Is it suicide by cell phone? Or is this just the latest in a seemingly endless stream of cancer scares for cell phone users?
The pattern goes like this: a new study says cell phone use can increase the risk of cancer, only to be followed by another study that says there’s no proof of a connection between cell use and cancer. This back-and-forth controversy has been around a long time.
The latest study -- here's a link -- seems more credible and serious than usual.
I'm not qualified to enter the debate about whether the dangers are real. There are world-class scientists who think them real and other equally qualified scientists who think nothing has been proven. I can say the latest study makes a good argument about increased dangers for heavy users.
Because of that, we'll talk about some precautions -- things that will decrease possible dangers – steps that are easy to take and that don't involve junking your cell phone. There's no harm in trying them even if the fears eventually prove to be overblown. And if the danger is real, well, you may save your health or even your life.
Let's start by talking about the type of radiation produced by cell phones. It isn't the same kind you'd experience if you entered the red zone at a nuclear power plant. Cell phones expose you to non-ionizing radiation -- that's the same sort of radiation produced by a microwave oven. It’s created by radio frequencies that cause -- again like that microwave oven -- heating. There's no argument, even from skeptics, that the frequencies and transmitted power from your phone produce some heating. And since you're holding the thing against your head you're exposing your brain to cell phone radiation. None of that is in dispute. It’s the link to cancer that is in question.
Short of lining your head with aluminum foil, what do you do to decrease any possible risks? I'll try to list ways you can do that in an order based on how easy each is to follow.
First, a no-brainer really: Try to shorten your cell phone conversations. Just don't talk as long. If you plan to have a lengthy conversation, save it for a regular phone. The longer you hold the cell against your head the more exposure you receive. Now that many of you have abandoned old-fashioned home telephone service and use a cell for all your calling the average exposure time for Americans has shot through the ceiling.
The next tip is just as easy to follow as the first. Move your phone from one ear to the other every few moments while you’re talking. That way you avoid concentrating all the radiation in one spot. Even if you just follow these two tips you'll substantially reduce your risks.
You need to know a bit about how cell phones work to understand why my next tip makes sense. The phone is a transceiver -- a receiver and transmitter housed in one tiny device. It links to a nearby cell tower where your signal is amplified and sent on to other towers -- that's why you get so much range from a low-powered cell phone. You may already know that. But here's what you might not know. If you're a good distance from a cell tower, or if the signal is weak for some other reason, the phone automatically boosts its transmitting power. That means, when the bars that display signal strength show a weak signal, your phone is cranking up the power and giving you a higher dose of non-ionizing radiation. So -- when you are in an area with low signal strength -- avoid using your phone if you can. Wait until you’re in an area that offers a stronger signal, more bars.
There's quite a big variation in how much radiation is produced from various brands and models of cells. Some phones use a lot more transmitting power. It makes sense to select a phone that's conservative when it comes to power. This website tells you about the power variations and also includes a chart that shows how much each model uses.
We've talked about the fact that, when you hold the phone against your ear, you are moving the radiation to a vulnerable spot on your body -- the brain. So it makes sense, when you can, to use your cell's speaker phone capability. That way you can hold the phone away from your body. Because of the relatively low power output of cell phones even a few inches of separation can make a big difference.
By now you're wondering why I haven't mentioned using a wired headphone and clipping the phone to your belt. Well, that's a good idea but not a perfect one. For one thing, you're moving the phone toward another vulnerable area -- your groin. For another, some scientists (it's anything but unanimous, I'm not vouching for whether it's true or not) think wired headsets serve as tiny antennas that direct the signal toward your head. If I had to guess -- and that's all I can do -- using a wired headset is still a better idea than holding the phone against your head. But since the stakes or so high when it comes to your health I need to at least mention the divergent views about wired headsets.
There is a type of headset that uses a tube -- not wires -- to direct the sound to your head. It works just like the old-fashioned speaking tubes once used in steamships. The sound travels through a hollow tube using its own energy -- just the sound of your voice -- instead of electrical wires. Truth is that there's so many mixed opinions about this that only those who feel very strongly about cell safety should worry about this. The other tips are more important, easier to use, and there's almost completely agreement among the experts that they work. But, if you're interested, you can read about tube headsets here.
About the Author
