Cell phones emit radiation when you talk and send text messages between yourself and other callers. Health risks are not confirmed at this time; however, some but not all studies of frequent cell phone users suggests an increased risk for brain and mouth tumors and children’s behavior problems. Therefore, to be on the safe side, the Environmental Working Group recommends following the tips below to help reduce your exposure.

    Buy a low radiation phone.

  1. Look up your phone on the EWG’s buyer’s guide. Your phone’s model number may be printed under your battery. Consider replacing your phone with one that emits the lowest radiation possible and still meets your needs.

    2. Use a headset or speaker

  2. Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose either wired or wireless as both seem to emit the same amount. Some wireless headsets emit continuous, low level radiation, so take them off your ear when you are not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head.

    3. Listen more and talk less.

  3. Your phone emits radiation when you talk or text, but not when you are receiving messages. Listening more and talking less thus reduces your exposure.

    4. Hold your phone away from your body.

  4. Try holding your phone away from your torso when you are talking, not against your ear, in a pocket, or on your belt where soft body tissues absorb radiation.

    5. Choose texting over talking.

  5. Cell phones use less power (i.e. less radiation) to send text than voice. Also, texting keeps the phone, and thus radiation, away from your head unlike when you speak with the phone at your ear.

    6. Poor signal? Stay off the phone.

  6. Fewer signal bars on your phone means that it emits more radiation to get the signal to the tower. Make and take calls when your phone has a strong signal.

    7. Limit children’s phone use.

  7. Young children’s brains absorb twice the cell phone radiation as an adult’s. The EWG, along with numerous other health agencies recommends limiting children’s use to emergency situations only.

    8. Skip the radiation shield.

  8. Radiation shields such as antenna caps or keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit at a higher power with higher radiation.

Visit the Environmental Working Group-Cell phone radiation webpage for more detailed information on this topic. Talk to you soon :)