“For the first time ever, the California Department of Public Health is releasing guidelines about harmful cellphone radiation and how you can avoid it,” Susie Steimle reports for CBS San Francisco. “Dr. Karen Smith with the California Department Of Public Health said, ‘We recognize that there are a lot of people in the general public that have some concerns about their cellphones and whether using a cellphone is safe… When you sleep, you keep the cellphone at least arm’s length away from your body. And also, not carrying your cellphone in your pocket, having it either in your purse or not carrying it with you.'”
“The research suggests cellphones could increase our risk for brain cancer and tumors, low sperm count, headaches, as well as impaired memory, hearing, and sleep,” Steimle reports. “The state said one of the main reasons they’ve decided to release these guidelines now, is that there are new numbers out showing that cellphone use is higher than ever, with 95 percent of Americans using them on a regular basis.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote back in May 2016:
“Thank God, we here at MacDailyNews, hardly ever use our cellphones to make phone calls at all, much less have them pressed up against our skulls. In fact, we’ve probably taken less than 100 calls since iPhone was introduced in 2007 and we can’t remember the last cellphone call we had that lasted more than a couple of minutes. We almost always use our iPhones on Wi-Fi and for data (browsing, texting, mail, etc.), not voice over cellular — hopefully Wi-Fi is safe or we’re all in big trouble!”
SEE ALSO:
‘Game-changing’ study links cellphone radiation to cancer – May 27, 2016
Study claims cellphone radiation can cause cancer – July 31, 2015
U.S. watchdog calls for regulators to review of cell phone radiation rules – August 8, 2012
FCC’s Genachowski looks to open new inquiry into cellphone radiation emissions – June 16, 2012
New research doubts link between cellphones and cancer – July 5, 2011
Isn’t the cell radiation constant, whether or not you’re actually on a call?
Cell phone radiation is NOT constant. It goes up significantly with cell phone voice calls. You can confirm this by noting that apple’s spec for battery life gives a much shorter battery life for talking than for standby.
Almost all that difference is based on energy used in generating radiation.
Also when you’re talking without headphones the cellphone is up against the head. Radiation at a point (such as the head) reduces by the cube of the distance to that point.
So when you’re holding the phone next to your head you’re receiving vastly more radiation than when you hold it two feet away. Even if you were talking, which you’re not when the the phone is idle.
Also, a huge percentage of communication today is done with text messaging and social networking in lieu of actual phone calls
We’re much safer today than ever in that regard.
The radiation levels fluctuates as the device is transmitting data to towers of varying distances (and overcoming other transmission barriers). Not sure how data and voice transmissions compare for power/radiation levels.
The biggest factor, as far as potential for health implications, would be the distance of the device from the organs affected. The levels of radiation absorbed by tissue drops off exponentially with distance. Even a couple of inches will see a dramatic drop. If it’s in your hands while you’re browsing, I suppose your fingertips might be receiving the same dose as your brain might get on a voice call. But my guess is skin and muscles are much less impacted than the brain.
There is no actual evidence of cell phone “Radiation” causing any of these problems. This is just the wackos in California. The same people use moonbeams, unicorns, and homeopathic medicines.
Yehhhh, it’s just like all those wackos who said pesticides in food were a bad idea, and tobacco, and lead in gasoline, and smog, and red dye #5 and on and on.
There is much more evidence for harm from microwave radiation than there was when the Surgeon General forced warnings on cigarette packaging.
NOTE — Lloyds, the Lancet, and more. These are not “California wackos”.
Just a few references from when I was researching this a few years ago. I’m sure you can find current papers, if you want to follow up.
Provided here is just a tiny sample of the scientific evidence of danger. In the face of such evidence, the Precautionary Principle should, most definitely, rule.
INSURANCE
Two of the worlds largest insurance companies, Lloyds of London and Swiss Re, won’t insure the cell industry and have recommended to other insurance companies to write in exclusion clauses against paying compensation for illnesses caused by continuous long-term low-level radiation.
(Note – Lloyds will pretty much insure anybody for anything… but not the cell industry.)
SCIENTFIC PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Dr Neil Cherry, May 2000, Presentation to the New Zealand Parliament, to Italy, Austria, Ireland and the European Parliament in Brussels.
This paper has 122 references representing approximately 1,000 – 1,500 person-years of scientific research.
“Effects of microwave radiation documented as caused by LONG-TERM LOW LEVEL electromagnetic radiation are: Heart problems; Blood problems; Interference with bone marrow; Tumours; Calcium interference; 46% reduction in night-time melatonin; Increased arthritis; Skin problems; Ear problems; Risk to leukaemia; Childhood cancer; Sleep problems; Depression; Memory loss; Difficulty in concentrating; Mental conditions; Neurological illnesses; Headaches; Dizzyness; Fatigue; Miscarriage; and Infertility.”
French Health General Directorate, January 2001.
They state “a variety of biological effects occur at energy levels that do not cause any rise in local temperature”. The group ask “is it possible to state that there are no health risks?” and they reply “No”.
The Lancet Nov. 25, 2000 (probably the single most prestigious and respected medical journal)
“There is a growing body of scientific research linking microwave radiation to conditions ranging from sleep disorders, memory loss and suppression of immune response to leukemia and other forms of cancer. These studies also suggest that those with developing or weakened immune systems, such as children, the elderly and the ill, are particularly at risk.”
Frey, 1975
Changes in the blood-brain barrier in rats exposed to pulsed microwaves. In earlier work, Frey also found that microwaves could speed up, slow down, or stop altogether the heart rhythm of frogs.
Guy, 1985
Rats exposed to pulsed microwaves, in ranges that simulated the levels allowed by current standards for humans, had increased incidence of adrenal medulla tumors, malignant endocrine and endocrine tumors, and increases in carcinomas and sarcomas.
Salford and Persson, 1992
Increases in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier of rats could be effected at extremely low levels of microwave radiation of around 915 megahertz (around the frequencies used by cellular phones and cellular-phone antennae).
Wolfgang Löscher and Günther Käs, Germany
Documented illness in dairy cows caused by cell towers. This included decreased milk production, infertility, abortions, birth deformities, behavioural problems and early death. Autopsies revealed that the cows died of acute circulatory collapse and bleeding from several organs. When herds were moved far away from any towers, most recovered.
Michael Repaacholi, 1997
“…significant increase in B-cell lymphomas in mice exposed to long-term low-level frequencies in the cellular, PCS range. This has implications for those living near transmitter sites, as changes in B-cells are implicated in 85 percent of all cancers.” “… lymphoma cancer rate was 2.43 times normal with two-hours per day of cell phone exposure.”
INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS
George Carlo, PhD. M.S. J.D.
This is one of the most damning comments of all. He is the former head (for 6 years) of the cell industry research/PR headquarters in Washington DC!!! He split with the industry as he became convinced of the danger.
“They cannot guarantee that cell phones are safe. We’ve moved into an area where we now have some direct evidence of harm from cellular phones. The industry said that there were thousands of studies that proved that wireless phones are safe and the fact was there were NO studies that were directly relevant. They have shown total disregard for mobile phone users.”
Dr. David Carpenter, Dean at the School of Public Health, State University of New York
“This is really harming people, the association between residential exposure to EMF’s and cancer is in my judgment, strong and growing stronger. I believe that 30% of all childhood cancers are associated with EMF exposure.”
Bill P. Curry, PhD, Physicist, Illinois http://www.emscitek.com/
“… omnidirectional antennas should never be placed in close proximity to residences, or at the same and nearly the same elevation as nearby residences.” (The proposed antenna is omni-directional.)
Henry Lai, PhD, Dept. of Bioengineering, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
“I have seen a lot of effects from electromagnetic fields. One is DNA damage, which is a concern because it can lead to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and is a cause of cancer.”
Olle Johansson, PhD, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
“Research show that electromagnetic radiation can affect behaviour, become problematic for short-term memory, cause concentration disturbances and confusion.” “It is a myth that a specific type of radiation or a chemical is harmless just because it happens to be below the official safety level.”
Neil Cherry, PhD, Environmental Health, New Zealand
“External natural and artificial EMR resonantly interacts with our communication systems altering hormone balances and damaging organs and cells. The brain and the heart are especially sensitive.”
“I have found more than 30 studies showing chromosome damage in people exposed to radiofrequency microwave radiation.”
I get the distinct impression that you don’t like California.
It’s non-ionizing radiation which means be definition it’s not going to cause cancer. Total Luddite ignorance and fear mongering.
It’s true that our phones are emitting non-ionizing radiation, but that alone doesn’t mean it can’t increase the risk of cancer.
The jury is still out, but with 20+years since we started seeing mass-adoption levels of mobile phone use, it seems there’s no good reason to panic.
For the gentlemen present, whatever device (iPhone/iPad) we use, if it’s not on or above a table when in use, where is it?
That’s right, in our laps — ie: right above ones balls. Does that not worry you?
Whilst having children, healthy children, isn’t on my personal wish list, it may be on yours some day; however, I’m pretty sure none of us fancy dealing with/dying from testicular cancer either.
Whilst Apple are making their portable devices ever lighter, I may just think about acquiring an iPad-sized thin lead plate patent: “In matching space grey with nice rounded edges and an logo stamped into it”. $19.99 to you.
Seriously though, these devices do sit there for some time over the course of a year, don’t they gentlemen? Isn’t that cause for worry?
Worse, if you keep your phone in your trouser pockets — all that radiation pinging around near the family jewels… scary.
Use the speaker phone if you can do so without disturbing others.
WARNING: This article contains claims known to the State of California to cause ignorance and panic or other intellectual harm.
This just in: Scientists have determined that white mice cause cancer.
Speakerphone in the car, Bluetooth Focals outside exercising, FaceTime on an iPad at home, the rest is usually Messages/Text.
This has been studied for years and results years ago showed increased evidence of Acoustic Neuromas (vestibular schwannoma) on the side they held the phone most commonly increased with cell use. Not as strong as smoking and Lung Ca, but enough to provide further study and caution. Acoustic Neuromas are not cancer, but sometimes require surgical treatment.
Mental defects are not caused by cell phones alone.