Cell Phones May Increase Brain Cancer Rates Afterall

Cell phone use may be tied to increased rates of brain cancer, concludes researchers looking at the most high quality research studies to study the topic. Some research studies, especially those funded by cell phone companies, have found that cell phone usage is not linked to brain cancer. However, when researchers began comparing the studies, some of which did show a link between cell phone usage and cancer, and those which did not, they concluded that the best done studies showed that there was a 10 to 30 percent increase in brain cancer due to cell phone use in those who regularly used cell phones when compared to those who rarely or never use cell phones.

Obviously, the cell phone industry would like to bury any evidence that cell phones can be linked to brain cancer. However, how cell phones may increase brain cancer rates is unclear, and it may be possible in the future to design a cell phone that doesn't produce the type of radiation thought to increase brain cancer risks. Indeed, the cell phone industry should realize that many people might not stopping using cell phones if they cause even a 30 percent increased rate in brain cancer as the rate of brain cancer is already low as many people depend on cell phones for work. By actively working on the problem, cell phone companies could do much to protect customers as well as to prevent future lawsuits.

However, consumers should have the right to decide for themselves whether or not they want to subject themselves to cell phone radiation, and more importantly if they want to expose their children to a device which could increase their risk of brain cancer. Some studies show that cell phone exposure earlier in life may be more likely to lead to brain cancer than exposure later in life. Children may be especially vulnerable to the effects of cell phones as their brain tissue is developing during childhood.

Given that millions of children, especially teenagers, are using cell phones for hours during the week, both to text message and chat with friends, more should be done to ensure the safety of these devices.

Normal radiowaves, such as those used by radios and televisions are safe and have been used for decades without any ill effect. In fact radiowaves pass through almost everything, including human beings, without causing any apparent damage.

However, cell phones often use frequencies in the microwave range, and while I do not have a physics degree, microwave frequency emissions are used to cook foods in microwave ovens. This is accomplished by microwaves which agitate water molecules such that they produce heat and cook the food. This effect, called the "dielectric heating effect" does cause a person's skin near the cell phone to heat up by a fraction of a degree.

It may be possible that low level microwave radiation may agitated water molecules inside a person's brain and cause a very small amount of thermal damage. Changes in temperature inside the cells of living organisms can produce a variety of changes as they may activate so-called "heat shock" proteins which initiate certain processes in the cell when exposed to heat.

What can cell phone users do? For one, they can take advantage of earphones and other devices which move the cell phone away from the head. Moving away from a source of radiation, even by a small amount can drastically decrease the amount of radiation that a person absorbs. Cell phone users are also recommended to move the cell phone away from their body when it use. However, some wonder whether use of the hands-free method of communicating on the cell phone could actually increase the risk if the radiation is able to use the wire to travel up to the brain.

As the controversy continues, more large scale studies are needed to assess the risk that cell phone usage poses, especially that on young children.

Sources:

Link Uncovered Between Cell Phone Use and Brain Tumors
http://www.healthnews.com/medical-updates/link-uncovered-between-cell-phone-use-brain-tumors-3771.html

Mobile Phone Radiation and Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health