Cell Phones: Friend or Cell Phones: Friend or Foe?Foe?

By: Tayana VanceBy: Tayana Vance

Cell Biology and GeneticsCell Biology and Genetics

Dr. Battey Dr. Battey

Cell Phone FactsCell Phone Facts

In today’s society, cell In today’s society, cell phones are everywhere. phones are everywhere. The elderly have them, The elderly have them, teenagers live on them, teenagers live on them, and children are and children are starting to get them. starting to get them.

“ “The Cellular The Cellular Telecommunications Telecommunications and Internet Association and Internet Association estimated that there estimated that there were 219 million U.S. were 219 million U.S. cell phone subscribers cell phone subscribers in mid-2006.”in mid-2006.”

Cell Phone FactsCell Phone Facts

Cell Phones operate Cell Phones operate using radio using radio frequences (RF) . frequences (RF) .

This is a type of This is a type of energy located on energy located on the electromagnetic the electromagnetic spectrum between spectrum between FM radio waves and FM radio waves and waves used in waves used in microwaves. microwaves. (Chapter Seven)(Chapter Seven)

How long would How long would YOUYOU say you spend say you spend on a cell phone each day?on a cell phone each day?

1515 Minutes Minutes 3030 Minutes Minutes 1 hour1 hour or or MOREMORE??????????

If you talk on a cell phone for an hour If you talk on a cell phone for an hour each day, the amount of radiation each day, the amount of radiation that you will receive for a year would that you will receive for a year would be be 10951095 wattswatts..

CalculationCalculation

1 hour a day x 365 days a year=365 1 hour a day x 365 days a year=365 hrs.hrs.

365 hours x 3 watts= 1095 watts in a 365 hours x 3 watts= 1095 watts in a year.year.

Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects

Since the widespread use of cellular Since the widespread use of cellular phones is a little more than a decade phones is a little more than a decade old, there has been limited old, there has been limited opportunity to examine its long term opportunity to examine its long term effects in humans.effects in humans.

DO CELL PHONES DO CELL PHONES CAUSE BRAIN CAUSE BRAIN CANCER?????CANCER?????

Conducted StudiesConducted Studies

There have been 3 recent studies There have been 3 recent studies done in different parts of the world done in different parts of the world about this ongoing question.about this ongoing question.

The first study compared 233 brain The first study compared 233 brain cancer patients with 466 patients cancer patients with 466 patients without cancer in Sweden.without cancer in Sweden.

Conducted StudiesConducted Studies

The second study compared 469 The second study compared 469 brain cancer patients in New York brain cancer patients in New York with 422 controls in Boston.with 422 controls in Boston.

The third study compared 782 brain The third study compared 782 brain cancer patients in Phoenix, Boston, cancer patients in Phoenix, Boston, and Pittsburgh with 799 controls.and Pittsburgh with 799 controls.

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?????WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?????

All three studies showed All three studies showed similar results…….similar results…….

Most of the studies showed a lower risk of Most of the studies showed a lower risk of brain cancer for uncertain reasons. brain cancer for uncertain reasons.

None of the patients with brain cancer None of the patients with brain cancer experienced an increase in the cancer experienced an increase in the cancer while using cellular phones.while using cellular phones.

The experiments DID NOT show a clear The experiments DID NOT show a clear link between the side of the head the link between the side of the head the cancer occurred on and the side of the cancer occurred on and the side of the head the cell phone was used on. head the cell phone was used on.

ConclusionConclusion

This may be great news for some of This may be great news for some of us that live on cell phones. However, us that live on cell phones. However, be aware of the fact that cell phones be aware of the fact that cell phones are still considered to be “new are still considered to be “new technology” . technology” .

The long term effects of cell phones The long term effects of cell phones are still unknown so remember to are still unknown so remember to use with caution.use with caution.

ReferencesReferences

Food and Drug Administration and Food and Drug Administration and Federal Communications Commission. Federal Communications Commission. Cell Phone Facts: Consumer information Cell Phone Facts: Consumer information on mobile phones. 2003. on mobile phones. 2003. www.fda.gov/cellphones/qa.html

Repacholi, MH. Radiofrequency field Repacholi, MH. Radiofrequency field exposure and cancer: What do the exposure and cancer: What do the laboratory studies suggest? laboratory studies suggest? Environmental Health Perspect. 105; 97.Environmental Health Perspect. 105; 97.