Maybe it's time to get that hands free set

Cell Phones, Microwaves and Your Brain


Recent reports suggest that cell phones may cause cancer. Yet 1.5 billion people in the world use them. What’s the truth?

In today’s Health Alert, we’ll look at the latest research on cell phones and their dark side -- one that goes far beyond the cancer connection.

Cooking Your Brain with Microwaves

Cell phones contain power transmitters near the phone’s antenna. The phone sends out (even in standby) an encoded signal through the antenna that a receiver in a cell phone tower picks up. This encoded signal contains electromagnetic radiation, specifically RF radiation (radio frequency). In addition to traveling to the mobile receiver, RF travels through your skull and into your brain.

Depending on how close the cell phone antenna is to your head, studies show that as much as 60% of the microwave radiation penetrates your skull, reaching an inch and a half into your brain.

While the FDA claims, “the available scientific evidence does not demonstrate any adverse health effects associated with the use of mobile phones” the research is accumulating to show exactly the opposite.

For instance, we know that cell phone RF exposure makes the temperature in exposed tissues rise; we call this the “thermal effect.” Body tissues heat up by the same mechanism that heats food in your microwave. This increases free radical formation and oxidative damage to DNA, damage linked to aging, cancer and impaired brain function.

A four-year study in seven European countries found mobile phone radiation harms human cells and irreparably damages DNA. A ten-year study in Sweden directly linked mobile phone use with a rise in tumors. In that study, heavy mobile phone users were twice as likely to suffer cancerous and benign tumors in the ear and the brain. These tumors were also four times as common on the side of the head where the user held the phone.

Studies are also linking RF radiation from cell phones to other health problems, including higher blood pressure, infertility and Alzheimer’s disease. A German study found mobile phone use during a 35-minute call increases resting blood pressure between 5 and 10mm.

How to Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Radiation

You should attempt to minimize your exposure to RF radiation. First, you should find out the level of RF emissions of your cell phone. If you have a higher rating, think about replacing it with a phone with a lower rating. They rate cell phone emissions in specific absorption rates (SAR). They range from 0.5 to 1.6 W/kg (Watts of power absorbed per kilogram of body tissue).

The 10 Worst Offenders:



Maker/Model
SAR level

Motorola V120c
1.55

Motorola V265
1.55

Motorola V70
1.54

Motorola P8767
1.53

Motorola ST7868
1.53

Motorola ST7868W
1.53

Motorola A845
1.51

Panasonic Allure
1.51

Treo 650 GSM
1.51

Sony Ericsson P910
1.50


Your 10 Best Bets:



Maker/Model
SAR level

Audiovox PPC66001
0.12

Motorola MPx200
0.2

Motorola Timeport L7089
0.22

Qualcomm pdQ-1900
0.2634

T-Mobile Sidekick
0.276

Samsung SGH-S100
0.296

Samsung SGH-S105
0.296

Sony Ericsson Z600
0.31

Mitsubishi G360
0.32

Siemens S40
0.33


*Source Wireless Watch/ CNet

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD