This is the conclusion of last week’s piece on cellphone sourced from Dr. Joseph Mercola’s articles on recent research findings.
From last week: A major risk in the use of cellphones is the effect of radiation on the brain. Findings show that the frequency of a cellphone’s waves falls between those emitted by FM radios and those from microwave ovens, all of which are considered “non-ionizing” forms of radiation.
When you make a call, text, or use data on your cell phone, here’s what happens:
Your phone sends radiofrequency, or RF waves from its antenna to nearby cell towers, and receives RF waves in return to its antenna.
If you are holding the phone next to your face, as most people do, then about 70 percent of the energy from the antenna is absorbed straight into your head.
Contamination of mobile phones
There is yet another problem! Your Cellphone likely carries 10 times more germs than a toilet seat. Several studies have demonstrated contamination of mobile phones in a hospital, but little information about bacterial contamination on cellphones in the community has been gathered. Researchers were interested in quantifying the number of bacteria residing on secondary school students’ mobile phones, as this is a population that has made smartphones an intimate part of their everyday life.
Samples were collected from 27 mobile phones of students aged 16 to 18, and bacterial colonies were counted. Researchers found that all phones had bacterial contamination, which was different from the results of previous studies. In this study, a high average count of microbes was found on each of the phones, with more than 20 different species detected.
Interestingly, while the researchers identified several strains of bacteria that are potentially pathogenic, they did not identify a significant amount of bacteria that would indicate fecal contamination, despite the fact that most students took their phone with them into the bathroom. The researchers concluded:
“Our study showed high level contamination of secondary school students’ mobile phones with potentially pathogenic bacteria to be common, and we hypothesize that this may play a role in the spread of infectious agents in the community. However, based on our results, the mobile phones of secondary school students do not appear to be considerable vectors for the spread of antibacterial resistance.”
Although the study had a small sample size, the results do confirm that bringing your cellphone from bathroom to the dinner table potentially increases your risk of spreading germs and illness. However, the majority of the bacterial contamination on the phones was the result of transfer of microbes normally found on your skin, to the surface of the phone.8 For instance, Staphylococcus bacteria, normally found on skin, may be present on your phone, but not typically the type that triggers a staph infection.
Children Face Greater Risks Than Adults
Holding a cellphone to your ear allows between 10 percent and 80 percent of EMF radiation to penetrate up to 2 inches into your brain. However, in children, this penetration is even deeper, as an adult’s skull is up to four times thicker than that of a child. Children are also exposed to EMF radiation at a much earlier age, whereas most adults can still recall days when every phone was hardwired to the wall.
The opportunity to experience greater mitochondrial damage over time is exponentially greater for children than it is for adults. The exposure is also not limited to cellphones. Most homes have Wi-Fi routers, modems, computers and tablets, and many public areas also provide Wi-Fi. Children may spend hours on smartphones and tablets playing games, watching videos or doing their homework.
Problems with overuse and behavioral consequences are also more significant for children. Whether it’s a tablet, Wi-Fi enabled screen or smartphone, children are spending up to seven hours every day in front of a screen.
Ronald Melnick, scientific adviser for the Environmental Health Trust, commented on the use of cellphones in the pediatric population:
“The penetration of the cellphone radiation into the brain of a child is deeper and greater. Also, the developing nervous system of a child is potentially more susceptible to a damaging agent.”
California’s Environmental Health Investigations guidelines concur, saying: «EMFs can pass deeper into a child›s brain than an adult›s. The brain is still developing through the teen years, which may make children and teens more sensitive to EMF exposure.»
How to Minimize Radiation Emissions
•Reduce your cell phone usage. Turn your phone off when you don’t need it.
•Use your cell phone on speakerphone whenever possible. Avoiding contact with your head is the most important safeguard you can take.
•Keep your phone as far away from your body as possible. There’s a significant drop-off in radiation exposure for every inch your phone is away from your body. Don’t stow your cell phone in your pocket!
•Don’t place your phone against your head while the call is connecting. This is when your phone is sending out its strongest signal and you don’t want this surge of radiation penetrating your head!
•Use a landline at home and at work. Just because everyone else goes cordless, you don’t need to.
•Avoid using your cell phone if reception is poor. The weaker the reception, the more power your phone uses to transmit, and the more exposure you receive.
•Limit cell phone use in your car. The metal parts of your car – the roof, doors, and chassis can magnify the radiation. Plus, your phone has to work harder and increase its transmitting strength as you travel between cell towers.
•If you must make a call unprotected, limit it to less than two minutes. Radiation exposure is dose-related. The longer you spend on your phone, the more potentially harmful microwave radiation you’re exposed to.
•Use low-power Bluetooth® technology or a headset to keep your phone away from your body. But just remember that if you use your Bluetooth® or headset a lot, you are still exposed to radiation right near your head.v