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Mobile devices are considered possibly carcinogenic to humans and California recommends minimizing use

Edited and resized image of Robin Worral is available on Unsplash

The actual effects of cell phone radiation on the human body are not yet fully known - and seem to be less and less studied as the devices become more popular. The cell phone emits electromagnetic radiation from the antenna attached to the device (which is currently not visible, but is part of its internal mechanism). This radiation has a high frequency and, as the cell phone is a device worn very close to the body, especially the head, most of these waves are totally absorbed by the human body.

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There are studies that relate the use of mobile devices with increased brain glucose metabolism and also with the incidence of malignant tumors in the central nervous system. The risk is even greater for children, who use the devices at an earlier age, being exposed to radiation during a phase of brain formation. Read more about the research carried out in the area in the article: “Electromagnetic waves from cell phones and antennas can harm your health. See tips to prevent yourself”.

Based on existing research, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, its acronym in English) classified the magnetic field emitted by cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In other words: radiation interferes with human health, but there is still not enough evidence to classify it as a human carcinogen.

Although governments and telephone companies show very little interest in conducting and publicizing new research in the field, the California Department of Health released in December 2017 a guide for people to minimize the use of cell phones. The document is the result of pressure from public health researcher Joel Moskowitz of the University of Berkeley, who filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Public Health for denying information of public interest. Detail: the guide was in progress since 2009, it had several versions written in 2015 and then it was stagnant.

Now that it has gone public, authorities in California are concerned about the early exposure of children to radiation, the risks of brain tumors and hearing-related nerve cancer, salivary gland tumors, low sperm count or reduced mobility, pain headaches and effects on learning and memory, in addition to sleep interference. Moskowitz has already warned of these factors, which have been a possibility in people who use their cell phones heavily, for years.

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Some recommendations contained in the California guide on how to avoid exposure to cell phone radiation are: keep the device away from the body, preferably in a bag or backpack; use headphones and loudspeakers to avoid the device being close to the brain; prefer sending messages to calls; avoid using the cell phone when the signal is weak, as the device emits more waves of radiation under these circumstances; avoid streaming audio or video, preferring the download files; and don't sleep with the cell phone close to the bed, keeping it at least an arm's length away - if you want the phone close by, leave it off or in airplane mode.

To understand more about the subject, check out the video of a lecture by Professor Joel Moskowitz on the risks of cell phones and networks wifi to health.