COLUMN BY MARK W. EARNHART, D. C.

ARE CELL PHONES DANGEROUS?

posted 06/09/2008
I know most of us don't want to hear this, but the evidence is mounting that they are potentially very dangerous. Numerous studies are starting to show a link between cell phone use and brain tumors, particularly glioma and acoustic neuroma. Why hasn't this been talked about before?

Mostly time. People have now been using cell phones over a period of years and like anything, problems don't always show up immediately. By the way, your cordless phone at home causes the same issues.

Dr. Vini Khurana has concluded that cell phones may be more deadly than smoking cigarettes or being exposed to asbestos. Part of the reason for this is over three times as many people use cell phones as smoke cigarettes (3 billion cell phone users to 1 billion smokers). He reviewed more than 100 studies and concluded "there is a significant and increasing body of evidence for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumors." One study stated that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable to the growth of tumors.

The greatest threat is to those who have been using the cell phone for over 10 years. According to Dr. Khurana the time it takes for a malignant solid brain tumor from regular cell phone use is 10 - 20 years.

Even though the cell phone industry denies any link between cell phone use and brain tumors, most of them advise you to always keep the phone in the protective case it comes with and don't put it closer than three inches from your ear. By the way, almost all of the tumor's associated with cell phone use are on the same side of the brain that the person predominately held the phone to while talking.

So what can you do other than stop using your phone altogether? Here is a list of strategies which are helpful but not perfect.

• Spend less time on the phone
  
  
• Use an earpiece that does not emit radiation (bluetooths and unshielded headsets can convert your head into a self-harming antenna)
  
  
• Use the speaker phone instead of putting the phone to your ear
  
  
• We have a device called an RF Raider that will limit the radiation by up to 60% if you cannot do any of the above.
  
  

Yours in Health,
Mark W. Earnhart, D.C.

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