The Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation

Gayatri Dhiman

Sept. 23 2016

The Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation

        The discovery of the cell phone is one of the most momentous technological advancements in recent times. Their broad use has put an significant impact on our economic, physical, health and social aspects of life that will forever be marked in history. Though few outputs of the cell phone have contributed positively to us, numerous aspects have negatively influenced our lives. One of the major concerns being our health due to the cause of cellular radiation. The radiation emitted by cell phones, known as radiofrequency radiation, is regulated by Health Canada. Nearly 30 million Canadians use cell phones as their main support of communication and many of them wonder if there are any health risks. . 

        Cell phones release radiofrequency radiation, which has been revealed to damage DNA and cause cancer in laboratory animals. A study on January 12 in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology stated that radio frequency radiation may damage DNA and change gene expression in brain cells in mice. In May, the US National Toxicology Program released their study on the effects of cellular radiation and found an enlarged occurrence of magliant tumours to the brain and heart tumours in rats exposed to RF radiation, as well as finding DNA damage to rats exposed to the highest quantity of RF radiation.

        As years go by, humans become increasingly accessible to technology at younger ages. In just three months a child will begin to grasp things within their reach. On many occasions people will give a child a phone because they are attracted to the lights and movement. Whether it be the stocks app or fiddling with the buttons a cell phone always strikes children's curiosity, often lighting them up with a smile, but children this is not safe. Children may have an increased risk of adverse health effects from cell phone radiation. When cell phones are used by children the amount of RF radiation penetrating them is two times higher in the brain and 10 times higher in the bone marrow of their skull, than for adults due to the thinness of their skull. By absorbing twice the amount of radiation at such a young age will most likely increase chances of brain tumours and cancer. Prenatal exposure to radiation from cell phones may increase the risk of ADHD, exposure of RF radiation to the womb is dangerous and is associated with behaviour difficulties and emotional hyperactivity in the future.