Oct. 4--Do cellphones pose a health risk? Is cellphone use linked to
cancer?
Those questions are being debated, as research continues. Meanwhile, the
Environmental Working Group, based in Washington, says it makes sense to chose
a cellphone or wireless device with low radiation.
They've made it easy by providing an interactive database with radiation
ratings for more than 1,000 cellphones marketed in the United States on their
Web site. Go to www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation to view it and to read the
full report.
"The latest research within the last couple of years is provocative and
concerning. However, clearly much more research into the impact and effect of
cellphone radiation needs to be done," said Working Group spokesman Alex
Formuzis.
Recent scientific studies have produced evidence linking brain and
salivary gland tumors to cellphone use, according to Environmental Working
Group.
"If you look at the science, the industry and the government used to set
safety standards in the early '90s. At that point, there had only been a few
years of cellphone usage by a small number of people," Formuzis said. "Today
it's estimated 4 billion people on Earth are using cellphones. The number of
young people using them has skyrocketed."
Although health officials in Germany, Switzerland, Israel, United
Kingdom, France and Finland have issued warnings to limit cellphone use,
especially for children, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn't feel
compelled to do so.
"The weight of scientific evidence has not linked cellphones with any
health problems," the FDA advises. "Cellphones emit low levels of radio
frequency energy."
Reduce your exposure In addition to buying a low-radiation phone,
Environmental Working Group recommends reducing cellphone exposure by:
1. Using headsets and the speaker phone option if available.
2. Texting more, talking less.
3. Staying off the phone when few bars indicate a weak signal.
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