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Cellular Telephones and Your Health

Cellular Telephones and Your Health. Carl Fulton English 102 Online Professor Mackenzie October 12, 2008

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Cellular Telephones and Your Health

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  1. Cellular TelephonesandYour Health Carl Fulton English 102 Online Professor Mackenzie October 12, 2008 “I certify that I am the sole author of this paper and its contents and that any assistance I received in its preparations is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper with the proper APA citations and references. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for this course.”

  2. Introduction • Studies on the effects that cell phones have on health are rare. • Several studies in existence have yielded different findings, which has led to debate among scientists. • Scientists debate whether: • RF frequency is strong enough to cause cellular damage- both short term and long term exposure. • Cell phones can cause chromosomal damage. • Cell phones can cause cancer.

  3. Highlights • Many of the studies that indicate harmful effects from cell phone use have largely been ignored. • To fully understand the effects of cell phones on health, we will need to explore: • The nature of radiation (specifically radio waves), • How this Radio Frequency radiation is utilized in the function of cellular telephones, • And modern studies pertaining to RF radiation.

  4. How Cell Phones Work • Radio Frequency (radiation) is generated by the transmitter and broadcast to the tower via the antenna. • Radiation may also be received by the antenna • Cell phone frequency= 800-881 MHz

  5. Description of Radiation • Radiation consists of an invisible electromagnetic wave. • The charged electrical wave (containing neutrons, above red) runs perpendicular with the magnetic wave (above blue)

  6. Description of Radiation • What separates one form of radiation from another is the frequency (size of wave). • Waves more concentrated (higher frequency) than visible light are called Ionizing Radiation for the ability to ionize atoms and cause cancer.

  7. Description of Radiation • Cellular phones use a type of radiation called Radio Frequency. • Radio Frequency is considered to be in the microwave range, with a little higher frequency than radio waves. RF is non-ionizing radiation.

  8. The Harmful Effects of RF (Non-Ionizing) Waves • Whether or not RF is harmful is extremely debated among scientists. • Studies have yielded different results. • Many claim that Radio Frequency is not strong enough (high enough frequency) to cause strand breaks in DNA. • Some scientists claim that RF is harmless, others disagree.

  9. The Harmful Effects of RF (Non-Ionizing) Waves • Scientists recognize that non-ionizing radiation produces a heating effect. • Diathermy was introduced as a medical treatment in 1909, using non-ionizing radiation to produce heat. • A side effect of diathermy is its ability to cause too much heat to the deep tissue, due to a lack of deep nerve endings.

  10. The Harmful Effects of RF (Non-Ionizing) Waves • Some studies have indicated that non-ionizing radiation may be clastogenic (capable of producing chromosomal abnormalities). • This is hotly controversial among scientists. • Some studies have also attributed non-ionizing radiation to changes in other cellular structures, such as the cell wall. • Studies have claimed that non-ionizing radiation may make it easier for other carcinogenic substances to cause cancer.

  11. The Harmful Effects of RF (Non-Ionizing) Waves • It has been hypothesized that the head may be used as a cell antenna, especially when the phone is placed against it. • The frequencies for transmission and reception used by cell phones are 900 MHz for analog and 1800 MHz for digital transmission. • At 900 MHz, RF wavelength is about 33-35 cm. • At 1800 MHz, RF wavelength is about 16-17 cm. • Near the ear, a cross-section of a human head has a length of about 16-17 centimeters. Perfect Antenna!

  12. Conclusion • In conclusion, much study still needs to be done due to controversy in the science community over harmful effects of cell phones. • Enough research already exists to warrant caution with cell phone use. • Holding cell phones near or against the head or body likely makes RF exposure worse. • Always use cellular telephones in moderation!

  13. Delpierre, G.R, & Sewell, B.T. (2008). The Wave Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation [Photograph]. Electronic Science Tutor. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from: http://www.physchem.co.za/OB12-ele/Graphics/wavetrain.gif HowStuffWorks. (2001). Cell Phone [Untitled photo]. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from: http://www.cancer-health.org/images/cell-phone-radiation-transm.jpg HowStuffWorks. (2001). Electromagnetic Spectrum [Untitled photo]. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from: http://www.cancer-health.org/images/cell-phone-radiation-spectru.gif Photo Credits

  14. References • C.A.T. & Jo. Si. (Eds.). (2003). Radiation. In Encyclopaedia Brittanica (15th ed.) (Vol. 26) (pp. 471-499). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. • Fenton, B.C. (1997). Radio. In Compton’s Encyclopedia (Vol. 20) (pp. 41-80). Chicago: • Compton’s Learning Company. • Figueiredo, A.B.S., Alves, R.N., & Ramalho, A.T. (2004). Cytogenetic Analysis of the Effects of 2.5 and 10.5 GHz Microwaves on Human Lymphocytes. Journal of Genetics and Molecular Biology., 27(3). Retrieved October 10, 2008, from SciELO Brazil- Scientific Electronic Library Online: • http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S141547572004000300024&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en • Food & Drug Administration, & Federal Communications Commission. (2006). Cell Phone Facts: Consumer Information on Wireless Phones. Washington, D.C./ Rockville, MD: Food and Drug Administration & Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved October 4, 2008, from: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/wireless/ • HowStuffWorks. (2001). Electromagnetic Spectrum [Untitled photo]. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from: • http://www.cancer-health.org/images/cell-phone-radiation-spectru.gif • Richter, E.D., & Weinberger, Z. (12 November 2002). Cellular Telephones and Effects • on the Brain: The Head as an Antenna and Brain Tissue as a Radio Receiver. Medical Hypotheses (Vol. 59, Issue 6) (pp. 703-705). Retrieved October 4, 2008, from: • http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/PIIS0306987702002980/fulltext • Venes, D. (Ed.). (2005). “Clastogenic”. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (20th ed.) • (p. 429). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

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