Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
I strongly considered leaving this question off the list, since I can’t honestly give you a straight answer. Much research has been done to investigate possible links between RF and cancer, but no studies have yet found one. Many people choose to ignore these studies, because most of them are funded by cell phone companies. They obviously have a vested interest in keeping people happy with their phones, but to suggest that they would deliberately lie to cover up the truth is a classic conspiracy theory if I ever heard one. About the only thing we know for sure about RF exposure is that it can cause localized heating. However, if slight heating of body tissue was dangerous, then we would be putting ourselves at risk any time we exerted ourselves physically, or stood around outside in the summer. To some sensitive individuals it possible that localized heating does cause headaches and other transient maladies, but that doesn’t mean they are going to die prematurely of brain cancer. I per
Some experts say yes; some say no. And that leaves about a hundred million American cell phone users confused and worried, and we’ll get perspective from both sides. Plus, the latest on Gerald Ford’s health. The form president is out of the hospital. It’s all next on LARRY KING LIVE. Our complete show tonight letter devoted to the controversy over the safety of cell phones, but we’re going to begin by talking with our friend Calvin McDowell. He’s on the phone from Philadelphia, and he’s the spokesperson — are you in Philadelphia, Calvin? CALVIN MCDOWELL, SPOKESMAN FOR GERALD FORD: Actually, Larry, I’m in Tarpin Springs, Florida. KING: Calvin McDowell is a spokesperson for Gerald Ford. The Fords left the hospital in Philadelphia today. The president as admitted August 2 after suffering a stroke. That was OK, and then abscess on the tongue. What was that all about, the abscess? MCDOWELL: Well, Larry, it was something that had never been diagnosed in the state of Pennsylvania prior to th
Cancer Myth 8: Electronic devices, like cell phones, can cause cancer in the people who use them. Respondents Who Agreed: 30 percent Origin of Myth: Lawsuits and news headlines have fueled the myth that cell phones cause cancer, particularly brain cancer, and 30 percent of Americans still believe this myth, according to the Discovery Health/Prevention telephone survey. Reality: A few studies suggested a link with certain rare types of brain tumors, but the consensus among well-designed population studies is that there is no consistent association between cell phone use and brain cancer. Consumers could easily have missed the reports showing no danger from cell phones because they didn’t receive alarming front-page coverage like the original reports. What has been proven is that using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of having a car accident. So, keeping your hands free and your eyes on the road is a more significant issue for people who use cell phones. No Apparent Cancer
” remains. The question has also become more specific: Do cell phones cause brain cancer? What is the concern? Obviously the main concern is the question itself: Do cell phones cause brain cancer? What, however, is behind the concern? Cellular phones operate on radio frequencies (RF), a form of electromagnetic radiation — waves of electric and magnetic energy that radiate at the speed of light — that is located in the ultra-high frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum, somewhere between FM radio waves and the waves used in microwave ovens, radars and satellites. Currently, there are no federally mandated RF standards, although the FCC does mandate a specific absorption rate (SAR) that dictates the allowable amount of RF energy that can be safely absorbed into the body. The SAR value, however, is based on the thermal effect of RFs or, in other words, how much heat your body can safely absorb rather than the cancer-causing non-thermal effects. The amount of RF a person is exposed
