Your Cell Phone is Killing You

Cell phone usage is a part of daily life for most people. The convenience, ease of use, and security afforded by these handy devices makes them nearly indispensable accessories to the modern lifestyle. However, more and more scientific studies are accumulating that show that cell phones may be hazardous to the health of their users. As more time passes, effects of prolonged cell phone use are becoming more evident and alarming.

Scientists have long been aware of the radiation emitted by cell phones during use. It has even been theorized that this radiation may be interfering with the ability of bees to navigate, causing the condition known as Colony Collapse Disorder; scientists at Landau University in Germany found that bees refuse to return to their hives when cell phones are left nearby. It is reasonable to assume that if cell phones have this kind of radical effect on the nervous systems of bees, they must have some effect on humans who hold the phone directly against their heads for hours on end.

An official Finnish government study published in BMC Genomics in February of 2008 showed molecular level changes in the targeted proteins of volunteer subjects. In simpler terms, cell phone radiation caused significant biological changes in the protein strings of individuals exposed to one hour of this radiation. While not all proteins were susceptible to these changes, every individual exposed had some level of protein-level tissue change.

Researchers have warned of the dangers of cell phone use for years. A study published in the February 2003 issue of the International Journal of Oncology discovered a measurable link between increased cell phone usage and brain tumors. Essentially, the study showed that the more prolonged and frequent the use of cell phones, the higher the likelihood of certain tumors became. Spending one hour per day on a cell phone increased the probability of developing acoustic neuroma, a tumor that can cause deafness, by 30 percent.

Another study, published in April 2007 in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and simply entitled, “Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: increased risk associated with use for ≥ ten years,” showed that long-term users of mobile phones were at greater risk for a number of different types of brain tumors, including acoustic neuroma, glioma, and increased size and frequency of malignant brain tumors. This study was led by Dr. Lennart Hardell of University Hospital in Sweden; Dr. Hardell has conducted a number of studies which show similar results, including one that demonstrates the increased likelihood of tumors developing on the side of the brain where the phone is typically held rather than the opposite side.

Children are especially susceptible to the radiation cell phones emit; this radiation penetrates far deeper into the brains of children, and can cause more serious effects. A study performed at the University of Utah showed that the radiation from a typical cell phone can penetrate the entire brain of the child, regardless of which side it was held on. Dr. Leif Salford of Sweden’s Lund University called the use of cell phones by children and adults “the largest human biological experiment ever,” and warned that exposure to this radiation could cause the early onset of senility and cause neurological problems in otherwise healthy individuals who would not normally develop such conditions. Some studies even suggest a link between autism and cell phone use during pregnancy; while still unconfirmed, these initial results suggest that pregnant women should avoid the use of cell phones entirely in order to protect the health and safety of their unborn child.

A study published in May 2007 in Fertility and Sterility found evidence that cell phone usage is linked to lower sperm count in men, and decreased viability and motility in surviving sperm. These results raise questions as to the long-term impact of cell phone use on the future of humanity; by damaging the ability to reproduce, cell phones could have a devastating effect on future generations.

The evidence that cell phones are harmful to health is overwhelming. While industry-funded lobbyists attempt to calm public fears, independent scientific studies continue to demonstrate the risks these devices pose to their users. The best defense against the negative physical effects of cell phone usage is to avoid their use altogether. In cases where that is not possible, minimizing their use and avoiding direct physical contact with the device while in use can afford some protection from the serious health risks cell phones can pose.