Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, chapter 8040

The World Health Organization is denying reports in the media that it has made changes to its public health policy surrounding the use of cellphones. They made a statement directly contradicting the reports, saying that they stand firmly by their previous recommendations, which state that there is "no proof… of adverse health effects" due to the electromagnetic fields associated with mobile devices (at least, as long as you don't look at them). Which, you know, doesn't mean there aren't any adverse health effects — only that there's no proof — so we're sure this novel isn't actually about to wrap anytime soon.

[Via textually]

[arkowi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I don't talk on my phone that much, maybe 5 min a day (10 at most) and when I am not using it I keep it in my man-purse and not in my pocket so as not to overcook my meat and two veg. So I ain't worried.

[Alice Radley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Interesting picture. Since when does Hitler have a cell phone?

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I bet the World Health Organization got more sqeeze on from the cell phone companies than an orange at a tropicana plant. I would take anything they say with a grain of salt. With more cell numbers than land line, there is a lot of $$$$ at stake here.

[Frank @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

There's just one thing about this debate I don't quite understand. If cellphones are dangerous becuase they transmit over RF wouldn't anything that does this be dangerous? Walkie-talkies for example? Has anyone ever done any studies on the dangers of walkie-talkies?

[Sheldon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Frank: the reason for cell phones being more of a concern is due to the frequencies involved - Mobile phones operate in the spectrum close to microwave ovens (like Wifi, Bluetooth and most things recently created) and as such tend to be frequencies that are 'harmonious' to particular molecules (microwaves resonate water molecules but at significantly greater energy levels and in confined space)

[Whiplash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

All these claims of danger are such crap. Remember saccharin? Turns out it's just fine. This is no different. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would bet there's a whole legion of people in China and the Middle East just sitting there and making up this shit just to try and ruin our economy. Or maybe we really are just a bunch of chicken littles?

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

The odds of dieing from cell phone radiation are far less than the odds of dieing from an accident that occurs because you're distracted by a cellphone (while driving or walking).

[otakucode @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Why should anyone listen to the WHO any more? They studied second-hand smoke effects, concluded that second-hand smoke does not cause or increase the incidence of any disease. So... they told everybody the report said second-hand smoke was an epidemic because that's what people wanted to hear and hoped it would go away. Even now, if you go to their website, they have things posted SWEARING the report damns second-hand smoke. But if you actually read the report, it says clear as day, in black and white, that a multinational 12 year study of second hand smoke PROVED that there is no link between second hand smoke and any disease.

So, WHO, you can take your crap and shove it. You're tainted by political corruption and don't have any interest in discovering or spreading the truth.

[Ed Haber @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I keep my phone down in that useless pocket around my knees and use a bluetooth headset. So as long as the bluetooth 2.4Ghz isn't bad for me I'm fine.

[CK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

As a trained scientist I understand what they mean by no proof that cell phones are dangerous, its just that, there is no proof one way or the other. Last year I had a benign Ganglioglioma successfully removed from my right parietal lobe. What's a little freaky is that the scar lines up with the antennae on cell phone almost exactly. I know there is no way to tell if my cell phone had any role in my tumor or not. What I can tell you is that if I have another one I'll know it wasn't caused by my cell because I use a headset almost exclusively now. There may be no risk from cell phone radiation, but I know there's no risk if I don't put it next to my head.