There has been an increase in the amount of attention directed toward the health risk of cell phone usage and its impact on physiological aliments. Most of the scrutiny has focused on the risk of benign and malignant tumor development in the brain and other neurological and endocrine organs.
There are several reasons for concern. The first is that wireless or mobile phones emit radio frequency (RF) energy (radio waves), which is a form of radiation. The impact of radiation on the human body has been the focus of health research for decades. In addition, the massive proliferation of cell phone usage in concert with its constantly evolving technology has attracted increased attention from the scientific community.
The National Cancer Institute is concerned that RF energy produced by cell phones may affect the brain and other tissues in the head. Mainly because handheld cell phones are used in close proximity to the head. Consequently, scientists are examining tumors of the brain and central nervous system and other areas of the head as a result. In addition, they are evaluating whether RF energy can cause malignant brain tumors, such as gliomas (cancers of the brain that begin in glial cells). Glial cells surround and support the nerve cells.
Although there has been no statistically significant connection observed between cell phone use and cancer, a study published in 2007 by a group of Israel scientists on Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Benign and Malignant Parotid Gland Tumor did reach some interesting conclusions. Analysis restricted to regular users showed consistently elevated risks with respect to cumulative number of calls and call time without the use of hands-free devices.
This past May, an interview-based case-control study, which included 2,708 glioma and 2,409 meningioma cases and matched controls, which was conducted in 13 countries and published in the Journal of Epidemiology, found that participants who reported spending the most total time on cell phone calls had some increased risk of glioma.
Cell phone technology is a relatively new technology, yet the reality is that we are unaware of the full spectrum of health risks associated with usage in the long term, especially for children and teenagers, whose brains have yet to completely develop.
–torrance stephens, ph.d.
