Billions of people use cell phones across the globe. People are even shifting from conventional landlines to cell phones in the rural areas. The wide spread usage is astonishing but now tens of millions of people, including an increasing number of children, are pressing them against their heads for hours every day.
The basic principle on which a cell phone work is that each time a cell phone user makes a call, it transmit signals via radio frequency (RF), the same kind of low-frequency radiation used in microwave ovens and AM/FM radios. This low radiation energy is the major cause of all the hoopla around cell phones usage.
As cell phone use continues to grow, so does the concern over whether cell phones pose a health risk. There have been numerous studies conducted on the health effects of cell phone use, but the results have been conflicting.
Risk of cancer: There have been many studies in the past decade to determine the threat posed by the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone when held close to the head, but the results have been conflicting. Parts of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset are absorbed by the human head, which many believe can increase the risk of brain cancer. Some researches also indicate that children absorb twice as much radiation from cell phones as adults do, mostly because their faces and heads are much smaller. However, researchers say that it is too early to know for sure if there are long-term effects of using a cell phone, because cancer often takes decades to manifest.
Affects male fertility: If you are using a hands-free device with a cell phone, chances are that you are either carrying it in your pants pocket or it is clipped to your belt at the waist. According to a study, radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted from cell phones (when it is kept close to your testicles) can impair sperm quality.
Sudden accidents: Lithium-ion batteries that are used in cell phones can explode if exposed to high heat, or from overcharging. These explosions have caused injuries and started fires earlier as well. Driving while talking on a cell phone is also a major cause of road accidents.
Disrupts sleep: Teenagers who use their phones more than 15 times a day have more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep than those who use their phones sparingly, according to a report from European researchers.
Hearing loss: According to a preliminary and small study conducted at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, long time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss. Researchers found that people who had talked on cell phones for more than four years and those who talked more than an hour daily were more likely to have these losses. These losses can make it difficult to hear consonants such as s, f, t and z, making it hard to understand words.
Environmental effects: Migrating birds use the Earth’s electromagnetic field to navigate. They have been known to fly right into cell phone and other communications towers. Some blame the radiation emanating from cell phone towers for disorienting the birds and undermining their navigational abilities. Also, some farmers have observed that a cow grazing near cell towers increases the incidence of birth deformities, still births, behavioral problems and overall poor health.
Although it is difficult to live without cell phones, there are certain things that we can make sure to overcome the health risks of using cell phones:
- Try to use landlines as much as possible.
- Don’t use your cell phone for long period of talk.
- Keep the mobile phone as far away from your body as possible.
- Avoid sleeping with mobiles.
- Do not use cell phone in a car while driving.
As the old adage goes, prevention is always better than cure; not sticking to your cell phone the whole day can save you money and also protect you from the ill effects of cell phone.
SOURCE : http://www.djogjaku.com/
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