CELLPHONES, PORTABLE PHONES AND YOUR HEALTH

CELL PHONES, PORTABLE PHONES AND YOUR HEALTH

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

Cell phones and portable phones are here to stay. This article explores the hazards of these devices and what you can do about them.

MICROWAVES AND YOUR HEALTH

The main difficulty with the cell phones, portable phones and cell phone base stations and relay stations is the frequency range in which they operate. Microwave radiation is quite penetrating, even at low power. This is why your cell phone will work inside buildings and garages, and even in tunnels and other underground structures at times. While it is an advantage for phone communication, it also means that the waves easily penetrate your cranium and can affect the brain and other organs and structures.

MICROWAVES COOK THE TISSUES A LITTLE

Microwaves are actually quite destructive. A friend of mine was involved in the development of microwave ovens after World War II. The idea for microwave ovens arose when sailors found that if they stood in front of a large radar antenna on a freezing deck of a large ship, they soon became warm. Sailors also discovered that if they tossed an egg straight up in the air in front of a large radar antenna, say twenty-five feet high or more, the egg would be cooked when it came down. This is well and good. However, one must realize this means that microwaves can cook your brain as well.

In a newspaper article I read years ago, the US Embassy in Moscow was intentionally bombarded with microwaves to sicken the American workers there.

Microwaves literally vibrate the molecules of whatever they strike. This causes friction, which results in heating the object. Some people notice warming of their hand after a long cell phone conversation.

This also occurs in your brain. However, more than this occurs. Our brains are electro-mechanical devices that operate at frequencies, some of which mimic microwaves. These frequencies are disrupted by the phones, which can lead to health problems.

MEDICAL STUDIES

Here is summary of studies that have shown increased risk of brain tumors and other problems due to cell phone and mobile phone use. For the details of these studies, go to the website of the Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology (PSRAST) at http://www.psrast.org/mobileng/mobilstarteng.htm - summary.

* Finnish research confirms increased brain cancer risk from cell phones.

* Threefold increased cancer risk found among people in the vicinity of a GSM-base station.

* New Austrian research confirms health effects of base station radiation. Significant effects on wellbeing and psychological test performance found at levels far below recommended radiation intensity.

* Mobile Phone Tower causing brain tumors? The top floors of a Melbourne office building were closed down and 100 people evacuated after a seventh worker in as many years was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

* DNA is damaged by mobile phone radiation.

* Large study reports 100% increase of malignant brain tumor risk.

* Three European studies indicate increased brain tumor risk.

WHAT TO DO

I do not think that panic is warranted. Cell phones have been around for at least 15 years and so far there has not been an explosion of brain tumors that I am aware of. However, a recent study in England is showing an increased incidence of brain tumors near where the phone is held.

Precautions are definitely in order to protect yourself from the microwave radiation. They include:

· Avoid cell phones and cordless phones, or use them as little as possible. If possible, use an old fashioned corded phone as much as possible.

· If you must use a cell phone, use a speaker phone if possible, as this is much better than holding the phone to your head or even a headset.

· If you must use your phone, and you can’t or don’t have a speaker phone, use a headset with the phone at all times, as this helps as well.

· Limit the time of your cell or cordless phone calls to less than 15 minutes, if at all possible. This also limits your exposure.

· Some phones are much better than others. According to recent research reported at www.Mercola.com, Sprint and Verizon phones (technically called a CDMA network) are much better than the others such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and the rest).

· If possible, turn cell phones off when not in use. At bedtime, do not leave them by your bed turned on, and preferably move electronic devices such as cell phones and cordless phones away from your head when you go to sleep.

COMMENTS ON OTHER ELECTROMAGNETIC HAZARDS TODAY

Wireless routers, also called wifi hookups. These are gaining in popularity and are in millions of homes. However, these are not bad, as far as I know. First, they are very low power, and they transmit and receive in the FM range, not the microwave range, so they are safer. Also, the transmitter is not held against the head. They are not a problem for most people. Ideally, turn these off when one goes to bed, for the cleanest sleeping environment, though this may not be too important.

Computer screens, monitors and flat-screen television sets. These are a problem for many people, as the LCD and other screens give off large electromagnetic fields that can cause headaches and vision disturbances, or just make one tired. If possible, sit as far away as possible from computers and televisions. Once again, some brands and types of units are better than others. For example, backlit televisions emit the least radiation. They may not be easy to find, however.

Travel hazards on airplanes, and even other modes of travel to some degree. Aircraft, in particular, expose one to a lot of electromagnetic fields. This is from the large spinning turbines and a lot of radio and radar signals. Other modes of travel emit some, but much less electromagnetic fields. The faster one travels, the more stress on the body for some reason as well.

I suggest avoiding air travel completely, or severely limiting it. Other hazards of air transportation are the new high-powered X-ray machines at the airports, pesticides sprayed on many planes, and lots of exposure to germs, parasites and other microbes from the other passengers. The air is recycled on most planes, so it is not fresh and becomes easily contaminated. If you must travel very long distances in buses or autos, if possible sit away from the engine and drive train, which emit some fields. For much more about this subject, read Traveling Safely on this website.

Medical and dental x-rays, particularly CAT scans. These give one exposure that is equal to several hundred simple chest x-rays, for example. Avoid them if at all possible.

Here are some other general suggestions:

· Turn off computers, televisions, stereos and all electronic equipment when not absolutely needed and at bedtime.

· Attempt to live and spend most of your time in a rural or suburban area, away from heavy concentrations of cell phone towers, electrical power stations and other powerful electrical installations. Try not to live and work close to a cell phone tower. The internet can tell you where cell phone towers are in your area.

DEVICES TO REDUCE EXPOSURE

Cell phones. Many devices are available to reduce cell phone radiation hazards. The best are those that separate the phone user from the phone. An excellent one is a speakerphone. These are built into a lot of phones, or one can buy a base that contains a speakerphone.

Headsets are also good, especially those that have an air connection rather than a conventional wired connection between the phone and the earpiece.

The other type of devices are small ceramic, metallic or other materials that are placed on the phone or on your body to help neutralize some of the microwave and other frequencies emitted by the phone. These vary widely in their effects. I have not evaluated all these devices, but I would surmise that all of them can help a little, but I doubt that any can block most of the microwave radiation from reaching the user’s head. If it did, the cell phone would not work.

The Quantum Pendant, and perhaps The Q-link. These are pendants that are sold to protect a person from electromagnetic fields. I like the Quantum Pendant, sold on Amazon.com, for example, for about $15.00 plus shipping. I like the one that is black, not the white one. The Q-Link is another that is much more costly. Many others are also available that I have not tested. Be sure to find out if you can return these devices, as they may not work well and some are much too expensive, in my opinion, but they can help some people.

Earthing. This is another way to reduce computer monitor and telelvision and other EMFs. It consists of a pad that you place your feet upon, and the pad is plugged into the grounding wire on the nearest electrical outlet. They also sell a pad to sleep on to ground the body. They have several website such as www.earthing.com and www.earthing.net.

A red heat lamp to reduce computer screen radiation. I have also found that if I shine a reddish, 250-watt heat lamp on myself while I am using a computer, that it reduces the harmful effects of the computer screen to some degree.

References:

George Louis Carlo, Ph.D., Martin Schram "Cell phones: Invisible hazards in the wireless age: An Insider's Alarming Discoveries about Cancer and Genetic Damage."

Mercola.com runs a lot of excellent articles on cell phone and other EMF hazards.

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