Cell Phone Warning Labels

Some lawmakers are considering requiring a warning label for cell phones about the risk of brain cancer from their use. While it is necessary for warning labels on products that can cause harm, it seems to be a little too ambitious to add labels to products which only might be able to be linked with health problems. While cell phones are known to emit radiation, it is thought by most of the scientific community to be harmless and cannot yet be linked to brain cancer.

Dr. Ronald B. Herberman is one scientist who believes the phones pose a risk. As director emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, he has come to his conclusion based on unpublished data. There are several other scientists and groups which agree with his analysis and support the warning labels. Several countries in Europe have already established laws requiring similar warning labels, but they do not have conclusive evidence themselves of the correlations between cell phone use and brain cancer. Many scientists agree it will take a long time to determine if their truly is a link between the two and some recommend a label warning of possible risk until the actual effects can be identified.

The National Cancer Institute still does not feel enough evidence is available to warrant requiring a label. They have reviewed studies which have indicated a link between the phones and cancer as well as studies which indicate no link between the two. Because there has not been a long history of cell phone use there is limited data to work with and it is difficult to come to a conclusion.

In the end, the labels may be added to inform consumers of the possibility of risk, but it is unlikely that many consumers will be deterred from buying or using the phones. The recommendations of many of the supporters of the warnings, is for cell phone users to use speaker phone or headsets so the phone is not as close to their head and that should protect them from the majority of the possible harms of the phones.

The labels are unlikely to have any large effect however, cigarettes have been clearly linked to cancer and are packaged with required warning labels, but millions of smokers continue to use the product, disregarding the label. It is unlikely that a warning of a possible link would have more effect than a label which indicates a clear link to cancer.

"Maine to consider cell phone cancer warning - Yahoo! News." The top news headlines on current events from Yahoo! News - Yahoo! News. Web. 21 Dec. 2009. .

"Tobacco packaging warning messages -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 21 Dec. 2009. .

"Who needs science? Lawmakers mull cell phone warnings." Ars Technica. Web. 21 Dec. 2009. .