Earlier health studies on mobile phones have raised scientific debate over its potential to cause cancer in humans. Although there is currently not enough scientific evidence which proves mobile phones cause cancer, it remains a controversial field of science.
Contents |
Mobile phones and mobile phone base stations emit radiation waves (also known as RF EMR). The human body acts as an aerial for these waves and is able to absorb substantial amounts of radiation. The general consensus amongst scientists around the world is that the radiation emitted is too low to cause adverse health effects (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 2003). An adverse health effect occurs “when the biological effect is outside the normal range for the body to compensate, and thus leads to some detrimental health condition� (World Health Organization, 1998).
However, in 1991, researchers P Dimbylow and O Gandhi reported that “resonant peaks existed in the brain and eyes at the microwave frequency of 800 MHz� (Ashton and Laura, 1999: 54). This research was based around the theory that conductive organs or parts of the human body can act as an antenna for electromagnetic waves of wavelengths two to five times the dimension of the body part (Ashton and Laura, 1999: 54).
It is a scientific fact that the shorter the wavelength is, the higher the frequency it generates (World Health Organization, 1998). The frequency of an electromagnetic wave is “simply the number of oscillations which passes a fixed point per unit of time. It is measured in cycles per second, or hertz...a megahertz (MHz) consists of one million cycles per second� (World Health Organization, 1998). Mobile phones transmit frequency bands at a minimum of 800 MHz and produce wavelength fields between 355 to 364mm, thus parts of the brain or organs that have dimensions between one-fifth and one-half of a wavelength (i.e. 70-150mm), can absorb this radiation (Ashton and Laura, 1999: 54).
In May 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a laboratory experiment on two groups of genetically engineered mice (Ashton and Laura, 1999: 61-62). One group of mice (bred so they would be vulnerable to developing the cancer ‘lymphoma’) was exposed to microwave radiation similar to that emitted by mobile phones. The mice were exposed to this radiation for two 30-minute sessions each day for 18 months. Meanwhile, the other group of mice were controlled and not exposed to any form of radiation. At the end of the 18 months, the results of the study concluded that 22 per cent of the controlled mice, and 43 per cent (almost double) of the exposed mice, had developed cancer. These results indicated that a biological hazard existed as the “small (mice-sized) biological systems absorbed mobile phone-type radiation and were affected by it� (Ashton and Laura, 1999: 62).
It is difficult to transfer the results of the mice study to humans as the entire brain of a mouse was exposed in the study and humans using a mobile phone have only the small portion of the head (where the mobile phone rests) exposed. Related to this is the concept of ipsilateral cancer (i.e. cancer which occurs on the side of the head to which the mobile phone is most frequently held to). The major result of a case-control study in Sweden provides some evidence of this. The study involved 649 patients, male and female, between the ages of 20 and 80 with malignant brain tumours. The patients had been diagnosed with cancer between 1 January 1997 and 30 June 2000 (Carlberg, Hardell and Mild, 2002: 931). The outstanding result of the study concluded that the ipsilateral use of an analogue cellular phone yielded a significantly increased risk for malignant brain tumours (Carlberg, Hardell and Mild, 2002: 931).
Although it has not been proven that the use of mobile phones are harmful, it has not been proven that they are harmless in regards to causing cancer in humans. Projects such as the World Health Organization’s International Electromagnetic Field Project are currently investigating the issue and with time and money, a more concrete verdict will be made available to the public. In the meantime, the following steps are recommended in regards to the use of mobile phones.
Firstly, limit the number of mobile phone calls and their length as much as possible. Secondly, use hands-free devices or speaker phones to keep mobile phones away from head and/or body. Thirdly, if possible, use landline phones over mobile phones. For example, if in a public place, use the nearest public telephone. Lastly, be prepared and plan ahead by using other forms to communicate such as emailing, faxing or sending a letter.
Australian Communications Authority
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Other Mobile Communication Links:
Naomi 16:12, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)
