Health effects of cell phone use

[BrainOfSweden]

"Before each training session, rats from one group were exposed for one hour to pulsed microwaves, radiation similar to that emitted by cellular telephones."

So they weren't exposed to actual cell phones. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the level of radiation the rats were receiving was tens or hundreds of times greater than what you would get with normal cell phone use. As far as I'm concerned this study has no relation to cell phones.

Until someone reputable publishes a study that definitively proves that cell phone use is harmful, I see no reason to believe any of this.

I agree with you. We shall remember that the legal SAR for cellphone radiation is a lot lower than what is considered dangerous. A few months ago, a study was released that proved phones to be harmless. I will not believe any of them until someone get's cancer from a cell phone in real life.

 

[Cubenovice]

We shall remember that the legal SAR for cellphone radiation is a lot lower than what is considered dangerous.

With current knowledge...

 

[Kirjava]

With current knowledge...

The radiation from bacon is lower than what is considered dangerous with current knowledge.

 

[Owen]

Don't ever use cellular phones. If you really want to talk to someone, just call them on a normal phone.

 

[Edward]

Don't ever use cellular phones. If you really want to talk to someone, just call them on a normal phone.

And your reasoning for this?

 

[Julian]

Wow. I'm surprised by the overwhelming consensus in this thread.

 

[Kirjava]

Wow. I'm surprised by the overwhelming consensus in this thread.

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

 

[JBCM627]

Just thought I'd put this out there:

From: http://xkcd.com/radiation/

Note the cell phone usage dose.

 

[krnballerzzz]

The radiation from bacon is lower than what is considered dangerous with current knowledge.

Delicious radiation.

 

[izovire]

I agree there needs to be a much better study of this before saying it's dangerous... but then if illness starts to pop up, people will complain that no one warned them. People use to think that looking too close at Televisions led to eye problems or even cancer (my grandmother told me when I was 7).

We are exposed to some radiation every day. Sunlight is probably more dangerous than cellphones.

 

[Stefan]

Just thought I'd put this out there:
http://xkcd.com/radiation/

What? Why?

From the first article Chris linked to:
"The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing."

From the image you posted:
"This is a chart of the ionizing radiation..."

Note the cell phone usage dose.

Yeah it explicitly says they don't produce ionizing radiation. So? Are bombs harmless because they're not poison?

 

[Julian]

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

Right then. I'm surprised by the general agreement.

 

[Kirjava]

Yeah. People are not agreeing with each other.

 

[Cubenovice]

I agree there needs to be a much better study of this before saying it's dangerous...

Perhaps you meant to say: I agree there needs to be a much better study of this before saying it's not dangerous?

 

[Mike Hughey]

What? Why?

I thought maybe Jim was putting it out there because of the comment about cellphones (especially the part that goes with the asterisk!):

a cell phone's transmitter does not produce ionizing radiation* and does not cause cancer.
* Unless it's a bananaphone

Delicious radiation indeed!

Yeah. People are not agreeing with each other.

I thought Julian was right on track - to me it looks like there's a clear consensus in this thread that cell phones are not anything to worry about. Consensus doesn't require everyone to agree, just most parties.

 

[Kirjava]

I thought Julian was right on track - to me it looks like there's a clear consensus in this thread that cell phones are not anything to worry about. Consensus doesn't require everyone to agree, just most parties.

You can see how I could disagree with his statement though. It is not unanimous.

 

[Mike Hughey]

You can see how I could disagree with his statement though. It is not unanimous.

After rereading the thread, I suppose it isn't quite as one-sided as my initial impression was of it, but it's still mostly on the side that cell phones are not anything to worry about.

Definition of CONSENSUS
1a : general agreement : unanimity <the consensus of their opinion, based on reports … from the border — John Hersey> b : the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned <the consensus was to go ahead>

Definition 1b is probably my primary use of the word. Certainly my initial impression on reading the thread was that it was agreed on by most of those concerned.

As for me, I think the bigger worry about cell phones from a public safety perspective is driving while using them. That surely currently has more impact on public health than any potential cancer risk, doesn't it?