BranchInfo 2010 BranchInfo 2010 BA

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Are Cellphones Safe, Part 2

Today, the World Health Organization via the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radiofrequency 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.

Dr Jonathan Samet of USC, the overall Chairman of the Working Group, indicated that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support... the conclusion that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."


"Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings," added IARC Director Christopher Wild, "it is important that additional research be conducted into the long‐term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting. "

Considering that the number of cellphone users is approaching 5 billion people, any such empirical finding is plenty scary.  Many of us have been reporting this for a long time now.  Are you all getting concerned yet?

1 comments:

Elio Spinello said...

See Elio's post of June 2 for a different perspective on this issue.

Post a Comment