Cell phone link to cancer unclear
Chelsea Zaft
Does excessive cell phone use lead to cancer? The truth is, there are currently no hard facts linking cell phone use to cancer, at least none that are being disclosed. According to a report on the consumer information of wireless phones issued by the FDA, a primary reason for inconclusive results is that, “Many studies have suffered from flaws in their research methods.”
Another reason for the lack of evidence is that most research available was done between the late ’90s and early 2000s, before cell phones were used regularly and long term effects could be measured.
The FDA Consumer Magazine states that, “Brain cancer can take years or even decades to develop.”
But according to a report by the American Cancer Society, “Cell phones would not be expected to cause cancer because they do not emit ionizing radiation,” a process that can permanently damage biological tissues including DNA.
Upcoming results from an intensive study conducted by 13 countries on the long term use of cell phones, are expected to provide the most comprehensive research analysis to date.
Some countries have already made certain results public.
Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, epidemiologist at Tel Aviv University in Israel, found that people who have used cell phones heavily for ten or more years have an increased risk of about 50 percent for developing tumors in the salivary gland.
While the link between cell phones and cancer remains unclear, it is always best to take precautions like the speakerphone feature, a headset or a blue tooth earpiece.
Other safety tips are to keep conversations to a minimum and to avoid use in rural or enclosed areas because radiation is higher in areas that are far from a cell phone tower.
It is also beneficial to switch sides of your head when speaking on a wireless phone.
Lastly, it is possible to purchase a phone with less radiation.
When browsing for phones make sure to ask for a phone with a low Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).
For more information on a specific maker and model of phone, visit the FCC website www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid.
