Cellphones don't cause cancer. We think.

Absolutely the final word until another study contradicts it, a research team at Korea University have determined that the electromagnetic radiation from cellphones has no harmful effect on the human body. Or at least that they couldn't find any "specific evidence" that cellphone radiation causes tumors, and admitted that more studies were probably needed to be sure if there is any effect or not. So basically they're still not 100% sure either way.

[Jeff Hume @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

In Korea only old people get cancer from cellphones.

[Jeff Hume @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

In Korea only old people get cancer from cellphones.

[victor xray @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

the sign you've got is the one for ionising radiation. which is the problem that many people have with radio devices' "radiation". *ionising* radiation, like xrays and the alpha particles emitted by plutonium, is definitely nasty if there is enough energy.

radio frequency radiation, like microwaves, radio, tv, mobile phones, radars, etc however, is much less troublesome and more likely to cook you than give you cancer. if you like stand next to the transmitter's antennae. but then you'd have to climb over the fence that stops you from getting too close.

[Kris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Regarding Microwave frequency from cell phones.
I worked as a microwave measurement technician. And as a cell tower technician.
Direct microwave CAN cause cancer and other ailments.
And microwave CAN be, just as dangerous as radiation.
Cell phones? I WON'T own one!

[Ivan K @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

It took 30 years to realize that asbesthos caused cancer - despite research, the acnowledgement came only after statistical proof.

With cellphones there's eaven more money involved, and those in charge of the ongoing research are those makeing money on phones. Witch means that if the phones are unsafe, you won't know until you have cancer.

[Andrew Phillips @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Suprise .. their study says that (as always) they couldn't find any impact on the human body due to the non-ionising radiation from cellphone networks.

Yet they also suggest that more studies are recommended.

You should realise that there are a great deal of academics that have staked their life work on finding a link between cellphones and cancer. They need to continually renew their research grants to keep their work going. And also their egos and beliefs going.

That's why this issue will take a while to fade away.

Note: the same fears came out when microwave ovens were introduced (no longer something anyone worries about). People also worried about AM and FM radio when that started up in the 20s and 30s. Even back in the 1870s or so there was a large group of medical 'specialists' that tried to prove that travelling over 40 mph on one of the new fangled locomotives was going to cause damage to the human body.

People just fear new technologies and there are plenty of researchers willing to cash in on those fears.

Same situation with GM foods right now and the brewing scares over anything 'nano-tech'. It's just a fad to be scared about these things.

[Gordy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Yep, yep. This is why Gordy will never own a cell phone.

[Isaac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I can think of at least one harmful effect, though maybe it doesn't fall in the same category as what these people were researching:

My girlfriend has an autonomic disorder which causes her to faint. A year or so ago, she had surgery and a pacemaker was put in to help (primarily to make sure her heart doesn't stop). Now, when certain cell phones are close to it (and more-so when they are actively on a call, we think), her pacemaker goes off.

We're not sure why these cell phones (two or three different silver flip-phones from different companies are our experience) do this , but it is most definitely a harmful side-effect. Harmful in that it hurts and exhausts her, and also that it drains the battery more quickly (the battery/controller units have to be replaced about every 8-10 years, depending on usage, and they are by no means cheap).

[Jacqui @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Additional information on cellular phones and pacemakers not mixing well. If Donna Haraway said being a cyborg was going to be fun, well, she was wrong... at least in this case.

[Jacqui @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Whoops, this form doesn't like HTML. Okay then. Pacemaker/cell phone info at: http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/21695.html. Donna Haraway information here: http://www.popcultures.com/theorists/haraway.html.