Cell phone radiation may cause cancer

WHO warns: hand radiation could cause cancer

01.06.2011

Mobile phone radiation may be carcinogenic. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against the carcinogenic effects of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation used in mobile communications. The frequent use of the cell phone could potentially increase the risk of brain tumors significantly, according to the findings of an expert commission of the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC.

Since the introduction of the mobile phone is discussed about possible health hazards due to the increased radiation exposure. Numerous studies have dealt with the topic in the past, but clear evidence of the health risks of mobile phone radiation is not yet available. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has always excluded a carcinogenic effect of mobile phone radiation. But the 31 members of the commission of experts come to a different conclusion in their study presented on Tuesday, so that the WHO was forced to warn against the possibly carcinogenic effect of mobile phone radiation.

Cell phones increase the risk of brain tumors
The frequent use of the mobile phone could significantly increase the risk of brain tumors, according to the study results of the expert group. Although the scientists have not been able to definitively prove the links between mobile phone radiation and the development of brain tumors, the current study results suggest a carcinogenic effect on mobile phone radiation, the WHO reports. Further studies will follow to clearly prove scientifically whether the use of mobile phones can cause the formation of tumors. However, until more results are available, consumers should expose themselves to as little potentially harmful radiation as possible, WHO said. Cell phone critics have long suspected that high-frequency electromagnetic radiation from mobile telephony may trigger tissue alteration and cancer, but health authorities and WHO have always been reluctant to issue warnings.

Numerous studies judge mobile phone radiation to be carcinogenic
„There have been many studies in the past that indicate a carcinogenic effect of mobile phone radiation“, explained the diploma physicist dr. Hartmut Voigt from the ECOLOG - Institute for Social-Ecological Research and Education in Hanover opposite "Heilpraxisnet.de". „Now WHO also comes to a similar conclusion in its summary assessment“, added the expert. In view of the threat of health problems, the ECOLOG Institute had its own limit value recommendation for the „Total load of all immissions“ out in the open air at the rate of 10 milliwatts per square meter. For indoor use, the ECOLOG Institute recommends a limit of one milliwatt per square meter. According to the expert, the limit values ​​refer to a body load. However, anyone who has the mobile phone on their ear all the time is exposed to increased radiation exposure, especially in the head area, so that the risk of tissue changes in the brain could be increased even if the general limit values ​​were adhered to by frequent cell phone use.

Mobile phone companies deny carcinogenic effects
The mobile phone companies were outraged by the critical assessment of the WHO and the international Association of mobile phone producers CTIA rejected the current study results of the IARC immediately. These are not meaningful, since the expert commission did not carry out a new investigation, but only already published studies were again evaluated. Many of these re-evaluated studies are being questioned by cell phone companies anyway, as they are biased or data errors could form the basis of the findings, said CTIA Vice President John Walls in Washington on Tuesday. „The IARC has carried out a number of assessments and in the past, for example, also classified pickles and coffees“, ranted the CTIA Vice President. Thus, the current IARC classification of mobile phone radiation as „possibly carcinogenic“ („possibly carcinogenic“) not that cell phones actually cause cancer, Walls emphasized. On behalf of the mobile phone companies Walls pointed out that there are also studies that have found no health hazards from the radiation of mobile phones. According to Walls, that is „The US Communications Authority has concluded that there is no scientific evidence that the use of wireless phones can lead to cancer“. The same applies to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

High transmission speed requires high radiation exposure
The fact that the mobile phone companies are particularly sensitive to the WHO's current warning seems perfectly logical against the background of possible claims for damages. But corporations should ask what burdens they can expect their customers and the general population. The mobile phone companies have definitely not been able to rule out the possible carcinogenic effects of mobile phone radiation until now. There are good reasons why limits should not be exceeded in order to avoid possible tissue changes. The fact that these limits may have to be somewhat lower in the future, given the current study results, does not suit the mobile communications company. After all, they plan to continue to significantly increase transmission speeds in times of smartphones, but this would always be accompanied by significantly higher radiation exposure on the basis of previous technologies. (Fp)

Image: Harald Wanetschka