Mobile Phones Hazards Final

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    Mobile Phone hazards

    By: Dr.Sanjay Bhardwaj

    Mobile phones have indeed become an indispensable part of our lifestyle but not without aprice. Mobile phones and telephone towers emit microwave (Frequencies from 1-30 GHz)

    radiation, which is in the radio frequency radiation (RFR) part of the spectrum of

    electromagnetic waves.

    RFR, like ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red light, is a sources of non-ionising radiation. These

    radiations, together with ionizing electromagnetic radiations (X-rays, gamma rays) make up

    the electromagnetic spectrum. Radiofrequency is the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that

    range from 100 Kilohertz (KHz) to 300 Gigahertz (GHz).

    RFR energy is used for a number of applications, including:

    Carriage of telephone and broadcasting signals (radio, TV, mobile phones, cordless

    phones).

    Industrial processing.

    Radar and microwave ovens.

    Medical therapies.

    Mobile (or cellular) phones use electric power to receive and transmit signals through a base

    station tower that is linked with other transmission towers. These signals are usually around

    900 MHz which is within the microwave range.

    Effects of RFR on health:

    Heating (thermal) effects

    Radiofrequency radiation is a source of thermal energy and in adequate doses, has all the

    known effects of heating on biological systems, including burns and cataracts in the eye.

    Human and animal studies indicate that RF fields can cause harmful effects because of

    excessive heating of internal tissues.

    For most of the range of RFR the skin does not easily detect the heating caused by these

    fields. Workers can therefore absorb significant amounts of RFR without being aware of anyleakage fields. There are reports of workers in some occupations experiencing a "warming

    sensation" some time after being exposed to RFR at work. Calculations show that maximal

    temperature rises may be about 0.03o C. Although this temperature rise is slight, the heating

    effect of RFR can become a problem in individuals with metallic implants such as rods in

    bones, and electro-magnetic interference can interact with some cardiac pacemakers.

    Acute high dose exposures to RFR may cause injury to the eye. The cornea and crystalline

    lens are particularly susceptible to frequency in the 1-300 GHz range and formation of lesions

    in the retina is also possible.

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    Non-thermal effects

    Biological effects from RFR exposure also occur where thermal mechanisms are not possible

    or are inadequate to account for these effects. These are referred to as athermal effects. Long-

    term exposure to low-level RFR has induced a variety of effects in the nervous system and

    components of the immune system of small animals. However, the significance of these inhumans is still not clear. A number of recent studies have suggested differences in cognitive

    function in frequent users of mobile phones. These changes included changes in reaction time

    and memory. Other reported health effects include headaches and sleep disorder.

    RFR and cancer

    A research study has suggested that RFR may act as a cancer promoter in animals but there is

    not enough evidence that RFR can initiate cancer in humans. There are few epidemiological

    studies of workers exposed to RFR and conclusions regarding health effects in humans are

    limited. Studies have been few and inconsistent with regard to possible cancer effects of RFR

    in exposed humans.

    In 2007, an assessment was published by the European Commission Scientific Committee on

    Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks or SCENIHR that there is no significant health

    effect on human beings exposed to mobile phone radiation. This assumes a moderate and

    normal level of exposure. They claim that

    the normal exposure to mobile phone radiation will not cause headaches or dizziness

    moderate exposure to mobile phones does not cause brain cancer, negative

    neurological effects, or negative reproductive effects

    there are inconclusive studies that say that mobile phones could cause a benigntumour in the auditory nerve

    there are still more studies to be done regarding the effect of mobile phones on

    children

    Recent studies claim that cell and cordless phone microwave can possibly cause:

    Damage nerves in the scalp

    Cause blood cells to leak hemoglobin

    Cause memory loss and mental confusion

    Cause headaches and induce extreme fatigue

    Induce depression and sleeping disorders Create joint pain, muscle spasms and tremors

    Create burning sensation and rash on the skin

    Alter the brain's electrical activity during sleep

    Induce ringing ! in the ears, impair sense of smell

    Precipitate cataracts, retina damage and eye cancer

    Open the blood-brain barrier to viruses and toxins

    Reduce the number and efficiency of white blood cells

    Stimulate asthma by producing histamine in mast cells

    Cause digestive problems and raise bad cholesterol levels

    Stress the endocrine system, especially pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, testes

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    Could cut male sperm production by third and/or cause them to function

    abnormally reducing their chance of fertilization

    Some people appear to have an almost pathological emotional attachment to their cell

    phones and there is a fascinating suggestion that cell radiation pulses might actually

    be addictive to the human brain.

    Cell phone is a microwave transmitter. Microwave energy oscillates at millions tobillions of cycles per second. The Journal of Cellular Biochemistry reports that these

    frequencies cause cancer and other diseases by interfering with cellular DNA and its

    repair mechanisms. Microwave promotes rapid cell aging. Italian scientists have

    recently demonstrated that cell phone radiation makes cancerous cells grow

    aggressively. Cordless phones marked 900 megahertz or 2.4 gigahertz emits the same

    dangerous microwave radiation as cell phones.

    According to the World Health Organization, some harmful effects EMFs can have on your

    body include: Headache Fatigue Stress Sleep disturbances Skin symptoms like prickling,

    burning sensations and rashes Muscle pains and aches.

    Researchers say that headaches, memory loss, cancer, rashes in ears and fingers and even

    leukemia are likely to occur after a continuous use of phone over a period of 14 months. The

    radiations produced by the phones can affect the brain of children and it will give them the

    difficulty to cope up with their studies and soon memory loss arises.

    Long-term use of a cell phone may cause inner ear damage and can lead to high frequency

    hearing loss, according to a new study.100 people who had used mobile phones for over a

    year suffered increases in the degree of hearing loss over the span of 12 months. Furthermore,

    the study also discovered that people who used their phones for more than 60 minutes a day

    had a worse hearing threshold than those with less use.

    The researchers warn users of cell phones to look out for ear symptoms such as ear warmth,

    ear fullness, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus) as early warning signs that you may have an

    auditory abnormality.

    Recently, new media has reported a study showing the microwave radiation from cell phones

    is so full of energy they can be used to cook eggs.

    In the experiment, 2 Russian researchers placed one egg in a porcelain cup (because it is easy

    to conduct heat), and put one cell phone on one side and another cell phone on the other. The

    researchers then called from one cell phone to another and kept the cell phones on afterconnecting.

    During the first 15 minutes, nothing changed. After 25 minutes, however, the egg shell started

    to become hot and at 40 minutes, the surface of the egg became hard and bristled.

    Researchers found the protein in the egg had become solid although the egg yolk was still in

    liquid form. After 65 minutes, the whole egg was well cooked.

    Now a days a syndrome associated with excessive use of Mobile phone is being postulated

    which is known as Health syndrome. In this syndrome:

    Around 40% of users complain that they suffer from headaches, and many people find thatafter a day's heavy use of the phone that they have a thumping headache.

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    After a while users feel extremely tired, and their reaction times start to fall off.

    After 14 months to two years some users will start to develop leukaemia.

    [Some laboratory tests also show that after a seven-and-a-half hour exposure to a mobile

    phone on stand-by there was a serious degradation of the while blood cells (the cells that fightdisease). A day after exposure there was a substantial fall in the viability of white blood cells,

    and after the 2nd day only 13% of white blood cells were viable.]

    Several studies show cell phones are a leading cause of car crashes.The reaction time of cell

    phone users slows dramatically, increasing the risk of accidents

    Simple protective measures to avoid mobile hazards:

    1) Choose a phone with lowest RFR level.

    2) Make shorter calls

    3) Hold the mobile a couple of cms away from the ear while using.

    4) Even if users holding their phones away from their head while usageexperience a slight muscle ache it should warn them that they have been on

    phone too long.

    5) Use loud speaker mode of mobile for conversing whenever and wherever

    possible.

    6) Make more use of ordinary wire phone in the office and at home

    7) Small children should be discouraged to use mobile phones8) Avoid using mobile phones while driving or travelling

    9) Switch off mobile phone while sleeping

    Studies showing no adverse effect of mobile phone usage:

    A Danish study in 2004 that was ten years long showed no evidence

    A Swedish study in 2005 drew the conclusion that mobile phone use is not related to

    glioma or meningioma

    A British study in 2005 stated that there is no significant risk of acoustic neuroma for

    the first decade of using a mobile phone. One must still keep in mind that the long

    term effects of such use has still to be discovered

    A German study in 2006 states that there is no risk of glioma or meningioma for

    cellphone users although the long term effects of such use are still to be known

    A joint study which was conducted across northern Europe states that the results donot indicate an increased risk of glioma in relation to the use of mobile phones

    although it is possible that the most heavily exposed part of the brain may have long

    term effects that are unknown of

    Conclusion: It is still a matter of debate whether mobile phone usage have any ill effects on

    health or not. But it is certain that chronic and long term usage of mobile phone certainly has

    its impact on persons life either directly or indirectly. Prevention is better than cure is a

    general rule and should be adopted here also by following the simple measures as mentioned

    above.

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