Cell phones, wireless phones--scary?

Q: There’s been a lot of scary talk lately about cell phones and wireless house phones. Is it really dangerous for people to wear their cell phones on their body or even to use it? What do you think is the danger for small children or infants. I’ve seen apps for small children and infants too, are they at a higher risk for injury than adults?”…………… cell phone junky

A: Cellphones and wireless telephones are so prevalent now, even my 90 year-old-mother has one, or two actually, cell phone and some wireless units. You would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t have one.

Talking about cellphones like they are a bad thing is a little like butchering a sacred cow—it would not be met with pleasure for the large majority of people today.

Yet, there are some things we need to do to make the cell phones safer for ourselves and especially for our children. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that there are long term biological changes and abnormalities that occur with as little use as 15 minutes per day for several years.

The greatest immediate danger is the intermittent EMF, the electromagnetic frequency, waves that constantly bombard our bodies when we are near the phone. Until now all the EMF danger was harder to assess, towers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, etc., but the telephones are actually touching our bodies and making a direct impact.

Studies of the intermittent EMF waves—those of a phone– are different than previous studies using the consistent EMF waves testing which did not have definitive results. It is the low voltage constant searching for signal that disrupts the DNA of our cells, especially when it is held up next to our head, in direct contact with our brains. In adults the skull protects it somewhat, but in children the study shows stunning effects on the still forming brains of infants and children. The waves directly penetrate to the center of the head, disrupting cells growth and inhibiting the cell’s ability to heal itself.

The fine print that comes with smart phones and phones like the Blackberry have warnings on them indicating the danger to pregnant woman’s abdomens and small children. Pacemakers are also susceptible to the EMF waves of cell phone, wireless home phones and other electronic equipment.

Hair root testing done in Europe shows that minimal exposure of 15-30 minutes a day for one week, breaks down the DNA in the hair follicles causing hair to break off and eventually die.

A wise consumer would make some changes in the way they use their cell phone. While using the phone it is better to hold it away from your body. Experts agree that a better alternative would be the use of earphones and the speakerphone, and if you are not driving, texting. Severely limiting the use of cell phones and portable phones with children would keep them safer and preserve cognitive brain function.

The second main concern with cell phones is the way we keep them near us. The most dangerous place to be is within 6 inches of the emitting antenna. In other words you do not want any part of your body within that proximity. Think about where you keep your phone, front pants pocket, shirt pocket, on your belt, in your bra. All these sites are potentially at risk from overexposure to the intermittent wave patterns. Much anecdotal evidence indicates an increased rate of tumors and cancer in these areas.

One study published in 2008 by PLoS One, recommended that due to their finding “men in particular might want to reconsider carrying their cell phones on their belts or in their pocket, in close proximity to their reproductive organs. In addition, there are a number of other sensitive organs in that general area, including liver, kidneys, colon and bladder—all of which are susceptible to radiation.” Another study the same year indicated a 40% reduction in sperm count of males carrying their phones on their hips 4hrs a day over several years. Radiophotography shows that when worn on the hip or in a pocket the penis absorbs more EMF waves than any of the other nearby body parts.

European studies, WHO, Australian Health Org. and many worldwide studies are emerging with ever more definitive results indicating the dangers to humans. Imagine the number of years our children will be exposed to danger before we figure out how to counteract it or have a newer technology.

There are some smaller companies creating small devices that they say can counteract the effects of the waves on the body. An Irish company has a strip that fits in the phone beside the battery and a US company produces a biochip that attaches to the phone to counteract the effects. In the US and Europe there are energy healing practitioners who claim they can counteract and teach you how to counteract against the incoming rays.

In the last few years major news programs have had scary programs about the perceived dangers, and more recently the new Australian studies that came out in April 2012. Perhaps over time this will make a difference in solving the issues. In the meantime, keep the phone away from your brain and body as much as possible and err on the side of caution.

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