dangers of tobacco. put that in your phone and smoke it.
Thanks for the info......sounds reasonable to play it safe.
One of the suggestions that Dr. Herberman made was to use the cell phone for texting as much as possible versus using it for conversation. The younger generation, thankfully, does TONS of texting, so that precaution won't be a tough sell to them.
We have lots of items in everyday use that we take precautions with; I don't advocate getting rid of cell phones--that isn't going to happen--but taking precautions in their use doesn't seem too difficult a task.
Ok then so lets stop selling them! That would go over big since most of America is addicted to them, almost like hard drugs. I have one but only use when I travel to the Veterans Hospital,other then that it stays home. The younger generation would become helpless without cell phones not to forget the makers!
Good to know!