Cell Phone Emissions

[ronin sparthos]

So we live in an age where these wonderful devices basically rule our lives yet the subject of emissions from these devices and other electronics have been of recent interest to me. Are we the guinea pig generation doomed to crippling tumors in our heads or is this all just a crock of overblown shit?

Quick google curiosity naturally leads to mixed answers from studies that range from it being possibly a health risk to not really being a health risk unless you happen to use a cellphone for extended periods of time daily. I understand that cell phones haven't been around long enough to actually get clear answers on this but what's the BG opinion?

Do you take mild preventative measures like hands-free sets or are you like a friend of mine who sleeps with an iPad next to him and his cell phone under his pillow?

[Kerberoz]

Make sure you double-layer the tinfoil, and cut holes for your ears.

[BadKarma]

Make sure you double-layer the tinfoil, and cut holes for your ears.

ily

Also you answered your own question in the first sentence broseph

[Militant]

It is my understanding that consensus is that, while whatever it is cellphone antenna's emit is can in no way be beneficial to the cells in your body, the amount of threat it poses is so low that it doesn't matter.

[Darus Grey]

Basically.

Does using a cellphone up against your head increase your risk of tumors? Yes it does.
Is it significant? Not really.

Solution? Use a wired headset instead of holding the phone up to your head, problem solved.

[Militant]

Solution? Use a wired headset instead of holding the phone up to your head, problem solved.

Hip cancer!

[Darus Grey]

lol@hipcancer.

Even a bluetooth headset is fine, the transmission power on that is a *lot* lower than your cellphone.

[Julian]

I would be ok with all of those idiots who are on their cellphones all day dying.

[Militant]

I would be ok with all of those idiots who are on their cellphones all day dying.

This is also an acceptable answer.

[hey]

Make sure you double-layer the tinfoil, and cut holes for your ears.

Too risky. If you can't hear through two layers of tin foil, just turn the volume up (buy a louder phone if you still can't).

[Bikpik]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-radiation2.htm

Potential Health Risks


In the late 1970s, concerns were raised that magnetic fields from power lines were causing leukemia in children. Subsequent epidemiological studies found no connection between cancer and power lines. A more recent health scare related to everyday technology is the potential for radiation damage caused by cell phones. Studies on the issue continue to contradict one another.
All cell phones emit some amount of electromagnetic radiation. Given the close proximity of the phone to the head, it is possible for the radiation to cause some sort of harm to the 118 million cell-phone users in the United States. What is being debated in the scientific and political arenas is just how much radiation is considered unsafe, and if there are any potential long-term effects of cell-phone radiation exposure.
There are two types of electromagnetic radiation:

• Ionizing radiation - This type of radiation contains enough electromagnetic energy to strip atoms and molecules from the tissue and alter chemical reactions in the body. Gamma rays and X-rays are two forms of ionizing radiation. We know they cause damage, which is why we wear a lead vest when X-rays are taken of our bodies.
• Non-ionizing radiation - Non-ionizing radiation is typically safe. It causes some heating effect, but usually not enough to cause any type of long-term damage to tissue. Radio-frequency energy, visible light and microwave radiation are considered non-ionizing.

On its Web site, the FDA states that "the available scientific evidence does not demonstrate any adverse health effects associated with the use of mobile phones." However, that doesn't mean that the potential for harm doesn't exist. Radiation can damage human tissue if it is exposed to high levels of RF radiation, according to the FCC. RF radiation has the ability to heat human tissue, much like the way microwave ovens heat food. Damage to tissue can be caused by exposure to RF radiation because the body is not equipped to dissipate excessive amounts of heat. The eyes are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of blood flow in that area.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/...tion-users.gif
Cell-phone use continues to rise, which is why scientists and lawmakers are so concerned about the potential risks associated with the devices.
The added concern with non-ionizing radiation, the type of radiation associated with cell phones, is that it could have long-term effects. Although it may not immediately cause damage to tissue, scientists are still unsure about whether prolonged exposure could create problems. This is an especially sensitive issue today, because more people are using cell phones than ever before. In 1994, there were 16 million cell-phone users in the United States alone. As of July 17, 2001, there were more than 118 million.
Here are a few illnesses and ailments that have potential links to cell-phone radiation:

• Cancer
• Brain tumors
• Alzheimer's
• Parkinson's
• Fatigue
• Headaches

Look Ma, No Hands!

If you are worried about the potential hazards of cell-phone radiation, here are few ways to reduce your risk:

• Use a hands-free headset.
• Use a phone that places the antenna as far away from you as possible.
• Extend the antenna during use.
• Limit calls inside buildings.
• Use the phone in open spaces as often as possible.
• Limit use by children.

Studies have only muddled the issue. As with most controversial topics, different studies have different results. Some say that cell phones are linked to higher occurrences of cancer and other ailments, while other studies report that cell-phone users have no higher rate of cancer than the population as a whole. No study to date has provided conclusive evidence that cell phones can cause any of these illnesses. However, there are ongoing studies that are examining the issue more closely. See the links page at the end of this article for more information on these studies. ­
At high levels, radio-frequency energy can rapidly heat biological tissue and cause damage such as burns, according to a recent report from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), a nonpartisan congressional agency that audits federal programs. The report went on to state that mobile phones operate at power levels well below the point at which such heating effects would take place. The amount of radiation emitted from the devices is actually minute, and the U.S. federal government places limits on how much radiation a cell phone can emit.

[Kerberoz]

Don't forget to remove your fillings, otherwise they'll just bypass the foil and send the deathrays through your mandible which acts as an amplifier.

[Dimmauk]

If you are afraid of using a cellphone, then you shouldn't use a microwave, satellite cable, or stand outside.

[Surealistic]

If you are afraid of using a cellphone, then you shouldn't use a microwave, satellite cable, or stand outside.

in fact you should prolly just stop breathing altogether

[hey]

If you are afraid of using a cellphone, then you shouldn't use a microwave, satellite cable, or stand outside.

And your house better have 10' thick walls made of concrete too, otherwise it's not safe there either.

[Kerberoz]

In some situations, the Earth can act as a radio antenna, so have fun with that.

[miokomioko]

I was gonna' say, I'm pretty sure we would have seen adverse effects a long time ago as our bodies have been constantly penetrated by all sorts of waves, signals, and transmissions since we were all hanging out in a ballsack.

[Plow]

buy 2 cell phones, get unlimited service, glue one to each nut, have them on call with each other at all times

let us know how that works out in 20 years

[Dimmauk]

Automobiles have on star,Bluetooth and radios! We should go back to riding horses y'all.

[dejet]

real answer: No clue, some study's show the effect is so small it means shit. Others are showing that it has bad long term effects. we have no clue whatsoever, There is testing ongoing and we will have our answer in 60 years after this cell phone wave of people(all of us) has time to see results.