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Radiation protection
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Articles Index for cell phone radiation reports
What can I use to protect myself from cell phone radiation
How cell phone radiation and electromagnetic radiation works
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Cell Phone Radiation
Public health officials’ concerns about the possible dangers of
radiofrequency emissions are intensifying as wireless devices proliferate amid a
lack of research on the impact. There have been several studies that indicate
that high cell phone use can result in brain damage. Recent scientific studies
have produced evidence linking brain and salivary gland tumors to cell phone
use. There is especially concern for children as the cell phone use by children
continues to grow rapidly.
Thus far, health agencies in six nations — Switzerland, Germany, Israel, France,
the United Kingdom, and Finland — have issued warnings to limit cell phone use,
particularly by children, whose softer, thinner skulls are less able to shield
the brain from radiation. Scientists have found that children’s brains absorb
twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults. Noticeably absent from
this list is the United States.
According to the CTIA Wireless Association, an international industry group,
U.S. wireless subscribers numbered 270.3 million — 87 percent of Americans — as
of December 2008, a 30 percent jump in three years. Some 60 percent of the
global population — 4 billion people — subscribe to wireless services, according
to Cellular News, an online global industry news outlet.
“We would like to be able to say that cell phones are safe,” said Olga Naidenko,
Ph.D., EWG Senior Scientist and lead author of the study. “But we can’t. The
most recent science, while not conclusive, raises serious issues about the
cancer risk of cell phone use that must be addressed through further research.
In the meantime, consumers can take steps to reduce exposure.”
Better Consumer Information Vital
In response to this growing health issue, the Environmental Working Group’s
(EWG) research team has assembled the most comprehensive online consumer guide
ever to cell phone radiation, rating more than 1,000 cell phones marketed in the
U.S.
With this free, user-friendly online tool, consumers can make informed decisions
about which cell phones to buy. The EWG guide uses easy-to-read graphics to
illustrate each phone’s radiofrequency emissions, enabling consumers to make
quick comparisons of radiation output of various wireless devices.
“The first cell phones were marketed to adults,” Naidenko said. “But today,
children are just as likely to own a cell phone as a video game, baseball or
bicycle.”
According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which tracks cell phone
use among U.S. children between 12 and 17 years old, last year (2008) 71 percent
of tweens and teens owned cell phones. More than half use the device daily.
Outdated Radiation Standards
EWG’s analysis of possible public health risks of cell phone radiation
culminates a 10-month investigation of more than 200 peer-reviewed studies,
government advisories and industry documents.
The EWG concludes that the current U.S. cell phone radiation standards, set by
the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and based largely on 1992 cell
phone industry recommendations, are outdated and allow 20 times more radiation
to penetrate the head than the rest of the body.
The Environmental Workgroup (EWG) is urging the FCC to upgrade its standards to
take account of the newest scientific evidence and also increasing cell phone
use by children. In addition, the EWG urges concerned consumers to take action
and tell the federal government that cell phone makers should be required to
disclose each phone’s radiation output on the label.
Know Your Cell Phone Radiation Emissions
To help consumers, the EWG has created a new searchable interactive database of
radiation emissions from cell phones. The data is based on technical
specifications of cell phones currently on the market and some popular older
models. Cell phones can be searched by model. A separate database details
radiation levels of smart phones.
EWG Top 10 low emission phones:
1. Samsung Impression (SGH-a877) [AT&T]
2. Motorola RAZR V8 [CellularONE]
3. Samsung SGH-t229 [T-Mobile]
4. Samsung Rugby (SGH-a837) [AT&T]
5. Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-i627) [AT&T]
6. Samsung Gravity (SGH-t459) [CellularONE, T-Mobile]
7. T-Mobile Sidekick [T-Mobile]
8. LG Xenon (GR500) [AT&T]
9. Motorola Karma QA1 [AT&T]
10. Sanyo Katana II [Kajeet]
EWG’s Top 10 high radiation emission phones:
1. Motorola MOTO VU204 [Verizon Wireless]
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G [T-Mobile]
3. Kyocera Jax S1300 [Virgin Mobile]
4. Blackberry Curve 8330 [Sprint, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS]
5. Motorola W385 [U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless]
6. T-Mobile Shadow [T-Mobile]
7. Motorola C290 [Sprint, Kajeet]
8. Motorola i335 [Sprint]
9. Motorola MOTO VE240 [Cricket, MetroPCS]
10. Blackberry Bold 9000 [AT&T]
Safer Cell Phone Use Tips
Cell phones are now an essential feature of modern life for most people. We ared
not going to all give up cell phones. Like other aspects of modern ife that
involve health risks, limiting risk is the practical option. Here are four
things you can do from the EWG report.
1: Chose a phone with low radiation emissions.
2: Use a Scientifically Proven EMR reducing device
3: Text more, talk less.
4: Use headsets and the speakerphone option if available.
5: Stay off the phone when few bars indicate a weak signal. |
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