Cell Phone Health Risk - Essay Example

Cell Phone Health Risk The use of mobile phone has increased immensely in the modern world, and the debate over whether the use of cell phones pose any health risks to the users, has refused to go away (Kesari et al., 187). With this debate continuing to be the basis of numerous recent studies, more controversy has been added by some scientific researches that have indicated the cell phone use is affecting not only humans, but also other living organisms including plants (Sharmaa, et al., 66). The health risks posed by the indiscriminate use of the cell phone is associated with the exposure of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to human and other organisms, which releases microwave energy that goes into the users hands and head (Szmigielski and Sobiczewska, 353). The EMFs are scientifically known to affect and induce biochemical changes in plants. Further, the exposure to the microwave energy released by the cell phones right on the side of the head has raised concern of a possible change of health status for humans. Nevertheless, other studies have indicated that the levels of exposure to the microwaves are relatively low, such that they may not pose serious health risk to the cell phone users. The findings by the United States Government Accountability Office have concluded that the scientific studies undertaken so far have not shown any adverse effect of the exposure to the Radio-Frequency (RF) energy from the use of mobile phone (GAO, 1). Thus, the major question that arises is; does the use of cell phones pose any adverse health risks to the users? The fact that cell phones emits Radio-Frequency (RF) energy, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that can be absorbed by the tissues close to where the cell phone is placed is not in contention (LaBerge, 30). However, the point of dispute has been the level of the Radio-Frequency (RF) energy that is released, and its potential to influence the health of the user adversely. One theory has however been developed in regard to why the scientific studies undertaken that far have not been able to prove that there is adverse effects on human health associated with the use of cell phones. According to a scientist, Dr. Devra Davis, the major reason why such research has not been able to prove the relationship between mobile phone use and the development of cancer, is because the development of cancer takes an average of 10 years of mobile phone use to show (LaBerge, 30). Furthermore scientists have observed that the amount of the Radio-Frequency (RF) energy released by a cell phone devise is dependent on the type of the mobile device, the technology used, the distance that exists between the cell phone antenna and the user, as well as the existing distance between the user and the mobile phone towers (NCI, n.p.). In this respect therefore, before a conclusive finding is reached, there requires that more studies be undertaken, and the length of such studies be varied to the estimated period of 10 years during which the cell phone use can cause cancer. This way, it would then be possible to establish whether there is really any connection between the use of cell phones and the development of cancer, or any other adverse health effects on humans (LaBerge, 30). The fundamental concept that cannot be disputed is the adverse effect of the mobile base station EMFs emissions on human health. Scientific studies that have been undertaken to assess the relationship between the emissions at base stations such as telecommunication antennas, radar and broadcasting stations have indicated that the released electromagnetic radiations have potential adverse effects on human health, depending on the level of the radiation exposure (Szmigielski and Sobiczewska, 352). In a study undertaken to assess the relationship between base station proximity and neurobehavioral effects, 8 out of the 10 experimental studies indicated that the population that lived within a proximity of 500 meters from base stations were either demonstrating adverse neurobehavioral symptoms or had some cancer development symptoms (Khurana, et al., 263). In this respect therefore, the only fact that is not in contention, is that the mobile base station proximity has an adverse effect on human health, due to the high levels of the electromagnetic radiation that is released from the stations, which has ionizing effects on the cells of humans (NCI, n.p.). However, the levels of electromagnetic radiation released by the cell phones themselves have not been proven to be capable of causing similar adverse health effects on humans. This is despite the fact that the electromagnetic radiations released by the base stations and those released by the cell phones are similar, and thus both have the potential of causing similar adverse health effects on humans (Kesari et al., 192). Therefore the major question that arises out of this analysis is; could it be the level or the quantity of the electromagnetic radiation released that determines the health effect caused? Could it be possible that the level of the electromagnetic radiation released by the cell phones and other mobile devices is so much insignificant as to cause any adverse health effect? While attempting to respond to these questions, it is essential to note that according to the studies undertaken to assess the relationship between base station proximity and neurobehavioral effects, none of the 10 studies indicated that there were electromagnetic radiation exposure to the population, which was above accepted international guidelines (Khurana, et al., 263). This serves to indicate that; while the internationally accepted guidelines of electromagnetic radiations have specified the levels of the radiations that the cell phone and other mobile devises can emit, while also regulating the amounts of such electromagnetic radiations that the mobile phone base stations can release, there is a real possibility that such levels can still affect the human health adversely (NCI, n.p.). The other factor that contributes to the uncertainties and difficulties in establishing a comprehensive finding regarding the effect of cell phone use on the health of humans is that; the cell phone technology has been changing over time (NCI, n.p.). In this respect, it means that it becomes difficult for any scientific study undertaken to find consistent, credible and genuine results. The mobile phone technology is very different for different type of cell phones used, and the technology keeps changing with every passing day that brings advancement in the world of communication, as well as rapidly changing lifestyles and technological advances (Ratnapradipa, Dundulis, Ritzel and Haseeb, 5). Consequently, when the scientists are undertaking studies to establish the relationship between the mobile phone use and the possible adverse health risk to the human health, they may not get consistent results, since the users of mobile phones have been using different devices over time, whose level of technology and electromagnetic radiation are completely different (NCI, n.p.). No wonder therefore, that the adverse health effects associated with the use of cell phones are so diverse, to the extent that the relationship between the electromagnetic radiation and all these effects is put into question. The adverse health effects that have been associated with the cell phone use include brain tumors, cardiovascular attacks, infertility, childhood leukemia, allergic responses, neurobehavioral dysfunction, immune deregulations and genotoxic effects (Kesari et al., 187). These adverse health effects vary to a great extent, and the establishment of the relationship between electromagnetic radiations and such varied health disorders is still underway. Hence, it becomes very difficult for scientists to establish the relationship between adverse health effects caused by the cell phones on human health, owing to the fact that the technological changes in the devises used, and the electromagnetic radiations levels of emissions is not the same for different devices (NCI, n.p.). However, one of the interesting findings in relation to the adverse effects of cell phone use on human health according to Dr. Devra Davis is that; “So far, their brains do not look to be different at all in terms of their structure, but the brains of those who are regular cell phone users just don’t work well” (LaBerge, 30). This observation serves to show the complexity involved in determining the adverse health effects caused by cell phone use on human health, since where the structure of the brain does not seem to change, then it would be difficult to identify any damage or destruction that has occurred to the brain, unless a behavioral study is undertaken to complement the study assessing the effects of electromagnetic radiation (NCI, n.p.). Conclusion The use of cell phones has been on the rise, due to the technological and lifestyle advancements that have made communication a core part of human lives. With this advancement, there is a concern that the use of cell phones might have an adverse effect on the health of users. However, while there is evidence to prove that close proximity to mobile phone base stations has adverse effect on human health, there has not been any scientific evidence that far, which proves that the use of cell phones have adverse effect on human health. Therefore ,it is only when more scientific studies are undertaken, that it will be possible to establish the whether the use of cell phones have an adverse effect on the users’ health. Works Cited Government Accountability Office (GOA). TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Exposure and Testing Requirements for Mobile Phones Should Be Reassessed. United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC, July 24, 2012. 1-41. Print. Kesari, Kavindra et al. “Cell phone radiation exposure on brain and associated biological systems.” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 51, 2013:187-200. Print. Khurana, Vini et al. “Epidemiological Evidence for a Health Risk from Mobile Phone Base Stations.” International Journal of Occupational Environmental Health 16, 2010:263-267. Print. LaBerge, Roy. “How to protect yourself and family from cell phone radiation” The CCPA Monitor, 2010. p.30. Print. National Cancer Institute (NCI). “National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet: Cell Phones and Cancer Risk”, June 24, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones Ratnapradipa D, Dundulis Jr WP, Ritzel DO, Haseeb A. “The role of health education in addressing uncertainty about health and cell phone use: A commentary.” American Journal of Health Education 43(1) 2012:5-7. Print. Sharmaa, Ved Parkash et al. “Cell Phone Radiations Affect Early Growth of Vigna radiate (Mung Bean) through Biochemical Alterations.” Naturforsch, 2010: 66-72. Print. Szmigielski, Stanislaw and Sobiczewska Elzbieta. “Cellular phone systems and human health problems with risk perception and communication.”Environmental Management and Health 11(4), 2000:352-368. Print. Read More