Cell Phones and Brain Cancer: No Link for Now
Much like the armies of the world united in the face of World War II, researchers are coming together from across the globe in the fight against a new possible enemy: the cell phone. As innocent looking as this ever-evolving technological device is, concern is growing over whether or not extended use of this household item is a source of brain cancer. As of right now, a majority of research declares that there is no link between cell phones and brain cancer. Surely this comes as a relief to the millions of users who spend hours on their phone everyday, but it is not time to rest easy just yet. The true impact of cell phones on the body wont be known at least for another decade or so.
Researchers, as well as the public, have the right to be concerned. With over 108 million cell phone users in the United States alone and 46,000 more people joining that number everyday (Nelson), usage of cellular phones and cellular devices is at an all time high. The United States isn’t alone, though. In the country of Denmark half of its total households own a cell phone. The number of households with a cell phone is even greater in Sweden and Finland (Nelson). What does all this mean? If there was a link found between the two, scientists and researchers would have a global issue in their hands. “It seems worth doing everything we can to verify that this new technology is safe,” says David Savitz, Ph.D., University of North Carolina and member of National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Counselors (Nelson).
What has many people concerned is the widely recognized fact that cellular devices do release a weak emission of radiation known as radio frequency energy (or RF) through the phone’s antenna (III). Exposure to RF “has not been consistently found to cause health problems” according to David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine. Mostly because the level of RF released is so low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulate RF by setting standards and measuring the amount of radiation released in Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). This device measures the amount of energy that is absorbed by the human body. The FDA and FCC set the standard of SAR by permitting 1.6 watts per kilogram of energy to be released (III). The FCC declares this amount to be much lower then “the level to cause any changes in laboratory animals” (III). The FCC requires every phone manufacturer to report the level of RF exposure of each phone model as well. By keeping a records and setting limits, the FDA and FCC are trying to stay on top of the matter and protect users.
Although the word “radiation” always raises a red flag, radio frequency energy is a form of nonionizing radiation. Unlike its counterpart ionizing radiation, the form of radiation commonly found in X-ray machines and such, nonionizing radiation has been shown in studies not to pose a cancer risk. This is because unlike its meaner, uglier brother, nonionizing radiation cannot breakdown chemical bonds (Nelson). There is also not enough warming of the brain tissues to be a cause for concern. Lastly, no ionization in the human body occurs when exposed (World Health Organization).
All this is very good news to most, but there are still some skeptics out there. “I fear that we will see a tsunami of brain tumors although its too early to see tat now since the tumors have a 30 year-latency,” Lloyd Morgan says. “I pray I’m wrong, but brace yourself,” he continues. As the author of a study issued by the International Electromagnetic Field Collaborative, Morgan notes that 43 scientists from 13 countries have endorsed his report “refuting the methodology of a forthcoming industry-funded study” (Gutierrez). Morgan’s study is one put on by Swedish scientists that found a 420% higher risk of brain cancer among people who start using cellular phones while teenagers. The report states “children are especially vulnerable to radiation” (Gutierrez).
The study does a good job of scaring people, but not much is there to back it up. Although scientists like Robert Park, Ph.D, University of Maryland, admit that there are shortcomings, he believes that one reasonable conclusion can be drawn from recent studies; RF exposure from cell phones does lead to the growth of a pre existing tumor or brain lesion (Nelson). A study performed by INTERPHONE pooled information together from 13 participating countries and it’s results showed no increase of glioma or meningioma with mobile phone use of more then ten years. Park believes that it could take up to 20 years for any visible effects to be seen, but the INTERPHONE still shows promise for users.
The long-term effects of RF exposure to the brain are still unclear, but the short-term effects are agreed upon across the board. At the RF frequencies used by mobile phones, most of the energy produced is absorbed by a person’s skin. This absorption results in little warming of the temperature of the brain or any other organs (World Health Organization). There is also no evidence that supports a link between RF exposure and lessened cognitive function or sleep or a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
The question of the hour is isn’t about warming tissues or cognitive functioning, though. Instead it is this: What can people do to protect themselves just in case a link arises years down the road? For one, a person can do their best to avoid the phone’s antenna. In many cases this is hard considering newer versions of phones carry the antenna in the phone itself unlike in previous years (remember that long obnoxious rod that made carrying a phone tricky at times?). This means the antenna is typically held against the side of the users head. The closer the antenna, the greater the person’s exposure to RF energy the National Cancer Institute states. The father a cell phone is from a cell station also affects the level of energy released. The farther the phone is from a base station the more power is needed to make and maintain a connection. In simpler terms: the more cell service, the better. There are other factors that come into play as well. The amount and duration of calls made or received, the amount of cell traffic at the given time, the size of the phone and whether or not a hands-free device is used (National Cancer Institute).
Time will only tell if people need fear, but for now users of cellular devices and cell phones are safe; there is no concrete link between brain cancer and cell phones. Making room for self-monitoring and a hint of gut feeling, this outcome still has some in a tizzy. Will cell phone be found to cause cancer? Will all this controversy and drama turn out to be a scare? Time will only tell. In the meantime, though, feel free to make that call to Grandma and continue connecting with the world.
Works Cited
III, David C. Dugdale. Cell Phones - Do They Cause Cancer? 26 August 2010. 15 February 2011
Gutierrez, David. Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer, Scientists Warn. 2 February 2010. 15 February 2011
National Cancer Institute. Cell Phones and Cancer Risk. 19 May 2010. 15 February 2011
World Health Organization. Electromagnetic Fields & Public Health: Mobile Phones. May 2010. 15 February 2011
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