| OK, repeat after me: Calling my spouse on my cell | | | | precautionary safety measure for protecting children |
| phone will not give me cancer. If you can do that | | | | who resist changing the appearance of the products |
| palm-up in a full lotus position then you get extra points, | | | | they use. |
| but I digress. Cell phones have been blamed for | | | | One spray application is required for surfaces such as |
| everything from cancer to infertility to acne due to the | | | | painted ceilings, walls, and many products found in |
| electromagnetic radiation they give off. In fact, it was a | | | | homes, offices and factories that are never washed |
| big thing a few years ago with learned folks getting | | | | or become wet. AegisGuard(TM) LS should be |
| time on national talk shows and the | | | | reapplied to frequently handled products periodically |
| morning-news-from-the-couch circuit to tout the | | | | such as wireless phones, handhelds, pagers and |
| dangers of cell phone radiation and sell some books. | | | | headsets that are not used with a protective outer |
| Then, the drive was to get you to throw out your | | | | case, and it must be reapplied if the product is washed |
| newest favorite prestige gadget (and, if possible, | | | | or becomes wet from excessive sweat, rain, etc. The |
| stomp on it). Today, accepting that cell phones are | | | | use of a protective outer case with these types of |
| here to stay, these well-meaning crusaders want to | | | | products is recommended if you sweat heavily. |
| sell you stuff. If you are thinking of jumping into that | | | | OK, you spray it on and as long as you don't sweat on |
| business, read on. | | | | it, you are golden. You could, conceivably, spray it onto |
| These products are, for the most part, variations on | | | | yourself like a sunscreen since it is hypoallergenic and |
| the radiation shield. True, they are not as large or | | | | can be washed off with soap and water. However, |
| heavy as the lead apron you have to wear while | | | | like the charming 4x7in loin-protector mentioned above, |
| getting a chest x-ray, but according to their | | | | and considering the negligible radiation levels involved, I |
| manufacturers they will save you from the dangers of | | | | have to ask "What good is this?" |
| that little Razor or flip phone lurking maliciously in your | | | | There are other products and they are all variations on |
| pocket or hanging like some vampirc parasite from | | | | this theme of shielding. Most of them cover the |
| your belt. In this latter category, the RFS BeltClip Shield | | | | earpiece. You can spend a little or you can spend a lot |
| seems to be the standout. Here is what the sales | | | | and this stuff is selling. Now, don't get me wrong, I am |
| literature had to say: | | | | all for selling stuff. I am all for some bright entrepreneur |
| When a cell phone is attached to a belt radiation can | | | | coming up with a plan and executing it to become the |
| penetrate the area near the cell phone handset. This | | | | next Big Deal. I just don't care for it when that plan |
| radiant energy is absorbed much faster than at your | | | | rests on the back of bad science. The problem is that |
| head because tissues and organs such as liver, | | | | the connection with the myriad of health problems |
| kidneys and reproductive organs provide much better | | | | people have tried to blame on cell phones is so |
| conductivity than the skull | | | | tenuous and suspect that one cannot honestly say |
| The BeltClip Shield is made of see-through rf fabric | | | | there is a firm, direct connection between cell phone |
| embedded by hand into clear lamination. It is designed | | | | use and these terrible illnesses. |
| to safely attach a cell phone to your body via any | | | | Does a cell phone emit electromagnetic radiation? Sure |
| swivel clip accessory. We recommend you keep the | | | | it does. So does the computer you have under your |
| 4x7in shield as large as possible, and trim it only when | | | | desk and the monitor you are reading these words on |
| absolutely necessary for comfort! The more rf | | | | right now. Then there is the TV and the radio, your |
| shielding between you and a cell phone - The Better! | | | | conventional phone, the electrical lines in your home or |
| There is no magic to this protection, it uses that same | | | | office, the alternator in your car, lightning, the |
| deflection technology as the screen door in a | | | | atmosphere, the solar wind and the sun itself. In fact, |
| microwave oven and it works! | | | | when you think about it, you are swimming in a sea of |
| So let me get this straight: My cell phone is a danger to | | | | electromagnetic radiation 24-hours a day, every day. |
| me and my liver, kidneys and reproductive organs | | | | That is a lot of radiation and cell phones aren't the |
| even if the thing is not transmitting? That is awful! Of | | | | biggest contributors. |
| course, the FCC limits the Specific Absorption Rate | | | | So why do they get such a bad rap? Like the old, |
| (SAR) to 1.6 Watts per Kilogram, far less than the | | | | quarrelsome women of Salem around 1692, they are |
| European Union's specification of 2.0 Watts per | | | | made to order for this particular rap. After all, we tend |
| Kilogram and highest SAR level for a commercially | | | | to press the cell phone to our ears when we use |
| available cell phone, the Motorola V120c, is 1.55w/k. | | | | them. Your ear, or maybe the side of your head, gets |
| These are active figures, the amount you might | | | | hot and the next thing you know, you are wondering if |
| expect to absorb while actually using the phone and | | | | that radiation is doing something funny to your cells. |
| on average, the amount of radiation is significantly | | | | Throw in some stories about dying cancer patients |
| lower than the allowable maximums. Given that, and | | | | eager to point fingers at the cause of their misery-and |
| the fact that I have found no compelling information | | | | maybe gain a judgment they can leave to their |
| telling me that any of my organs are threatened simply | | | | families-and all of a sudden cell phones cause cancer. |
| by carrying my phone, with an SAR rating of 0.9, | | | | The problem isn't greedy companies out to bilk the |
| around in my pocket, I have to wonder why I would | | | | unsuspecting, it is the fact that the media moves faster |
| spend my hard-earned $6.99 on what I am sure is a | | | | than science, which is, by nature, very conservative |
| lovely 4x7in piece of see-through laminated fabric. Still, | | | | and rightly so. The scientific method is tried and true: |
| let's not be cynical. There has to be something out | | | | Observe, hypothesize, experiment, theorize, test the |
| there that is useful. | | | | theory and repeat. This takes time, much longer than |
| This brings us to the AegisGuard(TM) LS Radiation | | | | the sensation-driven media is capable of dealing with. |
| Shield. This product offers 99.998% protection from | | | | So if you are genuinely frightened by cell phone |
| the radiation emitted by any electronic product | | | | radiation, by all means go out and buy one of these |
| operating at frequencies between 5Hz and 15GHz. | | | | silly products. It won't hurt you and you will get some |
| What's the best part about it? It is a spray-on! Here is | | | | peace of mind. However, before you do, go out and |
| what they have to say about themselves: | | | | do a little research for yourself and test the hypothesis |
| When properly applied it provides outstanding radiation | | | | that these folks are trying to push on you. This is |
| shielding protection within the supported frequency | | | | especially true if you are in business and you are |
| ranges without affecting product performance, power | | | | thinking of jumping on the cell phone radiation |
| consumption, or wireless product signal strength. Since | | | | bandwagon. If you do, make sure you are doing it for |
| the appearance of electronic products such as cellular | | | | the right reasons. After all, fads and panics come and |
| phones are not altered, it is also the perfect | | | | go, but a solid product is something you can build upon. |