Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Cell Phones and Cancer

It was recently stated in the last year that cell phones cause cancer, or brain tumors. It has been recommended that people keep the phone away from their bodies and heads as much as possible. It also has been recommended that parents try to keep their children from using cell phones for as long as possible. The longer a person is around the cell phone and keeps it close to you the more risk they have of getting cancer. Studies that looked at cell phone users of ten years and more seemed to be more at risk.

I don't know what to think about this. So many people use cell phones and I have not heard of too many people getting cancer or tumors from it. I'm sure that it is possible, but I'm not sure how risky it is to use a cell phone. The article stated that they test people who have cancer and brain tumors, but they don't test people that do not have brain cancer. They also suggested that they should do a study on a group of people when they start using cell phones and continue to study them over time.

I feel that this is a accurate, and beneficial way to study the risk of cell phones. It would give an accurate result of how risky cell phones actually are to people.

8 comments:

Amreet said...

There are a lot of things out there that are worse than cell phones but yes, cell phones do cause cancer and they should be limited as much as possible. Cell phones aren't as bad as bluetooth. Unlike cell phones, bluetooths do not have any type of antenna or support system, therefore in a way (I won't get too deep into AP Bio), it uses the brain as a "signaling center." If you doubt me, Sanjay Gupta, reporter from CNN, covers this a lot. Just type is phones and cancer and 100% Dr. Gupta covers the effects of bluetooths.

Phones are important considering what generation we are living in, but try to limit the amount you talk on the phone. Not only will your bill be lower but you have to take any risks with something so lethal as cancer

LahaRulle said...

Please give us a link to your proof that phones increase the likelihood of getting cancer. Not only do cell phones definitely not cause cancer all by themselves, but I have yet to see any solid reasoning or proof for them increasing the likelihood of getting cancer. Just because you have a cell phone and get cancer does not mean that the cell phone had any role to play in the cancer. However, I'm perfectly willing to change my mind if you show me good proof.

-Ilan Seid-Green

Victor H. said...

The correlation between brain cancer and cell phones is a sketchy one at best and there is almost no way to do an experiment and obtain a cause and effect.

Even if they did do the study concerning cell phones and brain cancer over an extended period of time, the chances of one of those people getting brain cancer is slim and proving that the cell phone caused the cancer is near impossible.

So basically what Ilan said, show me good proof and I'll believe it. But for now, I'm gonna stick with using my cell phone.

Franklin Wu said...

I think it's all speculation. Cell phones emit waves and therefore can cause cancer, similarly to microwaves and other forms of radiation. To think it can cause cancer, sure, but then again, so can the LCD monitors from your computer and all that fun stuff. Bluetooth is radio waves, so the very fact that we walk around outside already gives us the chance of cancer, not just from the sun, but also all the frequencies broadcasted by radio stations. It's such a small factor that it can and should be considered irrelevant.

Lily said...

" So many people use cell phones and I have not heard of too many people getting cancer or tumors from it." The thing about cancer or tumors is that it takes a long time for people to notice they have it. So of course with cellphones only being around for more than a decade? (i believe) the chances of seeing too many people affected by it is slim.

Whether or not there is evidence... I think we should be more cautious around exposing ourselves to too much of ANYTHING. That means computers too guys!

LahaRulle said...

Although I stick with my point about proof, I also agree with Lily. Moderation is always good in use of electronics and the like.

-Ilan Seid-Green

Franklin Wu said...

In accordance with Ilan and Lily, moderation is good, but definitely not for fear of cancer, but rather for fear of my eyesight.

Chris said...

This is interesting. This was a topic that was talked greatly about a couple years back in Asia. People would get these little electronic things that were suppose to help absorb some of the radiation to reduce the risks of cancer.
One of the products would be like the ishield.
http://www.ihealthproducts.com/ProdImages/IS-CP001.jpg