Cell Phone Radiation Effects on Humans - Research Paper Example

Cell Phone Radiation Effects on Humans Some say that cell phones are linked to higher occurrences of cancer and other ailments, while other studies report that cell-phone users have no higher rate of cancer than the population as a whole. No study to date has provided conclusive evidence that cell phones can cause any of these illnesses. However, there are ongoing studies that are examining the issue more closely (How Cell-phone Radiation Works) Cellphones have revolutionized not only the communication process, but also the human life in different manners. A world without cellphones is unimaginable now because of the various types of utilities associated with it. Earlier cellphones were used for communication purposes alone; however current cellphones are capable of providing facilities like video/audio recording, camera, internet/email, multimedia, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) etc. In short cellphones are getting smarter and smarter and its influence on human life goes on increasing as time goes on. Amidst all the above mentioned utilities of cellphone, the concerns about the health problems generated by cellphones are also growing. Cellphones and cellphone towers can generate harmful radiations which can affect human health negatively. While sending and receiving calls cellphones produce different types of microwave radiations which can cause health problems in future. Cancer, Brain tumor, Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, Autism, Fatigue, Headaches, Sleeping problems, memory malfunctions etc are some of the health problems associated with mobile phone radiations. This paper analyses the cellphone radiation effects on humans. Scientists exposed 10 female volunteers to radiation at 900 megahertz from GSM phones to simulate an hour-long phone call. They screened 580 different proteins in their skin cells and found that the numbers of two proteins were altered in all of the volunteers: one protein increased by 89 percent, the other decreased by 32 percent. This study shows that even without heating, molecular level changes take place in response to exposure to cell phone frequency electromagnetic radiation (How cellphone radiations can Affect Your Cells?) Radiations are energy forms which has both particle and wave nature. It occurs naturally from isotopes of some elements and also it can reach the earth from sun or outer universe. Radiations can be generated from some manmade activities also. Nuclear power generators, mobile phones etc are some of the manmade radiation sources. Radiations are of different types; however electromagnetic radiations seem to be the most prominent one. Electromagnetic radiations are of two types; ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiations like gamma rays and X- rays have the ability to alter chemical reactions inside the body. Non-ionizing radiation such as visible light may not cause many problems to human health even though it can produce some heating effects. Cellphones are producing ionizing radiations in plenty and therefore the chances of a mobile users getting affected by these radiations are immense. “At high levels, radio-frequency energy can rapidly heat biological tissue and cause damage such as burns, according to a recent report from the U.S. General Accounting Office” (How Cell-phone Radiation Works). Cellphones cannot transmit or receive the ordinary low frequency sound waves. Sound waves need to be superimposed with high frequency electromagnetic carrier waves in order to send it to long distances. A process of modulation and demodulation is taking place inside the cellphones in order to send and receive audible sound waves. Modulation is the process of superimposition of sound waves with electromagnetic carrier waves whereas demodulation is the process of isolation of sound waves and carrier waves from the modulated radio frequency waves. “Modulated information-carrying radio waves resonate in biological frequencies of a few to a few hundred cycles per second, and can stimulate your cellular receptors causing a whole cascade of pathological consequences that can culminate in fatigue, anxiety and ultimately cancers” (How cellphone radiations can Affect Your Cells?) A cellular phone is basically a radio that sends signals on waves to a base station. The carrier signal generates two types of radiation fields: a near-field plume and a far-field plume. Living organisms, too, generate electromagnetic fields at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organism level; this is called the biofield. Both the near-field and far-field plumes from cell phones and in the environment can wreak havoc with the human biofield, and when the biofield is compromised in any way, so is metabolism and physiology (Kovach) Human brain or head has the ability to absorb some kind of electromagnetic radiations when it comes in the immediate vicinity. Cellphones use different types of electromagnetic radiations in the microwave range for sending and receiving information. Our brain also produces electromagnetic signals in order to communicate with different parts of our body. In other words, when mobile phones operated near the brain, the microwave radiations produced by it can interfere or influence the electromagnetic signals produced by the brain. The interferences of an external electromagnetic radiation with the internal brain signals can cause tremendous changes in the brain functioning and subsequently the brain will starts malfunctioning. Malfunctions of brain can cause physical and psychological problems. Brain tumor and some kind of psychological diseases are suspected to be caused by the increased exposure to mobile radiations. “A considerable body of evidence proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that microwave radiation from mobile phones and cordless phones cause a significantly increased risk for brain tumors” (The real truth about the hazards, told by independent scientists). To conclude, health problems associated with cellphone usage are not a myth, but a fact. The microwave radiations produced by the cellphones while in operation can produce ionizing radiations such as X-rays, gamma rays etc which have high penetrating capacity in human body. These radiations can make significant changes in body metabolism and subsequently different types of physical and mental health problems can occur to the people who are exposed to cellphone radiations. Brain tumor, cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, Autism, Fatigue, Headaches, Sleeping problems, memory malfunctions etc are some of the health problems mobile phone radiations can generate. In short, it is necessary to practice safe and judicious usage of mobile phones rather than increasing the dependence on it in order to preserve health. Works Cited 1. “How Cellphone Radiations can Affect Your Cells?” Web. 27 July 2011. 2. “How Cell-phone Radiation Works”. Web. 27 July 2011. 3. Kovach, Sue. “The Hidden Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation”. Web. 27 July 2011. 4. “The Real Truth About the Hazards, Told by Independent Scientists”. Web. 27 July 2011. Read More