Sat 26 Sep 2009
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Buy a low radiation phone.
Use a headset or speaker
Listen more and talk less.
Hold your phone away from your body.
Choose texting over talking.
Poor signal? Stay off the phone.
Limit children’s phone use.
Skip the radiation shield.
Visit the Environmental Working Group-Cell phone radiation webpage for more detailed information on this topic. Talk to you soon 
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October 21st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
It was almost 15 years ago that I heard a news story about a study stating that cell phone use was linked to brain tumours. The funny thing is that the news story disappeared almost as soon as it was broadcast. There were rumours that the major cell phone manufacturers threatened legal action. And now here we are all these years later. I’m curious about the research available today.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I don’t think we’ll have a definite answer until a generation or two has passed. There are segments in our society that believe:
!. EMF’s are harmful and cause cancer.
2. Thousands of chemicals are introduced every year into the mainstream population that are having harmful effects. We are exposed to more chemicals today than our parents were when they were growing up.
3. etc.
It probably won’t happen in my lifetime but I hope that one day when you see a doctor for a diagnosis of an illness that they would ask you to voluntarily fill out a questionaire regarding the things that you have been exposed to throughout your life. Once a lot of data has been compiled they would be able to get a clearer picture of what is causing a number of diseases or illnesses.
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