East Carolinian

Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Photos.com

The cell phone is one of the most used technological advancements created over the past decade with over a billion people across the world owning at least one. According to estimates by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, over 219 million Americans subscribe to a cellular service, a number that has exploded since the introduction of wireless mobiles in the 1990s.

However, many wonder if cell phones are doing more harm than good. It has been debated for over a decade, with differing opinions and data leaving many consumers and experts puzzled. With new reports coming from both sides of the argument, the question of whether cell phones are linked to cancer is heating up.

Sometimes smaller than the palm of a hand, cell phones are equipped with the ability to reach anyone at any time almost anywhere in the world, but there has been speculation that there might be a link between the transmission of radio frequencies that could be absorbed by the head and neck. This has indicated to many experts the possibility of a link between cell phone use and three types of rare tumors, including glioma, cancer of the parotid (a salivary gland near the ear) and acoustic neruoma (a tumor that usually forms where the ear meets the brain).

Normally, the types of radiation emitted by mobiles are non-ionizing, making them too weak to set off DNA damage that has been known to cause cancer. There is no known data indicating that this kind of radiation is responsible for cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration has released information on three studies since 2000, concluding that cell phone usage shows no harmful effects. Researching a span of around three years, the FDA has noted that much of the research is flawed with no data pertaining to long-term exposures or indication of casual or heavy use.

The long-standing debate has led to countless research efforts, including INTERPHONE, a series of international case-controlled studies of cancer in relations to mobile telephone use. Funded by the European Union, the INTERPHONE studies are comprised of various studies from over 13 countries, all of which individually publish their findings. These findings will only be drawn when the pooled analysis of the full international data is validated and published in its entirety.

Such an internationally coordinated effort was created due to the growing debate of whether cell phones and cancer are linked and the lack of relevant research data available to the public. According to the Mobile Manufactures Form, the project "focuses on cancers that occur in the head and neck in areas of relatively high exposure to radio signals during mobile usage."

For ECU sophomore Ira Lawson, the idea that cell phones might be causing cancer could affect his everyday routine.

"I never leave anywhere without my phone because I use it for absolutely everything. It is almost attached to my body- with reminders, schedules and an overall contact with anyone at anytime," said Lawson. "I'm not too sure if cell phones cause cancer, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Cell phones are powerful devices that transmit so much."

While there is no concluding evidence from both sides of the argument about the link between cell phones and cancer, experts say that consumers worried about a possible relation should opt to use speakerphone to prevent putting the earpiece against the side of their head.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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