Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer - Essay Example

Number: Section Number: Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer- Controversial Essay Section Introduction The use of cell phones has been found to have a series of risks for health. The possible relationship between cell phones and cancer is discussed in this paper. Cell phones are a core part of most people’s daily life. However, concerns have been developed in regard to the potential effects of the use of mobile phones on health especially for those individuals who make an excessive use of cell phones on daily basis (Kabat 2013). In fact, the use of mobile phones has been considered as leading to cancer, even not at standard level, probably under the influence of each individual’s age and health status (Gallagher 2011). The topic under discussion is controversial because of the following reason: there are many studies that have verified the lack of involvement of cell phones in the development of cancer. Still, numerous studies have published for warning people on the close relationship between cell phones and cancer. The two aspects, i.e. sides, of the particular topic are analyzed in this paper. The controversies involved are explained using relevant literature. The potential role of a technology-related theory, the technological determinism in the analysis of the study’s issue is also explored. In regard to the literature presented in this paper, the following fact should be highlighted: the literature includes the popular press and the academic journals published in the particular field. The popular press used in this study includes articles published in the website of popular newspapers and news channels, such as the Telegraph, Daily Express and BBC News. Also, studies published in academic journals are employed for exploring more effectively the issue under discussion. Both the articles and the studies are as recent as possible. The articles and the studies are compared, by referring to their characteristics and their content, for coming to a conclusion in regard to this study’s subject. It should be noted that the articles and the studies chosen cover both sides related to the topic under discussion. Section 2 – Side A: Cell phones do not cause cancer The first Side related to the issue under discussion is based on the view that the use of cell phones cannot result to cancer. This view is supported by a series of scholarly studies and by articles published in popular press. One of the most known studies that promote the specific Side is the one developed by the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology (Denmark). The above Institute checked the health effects of cell phones for 350,000; the duration of the study reached the 18 years (Triggle 2011). No relationship was identified between cell phones and cancer. In the article of Triggle (2011) reference is also made to the views of scientists and experts for the findings of Denmark’s study, as presented above. All of them emphasize on the study’s value for re-assuring the lack of involvement of cell phones in the development of cancer. Still, the concerns of WHO for cell phones’ effects are mentioned (Triggle 2011). It is because of these concerns that WHO has categorized cell phones among the products that can possibly cause health problems even if the relevant evidence is not adequate. The non-involvement of cell phones in cancer is further verified by Leikind (2011). The above researcher, who is a physicist, has extensively explored the effects of cell phones’ technology on health. He has come to the conclusion that the microwaves of cell phones cannot cause cancer but their possible involvement in other health problems cannot be fully rejected (Leikind 2011). It is explained that the volume of microwaves sent by a cell phone to the cell tower is so low that a severe health problem, like cancer, is unlikely to appear (Leikind 2011). However, the suggestions made by Leikind in regard to the precautions that need to be taken when using a cell phone indicate that cell phones are not totally free from health risks. In the context of academic literature, a study that supports the First Side of this paper, i.e. the view that cell phones cannot cause cancer, is that of Frei et al. (2011). The above researchers checked the level of cancer incidents in adults across Denmark. An extensive sample, of about 358,403 cases, was reviewed. The sample referred both to users and non-users of mobile phones (Frei et al. 2011). No direct relationship between cancer and mobile phone use was revealed. More specifically, it was proved that the chances for cancer were almost equal for users and non-users of cell phones. Also, no relationship seemed to exist between ‘the use of a cell phone and the anatomic location of a tumour’ (Frei et al. 2011, p.1). Moreover, Boice & Tarone (2011) examined the findings of a series of empirical studies in order to check whether cell phones can cause cancer to children. Their research resulted to the following assumption: during the last decades, the level of cancer incidents in children seems to remain standardized without being increased since the appearance of cell phones (Boice & Tarone 2011). In other words, the lack of relationship between cell phones and cancer is proved both by popular press and scholarly studies. The examination of the studies that support the opposite Side is necessary in order to decide which Side is fully verified. Section 3 – Side B: Cell phones cause cancer The risks of cell phones for health and, in particular, their relationship with cancer have been highly explored by researchers and experts worldwide. In an article published by CBS News emphasis is given to the findings of studies that verify the appearance of cancer because of the use of mobile phone. According to the article, the involvement of cell phones in the development of cancer has been verified by: ‘a) the International Agency for Research on Cancer, b) 30 studies in different geographic regions, such as Europe and US’ (Freeman 2011, par. 3&4). It is concluded that the use of cell phones is highly expected to lead to cancer but the time required and the frequency of the problem are not standardized. Based on a similar approach, Willey (2013) presents the findings of a study developed by ‘researchers at the Tel Aviv University’ (Willey 2013, par.5). The study focused on the examination of saliva for the identification of the implications of cell phones of health. It is explained that saliva has been chosen because of its proximity to the mobile phone when the latter is used (Willey 2013). The comparison of the saliva of heavy mobile phone users with the saliva of individuals who do not use mobile phone (deaf people) or use it just for messages led to the following finding: the saliva of heavy users suffered from oxidative stress, a condition that usually results to tumour (Willey 2013). The findings of the above study are aligned with a decision of Rome’s Supreme Court in 2012. The decision refers to the claim of an Italian citizen for compensation because of the health problems he suffers due to the excessive use of cell phone; the specific individual developed a severe problem of health after using mobile phone for several hours daily, a practice that was held for about 12 years (Alleyne 2012). The Court accepted that there is a relationship between the use of the cell phone and the individual’s illness (Alleyne 2012). Through the findings presented in the articles of Willey (2013) and Alleyne (2012) the involvement of cell phones in the development of cancer seems to be fully verified. The academic studies supporting the Second Side related to the topic under examination are based on the following fact: the level of appearance of tumour in heavy users of mobile phones is extremely high, if compared to non-heavy users. In other words, the potential of cell phones to cause cancer is derived by checking the style of life of patients, since it is quite difficult to prove the potential of cell phones’ radiation to cause cancer. In this context, Levis et al. (2011) checked the results of a series of studies related to the health effects of cell phones. Their research led to the assumption that heavy users of mobile phones are exposed at doubled risk for cancer, if compared to non-heavy users or non-users of mobile phones (Levis et al. 2011). Myung et al. (2009) used a similar approach for checking the relationship between cell phones and cancer. Their research was based on the study of about 465 articles published in Popular Medical portals, such as ‘PubMed and EMBASE’ (Myung et al. 2009, p.5565). They concluded that the users of cell phones are exposed to the risk of tumours at higher level than the non-users and that the relevant risk is increased depending on the hours of use of cell phone on a daily basis (Myung et al. 2009). In 2013 a quite important study was published in regard to the relationship between cell phones and cancer. It is the study of Hardell et al. (2013). In this study the cases of patients who developed brain cancer from 2007 to 2009 are reviewed. The study has verified that there is a close relationship between cell phones and cancer; at the same time, brain cancers in patients who are heavy users of cell phones have been proved to have specific characteristics as of their location in the brain (Hardell et al. 2013). The study has been based on about 683 cases, a fact that increases its credibility as a means for proving the involvement of cell phones in cancer. Through the scholarly studies presented above a direct relationship between cell phones and cancer is made clear. This fact sets in doubt other studies published in this field and which reject any relationship between cell phones and cancer. Section 4 – Analysis The review of the literature presented in this study has revealed the following fact: the popular press uses a different language style to describe the problem. The reference to medical terminology is avoided; rather the technological aspects of cell phones are presented for showing the involvement or not of cell phones in the development of cancer. At this point, the popular press is differentiated from the scholarly articles; the latter are based on academic/ medical terminology for discussing on the health effects of cell phones. At the same time, scholarly articles do not emphasize on cell phones’ technology but rather on the medical aspects of the use of cell phones. The above differences can be characterized as expected; the scholarly studies used in this paper have been published by Medical Journals while the popular press just shows the results of relevant studies and the views of experts. This means that the scholarly articles attempt to reach the impact of cell phones, focusing on health, while the popular press is used just as a means for presenting empirical findings and personal views. The above fact is important when having to evaluate the views included in scholarly studies and in popular press: scholarly articles are of higher value in deciding the involvement or not of cell phones in a severe health problem, such as cancer. The topic under discussion is related to an important theory, the Technological determinism. The specific theory shows ‘the degree to which technology influences human thought and action’ (Feist et al. 2010, p.3). In addition, the specific theory promotes the idea that technology is so powerful in modern society that ‘has the power to govern human life’ (Kroes & Franssen 2011, p.86). Cell phones are an indispensable part of daily life, at least for the majority of people. In 2013, the number of cell phones sold globally reached the 1.86 billion, a figure that it is quite high (CCS Insight 2013). Moreover, the literature presented above proved that cell phones can be involved in severe health problems, even cancer. Still, the specific risk does not seem to discourage mobile phones’ users. Instead, the signs for further growth of mobile phones are strong (CCS Insight 2013). This fact proves that technology can govern the life of people, as Technological determinism accepts. Section 5 – Conclusion The relationship between cell phones and cancer has led to severe controversies. This phenomenon has appeared because of the following fact: the findings of the studies developed in regard to this issue are contradicted. Indeed, under certain studies the involvement of cell phones in cancer is fully verified while other studies have resulted to the opposite assumption. However, if they are reviewed carefully all studies seem to lead to the following view: cell phones can cause health problems. Also, the links between cell phones and cancer are many, even if they are not always clear. Indeed, even in the studies that show no relationship between cell phone and cancer it is noted that the involvement of cell phones in cancer is quite difficult to be proved because of the time that such study would require. Cell phones are rather recent, compared to other technology, and their health effects would require many decades to be fully explored, an issue noted in almost all studies reviewed for this paper. In addition the studies that have proved the relationship between cell phones and cancer are many. Under these terms it can be concluded that the users of cell phones are highly exposed to the risk of cancer even if the relevant health problem may take long to appear. Works Cited Alleyne, R. (2012) “Mobile phones can cause brain tumours, court rules.” Oct 19, 2012. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9619514/Mobile-phones-can-cause-brain-tumours-court-rules..html Boice, J. & Tarone, R. (2011) “Cell Phones, Cancer, and Children.” JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1211-1213 CCS Insight (2013) “Mobile Phone Sales Will Hit 1.86 Billion in 2013 as Strong Smartphone Growth Continues.” Retrieved from http://www.ccsinsight.com/press/company-news/1655-mobile-phone-sales-will-hit-186-billion-in-2013-as-strong-smartphone-growth-continues Feist, R., Beauvais, C. & Shukla, R. (2010) Technology and the Changing Face of Humanity. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press Freeman, D. (2011) “Mobile phones may cause cancer, experts say.” May 31, 2011. CBS News. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mobile-phones-may-cause-cancer-experts-say/ Frei, P., Poulsen, A., Johansen, C., Olsen, J., Steding-Jessen, M. & Schuz, J. (2011) “Use of mobile phones and risk of brain tumours: update of Danish cohort study.” BMJ, 343: 1-9 Gallagher, J. (2011) “Mobiles may cause brain cancer” May 31, 2011. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13608444 Hardell, L., Carlberg, M., Soderqvist, F. & Mild, K. (2013) “Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY, 43: 1833-1845 Kabat, G. (2013) “Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer? The Diehards Cling Desperately To Opinion.” May 3, 2013. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2013/03/05/do-cell-phones-cause-brain-cancer-the-diehards-cling-desperately-to-opinion/ Kroes, P. & Franssen, M. (2011) A Philosophy of Technology: From Technical Artefacts to Sociotechnical Systems. San Rafael: Morgan & Claypool Publishers Leikind, B. (2011) “No, cell phones do not cause cancer.” June 3, 2011. CNN News. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/02/leikind.cell.phone.cancer/ Levis, A., Minicuci, N., Ricci, P., Gennaro, V. & Garbisa, S. (2011) “Mobile phones and head tumours. The discrepancies in cause-effect relationships in the epidemiological studies - how do they arise?” Environmental Health, 10(59): 1-15 Myung, S., Ju, W., McDonnell, D., Lee, Y., Kazinets, G., Cheng, C. & Moskowitz, J. (2009) “Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Tumors: A Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 27(33): 5565-5572 Triggle, N. (2011) “Mobile phone brain cancer link rejected.” Oct 21, 2011. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15387297 Willey, J. (2013) “Just a few minutes a day on a mobile phone raises cancer risk.” July 31, 2013. Daily Express. Retrieved from http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/418714/Just-a-few-minutes-a-day-on-a-mobile-phone-raises-cancer-risk Bibliography POPULAR Alleyne, R. (2012) “Mobile phones can cause brain tumours, court rules.” Oct 19, 2012. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9619514/Mobile-phones-can-cause-brain-tumours-court-rules..html CCS Insight (2013) “Mobile Phone Sales Will Hit 1.86 Billion in 2013 as Strong Smartphone Growth Continues.” Retrieved from http://www.ccsinsight.com/press/company-news/1655-mobile-phone-sales-will-hit-186-billion-in-2013-as-strong-smartphone-growth-continues Freeman, D. (2011) “Mobile phones may cause cancer, experts say.” May 31, 2011. CBS News. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mobile-phones-may-cause-cancer-experts-say/ Gallagher, J. (2011) “Mobiles may cause brain cancer” May 31, 2011. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13608444 Kabat, G. (2013) “Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer? The Diehards Cling Desperately To Opinion.” May 3, 2013. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2013/03/05/do-cell-phones-cause-brain-cancer-the-diehards-cling-desperately-to-opinion/ Leikind, B. (2011) “No, cell phones do not cause cancer.” June 3, 2011. CNN News. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/02/leikind.cell.phone.cancer/ Triggle, N. (2011) “Mobile phone brain cancer link rejected.” Oct 21, 2011. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15387297 Willey, J. (2013) “Just a few minutes a day on a mobile phone raises cancer risk.” July 31, 2013. Daily Express. Retrieved from http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/418714/Just-a-few-minutes-a-day-on-a-mobile-phone-raises-cancer-risk SCHOLARLY Bennett, P. (2010) Risk Communication and Public Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press Boice, J. & Tarone, R. (2011) “Cell Phones, Cancer, and Children.” JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1211-1213 Feist, R., Beauvais, C. & Shukla, R. (2010) Technology and the Changing Face of Humanity. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press Frei, P., Poulsen, A., Johansen, C., Olsen, J., Steding-Jessen, M. & Schuz, J. (2011) “Use of mobile phones and risk of brain tumours: update of Danish cohort study.” BMJ, 343: 1-9 Hardell, L., Carlberg, M., Soderqvist, F. & Mild, K. (2013) “Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY, 43: 1833-1845 Kemm, J. (2013) Health Impact Assessment: Past Achievement, Current Understanding, and Future Progress. Oxford: Oxford University Press Kroes, P. & Franssen, M. (2011) A Philosophy of Technology: From Technical Artefacts to Sociotechnical Systems. San Rafael: Morgan & Claypool Publishers* Landrigan, P. & Etzel, R. (2013) Textbook of Childrens Environmental Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press Levis, A., Minicuci, N., Ricci, P., Gennaro, V. & Garbisa, S. (2011) “Mobile phones and head tumours. The discrepancies in cause-effect relationships in the epidemiological studies - how do they arise?” Environmental Health, 10(59): 1-15 Myung, S., Ju, W., McDonnell, D., Lee, Y., Kazinets, G., Cheng, C. & Moskowitz, J. (2009) “Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Tumors: A Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 27(33): 5565-5572 Thorogood, M. & Coombes, Y. (2010) Evaluating Health Promotion: Practice and Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press *The specific publishing company, which has offices in many US states, focuses on technology and science; the books published by the company are thoroughly reviewed not only in regard to their ‘authoritative content but also to the state-of-the-art technology’ (Morgan & Claypool Publishers, about, http://www.morganclaypool.com/page/aboutMcp.jsp). Therefore, the specific book is considered as meeting the terms of an academic source. Read More