Use of mobile phones may be Carcinogenic: WHO
More women are giving up their landlines for cell phones, but new research
indicates that there may be
health risks
associated with long-term wireless use.
Wireless phones transmit via radio frequency (RF), a low-frequency form of
radiation.
A cell phone's main source of RF is its antenna, from which it sends a signal to
the nearest base-station antenna. The further a cell phone is from the base
station, the more RF it needs to establish and maintain a connection. So, the
theory is that any risks posed by RF would be greater for people who live and
work in areas with fewer base stations.
A cell phone user�s level of exposure to RF energy depends on several
factors, including:
- The number and duration of calls.
- The amount of cell phone traffic at a given time.
- The distance from the nearest cellular base station.
- The quality of the cellular transmission.
- The size of the handset.
- For older phones, how far the antenna is extended.
- Whether or not a hands-free device is used.
In recent times there is concern that RF energy produced by cell phones may
affect the brain and other tissues in the head because hand-held cell phones are
usually held close to the head. Researchers have focused on whether RF energy
can cause malignant (cancerous) brain tumors, such as gliomas (cancers
of the brain that begin in glial cells, which surround and support the nerve
cells), as well as benign (noncancerous) tumors, such as acoustic neuromas
(tumors that arise in the cells of the nerve that supplies the ear) and
meningiomas (tumors that occur in the meninges, which are the membranes that
cover and protect the brain and spinal cord) . The salivary glands also may be
exposed to RF energy from cell phones held close to the head.
Warning issued by WHO
On 31,May 2011 WHO announced "Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause
cancer". However, before its announcement on 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."
What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic
neuroma brain cancer (also known as vestibular schwannomas, are non-malignant
tumors of the 8th cranial nerve) for mobile phone users, but have not been able
to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.
Results from the largest international study on cell phones
and cancer was released in 2010. It showed participants in the study
who used a cell phone for 10 years or more had doubled the rate of
brain glioma, a type of tumor.
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What is Brain Glioma?
There are two main types of brain tumors: those that start in the brain
(primary) and those that spread from cancer somewhere else in the body
(metastasis). Primary brain tumors happen less often, and when they do, they are
mostly malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor is a mass or clump of cancer
cells that keeps growing; it doesn't do anything except feed off the body so it
can grow.
The largest group of primary brain tumors is gliomas (glee-OH-muhs).
There are several kinds of gliomas: astrocytomas, which grow anywhere in the
brain or spinal cord; brain stem gliomas, which arise in the lowest part of the
brain; ependymomas, which develop inside the brain, in the lining of the
ventricles, and oligodendrogliomas, which usually grow in the cerebrum (very
rare, representing just 3% of all primary brain tumors). An advanced astrocytoma
is called glioblastoma; these represent 23% of all primary brain tumors.
However, many researchers believe younger cell-phone users may face a higher
risk of developing tumors because their nervous systems are not fully developed
and their skulls are not as thick as those of adults.
Recommendations for Cell Phone Users :
Keep your device away from your body. The logic behind such recommendations
is that the further the phone is from the body, the less radiation is absorbed.
Users can also use the speakerphone function or a wired earpiece to gain
some distance.
Users can text instead of talk if they want to keep the phone away from
their faces.
Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to
connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak
signal, has to work harder, giving of more radiation. So users can avoid using
their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce
their exposure.
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