Can long-term cell phone use cause adverse health effects and even brain cancer?

The research is split if long-term cell phone use causes adverse health effects or not. Some studies done found no correlation between cell phone use and brain tumors, but yet others have suggested that people who use a cell phone for at least an hour each day over a 10 year period are at an increased risk of developing brain tumors on the side of head used to talk on the phone.

The central issue of concern about long-term cell phone use is the form of radiation that’s produced when a cell phone communicates with its base station. Cell phones work via emitting a radio frequency (RF) - which is a low-frequency form of radiation. This same type of radiation is used in microwave ovens and AM/FM radios. Most of the cell phone’s radio frequency is emitted from the cell phone’s antenna as it transmits back to its base station.

"There is cause for concern," said Dr. Henry Lai, a professor of bioengineering at the ..University.. of ..Washington.. in ....Seattle...., who has been studying the effects of cell phone radiation on humans since 1980. "But to prove that cell phones cause cancer or other health problems will take more work. At this point the biological research suggests that long term use can have some adverse health effects, with brain cancer being one of those effects."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet issued a warning against using cell phones long-term, but the agency recommends “minimizing any potential risk by using hands-free devices and keeping cell phone talk to minimum.”

The Federal Communications Commission requires cell phone manufacturers to report the relative amount of RF absorbed into the head by any given cell phone. This number is also called the specific absorption rate (SAR). You can find out how to check your phone's SAR by clicking here.

I’m certainly not advocating trashing your cell phones because they are amazingly useful devices. But I am saying you should get educated about their potential to harm. Also consider severely limiting the use of cell phones in children as their skulls are thinner than adults and their brains are still developing. Point of fact, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), a governmental body in the home of the largest cell phone maker in the world (Nokia), is urging parents to restrict cell phone use for children and suggesting that parents encourage kids to text rather than talk.

The bottom line is that more studies need to be performed to confirm or deny that long-term cell phone use can cause health problems such as brain cancer. The take-home message for the average person is that we don’t know yet and since we don’t have all the answers yet, don’t take the risk. Limit use of cell phones as much as possible, and always try to use hands-free device like a BlueTooth.