Are mobile phones health hazards?

How do mobile phones work?

• They use: a) Microwaves

b) Magnetic fields

Microwaves

• Are high frequency radio waves

• Lie between infrared and conventional radio waves

• Range in wave length from about 1 mm to 30 cm

How can they harm us?

• Microwaves cause heating

• This in turn can cause cellular damage

Magnetic fields

• Arise from surges of electricity from the battery

• These are of low frequency

How can they harm us?

• Known to cause cellular mutation

• Possibly blood cancer (Leukaemia)

What illnesses might be linked with mobile phones?

• Headaches

• Sleep disruption

• Impairment of short term memory

• Infertility

• Brain tumours

Headaches

• An increase in permeability of the blood brain barrier

• Effects the transmitter in the brain. Eg. Dopamine

• Both are medically connected to headaches

Sleep Disruption

• Changes in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep

• Change in melatonin levels

Short term memory loss

• Microwave radiation to the head can target the hippocampus.

• Responsible for impairment of short term memory

Infertility

• Testicular temperature is 2 degrees below normal body temperature.

• Microwaves cause rise in temperature.

• Phones in trouser pockets can cause testicular temperature to rise.

• This interferes with sperm production

Brain Tumours

• Mobile phone users show a factorial increase of 2 to 3 in incidence of a rare tumour : according to a small study

• This occurs on the side of the brain nearest to the phone

Opinion 1

• “Those using their mobile phone on the right side of their head, the risk of getting a tumour increased by two and a half times on that respective side.”

-The view of a former BT engineer

Opinion 2

• “…..could be something more here than what meets the eye. The science ….today……. suggests that there could be a problem that needs to be looked at very carefully.”

- Dr. Carlo commenting on a rare tumour found in mobile phone users

Opinion 3

• “…..until we have a definite conclusion, and results of much larger studies, we need to minimise exposure to human beings.”

- View of Dr. Lennart Hardell (Sweden)

Experiments

• These harmful effects have been shown in labs and experiments on cells/animals.

• The exposure levels were much higher

In Humans:

• So far no clinical evidence exists to prove that mobile phones are harmful

- Bandolier 2001

• Hence long term studies with larger population groups are needed for accurate proof of safety

Conclusion

• So far no evidence exists of harm in humans

• Until larger studies are conducted best, to use it sparingly.

Evidence does exist that:

• Talking and driving don’t go together !