How harmful Cell Phone Radiations are?

Cellphones have become common all over the world. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated by the International Telecommunications Union to be 5 billion. From the slums of Dharavi to the back alleys of Silicon Valley, you will find multitudes of people with a cellphone growing out of their ear (at least it looks like that to me).

Over the years as they have gotten more and more common, people have developed fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) over wether the basic technology behind cellphones is safe. So lets get into it and see what the facts are.

The Fear

Cell phones put out radio waves, specifically, non-ionizing radiation (the OK kind of radiation). This radiation can get absorbed by the parts of the body closest to the phone (Your head!). Over time, the number of cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the amount of time people use cell phones have increased. Cell phone technology has also undergone substantial changes.

So the FEAR is that the radiation coming out of these cellphones can cause brain cancers or skin cancers of the ear.

The Doubt

Exposure to ionizing radiation (the nasty kind of radiation), such as from radiation therapy, is known to increase the risk of cancer. However, although many studies have examined the potential health effects of non-ionizing radiation from radar, microwave ovens, and other sources, there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk.

The only known biological effect of radiofrequency energy is heating. The ability of microwave ovens to heat food is one example of this effect of radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency exposure from cell phone use does cause heating; however, it is not sufficient to measurably increase body temperature.

Although there have been some concerns that radiofrequency energy from cell phones held closely to the head may affect the brain and other tissues, to date there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.

It is generally accepted that damage to DNA is necessary for cancer to develop. However, radiofrequency energy, unlike ionizing radiation, does not cause DNA damage in cells, and it has not been found to cause cancer in animals or to enhance the cancer-causing effects of known chemical carcinogens in animals.

The Uncertainty

Research is an ongoing process. The data ‘to date’ shows that cellphones are harmless but the technology is relatively new. So it’s always a good idea to understand the counterpoints. The data which says that they MAY NOT be safe. For example:

In 2001 a study published in the ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’ showed that when people used a cell phone for 50 minutes, brain tissues on the same side of the head as the phone’s antenna metabolised more glucose than did tissues on the opposite side of the brain. The researchers noted that the results are preliminary, and possible health outcomes from this increase in glucose metabolism are still unknown.

Here are some reasons WHY the studies in the past have been confusing and difficult to get clear information from.

• Recall bias. Human memory is fickle. A lot of the time study participants who have brain tumours remember their cell phone use differently from individuals without brain tumors.  People who develop a brain tumor have a tendency to recall using their cell phone mostly on the same side of their head where the tumor was found, regardless of whether they actually used their phone on that side of their head a lot or only a little.
• Inaccurate reporting: People don’t remember the little things. The observed data on how long patient uses their phone versus what they report can be wildly off.
• Participation bias, which can happen when people who are diagnosed with brain tumors are more likely than healthy people to enroll in a research study, that skews the data.  Also, people who do not or rarely used cell phones were less likely to participate in studies than people who used cell phones regularly.