There has been a lot of news lately on the connection with cancer and cell phone use. It seems that the cell phone is not as safe as they had originally thought.
“World Health Organization issued a controversial report at the end of May saying that radio frequency electromagnetic fields, which is to say cell phones, “are possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer.”
Possibly is a big word, but we should always take precaution, because really, doesn’t everything seem to cause cancer these days?
We look to Dr. Oz, (the almighty health guru,) for answers and what to do. While Dr. Oz does not believe that people need to stop chatting away in the grocery aisle, he does think we should change some other habits.
- Dr. Oz does not think it is safe for children under 13 or 14 to use a cell phone. Their skulls are thinner and brains are still developing.
- Children under 14 should try to use text message, head sets, or speaker phone.
- Use a headset or speaker phone. Corded headsets emit almost no Radio Frequency, (RF) and using a headset or speaker phone allows you to move the device away from your body. Even moving the phone 4 inches away from your head reduces RF exposure 1,000 times.
- Stay off the phone if the signal is poor. Fewer signal bars mean the phone has to work harder to get a signal, so it may emit more RF. When reception is bad (such as in a rural areas or when you’re driving) use your phone for emergencies only. The weaker the signal, the more the radio frequency has to boost itself to get connected, increasing your exposure.
- Don’t talk when you’re driving. In addition to the dangers of being distracted, people who are behind the wheel while they’re on their cell phones may face an increased RF exposure risk. That’s because the phone signal must move to several wireless towers.
“Those waves have to boost up from your cell phone to find the towers,” Oz explained. “If you’re in an elevator, same thing.”
- Put it on speaker. Because your exposure drops exponentially as you move the phone away from your head, you don’t have to keep the phone very far away to reduce your exposure by 1,000 to 10,000 times.
- Go wired. In crowded, noisy areas, use a wired headset instead. If you must use a wireless headset, turn it off when you’re not using it.
- Store it. Unless you’re on it, stow the phone in your purse or bag. If you keep it on your waist, keep it turned off. Studies have shown that keeping a cell phone in your pocket can decrease sperm count.
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