Possible Hazards of Cell Radiation
Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held. Last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”; this means that there could be some risk associated with cancer, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further. “The trouble is...most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai.
Manufacturers of many popular cell phones already warn consumers to keep their device away from their body: The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says "When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission... keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body."; BlackBerry Bold advises users to "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting." This can also apply to carrying the phone against your body, in pockets or holsters located near clusters of lymph nodes such as in the groin. There is some suggestion that lymphomas can develop when these delicate tissues are exposed to forms of radiation.
Cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving of more radiation. So if possible avoid using your phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas. The speakerphone function or a wired earpiece can also increase distance and texting instead of talking allows you to keep the phone away from the face and neck.
A large prospective cohort study of cell phone use and its possible long-term health effects was launched in Europe in March 2010. This study, known as COSMOS , will enroll approximately 250,000 cell phone users ages 18 or older and will follow them for 20 to 30 years. In the mean time... better to be safe then sorry!