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Safety tips for cell phones

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Safety tips for cell phones

Image: istockphoto.com/Leslie Banks

Research is proving there is a connection between an increased risk of cancer and cell phone use. Oncologist specialists from around the world have made the following suggestions for lowering associated risks from cell phones. Better safe than sorry!
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  • Keep children and pregnant women away from cell phones, except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

  • While using your cell phone, try to keep it away from your body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet.

  • Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a headset attachment may also reduce exposure.

  • Stop using your cell phone in public places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields.

  • Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.

  • If you must carry your cell phone on you, it is preferable that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside of your body. Depending on the thickness of the phone this may provide a minimal reduction of exposure.

  • No hour-long conversations. The longer the phone call the more exposure you receive. For longer conversations, move to a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.

  • Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.

  • Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna. Radiation is at its highest when there is a weak signal (one or two bars) Wait until all the bars are there for less radiation.

  • When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.

  • Choose a phone with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for “SAR ratings cell phones” on the internet.

    • International Experts from the field of oncology in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Monaco and U.S.A. compiled this recommendations.


    Tags: cancer, cell phones, emftag cloud.

    3 Comments

    posted Aug 22, 2008 - 1:38 am by L. Alexander
    What about wireless devices in the home? For example wireless modems, printers, keyboards etc., don't these work the same way as cell/cordless phones?
    posted Oct 21, 2008 - 11:26 am by T Smith
    Good Grief...if a person had to worry and watch everything that is "hazardous" they would go nuts. Microwave cooking, plastic bottles, toxic cleaners, make-up, genetically modified foods, electromagnetic fields....it's so overwhelming. Who has to the time to keep up..or the money. Did you ever compare Burts Bees (for example) lip care to any national brand? Who could afford that?! If they know all these products are "bad" why are they not providing cheaper, safer alternatives!
    posted Nov 14, 2008 - 8:34 pm by E
    I read that bluetooths are terrible, at times increasing your radiation exposure by up to 300%. If anything I don't think they are better than talking into the phone, they are worse because they are attached right to your head, no distance separation.
    The best alternative is a headset like this:
    http://products.mercola.com/blue-tube-headset/
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