Cell Phones Carcinogenic - WHO Says So?

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http://technorati.com/technology/article/cell-phones-carcinogenic-who-says-so/
Published: June 08, 2011 at 5:14 am

The WHO (World Health Organization) has classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as "possibly" carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.

Over the last few years, there has been mounting concern about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by wireless communication devices. The number of mobile phone subscriptions is estimated at 5 billion globally.
From May 24–31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. One similar study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004), showed a 40% increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users (reported average: 30 minutes per day over a 10‐year period).

We all love our phones, so let's see if there are things we can do every day that will make it just a bit safer to use. Some are quite obvious, but make sense:

* Keep calls as short as possible. The longer you talk, the more radiation you are absorbing.

* Use a Bluetooth earpiece. While still a radiating wireless device itself, Bluetooth radiation is a miniscule fraction compared to a cell phone. Bluetooth signals only travel a maximum of 35 feet, while cell phone signals have to carry for miles.

* Use a hard wired earpiece. Remember the pre-bluetooth days? It may have been the healthiest way to use a cell phone, and whether we want to admit it or not, the audio quality is better, they are lighter, thinner, less bulky that most bluetooth earpieces... if it
wasn't for that darn wire catching on doorknobs and everything else in between.

* Send SMS TXT messages instead. Go ahead and add that unlimited texting package to your plan. Texting is more convenient, you can carry on a conversation in places that would disrupt or annoy others around you, plus you don't have anyone else listening in on your intimacies.

* Buy a phone with the lowest SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) of <0.6 W/kg. All cell phone manufacturers publish the SAR rating for every model phone they produce. Granted, they burry it in the fine print or deep in the specs list, but it is there.

* Don't use a mobile phone in an enclosed space. Places like elevators make the phone work harder to get a signal OUT, thereby causing more radiation into YOU.

* Before making a call, make sure you have good signal strength, for similar reasons, if the signal strength is poor, the phone will be cranking out the highest radiation to maintain the connection.

* Radiation Blockers make it worse. We have all seen these sticky little things you put on your phone to supposedly block the radiation, well even if they DO work, it makes things worse by making the cell phone work harder, put out more radiation to reach the tower, thereby defeating the entire purpose of the radiation blocker.

* Dont hold your phone directly against your head. Try to use your speaker phone if it won't disrupt anyone around you, or hold the phone a little away from your ear. For example, in the Apple iPhone manual, it says:
“when using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body, and only use carrying cases, belt clips, or holders that do not have metal parts and that maintain at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) separation between iPhone and the body."

* It is recommended that individuals who have medical implants, like pacemakers, etc., must keep their cell at least 300mm (11.8") away from the implant.

* When all else fails, use a landline or payphone - if you can find one.