Do Celphones cause brain cancer?

[nix]

There was this article in Time that was very inconclusive regarding this topic. But do the radio waves cause cancer really? If not, has this been disproved? What are the chances that it does cause cancer?

[batang uliran]

There has never been convincing proof that cell phones cause brain cancer. Speculation ran rampant when Reginald Lewis (former CEO of Beatrice and husband of UP alum Loida Nicolas-Lewis) died of brain cancer. However cell phones have not been shown to be the cause in his death and in the death of others with similar tumors.

[Ira]

I had a feeling this topic was going to come up...

Cellular phones emit radiofrequency (a kind of electromagnetic wave) radiation with a 800-900 MHz frequency, which is close to the 2,450 MHz frequency used by microwave ovens. The 1,000-watt power of a microwave oven is much greater than a cell phone's puny 0.6 watt output, though. Exposure to high levels of RF--many times the amount emitted by cell phones--causes biological damage, but the effects of lower exposure levels are not well established. Since this radiation penetrates the human body, critics say that cellular phones could cause physical damage to cells, either through heating or through another form of energy release.

Some scientists dispute this hypothesis, arguing that RF from cellular phones is significantly weaker than the energy occurring naturally in the body's cells, and would therefore be unable to physically alter them. They also say that even after long exposure periods, the phones could only cause a fraction of a degree increase in cell temperature-- well within the body's normal range. In the absence of another plausible mechanism by which RF radiation could cause damage, they say that cell phones should be presumed safe.

Like BU said, most RF exposure studies are inconclusive. They either fail to find effects, or have produced statistically insignificant findings. One study associated cellular phone use with an increased frequency of a certain type of brain tumor (neuroepithelioma), although the overall risk of cancer was not found to increase.

Most scientists call for further research and testing. Some cellular phone users are reducing possible risk by using earpiece and microphone headsets that plug into the telephone and make it possible to talk without the phone being held to the head. If you're worried about radiation, you can decrease your risk by getting a handsfree kit.

Regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Communications Commission in the US hedge on the issue, neither guaranteeing cellular phones' safety nor recommending that users stop using them.

In May, Radiation Research magazine published a scientific assessment of the research to date into the cell phone-cancer. If you're interested, you can download the results at http://www.radres.org/rare_151_05_0513.pdf . FDA also came out with an update on cellular phone safety on their website, which you can read at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ocd/mobilphone.html .

[jepoy]

I heard about this one guy who died while using a cell phone.. no symptoms whatsoever.. is this possible?

Oh by the way, reports said that the cellphone was hit by a stray bullet while he was still using it. hehehehe :D [korny]

[Ira]

Nope, not possible. If we assume that cellular phone RF waves really causes cell damage (but I'm not saying it does), this type of damage only happens over time, not immediately. And if you have a brain tumor, contrary to what you see on television, you will start experiencing a myriad of symptoms long before you reach death. He probably had a heart attack...or maybe his GF jilted him via cell phone? :)

[CiGaWeTte]

huh? i really don't know anything about those articles... but i sure hope that they don't emit any of those harmful waves... :)

[abraqkadabra]

i hope not..

[Ira]

If you're worried about the RF waves possibly causing damage to your brain, buy a handsfree kit.