Cellular Cancer Risk Advisory
Every so often, the specter of cell phone related cancers pops up in the media. While there is no conclusive data linking cell phones to cancer, some doctors are beginning to warn children and adults to limit their exposure to the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones. The latest such story broke in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday.
Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers has begun advising faculty and staff about the possible health risks associated with cellular phone use.
Particular concern is being placed on the cellular exposure that children receive. Their sensitive tissues, organs, and growing bodies leave them at particular risk to all sorts of environmental factors, possibly including risks from electromagnetic radiation from cell phones.
Dr. Herberman asserts: “Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer,” he said in the advisory. “Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.”
Although 20 different groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute, the bulk of major studies related to cell phones and cancer do not show a significant increase in cancers for cell phone users. The largest of these studies tracking 420,000 cell phone users for 10 years was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006 and showed no increased risk to cancer.
This is clearly an issue which requires more independent research in order to reassure a public which is rapidly turning to cellular as a primary form of communication.
3 Comments
I’m not sure how I feel about this story. On the one hand, I have long thought that it was risky holding a cell phone to your head for hours on end (as sales guys and teens often do). All that radiation focused on a singular point of your body just doesn’t sound like a good idea.
But I also need and love my cell phone. I don’t even own a landline anymore. But just to be safe, until there is more research, I choose to leave my phone on my desk – away from my body – when I’m not on a call.
I’d also like to know what the possible risk of Bluetooth headsets is. That is a wireless frequency as well. California now requires drivers to go hands free. Most people now drive with a Bluetooth headset. As I often commute 2 hours each way, I’m concerned about the risks I’m exposing my body too. And one need only look at how the Tobacco Industry handled the risks of cigarettes to guess that the Cellular Industry (which is potentially even more powerful) might not want us to know that their product could possibly cause brain cancer.
I’m interested to see what independent research comes out regarding these issues in the near future.
GOVERNMENT REFORM OF CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES
AT&T, VERIZON, T-MOBILE, SPRINT, ETC
We are tired of corporate America mobile cellular companies asking us to make a commitment to their company when they have no loyalty to, us, their customers. As American consumers we go to cell phone companies for service, not for equipment. Branding another manufacturer’s equipment is just another way for them to bind us into contractual agreements and, to charge us additional monies to use the full features of the equipment, as designed by the original cell phone manufacturer, in an “a la carte” manner.
We need better consumer protection against leveraging our credit rating and worthiness, if, we should become un-employed during the duration of such a commitment, on such a product.
Therefore, we are asking for legislation that allows us to:
• Purchase our own equipment directly from cell phone manufacturers or without making two year commitments or any.
• Allow us to switch telecommunication service providers without penalty or credit sacrifice.
• Make it easy for us to move our existing telephone numbers to whichever company we choose.
• Advertise which telecommunication companies provide the best coverage in our area, on a specified website.
• Prevent cell phone companies from “piece mealing” services by features that were part of the original cell phone design by the manufacturer.
• Stop cell phone providers from adding additional charges to our bills utilizing abstract names and means.
• Giving us a clear cut way to report cell phone providers who fleece their customers, for immediate remedy, and, for better consumer credit protection.
• Prevent telecommunication companies from designing specialized plans, specific, to certain cell phone manufacturers to abstract more monthly service fees.