Cellular Phones - A Health Hazard?

Cellular phones have become indispensable in today’s society. Not only do they offer us the convenience of instantaneous communication but they also offer us a safety net in times of emergency. In spite of the growing need for cellular phones, the concern has arisen that they may actually pose a health hazard due to exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy they emit and receive.

Cellular phones are actually radio transceivers or devices which transmit and receive radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic signals from a network of fixed, low power, base stations. The transmitting power of cell phones vary depending on the type of network and the phone's distance from the base station. This power ranges in frequency from 824-850 MHz while the incoming frequency ranges from 869-894 MHz. This electromagnetic energy is non-ionizing radiation which means that unlike the radiation emitted by X-Ray machines, the RF energy of cell phones does not break chemical bonds and therefore is unlikely to damage a human body's genetic material.

Nevertheless, due to the sharp increase in cell phone usage over the past 25 years and the building of more and more cellular base stations, reports have emerged linking certain health concerns with the usage of cellular phones. The possibility of potential health effects from long-term exposure to RF energy has become a real concern.

In urban areas cellular base stations commonly use sector or panel antennas. The RF emissions from these antennas are directed in a fan shape. The intensity of the power emitted therefore decreases significantly as the distance increases from the antenna. As a result, while cellular base stations can radiate very high power levels, the maximum power radiated in any one direction is normally within 50 watts and exposure to RF levels is normally well within the FCC Guidelines. As long as these exposures remain within the guidelines, Health Canada maintains that there is no scientific reason to consider cellular phone usage to be harmful to the public.

While the energy levels emitted and absorbed by cellular phones are well within the levels considered to be safe by the regulatory bodies, conflicting reports exist linking the use of cellular phones with cancer and other health concerns. Apart from the obvious risks of cell phone usage such as distraction while driving, cycling, etc. and possible interference with certain medical devices or navigation systems, real concerns have been raised about links between cell phone use and the user’s health.

An extensive study, published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2009, analyzed data over 30 years. The results show no significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with brain tumour. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that cell phone radiation is "unlikely to induce or promote cancer." WHO is presently reviewing and compiling a massive quantity of scientific research on the topic which is expected to be published in 2010.

Further health concerns include sleep difficulties and infertility. A sleep study compared people exposed to wireless signals for 3 hours to people who were not exposed. The exposed people took longer to fall into deep sleep when compared to their counterparts who were not exposed. The Journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has found that men who talk on cell phones for more than 4 hours/day had a lower average sperm count and fewer viable sperm than those who did not. What is under question however is if the cellular phone electromagnetic radiation is the cause for this situation or if these men’s lifestyles and occupations may the contributing factors to this problem. Despite the inconclusive and conflicting research, many health experts encourage caution.

Situations	Precautions
Children	Should not use cellular phones or should use them minimally
Adults	Limit use of cellular phones Hands-free headsets can help reduce exposure to head and body. Switch sides (ears) regularly as this limits the power and duration of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear Send text messages as they tend to be shorter, and the unit is held away from the body Opt for lower power units (where possible) to help reduce exposure Limit the length of a call Use regular telephones as much as possible
Proximity of unit to the body	As much as possible, keep or store away from the body. Avoid unnecessary exposures Carry in the pocket with the board (back) towards the body as this means the fields move away from you rather than through you
Driving	For safety, do not use while driving or doing tasks that require your attention Cell phone usage during driving can cause impairments comparable to those incurred while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Persons with Cardiac Pacemakers	Do not carry a cell phone in the breast pocket of a shirt or jacket.  Keep the phone as far away from the pacemaker as possible.

• Federal Communications Commission
• Lifestyle from Yahoo!
• Health Canada
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety