Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization. The agency now lists mobile phone use in the same “carcinogenic hazard” category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform.
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.”
What that means is that right now there haven’t been enough long-term studies conducted to make a clear conclusion if radiation from cell phones are safe, but there is enough data showing a possible connection that consumers should be alerted.
“The biggest problem we have is that we know most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences,” said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray, but more like a very low-powered microwave oven.
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6 Responses
The “cigarettes” of the technology age. Just like the tobacco companies, the cell phone companies were fully aware of the dangers when they pushed them on the public. Now we all have to wean ourselves away from them like we did with cigarettes.
these are the same people who caused the flu panic 2 years ago?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer after a week long meeting of experts. They reviewed possible links between cancer and MCU. The agency is the cancer arm of the World Health Organization and the assessment now goes to WHO and national health agencies. The group classified Moisture Cure Urethane in category 2B, meaning they are possibly carcinogenic to humans. Other substances in that category include the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) Xylene Benzene.
All the articles on this subject quote experts in the field that say that children up to the age of 21 years old are at an even higher risk to brain cancer from cell phone usage. This is due to the developing skulls being much more absorbent of radiation than an adults fully formed skull and also due to the developing hormone levels they have. They estimate that children up to 21 years old have a 5 times higher absorption rate than adults.
Of course, why would any adult want to expose him or her self to possible brain tumors but to encourage children who rely on the advice of parents to use cell phones is retzicha.
How much weight can one give to any report from a highly politicized United Nations bureaucracy?
#5
While I agree that most of the U(seless) N(obodies) is highly politicized and probably something this world would be better without, the WHO doe a reasonably good job, and so far has kept politics pretty well out of its proceedigns.