Mobile Phone Health Scares

[Chris_Ward]

Don't know about other countries, but in the UK, health and mobile phone masts are a big topic. People saying that they cause cancer etc;

Having worked in Telecomms for the last eight years, I had a theory. Maybe someone can blow it out the water for me.

I've done a lot drive testing in the past and I sat under mobile phone masts, and worked in close confines of them. The highest signal strength I've seen is less than -30dBm, this equates to less than 0.000001 W or 1microwatt. Your phone can pump out 2W for a GSM phone and I think up to .25W for UMTS. Still pretty low figures.

Now it gets silly and completely circumstancial, but about the same time as mobiles first started becoming popular, another device, also using radio waves, become very popular. The simple microwave oven. They leak like sieves and people regularly put there faces up to the door, I know I do and I had enough RF burns in the past to know better!! but I haven't a clue what levels leaked are like. I did say this bit was very circumstancial, but maybe you have a better idea?

[Serifan]

Don't know about other countries, but in the UK, health and mobile phone masts are a big topic. People saying that they cause cancer etc.
I think it's pretty pervasive here (in the US). NIMBYs (not in my back yard) are a large part of why cellphone service sucks in this country compared to say Europe or Asia. NIMBYs often lobby to prevent cellphone companies from building towers/sites in or around their ghetto utopia; they usually cite health concerns from unsubstantiated research, yet hypocritically still use cellphones, microwaves, and satellite TV.

[carcomptoy]

Yeah I get aggravated when people say "Oh, we don't believe in cellphones because it causes cancer" but honestly, there's so much other things that cause cancer these days. There's so much other more dangerous sources of radiation, especially since there's so many wireless things today. Cellphones are just the tip of the iceberg, and so blaming them entirely is just mindless...

[Jose_R.A.M]

omg..microwave leaks? Im always pressing my face against ours to check if the damn thing ive put inside is done. Yikes!

I do not think people are blaming phones entirely for causing cancer. That would be too stupid off them. But certain cancers, which can only occur from certain stimuli such as the radiation from phones...those could be connected with them.

Life is just like gambling, scientists are just trying to find ways to stack the odds on our favour. By finding things that cause cancer, they believe they can do just that.

[carcomptoy]

Yeah, my elders have always taught me never to stare into the microwave or even to come extremely close to it while in use...same with the computer screen...

I know that they're just trying to find the greater risks, but I think cellphones are our least concern...besides, if you're worried about risks, use a headset.:rolleyes:

[Jose_R.A.M]

Yeah, my elders have always taught me never to stare into the microwave or even to come extremely close to it while in use...same with the computer screen...

I know that they're just trying to find the greater risks, but I think cellphones are our least concern...besides, if you're worried about risks, use a headset.:rolleyes:

Yeah, but there were cases before (in certain mobiles which were discontinued) which had caused brain cancers.

[3gpeasy]

Yeah, but there were cases before (in certain mobiles which were discontinued) which had caused brain cancers.

i don't think that was ever proven...

my dad had a brain tumour about 9 years ago, and he was also one of the first people we knew to get a mobile phone, about 10 years ago. so straight away we thought, omg, it's the phone.

nobody ever established for sure if it was the phone, though. and funnily enough we had a microwave at the time too. so you never really know.

incase anyone was wondering, he had it removed and he's ok now

[carcomptoy]

That's good to hear (being okay and all now I mean)...

Yeah, I mean, there's so many other factors you have to think about, and cellphone waves are just a piece of the puzzle...

[Jose_R.A.M]

Well I will try to use microwave less! (also will use BT headset/handsfree/loudspeaker more)

[carcomptoy]

haha you dont' have to stop using the microwave...just don't stare at it:p

[Jose_R.A.M]

haha you dont' have to stop using the microwave...just don't stare at it:p

HAHA! lol, yeah!

But it still emmits microwaves though. (that leaks) so ill probably leave the room while its microwaving stuff.

But the thing is, I need to see how the thing inside is doing! They should invent a microwave for the public that has an onboard CCTV so you can see how the thing ur cooking is doing.

[666joe]

omg..microwave leaks? Im always pressing my face against ours to check if the damn thing ive put inside is done. Yikes!


Well my friend I believe bluetooth hums around the same frequency albeit in lower doses...

Did anyone see the 100 rats test, in a circle around a bunch of P7389s or similar....uk now says it's ok, swedes are unsure. Hell if someone can successfully sue a tabacco firm imagine the whirlwind around successful proof !

[Jose_R.A.M]

omg..not blueotooth too!!

But isnt bluetooth radio waves not micro waves?

*switches off bluetooth anyway*

[Jose_R.A.M]

CLICK ME (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=qw1125413641148B243)

London - Researchers have found that 10 years of using a cellphone does not increase the risk of a tumour in the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.

But amid public concern about a possible link, the scientists who conducted the largest study so far on the subject said they could not rule out a higher risk over a longer period.

"The results of our study suggest there is no substantial risk in the first decade after starting use," said Anthony Swerdlow of the Institute of Cancer Research.

"Whether there are longer-term risks remains unknown, reflecting the fact that this is a relatively recent technology."

The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, focused on the risk of acoustic neuroma, benign tumours which grow in the nerve connecting the ear and inner ear to the brain, close to where handsets are held.

Research has also investigated the possible association of other kinds of brain tumour with cellphones but scientists say acoustic neuroma would be a prime candidate to be affected.

Previous independent studies have found cellphone radiation may have some effect on the human body, such as heating up the brain and causing headaches and nausea.

But no study that could be independently repeated has proved cellphone have permanent harmful effects and the mobile phone industry argues there is no conclusive evidence that electromagnetic radiation causes harm.

About 780-million cellphones are expected to be sold this year, and nearly 2-billion people around the world use one.

The institute's analysis pooled studies conducted in Britain, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; all countries where cellphones were introduced early.

Cancer charities welcomed the findings.

"However, it's important researchers continue to monitor phone users over coming years as mobiles are still a relatively new invention," said Cancer Research UK's Julie Sharp.

[3gpeasy]

The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, focused on the risk of acoustic neuroma, benign tumours which grow in the nerve connecting the ear and inner ear to the brain, close to where handsets are held.


Yeah it was an acoustic neuroma that my dad had. At the time I was dead against mobile phones (but also 13, which at the time (1996) precluded me from getting one anyway). But having looked at the science of it like a rational being since then, I've got to say I don't beleive there's a significant risk. However you interpret the data, using a mobile all year long is certainly less dangerous than, say, taking a swim in the sea. I'll continue to do both until i'm persuaded otherwise.

[666joe]

No it hovers around same frequency....

Hoping I'll be cooked rare by the time I'm 50 - then I'll call claims direct !!!