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May 31st, 2011
04:24 PM ET
6 tips for minimizing cell phone radiationOn Tuesday, scientists at the World Health Organization announced that the agency will now list mobile phone use in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. There haven't been enough long-term studies to make a clear conclusion if radiation from cell phones is safe, but there was enough data to persuade the WHO of a possible connection. Cell phones use non-ionizing radiation, which doesn’t damage DNA the way ionizing radiation does. The cell phone radiation operates more like very low power microwaves, but nobody really likes to think of leaning their face on a low-powered microwave. If the WHO’s labeling of cell phone use as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" has gotten you alarmed, here are some quick basic tips to limit your exposure.
- Get wired It’s no coincidence that most cell phones come with a wired ear piece. A wired headset will automatically decrease your radiation exposure because the phone is away from the body. Every inch you can get away from the body reduces the amount of radiation you are absorbing. A wired headset may still transmit radiation through the wire – but it is a very low level. If that is a concern, you can buy a ferrite bead for just a few bucks at most electronic stores. It attaches to the wire and it absorbs any radiation traveling through the wire, reducing how much enters your body. And it’s not too inconvenient. CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said he uses an earpiece because his neck doesn’t hurt as much after being on a long phone call. Gupta: Cell phones, brain tumors and a wired earpiece – Use the speakerphone This could get quite annoying, if you’re in a public place. But experts say that using the speakerphone function is helpful because you’re keeping the phone away from your brain. Every inch you can get the phone away from your body reduces the radiation. For example, holding out the cell phone by two inches drops the radiation by a factor of four, Magda Havas, an associate professor with the Institute for Health Studies at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, had told CNN. But try not to share your conversation with the whole world. Thanks. – Don’t wear Bluetooth all the time Bluetooth wireless earpieces will expose you to some radiation. However, it would be much less radiation than a cell phone. The problem is that most people wear their Bluetooth all the time. And this isn’t a good look on anyone. If you use a Bluetooth device, switch it from ear to ear so you don't have too much exposure on one side. Just take it out of your ear when you aren't on the phone. – Radiation hot spots Cell phones don’t always emit the same level of radiation. For example, your phone will emit the most radiation when connecting to cellular towers. But a moving phone (like if you are talking while driving) will continually connect to towers that come in and out of range - and this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new antenna. A weak signal will also cause your phone to work harder, giving off more radiation. So avoid using your phone in elevators, buildings and rural areas. Research shows your device emits more radiation when transmitting than when receiving. – Read the fine print Most of us ignore those manuals that come with our gadgetry. But most cell phone safety manuals tell consumers to not keep the phone next to their head, or even in your pocket. Apple iPhone 4 says 5/8 inch away from the body when transmitting. And the BlackBerry Bold says to keep it least 0.98 inch from your body when the BlackBerry device is in use. If you keep it next to your body, the manufacturers can't guarantee that the amount of radiation you're absorbing will be a safe level. – Don’t talk, text If you don’t want to hold the phone next to your face all the time, send text messages or use your email or messaging services if you have a smartphone. This way you avoid putting the phone to your head altogether. And our friends at CNN Tech say the general rule of thumb is that the smarter the phone, the more radiation. CNN's John Sutter contributed to this blog.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments  |
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This is not a joke and we should be carefull, i dont put the cellphone next to my head and always use smart&safe airtube headset that keep the radiation away and enable you to take with no danger
Billions have used cell phones for years. How many have cancer? Oh, they didn't provide the punch line.
we're talking about long term usage. If you've 20 and you've used a cell phone for 5 years and haven't had cancer, then you may get cancer in 15 years, when you're 35. how does that sound to you? come back after using a cell phone for 20 years and tell us that you don't have cancer.
Who CARES if the cell phone addicts die? No loss.
Do you think the people who started using cell phones in the 80s quit after 5 years, or are they all dead?
thats not all, you figure about 200 million cellphones on in the USA at 1/2 a watt comes out to about 100 million watts per hour. one watt per hour equals about 3.4 btu times a 100 million watts thats 3.4 trillion btu into the atmosphere per hour – not even counting the radiation from cell sites and other sources .
CLIMATE CHANGE ?
what about that dollar they collect each and every month for 911 when your unit can find the nearest diner and record it ?
what about thoes other state and desposal tax ? where'd they get that from England ?
The probability of dying by choking is orders of magnitude higher assuming the causality is actually there in the first place for cell phones (which it has not been establish that it actually exists).
And how's that smoking survey going?
It is important to remember that this isn't radiation like nuclear exposure. It is RF energy...the same that comes off of a broadcasting antenna, CB radio antenna, etc. Interestingly, RF energy is actually an AC current, even though a DC process generates it. Using a a wired speaker/mic is definitely a good idea. A ferrite bead on the wire is a great idea. That's the little cylinder-like thing that you see around a transfer cable for your camera, or some cables to accessories for electronic items. They eliminate interference by absorbing the RF energy.
Sam
I hope you live forever buddy
At least he doesn't die painfully buddy. May be you do if you ignore it.
A cell phone is pretty much the same as a 4 watt microwave oven with no door and no safety devices. What did you expect? For those not paranoid enough already, note that a cell phone tower broadcasts with a LOT more power than a phone – live near a tower? And then we have wifi home routers, which also use microwave radiation. Those people suggesting tinfoil caps may not be as nuts as you thought.
Tinfoil hats are for geeks. I do wear tinfoil BVDs, though.
Your fear of towers would contradict studies, but would explain why so many people who live near them are not getting cancer or dying. Everybody I know who had a router is dead. I don't know why I'm still alive.
If you think about it also for men keeping it in your front pocket may be a bad idea if you want to have children. May damage your sperm.
No it doesn't.
Is there anything that is healthy for us. At all? Name one thing that hasn't been either linked to cancer to some other health concern. I saw a thing the other day that SLEEPING can be dangerous (and of course if you snore you could drop dead at any moment from a coronary, so they say). I'm waiting for the WHO or someone to address the elephant in the room and prove that human bodies are not designed to safely ingest air (not pollution or any of that – I mean O2), and that the very act of breathing is fatal. Maybe it is – have you ever heard of anyone breathing air who has lived more than 114 years?
yep 130 year in Nepal lol.
The leading cause of death is life.
Can sleeping be a health risk? Let's take a so-called look at the elephant in the room. If you spend a majority if your time sleeping during the day, what are you doing less of? That's right....physical activity. Piece it together, Sherlock!!!!
You wrote:
> For example, holding out the cell phone by two inches drops the radiation by a factor of four,
Please, if you're going to teach science, do it right. You need to say "drops by a factor of four compared to ....".
I'm guessing you meant drops by a factor of 4 compared to a phone held one inch away, but I suspect even that is true only at the surface of the skin, which may or may not be the organ that one is concerned with. If you're comparing to a phone pressed against one's head, or measuring at some distance into the brain, the ratios will all be different.
Yes, a nice neat "factor of 4" message sounds easy to digest, but it's an oversimplification. The good news is, compared to the way most people press their phones to their heads, 2 inches away probably drops the exposure by much more than a 4x.
He's talking about the Inverse Square Law, the object relative to the distance from has to be implied. You're talking about better English.
As a person of science myself, I believe the statement was clear enough for the layperson. Speaking of the inverse square law, are we taking reflectivity and various absorption factors such as frequency and level of moisture in the air as factors?
I think it's more the people you talk to that can give you cancer, not he phone!
Not sure I really understand the "tips". Whether I'm using a wired headpiece, the speakerphone, or whatever - I'm usually still holding the phone - or possibly even worse, the phone is on my waist clip or in my pants pocket. Does this particular cancer only affect the human head? You still have to hold the phone, right? The cancer won't affect your hand or your waist (or your junk)?
I was hoping they would have listed a solution for where to carry the cell phone as well. What kind of holder would best protect one's body and where should it be worn?
You just can't win.
As if all these text messaging addicted morons who walk the streets, malls, hallways and neighborhoods, bumping into people and objects need further ammunition, now this study comes out – and affirms their addiction. If you though these types were utterly obnoxious before just wait.
Nice to read that there is some deserving result for all those obnoxious cell phone addicts.
I read recently yet another article about the dangers of alcohol. As a result, I have stopped reading.
Writer may have wanted you to limit or stopped drinking. But you must be alcoholic that why stop reading instead. good jock lol.
Uh ya they forgot to factor in most people use their phones to text. I rarely use it to make long phone calls nowadays. The study that was done was when people did use it for mainly calling. Now we have smart phones that most people now use apps on. The culture has changed so all this panic from the media is worthless now.
You must be young or just irrrognorant. Cell phones are used every day by millions to make calls. Business people for example use them all the time. Also, the older generation that still believes it is best to actually listen to the person you are talking to rather then read their words If this study is real then people definitely need to solve this problem. Lastly when you text you still hold your phone very close to your body.
Ignorant.
iPhone:
Do you walk to school or take your lunch?
The frequencies you're exposed to from a Bluetooth are entirely different from those from a cell phone–they are an even lower frequency in radio. Good to know CNN correspondents recommend removing them for aesthetic reasons though.
The WHO is being cautious which is their job. There is no firm data from long term studies as the article mentions. People need to stop freaking out about every little thing. This is a sign that we need to teach more physics in schools if anything. We fear what we don't understand and from metal detectors to cells phones it has become apparent to me that Electromagnetism is just that.
Yeah, funny that they included this instead of more realistic suggestions like being aware of the radiation levels of your phone or holding the phone an inch away from your face (as suggested by several phone manufactuers). In a cursory search online, several sources suggest the radiation from a cell phone is more than 1000 times that of a bluetooth headset.
Six tips for minimizing cell phone radiation:
1) Don't use it so much.
2) Don't use it so much.
3) Don't use it so much.
4) Don't use it so much.
5) Don't use it so much.
6) Don't use it so much.
Any questions?
I don't understand tip #4 – can you explain in more detail?
Could you touch a little more on #2? That was the one I was having trouble with... Got #4.
What about "none of the above"?
Next they're going to say we might get hand cancer from took much texting and playing games on our smart phones..lol. I agree we do all need more in the classroom. Knowledge is power.
I am going to store it in my front pocket 24×7 as birth control mechanism. I have too many kids already.
Nice!!!!!!
I leave mine on the dresser when I leave the house, then I read my messages when I get home. You'd be surprised how much easier it makes your day, and really, you won't miss a thing!
That is the best way. After I get home I just delete most of the missed calls. Life is good.
Watch out for new ads from cell phone companies claiming their new phone emits 400% less radiation compared to iphone or droid
How about if I have the airport setting turned on when playing a game, or using the phone as an alarm? Does this ELIMINATE the radiation?
I can only use my Right ear. i ended up with a golfball sized brain tumor also on the right side. not fun!
Don't use a cellphone and gift orgonite. http://www.orgonite.info/how-to-make-orgonite.html
I have also heard dihydrogen mixes with oxygen and creates a carcinogenic compound please look out I'm contacting the WHO to get studies done
Dihydrogen monoxide is totally deadly, to much and your literally NOT breathing, too little and you shrivel away like... Well.... A raisen.
Good stuff to know.
Unusual.
Do I get cancer when I read the news ?
The radio waves transmitted by a cell phone are normally at a double inverse ratio to magnetic ions at a convergence. Set particles make up a high concentration of irregular wave patterns. Allowing free flow of unfiltered nesium bands of functional preforms causes flucuations in radiotosope matter. To avoid dangerous emision of unlimited waves the emiting device needs to be at an angle no less than .54 degrees and no more than .82 degrees in relation to the solid matter.
"Research shows your device emits more radiation when transmitting than when receiving." Could this be the simple practical fact that cell phones (and all other transmitters) only radiate/emit (transmit) when they are transmitting (radiating/emitting)?
I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that others can hear you better when you are speaking as opposed to when you are listening.
How much did that brilliant 'research' cost?
it transmits at a higher and constant output during a call than on standby
iam going cry
money is coming
we going made some money selling hetset
I've cancelled my land line and charge my cell on my nightstand, adjacent to where I sleep so that I can hear it ring in an emergency – is that safe?
Did they just say weak signal increases radiation. Those of us on AT&T with iPhones are screwed.
If your cell phone detects a weak signal from the tower because of distance or obstructions, the cell phone will put out more power to reach the tower with a decent signal.
7) don't forget your tin foil hat.
I guess I will have to break out a tape measure to get the safe distance between my ear and my phone to keep from getting my brain into ping pong balls while I yell at my caller. Next thing from WHO......How chain smoking can make you live till you are 150!
I guess I will have to break out a tape measure to get the safe distance between my ear and my phone to keep my brain from cooking itself into ping pong balls while I yell at my caller. Next thing from WHO......How chain smoking can make you live till you are 150!
Breathing air will kill you..
I live on the six floor of a New York City building right below a cell phone tower and this news adds to my concern of radiation exposure. Will any studies be done on cell tower exposure? What are the risks?
Shocking news from WHO...Sticking fingers into wall outlets will cook your brain faster than your cellphone!
Wow! This isn't the first time radiation been a problem in cellphones people just stopped talking about it & ..... it as a low risk
I'm being honest...we gotta all die something, right? Could we have a mobile phone plague in 20 years? Maybe...no I'm not a misery mister or anything but I'm not gonna worry about my mobile phone usage level...I got much more things to worry about...such as the vegan cults...
I knew it! It's bad enough to kill animals and insects; it sure must affect human brains for bad. Only police and military should use these kind of devices. When will scientists and governments work for cleaning and restoring the planet? We need Amish President for USA.
Er..."die of something", I many to say...
So, how come when I reach out my fingers
It seems like more than distance between us,
In this Californiaaa Kiiiiing Bed..
Technology destroyed the environment, now it's destroying human bodies directly.
Fuuuuuuuccccckkkkk! If it ain't this that's gonna kill ya, it's something else. Mo fo!!!!!
What's up with the military time?
Fo realz? I cook my eggs wiff ma iPhone! I guess it be like my brain on drugs... Fa realz!
Another reason why aa's should not use cell phones. You peeps should keep to your boom boxes as a means for communication. Fo. Real.
I, as a Taliban can't get this cancer because most of the talking I do is through my ass.
I have never seen such a tragic display of a lack of understanding of [EM] radiation, transmission & absorption (at these frequencies and in tissue), and risk assessment than this article and the comments that follow. Do any of you drive? Take public transportation? Eat? Swim? Use stairs? How in god's name do you manage your lives with such a complete lack of awareness of how the universe works and how to assess risk and put it in perspective?
Back 2 land lines, TV dinners, and Chutes & Ladders!
i will say this ive worked in wireless (cell phones) for 0ver 10 years, there was one phone i had that if i used too much i woudl get headaches. it was the nokia 8260.
Tip #7: Hang up and live