It’s the 21st century and smartphones and other electronic gadgets have completely conquered our lives. With increased development in these gadgets most of us(especially our parents) are concerned about its health effects. News like the radiation of cell phones can cause brain tumors, cancers ,skin diseases etc too has become ubiquitous in the media . Let us see whether a smartphone is capable enough to cause diseases to such extent.
What kind of radiations do our phones emit?
Phones transmit and receive RF waves. These radiations fall under the category of non ionization radiation which do not have enough energy to cause cancer by directly damaging the DNA inside cells.
Higher exposure of RF waves may heat up body tissues and kill cells. But the energy is too less to raise body temperature.
So are we at risk of cancer or not?
In order to verify this, two types of studies were done:
1.Lab studies: Under this, tests were carried on animals to check the effects of phone radiations
2. Studies in people: Studies and surveys were done among different groups of people to compare the cancer rate in people who are more exposed to phone radiations to rate in people who are less exposed to it .
So what were the results?
As stated above, the radiations emitted by smart phones don’t have enough energy to damage DNA directly or to heat body tissues. Thus, most of the studies couldn’t find a definite relation between cancer and phone radiations.
In contrast to this, A study on people has shown that cell phones may have some effects on the brain, although it’s not clear if they’re harmful. The study found that when people had an active cell phone held up to their ear for 50 minutes, brain tissues on the same side of the head as the phone, used more glucose than those tissues on the other side of the brain. The possible health effect, if any, from the increase in glucose use from cell phone energy is unknown.
So what do the experts say ?
Last year, 200 scientists from 39 nations have authored a 2,000 page report on the health and biological effects of non-ionizing radiation. In brief, they say that devices like cellphones pose risks of cancer, genetic damage, changes in reproductive system, and produce learning and memory defects.
“Putting it bluntly they are damaging the living cells in our bodies and killing many of us prematurely,”said Dr. Martin Blank, from the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University
“We have created something that is harming us, and it is getting out of control. Before Edison’s light bulb there was very little electromagnetic radiation in our environment. The levels today are very many times higher than natural background levels, and are growing rapidly because of all the new devices that emit this radiation.”
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (WHO organization which researches on cause and treatment of cancer)has classified RF waves or cell phones radiations as possible carcinogens
The other main agencies that supports this statement, includes the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP)
Although some organizations feel that smartphones are harmful ,a few other major organizations are bit uncertain about its effects.
According to organizations like National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the present studies have failed to show any considerable link between cell phone use and radiations.More research is required in this field to know the definite effects of smartphone usage.
“The evidence so far doesn’t prove that cell phones cause cancer, and we definitely need more and better research,” says Michael Hansen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at Consumer Reports.
What to do? Use the phone or not?
Although we aren’t sure whether our phone can cause cancer or not. We surely know that its usage definitely has harmful impacts on our health. So, until experts confirm that, taking precaution is the best option we have.
The following precautions could be implemented to ensure safe usage of cell-phones.
Try to keep phone away from your body.( In your bag or purse when outside)
Text or video call when possible.
Use headphones or Bluetooth headset for taking calls.
-Ismail ,B.E -2/4