Until recently, there had been a lack of information about the health risks from cell phones by doctors and scientists in the Unites States and Canada. Dr. Ronald B. Herberman's recommendation to drastically reduce the use of cell phones, especially with children, has begun to shine a light on the information regarding phone radiation that has been lacking in the U.S. Dr. Herberman is by no means the first to bring attention to the dangers of cell phone radiation.

Research by University of Washington professor Dr. Henry Lai shows brain cells are clearly damaged by microwave levels far below the U.S. government's 'safety' guidelines. Dr. Lai notes that even tiny doses of radio frequency can accumulate over time and lead to harmful effects. He warns that public exposure to radiation from wireless transmitters 'should be limited to a minimum.'

Dr. Henry Lai's studies confirm that cell and cordless phone microwave can:
* Damage nerves in the scalp
* Cause blood cells to leak hemoglobin
* Cause memory loss and mental confusion
* Cause headaches and induce extreme fatigue
* Create joint pain, muscle spasms and tremors
* Create burning sensation and rash on the skin
* Alter the brain's electrical activity during sleep
* Induce ringing in the ears, impair sense of smell
* Precipitate cataracts, retina damage and eye cancer
* Open the blood-brain barrier to viruses and toxins
* Reduce the number and efficiency of white blood cells
* Stimulate asthma by producing histamine in mast cells
* Cause digestive problems and raise bad cholesterol levels
* Stress the endocrine system, especially pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, and testes

For the last 40 years everyone has been told of the dangers of smoking. Today, wireless phone research stands where smoking research stood then. Recent news has stated that cell and cordless phones can lead to brain tumors. Dr. Vini Gautam Khurana, a Mayo Clinic-trained neurosurgeon with an advanced neurosurgery Fellowship in cerebral vascular and tumour microsurgery from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, published a critical review stating that "malignant brain tumour incidence and its associated death rate will be observed globally to rise within" the next 10 years due to cell phone use. Dr. Khurana believes that children are at the greatest risk due to brain tissue that is still developing. Still today, with the dangers we know about smoking, hundreds of thousands of people die yearly from smoking related ailments. Dr. George Carlo, Ph.D, M.S., J.D, is a public health scientist, epidemiologist, lawyer, and the founder of the Science and Public Policy Institute, believes that by 2015, "one out of every four people will suffer from some symptom of illness from cell phone use." Starting today, we need to limit the use of cell phones, especially among children, and eliminate non-essential calls.

Our most precious resource, our nation's children are exposed to a risk that no one seems to notice: cell phone radiation. While scientists around the world are pressuring their local governments to restrict the use of wireless devices by children, the U.S. and Canada do nothing. Go to any mall, movie theater, or school and you'll see young people all with one ear to the newest devices on the market. The brain of a child is constantly developing, undergoing changes and obtaining more information in a few short years at a rate that won't be matched for the rest of their lives. Add to this the radiation from cell phone exposure through the inner ear and it creates a laboratory with unknown consequences. Studies over the last five years have shown that the rate at which children develop autism is concurrent with increased cell phone use. The studies also suggest the electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices (like cell phones) in conjunction with environmental and genetic factors all increase the incidence of autism.

With the prevalence of the link of cell phone use to cancer in the media as of late, professions other than just those in the medical community are beginning to take notice. The article Cell Phone Use and Cancer: The Debate Continues from LawyersandSettlements.com discusses not only the possible link of Senator Ted Kennedy's brain tumor to cell phone radiation, but the Larry King Live show from earlier this month on cell phones.

On May 23, 2008, The Larry King Show's topic was "Are Cell Phones Dangerous?" CNN Medical Director, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was very supportive of the fact that mobile phones could be dangerous. Guests on the program that evening included Johnnie Cochran's widow and his neurosurgeon. Johnnie Cochran had died from a brain tumor three years ago. At that time, his daughter had attributed his death to his cell phone use. The tumor which killed him was located behind the ear the he had used while talking on his phone.

Near the end of the program, Dr. Gupta made two suggestions which he felt would decrease the potential risk from mobile phone usage:
* Use a case on your hip to hold your phone.
* Use a wired headset to keep the cell phone away from the ear.

Both of these suggestions are wrong!

The reason why carrying a mobile phone on the hip isn't any safer than carrying it in your pocket is the fact that it transmits radiation directly into the body while your cell phone is on. For men, studies done by the American Society for Reproductive Health have shown that this radiation affects men's fertility and can lower sperm count. For pregnant women, carrying a mobile phone this way may affect the unborn child's future behavioral patterns, according to a recent UCLA study. What should be done is when the cell phone is not being used, shut it off.

As for wired headsets, studies in Europe by one of the most influential consumer protection organizations concluded that wired headsets increase radiation into the ear by as much as 300%! Bluetooth devices are nearly as dangerous since the signal from the phone transmits radiation directly into the ear. The solution to this is the WaveShield.

Howard Kalnitsky http://Waveshield.ca