WHO Links Cell Phones to Cancer: Are You Worried?
Another day, another exposure risk exposed. While the link between brain cancer and cell phones is not new, CNN and others are now reporting that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially filed cell phones as a “carcinogenic hazard” yesterday—that’s the same category that features lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. From CNN:
Before its announcement Tuesday, WHO had assured consumers that no adverse health effects had been established.
A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
The piece goes onto explain that cell phone radiation is similar to microwave radiation. As Doctor Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center put it:
“What microwave radiation does in most simplistic terms is similar to what happens to food in microwaves, essentially cooking the brain. So in addition to leading to a development of cancer and tumors, there could be a whole host of other effects like cognitive memory function, since the memory temporal lobes are where we hold our cell phones.”
Of course, like all longterm exposure risks (we can think of some others), this stuff is very hard to study. Brain cancer itself can take years and years to develop, so pinpointing causes is tough. What we do know is that results from the largest study to date found that people who’d been using cell phones for more than ten years were twice as likely to have brain glioma, which is a type of tumor. Not exactly negligible results.
Are you concerned about cell phone use and cancer or other possible side effects? If so, what steps have you taken to minimize your exposure? I try to use my landline or a headset, but I often forget. I also got my first cell phone in 1999—that’s a whole 12 years ago now, which isn’t awesome. Do you remember when you got yours?
This image begs the question: Was Zach better off with the cell phone or the hot dog?
I’ve been concerned about this issue since I saw a special report on the nightly news several months ago- but honestly I’m not sure what to do about it. I’ve heard/ read that even head-sets aren’t much better at protecting you from the “radiation” the phone gives off. Anybody have any cell phone accessories they recommend to cut the radiation? I mean what’s a gal to do!?!?
I’ve been worried about it for a while. I got my first phone in the late 90s and went through a few that I barely used over the next several years. Then I got an iPhone and use it daily but not much for chatting on the phone. I’ve tried to minimize my exposure by using my earbuds and texting and e-mailing instead of calling. I don’t spend a lot of time on the phone, but I’m going to try to cut down even more and probably get an extra pair of earbuds so I’ll always have them around when I go to make a call. My biggest worry now is that my son is getting to an age where he wants a cell phone, and it probably would be convenient and safer in some ways for him to have one. Tough decision ahead.
I primarily use my cell phone for business purposes and I shut it off every night. I am concerned, but I am also wondering what this radiation does in combination with other things, such as television, living next to the mountains, etc. As in cosmetics, I am sure it is quite a negative cumulative effect.
Now that I’ve left such a bummer, have a great day everyone.
Just need to say that you picked THE most amazing picture for this article. God bless Zach.
This one was all Nate. :)
Wow – it’s one thing to worry about my lotions and potions, because I have a plethora of safe & luxurious alternative products to substitute. I have no idea what to use instead of my mobile phone – suggestions welcome!
I’m thinking of going back to pigeons. ;) The thing I’m really dreading is finding out what computers may be doing…
Absolutely worried by this news. I’ve actually been worried about this for awhile, but like everyone else, I’m not sure what to do about it. I’ve cut back on phone use in recent weeks because of a hectic schedule, but most of my friends live far away and I keep up with them via (rather long) cell phone calls. Are headsets/earbuds really not any better?! Help.
so does that mean that if we warm our food in the microwave, it is not safe to eat that food? Because it can cause cancer? Maybe?
While switching to a hands-free option or simply using your phone less has many benefits, I am hesitant to rely too heavily on the results of this study as a basis for changing my habits. What the news fails to mention is that this wasn’t exactly the best designed study. They started their study by finding people who already had brain tumors and asked them to remember their cell phone usage over the past ten years. If that’s not designing a study to meet your hypothesis (which is the opposite direction to take when studying anything), I’m not sure what is.
A great article to read is one by Dr. John Ioannidis who found that roughly eighty percent of medical studies are flawed or fraudulent.
lol, alexandra, pigeons!! hahaha! I don’t use my celly much, anyway, I’ve never liked talking on the phone. I didn’t get my first phone until I was 19- 5 years ago. My plan of action is to continue to make face to face communicay a priority, and try to buy a phone with minimal radiation emitted.
I think cell phones are a sickness (societal) anyway. People can’t go ANYWHERE without them, and their explanation is always WHAT IF?? well, what if you leave the house without your toothbrush, band aids, and defibrillator ?!? We got along with landlines 20 years ago, and it was just fine. People were not constantly hounded to DO things with Every. Second. Of. The. Day. We didnt worry if OMGOSH Jill is going to Macys today at 4 and she just text me and i should go. Or Rick just text me to tell me that his dog has a bad tooth and now i am so worried about them. ??? C’mon, people. Leave the phone off. Or at home. as often as possible. I am so sick of everyone i know ALWAY having their phone. if so and so texts you they can wait 6 hours for a response.
I am concerned about this so I sleep with my phone on airplane mode (so I can still use the alarm clock to wake up), text instead of call (and when I have to call I try and use the landline) and I don’t talk on the cell phone for long and switch ears.