Is it rational to heed warning on cell phone use cancer risk?

World Health Organization has repeatedly assured the public before that cellular phones do not pose any harm to health, but just this week, WHO sounded alarm regarding the brain cancer risk of cell phone use. However, while the scientists and many medical professionals try to make people understand the seriousness of the matter, others consider it having limited evidence.

WHO compared cell phone radiation to substances such as Chloroform, exhaust from gasoline engine, DDT pesticide, and lead, all of which known to cause health problems when accumulated.

Radiation emitted by cellular phones is carcinogenic. According to WHO, a multi-country study found that there is a 40% increased risk of a rare type of brain cancer called glioma on people who used cell phone 30 minutes every day for 10 years. Unreleased papers also show that cell phone radiation can also increase risk of acoustic neuroma and brain tumor in the part of the brain where cell phone radiation is greatest.

Why do people doubt this warning?

People don’t see yet the long term effect of cell phone use to brain because these gadgets have only been in the society for around 2 decades. Significantly, scientists cannot establish evidence based on that. Also, the generation that has been using cellular phones at a very early age has just started. Further, Dr. Kate Black of the Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said, “the overall risk of developing a malignant brain tumor is about 6 per 100,000 per year.”

Do we really have to be concerned of this warning?

The levels of radiation emitted by cell phones in the U.S. are within government safety limits. But what is safe depends on important factors such as age. Take at the print shot shown below. The red spot you notice in the image is the radiation that penetrated into the brain. And as shown, the 5-year-old kid is affected the most than the 10-year-old as well as the adult. This suggests that long term exposure to cell phone radiation may actually cause brain cancer, especially with children whose skulls are thinner and brains still developing.

The most recent study on cell phone effect to brains showed that brain activity increases with cell phone held in the ear than when it’s not. The said study did not find any direct link to brain cancer. However, since it’s radiation level is similar to a microwave, even considered low, can still cook the brain in the long run.

Given the potential consequences of public health…it is importance to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure. – WHO

They say the warning was based on limited evidence. The 31 scientists of WHO do not deny such a fact. However, we would be wise to take in mind that cigarettes were then doubted to cause harm, and it took long to really establish solid evidence that cigarettes indeed cause harm. So it just makes sense to take precautions.

Cell phone users may use earpiece or headset, or speaker phone. Instead of calling, they can opt to texting more often. And, of course, people can cut down on phone use. Always reconsider whether or not the call you are making is really important or simply unnecessary.

Doing such measures does not spell panicking, but a sound precaution. For one, lowering risk of any type of health problem saves you from huge costs for treatment in the future. You and your family will have a lower probability of having to fear any bad news from those in medical uniforms and lab coats. And you would be happy to find lower cell phone bill.