| Over the past few years several study groups have | | | | growth. Normally, cell division continues until something |
| reported that cell phone radiation is not dangerous and | | | | tells it to stop. One of the things that stops it is when a |
| that we don't need to worry about it. In particular, we | | | | cell comes in contact with another cell (perhaps of a |
| don't need to worry about it causing cancer. Some of | | | | different type); receptors sense this cell and send a |
| them, in fact, have reported that the debate is over, | | | | signal for the growth to stop. If the receptors become |
| and that cell phones are completely safe. As a result, | | | | damaged, this signal will not be sent, and the growth |
| most of the research on the topic has virtually ceased | | | | may continue indefinitely, and may eventually lead to |
| in the US. At the same time, however, research has | | | | cancer. |
| continued in other countries, and it has increasingly | | | | Experiments have shown that microwaves can trigger |
| shown that we cannot ignore the dangers. First of all, | | | | these receptors, causing various types of biochemical |
| as any scientist working on cancer will tell you, it's | | | | reactions that make the cell membrane less |
| almost impossible to prove beyond a doubt that | | | | permeable, We are still not sure what the overall |
| something (in this case, cell phone radiation) does not | | | | effects are in such cases, but the fact that |
| cause cancer. One of the problems is that cancer | | | | microwaves radiation (of the same intensity as in cell |
| takes 20 years or more to develop after it has been | | | | phones) can alter our cells is not good news. |
| initiated. None of the studies that have been made | | | | With this it might seem that cells and the DNA within |
| have taken this into consideration; most are tests on | | | | them are the weak spots for microwave radiation, but |
| animals, or statistical surveys. In many ways the | | | | there is another equally worrisome area of the body. |
| present situation is similar to that for smoking in the | | | | Cell phone users hold their phones to their ears, with |
| 1950's and 60's. Everyone was sure it had little effect | | | | the antenna only a few inches from their brain, and our |
| on our health, and there was no evidence that it | | | | brain is controlled (to some degree) by waves similar |
| caused cancer. But as the years went by, the | | | | to microwaves. Most of the signals in the brain are |
| evidence came, and soon there was no doubt. | | | | electrochemical in nature, consisting partly of electrical |
| The cancer-cell phone connection is particularly | | | | currents and partly of chemical reactions. But there are |
| worrisome in light of the increase in brain tumor rates in | | | | also "brain waves' within the brain. When you are |
| the US over the past few years. They have increased | | | | awake your brain emits what are called beta waves |
| by over 25 percent since 1975; by 2001, in fact, 185,000 | | | | of frequency 8 to 25 vibrations/second (also called |
| Americans had some form of brain cancer, and it is | | | | Hertz). This is much lower than the frequency of the |
| estimated that this will increase to 500,000 by 2010 and | | | | microwaves in a microwave oven, which are 850 MHz |
| to one-million by 2015. How many of these cases are | | | | (million Hertz) to 1900 Mhz. But all cell phones also use |
| due to cell phones? We do not know. | | | | low, pulsed frequencies, referred to as TDMA and |
| The radiation from cell phones is in the form of | | | | DTX; they have frequencies of 8.34 HZ and 2 Hz |
| microwaves, the same waves that are used in | | | | respectively. And it is possible that they can interact |
| microwaves ovens (and they're also very close in | | | | with brain waves. Furthermore, when such reactions |
| frequency to radar waves). They are, of course, over | | | | occur, both waves are changed. |
| a thousand times weaker that microwave-oven | | | | Studies have also recently shown that the blood-brain |
| radiation, but microwaves are not used for cooking | | | | barrier, which is a barrier within the brain that stops |
| because they are extremely energetic (they are not); | | | | various chemicals and other harmful substances from |
| they are used because they penetrate tissue easily. | | | | entering the brain, is also affected by microwaves. |
| The three main health hazards to our bodies are the | | | | Studies in Sweden, for example, have shown that |
| dangers to: | | | | when capillaries such as those in the brain are are |
| Our DNA | | | | radiated with microwaves, they allow certain chemicals |
| The functioning of our cells | | | | through that normally don't get through. Other studies |
| The neurons and so on in our brain | | | | have verified the result. |
| Our "code of life" -- in other words, the instructions for | | | | It's easy to see from all this that the risk of cell phone |
| everything that goes on in our body -- is contained in | | | | radiation to adults is something we shouldn't just shrug |
| the sequence of base units in DNA. If any of these | | | | off, but as it turns out, the risk to children is much |
| units are suddenly changed, or "mutated," our genetic | | | | higher. One of the reasons is that their skulls are |
| code is changed. And one of the major things that | | | | thinner, and radiation penetrates it much easier. In |
| causes mutations is radiation. Microwaves cannot | | | | addition, the absorption of radiation is higher in a child's |
| break the stronger bonds (such as valence bonds) in | | | | skull because of a phenomenon called "resonance." |
| DNA, but the genetic code is held in place by relatively | | | | And finally, the nervous and immune systems of |
| weak hydrogen bonds, which can easily be broken. | | | | children are still forming and they are therefore more |
| Furthermore, the dangers do not end with the DNA | | | | susceptible to the effects of radiation. |
| inside the cells. On the cell surface are "receptors" that | | | | What can you do to minimize the danger? If you use a |
| allow some molecules to pass into the interior of the | | | | cell phone, keep the antenna as far from your head as |
| cell, and stop others, from entering. They play a very | | | | possible, and limit your time on the device. Use |
| important role in the health of the cell in that they allow | | | | conventional phones for very long conversations. |
| nutrients through, but stop such things as toxins, | | | | Finally, do not use cell phones in a car; because of the |
| bacteria, and viruses. These receptors also play | | | | shielding, the power has to be significantly increased |
| another important role: they control cell division and | | | | for it to work. |