Cellphone Use, Brain Cancer and UPMC Cancer Center Chief’s Advisory
Wednesday, 23 July 2008 is the day the UPMC Cancer Center and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Director Dr. Ronald Herberman is to issue an advisory (pdf file link of the memorandum) on the possible health risks of cellphone use.
“Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer.
Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.”
The advisory suggests certain measures to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices, such as shortening the length of conversations or keeping the phones away from the head by text messaging or using headsets or speaker phone options. It also recommends that children not use cell phones except in emergencies.
Last year, reports were abound that cellphone use in not linked to brain cancer.
Now, Director Dr. Ronald Herberman believes that he is the first U.S. cancer center director to approve the release of such an advisory and is hopeful that his suggestions will spread to others within Pitt and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and also to the general public.
Now I am rattled and at the same time undecided about a personal opinion on this matter. (Especially not at this hour: I’m so sleepy! But I will definitely be not ’sleeping’ with my cellphone starting this very second! I swear.)
However, I believe it is better to be on the safer side as practicing precaution will do us all more good than harm.
Read more from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Do let us know.
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5 opinions for Cellphone Use, Brain Cancer and UPMC Cancer Center Chief’s Advisory
Tom
Jul 25, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I personally don’t think that I will drastically change my cellphone usage based on this. First, I really don’t talk on the phone very much anyway, so I feel I don’t have as much risk as others. Second, I tend to be on the cautious side, especially when it comes to the like of Cancer, but it still seems like there is not a clear cut answer to the actual question. I think that if someone uses the cellphone excessively, they should probably try one of the alternatives mentioned just in case there are long-term, adverse effects. However, I’d like to see more research on the subject to help either prove or disprove the concern.
Gloria Gamat
Jul 25, 2008 at 7:39 pm
yes, better to take the suggested precautions. I’m almost always using SMS anyway. though i often put my cellphone near the head of my bed when sleeping. so am really guilty of than one bad habit. well anyway…i too would like to see more clear cut answers. ;-)
ChrisB
Jul 25, 2008 at 9:12 pm
He’s saying, “I have no proof, but cell phones cause cancer.”
The evidence has been against cell phones causing cancer for quite a while. I can’t believe this is coming up -again.-
“limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices”
Here’s a little bit of trivia for you. Your body emits electromagnetic radiation of higher energy (the only characteristic that matters) than that from cell phones. Visibile light has a higher energy than the radiowaves emitted by cell phones.
You have to get to ultraviolet (which causes sunburn) before em radiation causes biological damage.
There are lots of reasons to use your cell phone less. Cancer is not one of them.
Gloria Gamat
Jul 25, 2008 at 9:26 pm
good point Chris! thanks for mentioning those here. but he is causing quite a stir with the memo, for sure. sure cellphones have been here quite a while but there a lot more factors already clearly linked to cancer anyway, if we think about it. ;-)
John
Jul 31, 2008 at 10:04 am
Note that the memo is not dated, so I am not sure it should be an official document released to the general public. In addition, I am not aware of any brain cancer case that is related to the cell phone usage. If no one is sufferring the brain cancer because of the use of cell phones, it can’t be proved to be true that cell phones has any connection to the brain cancer. If someone uses cell phone for more than 4 hours a day, he/she probably has a damaged brain already.
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