One year ago TMR published an article: “Would You Put Your Head in a Microwave”. It said:
Your cell phone cooks your head in the same way your microwave heats up leftover meatloaf.
In fact, there’s new research that shows just how much your head is being cooked.
One study from German researchers found:
Using your cell phone for just 4 minutes heats up the side of your head by as much as 7 degrees.
It is now one year later: Read on!
An international panel of experts says cell phones are possibly carcinogenic to humans after reviewing details from dozens of published studies.
The statement was issued in Lyon, France, on Tuesday by the International Agency for Research on Cancer after a weeklong meeting of experts. They reviewed possible links between cancer and the type of electromagnetic radiation found in cell phones, microwaves and radar.
The agency is the cancer arm of the World Health Organization and the assessment now goes to WHO and national health agencies for possible guidance on cell phone use.
The group classified cell phones in category 2B, meaning they are possibly carcinogenic to humans. Other substances in that category include the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust.
Last year, results of a large study found no clear link between cell phones and cancer. But some advocacy groups contend the study raised serious concerns because it showed a hint of a possible connection between very heavy phone use and glioma, a rare but often deadly form of brain tumor. However, the numbers in that subgroup weren’t sufficient to make the case.
The study was controversial because it began with people who already had cancer and asked them to recall how often they used their cell phones more than a decade ago.
In about 30 other studies done in Europe, New Zealand, and the United States, patients with brain tumors have not reported using their cell phones more often than unaffected people.
Because cell phones are so popular, it may be impossible for experts to compare cell phone users who develop brain tumors with people who don’t use the devices. According to a survey last year, the number of cell phone subscribers worldwide has hit 5 billion, or nearly three-quarters of the global population.
People’s cellphone habits have also changed dramatically since the first studies began years ago and it’s unclear if the results of previous research would still apply today.
Since many cancerous tumors take decades to develop, experts say it’s impossible to conclude cell phones have no long-term health risks. The studies conducted so far haven’t tracked people for longer than about a decade.
Cell phones send signals to nearby towers via radio frequency waves, a form of energy similar to FM radio waves and microwaves. But the radiation produced by cell phones cannot directly damage DNA and is different from stronger types of radiation like X-rays or ultraviolet light. At very high levels, radio frequency waves from cell phones can heat up body tissue, but that is not believed to damage human cells.
According to Cancer Research U.K., the only health danger firmly connected to cell phones is a higher risk of car accidents. The group recommends children under 16 only use cell phones for essential calls because their brains and nervous systems are still developing.
Also, a recent U.S. National Institutes of Health study found that cell phone use can speed up brain activity, but it is unknown whether that has any dangerous health effects.
