Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer? (was RE: Teen cellphone radiation risk)

["Jim Hoerner" <jim_hoerner@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Do Cellular Phones Cause Cancer?



When a man appeared on a national talk show in 1993 and claimed his wife had 

developed brain cancer from using a cell phone, the public reacted with 

fear. While extreme exposure to radiofrequency radiation can have serious 

health effects, there is no evidence that the low levels of radiofrequency 

radiation emitted by hand-held cellular phones cause cancer, according to a 

review of studies by a Medical College of Wisconsin researcher.



Studies with laboratory animals have sometimes indicated that even small 

levels of radiofrequency radiation exposure could be harmful, but all of 

these studies had major flaws, according to John E. Moulder, PhD, Professor 

of Radiation Oncology at the Medical College. Radiofrequency radiation and 

its relation to cancer is his specialty.



Dr. Moulder examined studies that claimed radiofrequency radiation exposure 

had genotoxic effects -- directly damaging DNA as most carcinogens do -- or 

epigenetic activity, which causes cancer rates to increase without directly 

damaging genetic material.



Dr. Moulder said: "The epidemiological evidence for an association between 

radiofrequency radiation and cancer is weak and inconsistent, the laboratory 

studies generally do not suggest that cell phone radiation has genotoxic or 

epigenetic activity, and the connection between a cell phone's 

radiofrequency radiation and cancer appears to be physically implausible."



High levels of radiofrequency radiation exposure are dangerous, but are not 

relevant to the general public. For example, a soldier who is directly 

exposed to an operating military attack radar, or a contractor who climbs a 

radio transmitter tower that has not been turned off, risk serious effects, 

including burns, heat stroke and cataracts.



Whole-body radiofrequency radiation exposure, including some magnetic 

resonance imaging (MRI) scans, might cause problems for pregnant women 

because the fetus could heat up.



But even in the long-term, there are no particular indicators that suggest 

that using a cell phone will cause cancer. Technically, it is impossible to 

prove something is absolutely safe because more studies are always possible 

(and it is not possible to prove a negative). Moreover, today's cell phones 

are getting less and less powerful. Original hand-held portable telephones 

emitted 600 milliwatts while today's new digital PCS versions emit about 125 

milliwatts. In fact, some new long-range cordless phones are far more 

powerful than cell phones. But this does not mean they are dangerous either.



For those individuals who remain concerned, Dr. Moulder recommends simply 

not using cell or portable phones or using them with a headset. In addition, 

because a modern cell phone broadcasts a stronger signal in areas of bad 

reception, cell phone users could avoid using their phones in areas of poor 

reception.



"Overall," Dr. Moulder said, "the evidence for a causal relationship between 

radiofrequency radiation from cell phones and cancer is found to be weak or 

non-existent."



The true danger of using a cell phone is that it distracts the user from a 

potentially dangerous task, whether it be driving a car, riding a bike or 

rollerblading. Numerous studies, said Dr. Moulder, have proven the danger of 

using cell phones in these situations.



For more information about Dr. Moulder's work, visit the Medical College of 

Wisconsin General Clinical Research Center Web pages - 

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/content/link?www.mcw.edu/gcrc/cop.html .



Article Created: 2000-02-11

Article Updated: 2000-09-15



http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/950308896.html



--

Hold the door for the stranger behind you. When the driver a half-car-length 

in front of you signals to get over, slow down. Smile and say "hi" to the 

folks you pass on the sidewalk. Give blood. Volunteer.





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