Cell Phone Safety

Society seems to excitedly embrace new technology that makes our lives easier. [SIDEBAR: Multi-taskers stand up!] The cell phone, and all of its derivatives, may go down in history as one of the most celebrated inventions of modern times. Who wouldn't love a device that allows for such a swift transference of information? However, as with almost all relatively new inventions, there is a downside. Because of the "newness" of the product, long term testing is negated. This can be dangerous because users of the popular, new technology can be left ignorant of the detriments of its usage. In the case of mobile communication technology, the possible detriments are no small laughing matter.

Researchers have been debating about the dangers of cell phone use since the product's inception. Some scientists argue that mobile phone utilization can lead to cancer. However, there is no definitive proof to this claim because of a lack of long term observation. Still, many doctors who have experience in dealing with radiation exposure, are advising that cell phone users exercise certain precautions.

According to The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Center For Environmental Oncology, here is a list of guidelines that should be practiced when using a cell phone:

1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
2. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet.
   Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a headset attachment may also reduce exposure.
3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields.
4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.
5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, it is preferable that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside of your body. Depending on the thickness of the phone this may provide a minimal reduction of exposure.
6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.
7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.
8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.
9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.
10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for “sar ratings cell phones” on the internet.